This preliminary prospectus supplement relates to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, but the information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-199988
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated November 7, 2014)
Education Realty Operating Partnership, LP, or the Operating Partnership, is offering $ million aggregate principal amount of % Senior Notes due , or the notes. The Operating Partnership will pay interest on the notes on and of each year, beginning on , 2015. The notes will mature on , . However, the Operating Partnership may redeem the notes prior to maturity at its option, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at the redemption prices described in this prospectus supplement under Description of Notes and Guarantee Optional Redemption.
The notes will be the Operating Partnerships unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and will rank equally in right of payment with the Operating Partnerships other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The notes will be issued only in registered form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Education Realty Trust, Inc., or the Company, which is the sole owner of the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. The Company does not have any significant assets other than its investment in the Operating Partnership.
Investing in the notes involves risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page S-6 in this prospectus supplement and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, which we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before making a decision to invest in the notes.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Operating Partnership does not intend to apply to list the notes on any securities exchange or on any automated dealer quotation system.
Per Note | Total | |||||||
Public offering price(1) | % | $ | ||||||
Underwriting discount | % | $ | ||||||
Proceeds (before expenses) to the Operating Partnership | % | $ |
(1) | Plus accrued interest, if any, from November , 2014, if settlement occurs after that date. |
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, nor any state or non-U.S. securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or determined that this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, against payment in New York, New York on November , 2014.
Joint Book-Running Managers
J.P. Morgan | RBC Capital Markets | BofA Merrill Lynch | PNC Capital Markets LLC |
Prospectus Supplement dated November , 2014
S-i
This document is presented in two parts. The first part is comprised of this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and certain other matters relating to the Operating Partnership and the Company. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, contains a description of the Operating Partnerships debt securities and provides more general information regarding securities that the Company and the Operating Partnership may offer from time to time, some of which does not apply to this offering. To the extent that the information contained in this prospectus supplement differs or varies from the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or documents that we previously filed with the SEC, the information in this prospectus supplement will supersede such information.
This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC relating to the securities offered hereby. This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information that we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules thereto in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, and we refer you to such omitted information. It is important for you to read and consider all information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the additional information that is incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See Where You Can Find More Information in this prospectus supplement.
All references to we, our, us, EdR and the Company in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus refer to Education Realty Trust, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Education Realty Operating Partnership LP, or the Operating Partnership, except where it is made clear that any such reference means only the Operating Partnership. When we refer to you or yours, we mean the purchasers of the notes.
We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and therein filed by us with the SEC. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized any other person to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with additional or different information, you should not rely on it. Neither we nor the underwriters are making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus filed by us with the SEC and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, funds from operations, or FFO, and prospects may have changed since those dates.
Certain statements in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents that are incorporated by reference herein and therein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements provide our current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not statements of historical fact.
These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future events, including, among other things, discussion and analysis of our future financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and FFO, our strategic plans and objectives, cost management, occupancy and leasing rates and trends, liquidity and ability to service and refinance our indebtedness on favorable terms, or at all, as it matures, anticipated capital expenditures (and access to capital) required to complete projects, amounts of anticipated cash distributions to our stockholders in the future and other matters. Words such as anticipates, expects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and/or could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements.
S-ii
Forward-looking statements involve inherent uncertainty and may ultimately prove to be incorrect or false. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or actual operating results. Our actual results could differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to:
| risks and uncertainties related to the national and local economies and the real estate industry in general and in our specific markets (including university enrollment conditions and admission policies and our relationships with these universities); |
| volatility in the capital markets; |
| rising interest and insurance rates; |
| competition from university-owned or other private collegiate housing and our inability to obtain new tenants on favorable terms (including rental rates), or at all, upon the expiration of existing leases; |
| availability and terms of capital and financing, both to fund our operations and to refinance our indebtedness as it matures; |
| legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing collegiate housing, construction and real estate investment trusts, or REITs; |
| the Companys possible failure to qualify as a REIT and the risk of changes in laws affecting REITs; |
| our dependence upon key personnel whose continued service is not guaranteed; |
| our ability to identify, hire and retain highly-qualified executives in the future; |
| availability of appropriate acquisition and development targets; |
| failure to make acquisitions on attractive terms or integrate acquisitions successfully; |
| the financial condition and liquidity of, or disputes with, our joint venture and development partners; |
| impact of ad valorem, property and income taxes; |
| changes in generally accepted accounting principles; |
| construction delays, increasing construction costs or construction costs that exceed estimates; |
| changes in our credit ratings or outlook; |
| potential liability for uninsured losses and environmental liabilities; |
| lease-up risks; and |
| the potential need to fund improvements or other capital expenditures out of operating cash flow. |
This list of risks and uncertainties, however, is only a summary of some of the most important factors and is not intended to be exhaustive. You should carefully review the risks described below under Risk Factors in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and under the caption Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Companys most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other information that we file from time to time with the SEC that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. New factors that are not currently known to us or of which we are currently unaware may also emerge from time to time that could materially and adversely affect us.
S-iii
This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding whether to invest in the notes. To understand this offering fully prior to making an investment decision, you should carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and therein. See Where You Can Find More Information in this prospectus supplement. You should also carefully consider the Risk Factors sections in this prospectus supplement and in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, which we have filed with the SEC and which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
We are a self-managed and self-advised REIT, organized in July 2004 to develop, acquire, own and manage collegiate housing communities located on or near university campuses. As of September 30, 2014, we owned 53 collegiate housing communities located in 21 states with 29,765 beds within 11,160 units on or near 41 university campuses, and we provide third-party management services for 22 collegiate housing communities located in 10 states with 11,510 beds within 3,676 units on or near 17 university campuses. We also selectively develop collegiate housing communities for our own account and provide third-party development consulting services on collegiate housing development projects for universities and other third parties.
All of the Companys assets are held by, and the Company conducts substantially all of its activities through, the Operating Partnership and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including EdR Management Inc., the company through which the Operating Partnership conducts management activities, and EdR Development LLC, the company through which the Operating Partnership conducts development activities.
The Company is the sole owner of Education Realty OP GP, Inc., the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. As a result, the Companys board of directors effectively directs all of the Operating Partnerships affairs. As of September 30, 2014, the Company owned 99.4% of the outstanding partnership units of the Operating Partnership. The remaining Operating Partnership units are held by former owners of certain of the Companys collegiate housing communities, including a member of the Companys management team and one of the Companys directors. Management operates the Company and the Operating Partnership as one business, and the members of management of the Company consist of the same members as the management of the Operating Partnership. The Company consolidates the Operating Partnership for financial reporting purposes, and the Company does not have any significant assets other than its investment in the Operating Partnership. Therefore, the assets and liabilities of the Company and the Operating Partnership are the same on their respective financial statements.
University Towers Operating Partnership, LP, or the University Towers Partnership, which is our affiliate, owns and operates our University Towers collegiate housing community located in Raleigh, North Carolina. As of September 30, 2014, the Company, through the Operating Partnership, owned 72.7% of the outstanding partnership units of the University Towers Partnership, and the remaining 27.3% was owned by former owners of the Companys University Towers collegiate housing community, including one of the Companys directors.
Our executive offices are located at 999 South Shady Grove Road, Suite 600, Memphis, Tennessee 38120, and our telephone number is (901) 259-2500. Our website address is http://www.edrtrust.com. However, the information located on, or accessible from, our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or incorporated into any other filings that we make with the SEC.
S-1
The following is a brief summary of some of the terms of this offering. It does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. To understand all of the terms of the offering of the notes, you should carefully read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
Issuer |
Education Realty Operating Partnership, LP |
Securities Offered |
$ aggregate principal amount of % Senior Notes due |
Maturity Date |
, |
Interest Rate |
% per annum |
Interest Payment Dates |
and of each year, beginning on , 2015 |
Optional Redemption |
The Operating Partnership may, at its option, redeem the notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, in each case prior to ( months prior to the stated maturity date of the notes), at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption (for the avoidance of doubt, exclusive of any unpaid interest accrued thereon to, but not including, such redemption date), discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus basis points, plus in each case unpaid interest, if any, accrued to, but not including, such redemption date. In addition, at any time on or after ( months prior to the stated maturity date of the notes), the Operating Partnership may, at its option, redeem the notes, in whole at any time or in part (in authorized denominations) from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed plus unpaid interest, if any, accrued to, but not including, the related redemption date. |
Ranking |
The notes: |
will rank equally in right of payment with each other and with all of the Operating Partnerships other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness; and |
will be senior to all of the Operating Partnerships existing or future indebtedness that is subordinated to the notes; |
will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to any of the Operating Partnerships future mortgages and other secured indebtedness (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing the same) and to all preferred equity and liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, of the Operating Partnerships subsidiaries; and |
S-2
will not be guaranteed by any of the Operating Partnerships existing or future subsidiaries, and no such existing or future subsidiary has any obligation to repay the notes or any part thereof. |
As of September 30, 2014, the Operating Partnerships had (i) outstanding $397.5 million of unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and no secured indebtedness and (ii) no outstanding preferred equity. As of September 30, 2014, the Operating Partnerships subsidiaries had $334.4 million of total indebtedness outstanding (excluding unamortized debt premiums), and had no outstanding preferred equity held by any third party. |
Guarantee |
The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company. The guarantee will be an unsecured and unsubordinated obligation of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company from time to time outstanding. The Company does not have any significant assets other than its investment in the Operating Partnership. |
Use of Proceeds |
The net proceeds from the sale of the notes are estimated to be approximately $ million after deducting the underwriting discount and our estimated offering expenses. The Operating Partnership intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to prepay approximately $69 million of mortgage debt (including prepayment penalties and other fees). The Operating Partnership expects to use the remaining net proceeds, after any prepayment penalties and other fees related to early termination of the mortgage notes, to pay down the outstanding balance of its unsecured revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes. See Use of Proceeds in this prospectus supplement. |
Conflicts of Interest |
Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our unsecured revolving credit facility and will receive their pro rata shares of the net proceeds from this offering used to reduce amounts outstanding under such facility. See Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest) Conflicts of Interest in this prospectus supplement. |
Covenants |
Various covenants will apply to the notes, including the following: |
the Operating Partnership may not, in general, incur Indebtedness if the new Indebtedness would cause the aggregate principal amount of its total Indebtedness, excluding Intercompany Indebtedness, to be more than 60% of its Total Assets; |
the Operating Partnership may not incur Secured Debt if the new Secured Debt would cause its total Secured Debt to be more than 40% of its Total Assets; |
the Operating Partnership is required to maintain Total Unencumbered Assets of at least 150% of its total Unsecured Debt; |
S-3
the Operating Partnership may not incur Indebtedness if the new Indebtedness would cause its ratio of Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service to Interest Expense for its most recently completed four fiscal quarters to be less than 1:5 to 1, determined on a pro forma basis, subject to certain assumptions; and |
the Operating Partnership may not consummate a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of its assets, unless certain conditions are satisfied. |
No Limitation on Incurrence of New Debt |
Subject to compliance with covenants relating to the Operating Partnerships aggregate secured and unsecured debt, maintenance of total unencumbered assets and debt service coverage, the indenture will not limit the amount of debt that the Operating Partnership may issue under the indenture or otherwise. |
Lack of a Public Market for the Notes |
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Operating Partnership does not intend to apply to list the notes on any securities exchange or for quotation of the notes on any automated dealer quotation system. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes after this offering is completed, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making at any time without notice to or consent of existing noteholders. As a result, there can be no assurance regarding: |
any future development, continuation or liquidity of a trading market for the notes; |
the prices at which you may be able to sell your notes; or |
your ability to sell your notes at all. |
Further Issues |
The Operating Partnership may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the notes offered by this prospectus supplement, increase the principal amount of this series of notes under the indenture and issue such additional debt securities, in which case any additional debt securities so issued will have the same form and terms (other than the date of issuance and, under certain circumstances, the date from which interest thereon will begin to accrue), and will carry the same right to receive accrued and unpaid interest, as the notes offered by this prospectus supplement, and such additional debt securities will form a single series with the notes offered by this prospectus supplement. |
Form and Denominations |
The notes will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global notes registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. Beneficial interests in the notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator |
S-4
of the Euroclear System, will hold interests on behalf of their participants through their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in accounts as participants of DTC. Except in the limited circumstances described in this prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in the notes will not be entitled to have notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive notes in definitive form and will not be considered holders of notes under the indenture. The notes will be issued only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. |
Trustee |
U.S. Bank National Association |
Governing Law |
The indenture, the notes and the guarantee will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. |
S-5
An investment in the notes involves a degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and other information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein before you decide whether to invest in the notes. In particular, we urge you to consider carefully the factors set forth under Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as such may be updated in any future filings we make under the Exchange Act. If any of the risk factors were to occur, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, FFO and prospects could be materially adversely affected. This may adversely affect our ability to pay interest on the notes or repay the principal when due, and you may lose part or all of your investment.
As of September 30, 2014, the Operating Partnerships total consolidated indebtedness was approximately $731.9 million (excluding unamortized debt premiums). The Operating Partnership has a $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility, under which approximately $210.0 million was outstanding at September 30, 2014. At September 30, 2014, the Operating Partnership also had a $187.5 million unsecured term loan outstanding. In addition, the Operating Partnerships subsidiaries had approximately $160.4 million outstanding under a secured master credit facility, approximately $81.1 million of outstanding mortgage indebtedness secured by certain of properties and approximately $92.9 million outstanding under construction loans relating to certain collegiate housing developments.
Our level of indebtedness and the limitations imposed on us by our debt agreements could have significant adverse consequences to holders of the notes, including the following:
| our cash flow may be insufficient to meet our debt service obligations with respect to the notes and our other indebtedness, which would enable the lenders and other debtholders to accelerate the maturity of their indebtedness, or be insufficient to fund other important business uses after meeting such obligations; |
| we may be unable to borrow additional funds as needed or on favorable terms; |
| we may be unable to refinance our indebtedness at maturity or earlier acceleration, if applicable, or the refinancing terms may be less favorable than the terms of our original indebtedness or otherwise be generally unfavorable; |
| because a significant portion of our debt bears interest at variable rates, increases in interest rates could materially increase our interest expense; |
| we may be forced to dispose of one or more of our properties, possibly on disadvantageous terms; |
| we may default on our secured indebtedness and the lenders may foreclose on our properties or our interests in the entities that own the properties that secure such indebtedness and receive an assignment of rents and leases; and |
| we may violate restrictive covenants in our debt agreements, which would entitle the lenders and other debtholders to accelerate the maturity of their indebtedness. |
If any one of these events were to occur, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, FFO and prospects, as well as the Operating Partnerships ability to satisfy its obligations with respect to the notes, could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, foreclosures could create taxable income without accompanying cash proceeds, a circumstance which could hinder the Companys ability to meet the REIT distribution requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code.
S-6
The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Operating Partnership and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Operating Partnerships other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. However, the notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to any secured indebtedness of the Operating Partnership to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. While the indenture governing the notes will limit our ability to incur additional secured indebtedness in the future, it will not prohibit us from incurring such indebtedness if we are in compliance with certain financial ratios and other requirements at the time of its incurrence. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to us, the lenders or holders of any secured indebtedness will be entitled to proceed directly against the collateral that secures such secured indebtedness. Therefore, such collateral will not be available for satisfaction of any amounts owed under our unsecured indebtedness, including the notes, until such secured indebtedness is satisfied in full.
The notes also will be effectively subordinated to all liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, and any preferred equity of the subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to any such subsidiary, the Operating Partnership, as a common equity owner of such subsidiary, and therefore holders of our debt, including the notes, will be subject to the prior claims of such subsidiarys creditors, including trade creditors, and preferred equity holders. As of September 30, 2014, the Operating Partnerships subsidiaries had approximately $359.3 million of total liabilities (excluding unamortized debt premiums, intercompany debt, guarantees of debt of the Operating Partnership, accrued expenses and trade payables) and had no outstanding preferred equity held by any third party. Furthermore, while the indenture governing the notes will limit the ability of our subsidiaries to incur additional unsecured indebtedness in the future, it will not prohibit our subsidiaries from incurring such indebtedness if such subsidiaries are in compliance with certain financial ratios and other requirements at the time of its incurrence.
Our ability to meet our debt service obligations on, and to refinance, our indebtedness, including the notes, and to fund our operations, working capital, acquisitions, development projects, capital expenditures and other important business uses, depends on our ability to generate sufficient cash flow in the future. To a certain extent, our cash flow is subject to general economic, industry, financial, competitive, operating, legislative, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.
We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future sources of cash will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to meet our debt service obligations on our indebtedness, including the notes, or to fund our other important business uses. As a result, we would be forced to take other actions to meet those obligations, such as selling properties, raising equity or delaying capital expenditures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on us. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that we will be able to effect any of these actions on favorable terms, or at all. Additionally, if we incur additional indebtedness in connection with future acquisitions or development projects or for any other purpose, our debt service obligations could increase significantly and our ability to meet those obligations could depend, in large part, on the returns from such acquisitions or projects, as to which no assurance can be given.
We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, including the notes, at or prior to maturity. Our ability to refinance our indebtedness or obtain additional financing will depend on, among other things:
| our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, FFO, and prospects and market conditions at the time; and |
| restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness. |
As a result, we may not be able to refinance any of our indebtedness, including the notes, on favorable terms, or at all.
S-7
Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness, including a default under any credit facility or term loan to which we may be a party that is not waived by the required lenders, and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness, could make us unable to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on, the notes and substantially decrease the market price of the notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on, our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants, including financial and operating covenants, in the instruments governing our indebtedness (including our existing credit facilities), we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness. In the event of such default, the lenders and holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under any credit facility could elect to terminate their commitments, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.
If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to seek to obtain waivers from the required lenders under any credit facility or other debt that we may incur in the future to avoid being in default. If we breach our covenants under any credit facility and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, we would be in default under any credit facility, the lenders could exercise their rights as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If we are unable to repay any secured indebtedness, including under our master credit facility or our outstanding mortgage indebtedness, lenders could proceed against the collateral securing such indebtedness. Because the indenture governing the notes, and the agreements governing any credit facility may have customary cross-default provisions, if the indebtedness under the notes or under any credit facility or any of our other facilities is accelerated, we may be unable to repay or finance the amounts due.
We may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. Although the agreements governing our credit facilities and certain other indebtedness do, and the indenture governing the notes will, limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions and, under certain circumstances, debt incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. To the extent that we incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, the risks associated with our substantial leverage described herein, including our inability to meet our debt service obligations, would be exacerbated.
The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company. However, the Company has no significant operations, other than as the sole owner of the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, and no significant assets, other than its investment in the Operating Partnership.
The Companys guarantee of the notes will be the unsecured and unsubordinated obligation of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Companys other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. However, the Companys guarantee of the notes will be subordinated in right of payment to any secured indebtedness of the Company to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the lenders or holders of any secured indebtedness will be entitled to proceed directly against the collateral that secures such secured indebtedness. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had outstanding no secured indebtedness.
The Companys guarantee of the notes will also be structurally subordinated in right of payment to all liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, and any preferred equity of the Companys subsidiaries (including
S-8
the Operating Partnership and any entity the Company accounts for under the equity method of accounting). In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to any such subsidiary, the Company will be subject to the prior claims of such subsidiarys creditors, including trade creditors, and preferred equity holders. As of September 30, 2014, the Companys subsidiaries had approximately $731.9 million of total indebtedness outstanding (excluding unamortized debt premiums) and had no outstanding preferred equity held by any third party.
The indenture governing the notes will contain financial and operating covenants that, among other things, will restrict our ability to take specific actions, even if we believe them to be in our best interest, including restrictions on our ability to:
| consummate a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets; and |
| incur secured and unsecured indebtedness. |
In addition, our revolving credit facility and certain other debt agreements require us to meet specified financial ratios and the indenture governing the notes will require us to maintain at all times a specified ratio of unencumbered assets to unsecured debt. These covenants may restrict our ability to expand or fully pursue our business strategies. Our ability to comply with these and other provisions of the indenture governing the notes, our revolving credit facility and certain other debt agreements may be affected by changes in our operating and financial performance, changes in general business and economic conditions, adverse regulatory developments or other events beyond our control. The breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under our indebtedness, which could result in the acceleration of the maturity of such and other indebtedness. If any of our indebtedness is accelerated prior to maturity, we may not be able to repay such indebtedness or refinance such indebtedness on favorable terms, or at all.
Under the federal bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, a guarantee, such as the guarantee provided by the Company, could be voided, and payment thereon could be required to be returned to the guarantor or to a fund for the benefit of the creditors of the guarantor, if, among other things, the guarantor, at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by its guarantee (i) received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for the incurrence of the guarantee and (ii) one of the following was true:
| the guarantor was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of the incurrence of the guarantee; |
| the guarantor was engaged in a business or transaction for which the guarantors remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or |
| the guarantor intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay those debts as they mature. |
The measures of insolvency for purposes of these fraudulent transfer laws will vary depending upon the law applied in any proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred. Generally, however, a guarantor would be considered insolvent if:
| the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair saleable value of all of its assets; |
| the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they became absolute and mature; or |
| it could not pay its debts as they become due. |
A court might also void such guarantee, without regard to the above factors, if it found that a guarantor entered into its guarantee with actual intent to hinder, delay, or defraud its creditors.
S-9
A court would likely find that a guarantor did not receive reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for its guarantee unless it benefited directly or indirectly from the issuance of the notes. If a court voided such guarantee, holders of the notes would no longer have a claim against such guarantor or the benefit of the assets of such guarantor constituting collateral that purportedly secured such guarantee. In addition, a court might direct holders of the notes to repay any amounts already received from a guarantor. If a court were to void the Companys guarantee, we cannot assure you that funds would be available to pay the notes from any of our subsidiaries or from any other source.
In general, as market interest rates rise, the market price of notes bearing interest at a fixed rate generally declines. Consequently, if you purchase these notes and market interest rates increase, you should expect that the market price of your notes may decline. We cannot predict the future level of market interest rates.
The Operating Partnership may redeem the notes prior to maturity, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the redemption prices described under the caption Description of the Notes and Guarantee Optional Redemption. If the Operating Partnership chooses to redeem your notes at times when prevailing interest rates are relatively low, you may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the current interest rate on the notes being redeemed.
Our corporate credit ratings are subject to ongoing evaluation by credit rating agencies, and we cannot assure you that any rating will not be changed or withdrawn by a rating agency in the future if, in its judgment, circumstances warrant. Moreover, such credit ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold the notes or any other securities. If any credit rating agencies downgrade our corporate ratings or otherwise indicate that its outlook for that rating is negative, it could have a material adverse effect on the market price of the notes and our costs and availability of capital, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations and our ability to satisfy our debt service obligations (including payments on the notes).
Prior to this offering, there was no public market for these notes and we cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop for the notes. We do not intend to apply to list the notes on any securities exchange. If an active trading market does not develop or does not continue, you may not be able to resell your notes at favorable prices when desired, or at all. Future trading prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including, among other things, prevailing interest rates, our operating results, our credit ratings and the market for similar securities. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes after this offering is completed, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making at any time without notice to or consent of noteholders.
S-10
We expect the net proceeds from the sale of the notes in this offering will be approximately $ million, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
The Operating Partnership intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to prepay approximately $69 million of mortgage debt (including prepayment penalties and other fees) that carries a fixed interest rate of 6.015% and matures on January 1, 2016.
The Operating Partnership expects to use the remaining net proceeds to pay down the outstanding balance of our unsecured revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes. As of September 30, 2014, there was approximately $210.0 million outstanding and an ability to borrow an additional approximately $290.0 million under our unsecured revolving credit facility. Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our unsecured revolving credit facility and, therefore, will receive proceeds from this offering to the extent that proceeds are used to repay borrowings under the unsecured revolving credit facility. See Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest) Conflicts of Interest. As of September 30, 2014, the weighted average interest rate on borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility was 1.46% per annum.
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the last five fiscal years and the nine months ended September 30, 2014 are presented below. For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income before taxes, non-controlling interest and equity in earnings of equity investees, plus fixed charges less capitalized interest. Fixed charges include, where applicable, interest expense, capitalized interest, amortization of premiums, discounts, and deferred financing costs related to debt and an estimate of the interest component of rent expense.
Nine months ended September 30, 2014 |
Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||
1.1 | 1.0 | | (1) | | (1) | | (1) | | (1) |
(1) | For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 fixed charges exceeded earnings by approximately $1.1 million, $8.7 million, $6.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively. |
S-11
The following description of the particular terms of the notes and related guarantee supplements, and, to the extent inconsistent, replaces, the description in the accompanying prospectus of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities and related guarantee, to which description reference is hereby made. The following summary of certain provisions of the notes, the related guarantee and the indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual provisions of the notes, the related guarantee and the indenture. Certain terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the accompanying prospectus, the indenture, the notes or the related guarantee, as the case may be. As used in this section, the Company refers to Education Realty Trust, Inc. and the terms we, us, our or the Operating Partnership refer only to Education Realty Operating Partnership, LP and not to any of its subsidiaries or the Company.
The notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of November 7, 2014, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November , 2014, among the Operating Partnership, the Company, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. You may request copies of the indenture and the form of the notes from us.
The notes will be issued only in fully registered, book-entry form, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, except under the limited circumstances described below under Book Entry System in this prospectus supplement. The holder of a note will be treated as its owner for all purposes.
If any interest payment date, stated maturity date or redemption date is not a New York business day, the payment otherwise required to be made on such date may be made on the next New York business day without any additional payment as a result of such delay. The term business day means, with respect to any Note, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close. All payments will be made in U.S. dollars.
The terms of the notes provide that we are permitted to withhold from interest payments and payments upon the maturity or earlier redemption of the notes any amounts we are required to withhold by law. For example, non-United States holders of notes may, under some circumstances, be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to payments of interest on the notes. See Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations Taxation of Taxable Non-U.S. holders below.
The notes will be our unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and will:
| rank equally in right of payment with each other and with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness; |
| be senior to all of our existing or future indebtedness that is subordinated to the notes; |
| be effectively subordinated in right of payment to any future mortgages and other secured indebtedness (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing the same) and to all preferred equity and liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, of our subsidiaries; |
| not be guaranteed by any of our existing or future subsidiaries, and no such existing or future subsidiary has any obligation to repay the notes or any part thereof; and |
| be structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of our existing and future subsidiaries |
As of September 30, 2014, the Operating Partnership had (i) $397.5 million of unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness outstanding and (ii) no outstanding preferred equity. As of September 30, 2014, the Operating Partnerships subsidiaries had $334.4 million of total indebtedness outstanding (excluding unamortized debt premiums). See Risk Factors Risks Related to this Offering Our substantial
S-12
indebtedness could materially and adversely affect us and the ability of the Operating Partnership to meet its debt service obligations under the notes and Risk Factors Risks Related to this Offering The effective subordination of the notes may limit the Operating Partnerships ability to meet its debt service obligations under the notes.
Except as described in this prospectus supplement under the headings Certain Covenants and Merger, Consolidation and Transfer of Assets, the indenture will not contain any provisions that would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or that would afford you protection in the event of:
| a recapitalization or other highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us or any of our affiliates; |
| a change of control involving us or any of our affiliates; or |
| a reorganization, restructuring, merger, substantial sale of assets or similar transaction involving us or any of our affiliates that may adversely affect you. |
See Risk Factors Risks Related to the Notes Despite our substantial outstanding indebtedness, we may still incur significantly more indebtedness in the future, which would exacerbate any or all of the risks described above.
The notes will initially be limited to an aggregate principal amount of $ million. We may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the notes, increase the principal amount of this series of notes under the indenture and issue such additional debt securities, in which case any additional debt securities so issued will have the same form and terms (other than the date of issuance and, under certain circumstances, the date from which interest thereon will begin to accrue and the initial interest payment date) with the same CUSIP number as the notes offered hereby so long as such additional debt securities are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the notes offered hereby. The additional debt securities will be equal in rank with the notes and carry the same right to receive accrued and unpaid interest as the notes, and such additional debt securities will form a single series with the notes.
Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of % per annum from and including November , 2014 or the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for, and will be payable semiannually in arrears on and of each year, beginning on , 2015. The interest so payable will be paid to each holder in whose name a note is registered at the close of business on the or (whether or not a New York business day) immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date. Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
If we redeem the notes in accordance with their terms, we will pay unpaid interest thereon accrued to, but not including, such redemption date to the holder that surrenders such notes for redemption. However, interest will be payable to holders of the notes on the record date applicable to an interest payment date falling on or before a date of redemption.
The notes will mature on , and will be paid against presentation and surrender thereof at the corporate trust office of the trustee, unless earlier redeemed by us at our option, as described under Optional Redemption at Our Election below. The notes will not be entitled to the benefits of, or be subject to, any sinking fund.
S-13
The Company will fully and unconditionally guarantee our obligations under the notes on a direct, unsecured and unsubordinated basis, including the due and punctual payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the notes, whether at stated maturity, upon redemption, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Company under the Guarantee will:
| rank equally with all other present or future direct, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company; and |
| be effectively subordinated in right of payment to any mortgages and other secured indebtedness of the Company (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing the same) and to all preferred equity and liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, of the Companys subsidiaries. |
However, the Company currently has no significant operations, other than as sole owner of the general partner of the Operating Partnership, and no significant assets, other than its investment in the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had (i) no outstanding indebtedness and (ii) no outstanding preferred equity. As of September 30, 2014, the Companys subsidiaries had $731.9 million of total indebtedness outstanding (excluding unamortized debt premiums), and had no outstanding preferred equity held by any third party.
We may, at our option, redeem the notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, in each case prior to ( months prior to the stated maturity date of the notes), at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the notes to be redeemed that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption (for the avoidance of doubt, exclusive of any unpaid interest accrued thereon to, but not including, such redemption date), discounted to such redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus basis points, plus in each case unpaid interest, if any, accrued to, but not including, such redemption date. In addition, at any time on or after ( months prior to the stated maturity date of the notes), we may, at our option, redeem the notes, in whole at any time or in part (in authorized denominations) from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed plus unpaid interest, if any, accrued to, but not including, the related redemption date.
Treasury Rate means the arithmetic mean of the yields under the respective heading Week Ending published in the most recent Statistical Release under the caption Treasury Constant Maturities for the maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to the remaining life to maturity, as of the payment date, of the principal of the notes being redeemed or paid. If no maturity exactly corresponds to such maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to such maturity shall be calculated pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding in each of such relevant periods to the nearest month. For the purposes of calculating the Treasury Rate, the most recent Statistical Release published prior to the date of determination of the redemption price shall be used.
Statistical Release means the statistical release designated H.15(519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States government securities adjusted to constant maturities, or, if such statistical release is not published at the time of any determination under the indenture, then such other reasonably comparable index designated by us.
In order to exercise our right of optional redemption, we (or, at our request, the trustee on our behalf) must deliver a notice of redemption to each holder of notes to be redeemed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date. Such notice of redemption shall specify the principal amount of notes to be redeemed, the CUSIP and ISIN numbers of the notes to be redeemed, the redemption date, the redemption price, the place or places of payment and that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such notes. Once notice of redemption is delivered to holders, the notes called for redemption will become due and
S-14
payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, we will deposit with the trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the notes so called for redemption at the redemption price. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, commencing on the redemption date interest on notes called for redemption will cease to accrue and holders of such notes will have no rights with respect to such notes except the right to receive the redemption price.
If fewer than all of the notes are being redeemed, the trustee will select the notes to be redeemed pro rata, by lot or by any other method the trustee in its sole discretion deems fair and appropriate, in accordance with methods generally used at the time of selection by fiduciaries in similar circumstances. Upon surrender of any note redeemed in part, the holder will receive a new note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the surrendered note.
In addition, we may at any time purchase notes by tender, in the open market or by private agreement, subject to applicable law.
Limitation on Indebtedness. We will not, and will not permit any of our Subsidiaries to, Incur any Indebtedness, other than Intercompany Indebtedness and guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by us or any of our Subsidiaries in compliance with the indenture, if, immediately after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate principal amount of our and our Subsidiaries Indebtedness, excluding Intercompany Indebtedness and guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by us or any of our Subsidiaries in compliance with the indenture, would be greater than 60% of the sum of, without duplication:
| Total Assets as of the end of the fiscal quarter covered in our annual or quarterly report most recently furnished to holders of the notes or filed with the SEC, as the case may be; and |
| the purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent that such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Indebtedness), by us or any of our Subsidiaries since the end of the relevant fiscal quarter, including those proceeds obtained in connection with the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness. |
Limitation on Secured Debt. In addition to the preceding limitation on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, we will not, and will not permit any of our Subsidiaries to, Incur any Secured Debt, other than Intercompany Indebtedness and guarantees of Secured Debt Incurred by us or any of our Subsidiaries in compliance with the indenture, if, immediately after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Secured Debt and the application of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate principal amount of Secured Debt would be greater than 40% of the sum of, without duplication:
| Total Assets as of the end of the fiscal quarter covered in our annual or quarterly report most recently furnished to holders of the notes or filed with the SEC, as the case may be; and |
| the purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent that such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Indebtedness), by us or any of our Subsidiaries since the end of the relevant fiscal quarter, including those proceeds obtained in connection with the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness. |
Maintenance of Unencumbered Assets. We will, and will cause our Subsidiaries to, have at all times Total Unencumbered Assets of not less than 150% of our total Unsecured Debt determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Debt Service Test. In addition to the preceding limitations on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, we will not, and will not permit any of our Subsidiaries to, Incur any Indebtedness, other than Intercompany Indebtedness and guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by us or any of our Subsidiaries in accordance with the indenture, if the ratio of Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service to Interest Expense for the period consisting of the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the date on which the additional
S-15
Indebtedness is to be incurred shall have been less than 1.5:1 on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of that Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds therefrom, and calculated on the following assumptions:
| such Indebtedness and any other Indebtedness Incurred by us and our Subsidiaries since the first day of the relevant four-quarter period and the application of the proceeds therefrom, including to refinance other Indebtedness, had occurred on the first day of such period; |
| the repayment or retirement of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness repaid or retired with the proceeds of any other Indebtedness, which repayment or retirement shall be calculated pursuant to the preceding bullet and not this bullet) by us and our Subsidiaries since the first day of the relevant four-quarter period had been repaid or retired on the first day of such period (except that, in making such computation, the amount of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during such period); |
| in the case of Acquired Indebtedness or Indebtedness Incurred in connection with any acquisition since the first day of the relevant four-quarter period, the related acquisition had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition being included in such pro forma calculation; and |
| in the case of any acquisition or disposition of any asset or group of assets or the placement of any assets in service or removal of any assets from service by us or any of our Subsidiaries from the first day of the relevant four-quarter period to the date of determination, including, without limitation, by merger, or stock or asset purchase or sale, the acquisition, disposition, placement in service or removal from service had occurred as of the first day of such period with appropriate adjustments with respect to the acquisition, disposition, placement in service or removal from service being included in that pro forma calculation. |
Set forth below are certain defined terms used in this prospectus supplement and the indenture. We refer you to the indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any other capitalized terms used in this prospectus supplement for which no definition is provided.
Acquired Indebtedness means Indebtedness of a Person (1) existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or becomes a Subsidiary of, us, or (2) assumed by us or any of our Subsidiaries in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person. Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to be Incurred on the date the acquired Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or becomes a Subsidiary of, us or the date of the related acquisition, as the case may be.
Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service means, for any period of time, our Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus amounts which have been deducted and minus amounts which have been added for, without duplication:
| Interest Expense on Indebtedness; |
| provision for taxes based on income; |
| depreciation and amortization; |
| extraordinary items; |
| non-cash, non-recurring items, as we determined in good faith; and |
| provision for gains and losses on sales or other dispositions of properties and other investments |
In each case for such period, we will reasonably determine amounts in accordance with GAAP, except to the extent GAAP is not applicable with respect to the determination of non-cash and non-recurring items.
Consolidated Net Income means, for any period of time, the amount of net income, or loss, for us and our Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
S-16
Consolidated Financial Statements means, with respect to any Person, collectively, the consolidated financial statements and notes to those financial statements of that Person and its subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Subsidiary means each Subsidiary of ours that is consolidated in our Consolidated Financial Statements.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect on the date of any required calculation or determination.
Incur means, with respect to any Indebtedness or other obligation of any Person, to create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of the Indebtedness or other obligation, and Incurrence and Incurred have meanings correlative to the foregoing. Indebtedness or other obligation of us or any Consolidated Subsidiary of ours will be deemed to be Incurred by us or such Subsidiary whenever we or such Consolidated Subsidiary shall create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect thereof. Indebtedness or other obligation of a Subsidiary of ours existing prior to the time it became a Subsidiary of ours will be deemed to be Incurred upon such Subsidiary becoming a Subsidiary of ours; and Indebtedness or other obligation of a Person existing prior to a merger or consolidation of such Person with us or any Subsidiary of ours in which such Person is the successor to us or such Subsidiary will be deemed to be Incurred upon the consummation of such merger or consolidation. Any issuance or transfer of capital stock that results in Indebtedness constituting Intercompany Indebtedness being held by a Person other than us, the Company or any Subsidiary or any sale or other transfer of any Indebtedness constituting Intercompany Indebtedness to a Person that is not us, the Company or any Subsidiary, will be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness that is not Intercompany Indebtedness at the time of such issuance, transfer or sale, as the case may be.
Indebtedness, of us, the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary means, without duplication, any of our indebtedness or that of the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary, whether or not contingent, in respect of: (a) borrowed money evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments whether or not such indebtedness is secured by any lien existing on property owned by us, the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary; (b) indebtedness for borrowed money of a Person other than us, the Company or a Consolidated Subsidiary which is secured by any lien on property owned by us, the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary, to the extent of the lesser of (i) the amount of indebtedness so secured, and (ii) the fair market value of the property subject to such lien; (c) the reimbursement obligations, contingent or otherwise, in connection with any letters of credit actually issued or amounts representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or (d) any lease of property by us, the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary as lessee which is reflected on Companys consolidated balance sheet as a capitalized lease in accordance with GAAP, to the extent, in the case of indebtedness under (a) through (c) above, that any such items (other than letters of credit) would appear as a liability on the Companys consolidated balance sheet in accordance with GAAP. Indebtedness also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by us, the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary 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, the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary) of the type described in clauses (a) (d) of this definition.
Intercompany Indebtedness means Indebtedness to which the only parties are any of us, the Company and any Consolidated Subsidiary; provided, however, that with respect to any such Indebtedness of which we or the Company is the borrower, such Indebtedness is subordinate in right of payment to the notes.
Interest Expense means, for any period of time, the maximum amount payable for interest on, and original issue discount of, our and our Consolidated Subsidiaries Indebtedness, determined in accordance with GAAP.
Person means any individual, corporation, joint venture, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
Secured Debt means, as of any date, that portion of principal amount of outstanding Indebtedness, excluding Intercompany Indebtedness, of us and our Consolidated Subsidiaries as of that date that is secured
S-17
by a mortgage, trust deed, deed of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness, pledge, security interest, assignment for collateral purposes, deposit arrangement, or other security agreement, excluding any right of setoff but including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, and any other like agreement granting or conveying a security interest.
Subsidiary means (1) any corporation a majority of the total voting power of whose outstanding Voting Stock is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination by the Operating Partnership or the Company, as the case may be, and/or one or more other Subsidiaries, and (2) any other Person in which the Operating Partnership or the Company, as the case may be, and/or one or more other Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, (x) own a majority of the outstanding ownership interests or (y) have the power to elect or direct the election of, or to appoint or approve the appointment of, a majority of the directors, trustees or managing members of, or other persons holding similar positions with, such Person.
Total Assets means, as of any time, the sum of, without duplication, Undepreciated Real Estate Assets and all other assets, excluding accounts receivable and (non-real estate) intangibles, of ours and our Consolidated Subsidiaries, all determined in accordance with GAAP.
Total Unencumbered Assets means, as of any time, the sum of, without duplication, those Undepreciated Real Estate Assets which are not subject to a lien securing Indebtedness and all other assets, excluding accounts receivable and intangibles, of ours and our Consolidated Subsidiaries not subject to a lien securing Indebtedness, all determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that all investments by us or our Consolidated Subsidiaries in unconsolidated joint ventures, unconsolidated limited partnerships, unconsolidated limited liability companies and other nonconsolidated entities shall be excluded from Total Unencumbered Assets to the extent that such investments would have otherwise been included.
Undepreciated Real Estate Assets means, as of any time, the cost (original cost plus capital improvements) of our real estate assets and the real estate assets of our Consolidated Subsidiaries on such date, before depreciation and amortization, all determined in accordance with GAAP.
Unsecured Debt means that portion of the outstanding principal amount of our and our Consolidated Subsidiaries Indebtedness, excluding Intercompany Indebtedness, that is not Secured Debt.
Voting Stock means, with respect to any Person, any class or series of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of, or to appoint or to approve the appointment of, the directors, trustees or managing members of, or other persons holding similar positions with, such Person.
The indenture provides that neither we nor the Company, as guarantor, may, in any transaction or series of related transactions, (i) consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any Person or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise convey all or substantially all of their respective assets to any Person, in each case, unless:
| in such transaction or transactions involving us, either (1) we shall be the continuing Person or (2) the successor Person (if other than us) formed by or resulting from the consolidation, amalgamation or merger, or to which such assets shall have been sold, assigned, transferred, leased or otherwise conveyed, (i) is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or any territory thereof and (ii) expressly assumes the due and punctual performance and observance of every obligation of the Operating Partnership under the indenture and the debt securities outstanding under the indenture, including the notes; |
| in such transaction or transactions involving the Company, either (1) the Company shall be the continuing Person or (2) the successor Person (if other than the Company) formed by or resulting from the consolidation, amalgamation or merger, or to which such assets shall have been sold, assigned, transferred, leased or otherwise conveyed, (i) is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, |
S-18
any state thereof or the District of Columbia or any territory thereof and (ii) expressly assumes the due and punctual performance and observance of every obligation of the Company under the indenture and its guarantee of the debt securities outstanding under the indenture, including the notes; |
| immediately after giving effect to such transaction or transactions, no Event of Default under the indenture, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default under the indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing; and the trustee shall have received an officers certificate and opinion of counsel from the Operating Partnership or the Company, as applicable, to the effect that all conditions precedent to such transaction or transactions have been satisfied. |
For purposes of the foregoing, any sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance of all or any of the assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership to any Person other than to the Operating Partnership or another Subsidiary, whether directly or as part of a consolidation, amalgamation or merger, which, if such assets were owned by the Operating Partnership would constitute all or substantially all of the Operating Partnerships assets, shall be deemed to be the conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Operating Partnership to any Person.
If we or the Company, as guarantor, consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any Person or sell, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise convey substantially all of its assets to any Person, in each case in accordance with the indenture, the successor Person formed by or resulting from the consolidation, amalgamation or merger or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance of all or substantially all of our or the Companys properties and assets, as applicable, is made, will succeed to and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power, of the Operating Partnership or the Company, as applicable, under the indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Operating Partnership or the Company, as applicable, in the indenture; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the Operating Partnership or the Company, as applicable, will be released from all obligations and covenants under the indenture, and, as applicable, the debt securities, including the notes, issued under the indenture or the guarantee of such debt securities.
The indenture provides that the following events are Events of Default with respect to the notes:
(1) | default for 30 days in the payment of any interest on, or Additional Amounts in respect of interest on, the notes; |
(2) | default in the payment of any principal of or premium, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on, any debt security of such series when due (whether at Maturity or otherwise and whether payable in cash or in shares of Common Equity or other securities or property); |
(3) | the guarantee of the Company is not (or is claimed by the Company not to be) in full force and effect with respect to the notes; |
(4) | default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Operating Partnership or the Company, as the case may be, in the indenture or any note not covered elsewhere in this section or in the guarantee of the Company, other than a covenant or warranty included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than the notes, which shall not have been remedied for a period of 60 days after written notice by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding; |
(5) | default under any bond, debenture, promissory note, mortgage, indenture or debt instrument of the Operating Partnership or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries with an aggregate principal amount outstanding of at least $35 million, which default has resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been |
S-19
rescinded or annulled within a period of 60 days after written notice by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding; or |
(6) | specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization with respect to the Operating Partnership or the Company. |
See Description of Debt Securities and Related Guarantees Events of Default in the accompanying prospectus for a description of rights, remedies and other matters relating to Events of Default.
The notes will be subject to defeasance and covenant defeasance as set forth in the indenture and described in Description of Debt Securities and Related Guarantees Discharge, Defeasance, and Covenant Defeasance in the accompanying prospectus.
U.S. Bank National Association will initially act as the trustee, registrar and paying agent for the notes, subject to replacement at our option.
The notes will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global securities, or the Global Securities, that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and registered in the name of DTCs partnership nominee, Cede & Co. Except under the circumstance described below, the notes will not be issuable in certificated form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual notes it represents, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC or by DTC or any nominee of DTC to a successor depository or any nominee of such successor.
Investors may elect to hold their interest in the Global Securities through either DTC, Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or Clearstream, or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or Euroclear, if they are participants in these systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in these systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants though customers securities accounts in Clearstream and Euroclears names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold interests in customers securities accounts in the depositaries names on the books of DTC. At the present time, Citibank, N.A. acts as U.S. depositary for Clearstream and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. acts as U.S. depositary for Euroclear.
DTC has advised us of the following information regarding DTC: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a banking organization within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.
DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments that DTCs participants, or Direct Participants, deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC is owned by the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly, or Indirect Participants. The DTC rules applicable to its participants are on file with the SEC.
S-20
Purchases of Global Securities under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Global Securities on DTCs records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each Global Security, or Beneficial Owner, is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial Owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the Global Securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in Global Securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the Global Securities is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Global Securities deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTCs partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of Global Securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Global Securities; DTCs records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such Global Securities are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
If applicable, redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less than all of the Global Securities are being redeemed, DTCs practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in such Global Securities to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the Global Securities unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTCs procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the Global Securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy). Payments in respect of the Global Securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC by wire transfer of immediately available funds. DTCs practice is to credit Direct Participants accounts, upon DTCs receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the Trustee, on the payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTCs records. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in street name, and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC, the Trustee or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payments to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is our responsibility or that of the Trustee, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as depository with respect to the Global Securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the Trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, Global Security certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, Global Security certificates will be printed and delivered to DTC.
Clearstream. Clearstream is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations, or Clearstream Participants, and facilitates the
S-21
clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides Clearstream Participants with, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and establishment of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector. Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly.
Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures to the extent received by DTC for Clearstream.
Euroclear. Euroclear has advised us that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear, or Euroclear Participants, and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or the Euroclear Operator, under contract with Euro-clear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation, or the Cooperative. All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.
The Euroclear Operator is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission. Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law. These Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.
Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the terms and conditions of Euroclear, to the extent received by DTC for Euroclear.
Links have been established among DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear to facilitate the initial issuance of the notes sold outside of the United States and cross-market transfers of the notes associated with secondary market trading.
The information in this section concerning DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear and DTCs book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
The underwriters will settle the notes in immediately available funds. We will make all payments in respect of the notes in immediately available funds.
S-22
The notes will trade in DTCs Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity or earlier redemption or until the notes are issued in certificated form, and secondary market trading activity in the notes will therefore be required by DTC to settle in immediately available funds.
Secondary market trading between Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in immediately available funds.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC in accordance with the DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering interests in the notes to or receiving interests in the notes from DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to DTC.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of interests in the notes received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC Participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and will be credited the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions involving interests in such notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream Participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of interests in the notes by or through a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC Participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.
Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. The information in this section concerning DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear and DTCs book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
S-23
This section summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that you, as a prospective investor, may consider relevant in connection with the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes and supersedes the discussion under the section entitled Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations in the accompanying prospectus. This discussion does not exhaust all possible tax considerations and does not provide a detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax considerations. Nor does this discussion address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to particular investors in light of their personal investment or tax circumstances, or to certain types of investors that are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, broker-dealers, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, persons holding our notes as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction, constructive sale or conversion transaction, non-U.S. individuals and foreign corporations and other persons subject to special tax rules. Moreover, this summary assumes that our investors hold our notes as a capital asset for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which generally means property held for investment.
The statements in this section are based on the current U.S. federal income tax laws, including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department or the Treasury Regulations, rulings and other administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion is for general purposes only and is not tax advice. We cannot assure you that new laws, interpretations of law, or court decisions, any of which may take effect retroactively, will not cause any statement in this section to be inaccurate.
We urge you to consult your own tax advisor regarding the specific tax consequences to you of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our notes. Specifically, you are encouraged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, foreign, and other tax consequences of such acquisition, ownership, and disposition, and regarding potential changes in applicable tax laws.
For purposes of our discussion, the term U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of our notes that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:
| an individual citizen or resident of the United States; |
| a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any of its states or the District of Columbia; |
| an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| any trust if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person. |
If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a partnership) holds our notes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an owner of the partnership generally will depend on the status of the owner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships and their owners should consult their tax advisors regarding the consequences of the ownership and disposition of our notes by the partnership.
Payment of Interest. It is expected and assumed for purposes of this discussion that the notes will be issued with no more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount (OID) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and therefore will not be treated as being issued with OID. Accordingly, a U.S. holder will generally be taxed on the stated interest on the note as ordinary income at the time that it is paid or accrued, in accordance with a U.S. holders method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
S-24
Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes. A U.S. holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note equal to the difference between the amount realized (less accrued interest, which will be taxable as ordinary interest income to the extent that the holder has not previously included the accrued interest in gross income) upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition and such U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in the note. A U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in a note will generally be the cost of the note to such U.S. holder. Capital gain of a non-corporate U.S. holder is currently taxed at a reduced rate where the U.S. holder has a holding period greater than one year. Subject to limited exceptions, the deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code.
For purposes of our discussion, the term non-U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of our notes that is not a U.S. holder, an entity or arrangement taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or a tax-exempt holder. The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of non-U.S. holders, including nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and other foreign holders, are complex. This section is only a summary of certain of those rules.
We urge non-U.S. holders to consult their own tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income tax laws on the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our notes, including any reporting requirements.
Interest. Except as set forth below, all payments of interest and principal on the notes made to a non-U.S. holder will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax, provided that: (i) such non-U.S. holder does not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the capital or profits interest in the Operating Partnership, (ii) such non-U.S. holder is not a controlled foreign corporation with respect to which the Operating Partnership is a related person within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4), (iii) such non-U.S. holder is not a bank receiving certain types of interest, and (iv) the beneficial owner of the notes certifies, under penalties of perjury, to us or our paying agent on IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or appropriate substitute form) that it is not a United States person and provides its name, address and certain other required information or certain other certification requirements are satisfied.
If a non-U.S. holder cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest will be subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless such non-U.S. holder provides us with a properly executed (i) IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or appropriate substitute form) claiming an exemption from or reduction in withholding under the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty or (ii) IRS Form W-8ECI (or appropriate substitute form) stating that interest paid or accrued on the notes is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
Sale, Exchange, Retirement or Other Disposition of the Notes. Subject to the discussion below and except with respect to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as described above under Interest, a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on the receipt of payments of principal on a note, or on any gain recognized upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of a note, unless in the case of gain (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by such non-U.S. holder of a trade or business within the United States and, if a treaty applies (and the holder complies with applicable certification and other requirements to claim treaty benefits), is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder within the United States or (ii) such non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition, and certain other conditions are met.
If a non-U.S. holder of the notes is engaged in a trade or business in the United States, and if interest on the notes or gain realized on the sale, exchange, or other disposition of the notes is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business, the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax on such income or gain in the same manner as if the non-U.S. holder were a U.S. holder. If the non-U.S. holder is eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty between the United States and the holders country of residence, any effectively connected income or gain generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the holder in the United States. Payments of interest that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (and, if
S-25
an income tax treaty applies, attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base), and therefore included in the gross income of a non-U.S. holder, will not be subject to the 30% withholding tax provided that the holder claims exemption from withholding. To claim exemption from withholding, the holder must certify its qualification, which can be done by filing a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI. In addition, if such a non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, such holder may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments.
In general, payments of principal, interest on the notes held by certain non-corporate U.S. holders and the proceeds of a disposition of such notes may be subject to U.S. information reporting requirements. Such payments also may be subject to U.S. backup withholding tax if the U.S. holder fails to certify a correct taxpayer identification number, or fails to certify exempt status (if applicable), or fails to report dividend and interest income in full, or fails to certify that such holder is not subject to backup withholding. An individuals taxpayer identification number is his or her social security number. Currently, the backup withholding tax rate is 28%. The backup withholding tax is not an additional tax and may be credited against a holders regular federal income tax liability or refunded by the IRS where applicable, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. Non-U.S. holders generally are exempt from backup withholding if they have certified or properly documented their foreign status.
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act imposes a 30% U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S. source payments, including interest, dividends, other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gain, profits, and income, and, beginning January 1, 2017, on the gross proceeds from a disposition of property of a type which can produce U.S. source interest or dividends (the Withholdable Payments), if paid to a foreign financial institution (including amounts paid to a foreign financial institution on behalf of a holder), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Treasury Department to collect and provide to the Treasury Department substantial information regarding U.S. account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners, with such institution. The legislation also generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on Withholdable Payments made to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial U.S. owners of the entity.
Foreign financial institutions and non-financial foreign entities located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act may be subject to different rules. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation on their purchase, ownership and disposition of our notes.
S-26
The Company, the Operating Partnership and the underwriters for the offering named below, for whom J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and PNC Capital Markets LLC are acting as representatives, have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the notes. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally, and not jointly, agreed to purchase the amount of notes indicated in the following table.
Underwriters | Principal Amount of Notes |
|||
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | $ | |||
RBC Capital Markets, LLC | ||||
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated |
||||
PNC Capital Markets LLC | ||||
Total | $ |
The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the notes being offered, if any are taken. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated. The Company and the Operating Partnership have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or to contribute to payments they are required to make in respect thereof.
Notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. Any notes sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a price that represents a concession not in excess of % of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and these dealers may re-allow, a concession of not more than % of the principal amount of the notes to other dealers. After the notes are released for sale, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Operating Partnership does not intend to list the notes on any national securities exchange or have the notes quoted on any automated dealer quotation system. The Company and the Operating Partnership have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in the notes after the completion of this offering but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice to or the consent of existing noteholders. No assurance can be given as to the development, maintenance or liquidity of any trading market for the notes.
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater principal amount of notes than they are required to purchase in this offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while this offering is in progress.
The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.
These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
The Company and the Operating Partnership have each agreed that it will not offer or sell any United States dollar-denominated debt securities issued or guaranteed by it having a term of more than one year until one day after settlement of the notes without the prior written consent of the representatives.
S-27
The Operating Partnership estimates that its share of the total expenses of this offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $ .
Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under the Operating Partnerships $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility and will receive their pro rata portions of any amounts repaid under the unsecured revolving credit facility. Certain of the underwriters may receive more than 5% of the net offering proceeds from this offering. In the event that greater than 5% of the net proceeds from this offering are used to repay indebtedness owed to any individual underwriter or its affiliates, this offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121. In such event, such underwriter or underwriters will not confirm sales of the notes to accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority without the prior written approval of the customer.
Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking, commercial banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each, a Relevant Member State), no offer of notes may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:
A. to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
B. to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives; or
C. in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,
provided that no such offer of notes shall require the Company or the representatives to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.
Each person in a Relevant Member State who initially acquires any notes or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the law in that Relevant Member State implementing Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive. In the case of any notes being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the
S-28
Prospectus Directive, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the notes acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any notes to the public other than their offer or resale in a Relevant Member State to qualified investors as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the representatives has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.
The Company, the representatives and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Relevant Member State will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes. Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant Member State of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Company or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive in relation to such offer. Neither the Company nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for the Company or the underwriters to publish a prospectus for such offer.
For the purpose of the above provisions, the expression an offer to the public in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe to the notes, as the same may be varied in the Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in the Relevant Member State and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC (including the 2010 PD Amending Directive) and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State and the expression 2010 PD Amending Directive means Directive 2010/73/EU.
In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19 (5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the Order) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as relevant persons). This document must not be acted on or relied on in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is only available to, and will be engaged in with, relevant persons.
The notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to professional investors within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a prospectus within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to professional investors within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell
S-29
any notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus has been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the SFA), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.
The validity of the notes will be passed upon for us by Morrison & Foerster LLP. Sidley Austin LLP will act as counsel to the underwriters.
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference from the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, or Deloitte, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are included therein, which is incorporated herein and therein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The financial statements of University Village Greensboro, LLC as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012 included in Amendment No. 1 to the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed on April 11, 2014, have been audited by Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and which have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of the Operating Partnership incorporated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference from the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 7, 2014 have been audited by Deloitte, as stated in their report included therein, which is incorporated herein and therein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
S-30
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the information we file subsequently with the SEC prior to the completion of this offering will automatically update and supersede this information.
We previously filed the following documents with the SEC and such filings are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus:
| Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on April 11, 2014 (including portions of our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders incorporated therein by reference); |
| Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014; |
| Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 7, 2014 (two reports filed), January 17, 2014, March 25, 2014, May 12, 2014, May 22, 2014, June 20, 2014 (with respect to Item 1.01), July 7, 2014, August 8, 2014 (with respect to Item 5.02), August 26, 2014 (with respect to Item 5.03), October 14, 2014, October 17, 2014, October 24, 2014 and November 7, 2014; and |
| Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on November 7, 2014. |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus additional documents that the Company or the Operating Partnership may file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, from the date of this prospectus supplement until all of the notes offered by this prospectus supplement have been sold or we otherwise terminate this offering of the notes.
You may request a copy of these filings (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into these documents) at no cost by writing or calling Investor Relations at the following address and telephone number:
Education Realty Trust, Inc.
999 South Shady Grove Road, Suite 600
Memphis, Tennessee 38120
(901) 259-2500
S-31
We may offer, from time to time, one or more series or classes, separately or together, and in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this prospectus, the following securities:
| Shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share; |
| Shares of our preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; |
| Depositary shares representing our preferred stock; |
| Warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares representing preferred stock; |
| Subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and depositary shares; and |
| Guarantees of the debt securities of Education Realty Operating Partnership, LP. |
Education Realty Operating Partnership, LP may offer, from time to time, debt securities in one or more series.
We refer to our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, subscription rights, guarantees and debt securities collectively as the securities. We may offer the securities separately or together, in separate series or classes and in amounts, at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the manner in which they may be offered. We will deliver this prospectus together with an accompanying prospectus supplement setting forth the specific terms of the securities we are offering and the manner in which they will be offered. The accompanying prospectus supplement also will contain information, where applicable, about certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the securities covered by the prospectus supplement. 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 for federal income tax purposes.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. The securities may also be resold by selling security holders. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement with, between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in an accompanying prospectus supplement. For more detailed information, see Plan of Distribution in this prospectus. No securities may be sold without delivery of an accompanying prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of those securities.
Education Realty Trust, Inc.s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EDR.
Investing in our securities involves substantial risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page 5 of this prospectus before you make an investment decision.
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. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
i
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a shelf registration process for the delayed offering and sale of securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Under the shelf registration process, we may, over time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that 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 of which this prospectus is a part. Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or other offering materials about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are only summaries. If SEC rules require that any agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should refer to that agreement or document for its complete contents.
We will not use this prospectus to offer and sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that more fully describes the securities being offered and the terms of the offering. Any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add to, update or supersede other information contained in this prospectus. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus together with the information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein as described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information in this prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
The information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement to this prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein are accurate only as of the date of such document. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, funds from operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
In this prospectus, unless otherwise specified or the context requires otherwise, we use the terms EdR, the Company, we, us and our to refer to Education Realty Trust, Inc., and the term the Operating Partnership to refer to Education Realty Operating Partnership, LP.
1
Certain statements in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements and the documents that are incorporated by reference herein and therein are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements provide our current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not statements of historical fact.
These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future events, including, among other things, discussion and analysis of our future financial condition, results of operations and funds from operations, or FFO, our strategic plans and objectives, including future or pending acquisitions and dispositions, cost management, occupancy and leasing rates and trends, liquidity and ability to refinance our indebtedness as it matures, anticipated capital expenditures (and access to capital) required to complete projects, amounts of anticipated cash distributions to our stockholders in the future and other matters. Words such as anticipates, expects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and/or could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent uncertainty and may ultimately prove to be incorrect or false. You are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or actual results. Our actual results could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to:
| risks and uncertainties related to the national and local economies and the real estate industry in general and in our specific markets (including university enrollment conditions and admission policies and our relationship with these universities); |
| volatility in the capital markets; |
| rising interest and insurance rates; |
| competition from university-owned or other private collegiate housing and our inability to obtain new tenants on favorable terms (including rental rates), or at all, upon the expiration of existing leases; |
| availability and terms of capital and financing, both to fund our operations and to refinance our indebtedness as it matures; |
| legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing collegiate housing, construction and real estate investment trusts; |
| our possible failure to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, and the risk of changes in laws affecting REITs; |
| our dependence upon key personnel whose continued service is not guaranteed; |
| our ability to identify, hire and retain highly-qualified executives in the future; |
| availability of appropriate acquisition and development targets; |
| failure to make acquisitions on attractive terms or integrate acquisitions successfully; |
| the financial condition and liquidity of, or disputes with, our joint venture and development partners; |
| impact of ad valorem, property and income taxes; |
| changes in generally accepted accounting principles; |
| construction delays, increasing construction costs or construction costs that exceed estimates; |
2
| potential liability for uninsured losses and environmental liabilities; |
| lease-up risks; and |
| the potential need to fund improvements or other capital expenditures out of operating cash flow. |
This list of risks and uncertainties, however, is only a summary of some of the most important factors and is not intended to be exhaustive. You should carefully review the risks and information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus or in any accompanying prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the Risk Factors incorporated by reference herein from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports and information that we file with the SEC. New factors that are not currently known to us or of which we are currently unaware may also emerge from time to time that could materially and adversely affect us.
3
We are a self-managed and self-advised REIT organized in July 2004 to develop, acquire, own and manage collegiate housing communities located on or near university campuses. As of September 30, 2014, we owned 53 collegiate housing communities located in 21 states with 29,765 beds within 11,160 units on or near 41 university campuses, and we provide third-party management services for 22 collegiate housing communities located in 10 states with 11,510 beds within 3,676 units on or near 17 university campuses. We also selectively develop collegiate housing communities for our own account and provide third-party development consulting services on collegiate housing development projects for universities and other third parties.
All of our assets are held by, and we conduct substantially all of our activities through, our Operating Partnership and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including EdR Management Inc., the company through which we conduct management activities, and EdR Development LLC, the company through which we conduct development activities.
We are the sole owner of the general partner of our Operating Partnership. As a result, our board of directors effectively directs all of the Operating Partnerships affairs. As of September 30, 2014, we owned 99.4% of the outstanding partnership units of our Operating Partnership. The remaining Operating Partnership units are held by former owners of certain of our collegiate housing communities, including members of our management team and one of our directors.
University Towers Operating Partnership, LP, or the University Towers Partnership, which is our affiliate, owns and operates our University Towers collegiate housing community located in Raleigh, North Carolina. We are the sole general partner, and as of September 30, 2014 we owned 72.7% of the outstanding partnership units of the University Towers Partnership, and the remaining 27.3% was owned by former owners of our University Towers collegiate housing community, including one of our directors.
Our executive offices are located at 999 South Shady Grove Road, Suite 600, Memphis, Tennessee 38120, and our telephone number is (901) 259-2500. Our website address is http://www.edrtrust.com. However, the information located on, or accessible from, our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or incorporated into any other filings that we make with the SEC.
4
Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves substantial risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for quarter ended September 30, 2014, the risk factors described under the caption Risk Factors in any applicable prospectus supplement and any risk factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC, before making an investment decision. Each of the risks described in these documents could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment. Although we have tried to discuss key factors, please be aware that these are not the only risks we face and there may be additional risks that we do not presently know of or that we currently consider not likely to have a significant impact. New risks may emerge at any time and we cannot predict such risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our business or our financial performance. Please also refer to the section entitled Forward-Looking Statements in this prospectus.
Unless we specify otherwise in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities by us to provide additional funds for general corporate purposes, which may include, without limitation, the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, the construction of development properties, the acquisition of additional properties, capital expenditures and working capital. Any allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of such offering and will be described in the accompanying supplement to this prospectus.
5
Our ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated are as follows (unaudited):
Year Ended December 31, | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Education Realty Trust, Inc.: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Combined Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1) | | | | | 1.0 | 1.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Education Realty Operating Partnership, LP: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Combined Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1) | | | | | 1.0 | 1.1 |
(1) | The ratio was less than 1:1 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, as fixed charges exceeded earnings by approximately $3.9 million, $6.6 million, $8.7 million and 1.1 million, respectively. |
For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges, earnings consist of income before taxes, non-controlling interest and equity in earnings of equity investees, plus fixed charges less capitalized interest, plus distributed income of equity investees. Fixed charges include, where applicable, interest expense, gross before capitalized interest, amortization of debt premiums/discounts, amortization of deferred financing costs and an estimate of the interest component of rent expense. No preferred shares were outstanding during any annual or quarterly period reported above and no preferred dividends were paid.
6
We were formed under the laws of the State of Maryland. Rights of our stockholders are governed by the Maryland General Corporation Law, or MGCL, our charter and our bylaws. The following is a summary of the material provisions of our capital stock.
Our charter provides that we may issue up to 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. In addition, our charter provides that our board of directors, without any action by our stockholders, may amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue. As of November 6, 2014, there were 142,495,459 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock and to the provisions of the charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock, holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive distributions on such stock when, as and if authorized by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor and declared by us and to share ratably in the assets of our company legally available for distribution to our stockholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up after payment of or adequate provision for all known debts and liabilities of our company, including the preferential rights on dissolution of any class or classes of preferred stock.
Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock and except as may otherwise be specified in the terms of any class or series of common stock, each outstanding share of our common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors and, except as provided with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of such shares will possess the exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of our board of directors, which means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock can elect all of the directors then standing for election and the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any directors.
Holders of shares of our common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, or redemption rights, have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any securities of our company and generally have no appraisal rights unless our board of directors determines that appraisal rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of stock, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders would otherwise be entitled to exercise appraisal rights. Subject to the provisions of the charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock, shares of our common stock will have equal distribution, liquidation and other rights.
Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, consolidate, transfer all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a statutory share exchange, convert or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business unless declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the corporations charter. Our charter provides for a lesser percentage for these matters. Therefore, except for certain charter amendments relating to the removal of directors and the vote required for certain amendments, any such action will be effective and valid if declared advisable by our board of directors and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to transfer all or substantially all of its assets without the approval of the stockholders of the corporation to one or more persons if all of the equity interests of the person or persons are owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation. Maryland law also does not require approval of the stockholders of a parent corporation to merge or sell all or substantially all of the assets of a subsidiary entity.
7
Our charter authorizes our board of directors to reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock into other classes or series of classes of stock and to establish the number of shares in each class or series and to set the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption for each such class or series.
Our charter authorizes our board of directors to classify any unissued shares of preferred stock and to reclassify any unissued shares of common stock and any previously classified but unissued shares of preferred stock of any series. Prior to issuance of shares of each series, our board of directors is required by the MGCL and our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each such series. Thus, our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of common or preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control in us that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. If we offer shares of preferred stock, the accompanying prospectus supplement will describe each of the following terms that may be applicable in respect of any preferred stock offered and issued pursuant to this prospectus:
| the specific designation, number of shares, seniority and purchase price; |
| any liquidation preference per share; |
| any maturity date; |
| any mandatory or optional redemption or repayment dates and terms or sinking fund provisions; |
| any dividend rate or rates and the dates on which any dividends will be payable (or the method by which such rates or dates will be determined); |
| any voting rights; |
| any rights to convert the preferred stock into other securities or rights, including a description of the securities or rights into which such preferred stock is convertible (which may include other shares of preferred stock) and the terms and conditions upon which such conversions will be effected, including, without limitation, conversion rates or formulas, conversion periods and other related provisions; |
| the place or places where dividends and other payments with respect to the preferred stock will be payable; and |
| any additional voting, dividend, liquidation, redemption and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions, including restrictions imposed for the purpose of maintaining our qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. |
We believe that the power of our board of directors, without stockholder approval, to amend our charter from time to time to increase the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue, to issue additional authorized but unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and to classify or reclassify unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and thereafter to cause us to issue such classified or reclassified shares of stock will provide us with flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs which might arise. The additional classes or series, as well as the common stock, will be available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless stockholder consent is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Although our board of directors does not intend to do so, it could authorize us to issue a class or series that could, depending upon the terms of the particular class or series, delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control in us that might involve a premium price for our stockholders or otherwise be in their best interest.
8
In order for us to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of our capital 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 (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made by us). In addition, if we, or one or more owners (actually or constructively) of 10% or more of us, actually or constructively owns 10% or more of a tenant of ours (or a tenant of any partnership in which we are a partner), the rent received by us (either directly or through any such partnership) from such tenant will not be qualifying income for purposes of the REIT gross income tests under the Code. Our capital stock must also be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made by us). For further discussion, see Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.
Our charter contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our capital stock. The relevant sections of our charter provide that, subject to the exceptions described below, no person or persons acting as a group may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than (i) 9.8% of the most restrictive of the number, voting power, or value of shares of our outstanding capital stock or (ii) 9.8% of the most restrictive of the number, voting power or value of our outstanding common stock. We refer to these restrictions as the capital stock ownership limit and the common stock ownership limit and collectively as the ownership limits.
The ownership attribution rules under the Code are complex and may cause stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be owned constructively by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.8% of our capital stock or our common stock (or the acquisition of an interest in an entity that owns, actually or constructively, our capital stock or our common stock) by an individual or entity, could, nevertheless cause that individual or entity, or another individual or entity, to own constructively in excess of 9.8% of our outstanding capital stock or our outstanding common stock and thereby result in a violation of the ownership limits.
Our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, waive (prospectively or retroactively) the ownership limits with respect to one or more stockholders if (i) it obtains such representations and undertakings as are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no individuals beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our capital stock will result in our being treated as closely held within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code or will otherwise cause us to fail to maintain our REIT qualification, and (ii) such stockholders do not, and represent that they will not, own, actually or constructively, an interest in any tenant of ours (or a tenant of any entity owned or controlled by us) that would cause us to own, actually or constructively, more than a 9.9% interest in such tenant. Such stockholders must also agree that any violation or attempted violation of these restrictions will result in the automatic transfer of the shares of capital stock causing the violation to a charitable trust.
As a condition of any grant of a waiver from the capital stock ownership limit or the common stock ownership limit, our board of directors may require an opinion of counsel or IRS ruling satisfactory to our board of directors.
In connection with the waiver of the capital stock ownership limit or the common stock ownership limit or at any other time, our board of directors may decrease the capital stock ownership limit or the common stock ownership limit for all other persons and entities. The decreased capital stock ownership limit or common stock ownership limit will not be effective for any person or entity whose ownership of our capital stock is in excess of such decreased ownership limit until such time as such person or entitys ownership falls below the decreased capital stock ownership limit or the common stock ownership limit, but any further acquisition of our common stock or other class or series of our capital stock, as the case may be, in excess of such capital stock ownership limit or the common stock ownership limit will be in violation of the capital stock ownership limit or common stock ownership limit. Additionally, any increase in the capital stock ownership limit may not allow five or fewer individuals (as defined for purposes of the REIT ownership restrictions under the Code) to beneficially own more than 49.9% of the value of our outstanding capital stock.
9
Our charter further prohibits:
| any person from actually or constructively owning shares of our capital stock that would result in us being closely held under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT; and |
| any person from transferring shares of our capital stock if such transfer would result in shares of our capital stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution). |
Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial or constructive ownership of our capital stock that will or may violate any of the foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will be required to give written notice immediately to us (or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transaction, at least 15 days prior written notice) and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of such transfer on our status as a REIT. The foregoing provisions 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 maintain our qualification as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions is no longer required to maintain our qualification as a REIT.
Pursuant to our charter, any attempted transfer of our capital stock which, if effective, would result in our stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons will be null and void. In addition, if any purported transfer of our stock or any other event would result in any person violating the capital stock ownership limit or the common stock ownership limit or our being closely held under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT, then the number of shares of capital stock in excess of the capital stock ownership limit or the common stock ownership limit or causing the violation (rounded to the nearest whole share) will be automatically transferred to, and held by, a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable organizations selected by us. In the event that the transfer to the trust would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation, however, any such purported transfer will be void and of no force or effect with respect to the purported transferee or owner (collectively referred to hereinafter as the purported owner) as to the number of shares of common stock or other class or series of capital stock in excess of the capital stock ownership limit or the common stock ownership limit or causing the violation. The trustee of the trust will be designated by us and must be unaffiliated with us and with any purported owner. The automatic transfer will be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the violative transfer or other event that results in a transfer to the trust. Shares of stock held in the trust will be issued and outstanding shares of stock of the Company. The purported owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any shares of stock held in the trust, shall have no rights to dividends and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares of stock held in the trust. The trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of stock held in the trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to our discovery that shares of stock have been transferred to the trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such dividend or distribution to the trustee upon demand, and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the trustee. Any dividend or distribution so paid to the trustee shall be held in trust for the charitable beneficiary.
Subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that such excess shares of capital stock are transferred to the charitable trust, the trustee shall have the authority (at the trustees sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a purported owner prior to our discovery that such shares have been transferred to the charitable trust and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the beneficiary of the trust, provided, however, that if we have already taken irreversible action, then the trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote.
Within 20 days of receiving notice from us of the transfer of shares of capital stock to the trust, the trustee must sell the shares to a person or entity designated by the trustee that could own the shares without violating the ownership limits or other restrictions. Upon receiving the proceeds of such sale, the trustee must distribute to the purported owner an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the price paid by the purported owner for the shares (or, if the purported owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the trust (e.g., a gift, devise or other such transaction), the market price (as
10
defined in the charter) of such shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the trust) and (ii) the net sales proceeds received by the trustee for the shares. The trustee may reduce the amount payable to the purported owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions which have been paid to the purported owner and are owed by the purported owner to the trustee. Any proceeds in excess of the amount distributable to the purported owner will be distributed to the charitable beneficiary. If, prior to our discovery that shares of capital stock have been transferred to the trustee, such shares are sold by a purported owner, then such shares will be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and, to the extent that the purported owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that the purported owner was entitled to receive, the purported owner must pay such excess to the trustee upon demand.
Shares of our capital stock that are transferred to the charitable trustee are deemed offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price paid by the purported owner for such shares (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the market price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the market price on the date we, or our designee, accepts such offer. We may reduce the amount payable to the purported owner by the amount of any distributions which have been paid to the purported owner and are owed by the purported owner to the trustee. We may pay the amount of such reduction to the trustee for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. We have the right to accept such offer until the trustee has sold the shares of our capital stock held in the trust pursuant to the charter provisions described in the immediately preceding paragraph. Upon a sale of such shares to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in such shares terminates and the trustee must distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the purported owner.
All persons who own, directly or by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, 5% or more (or such other percentage as provided in the regulations promulgated under the Code) of our outstanding stock must give written notice to us within 30 days after the end of each taxable year stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of each class and series of our stock which the owner beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which such shares are held. In addition, each stockholder will, upon demand, be required to disclose to us in writing such information with respect to the direct, indirect and constructive ownership of shares of our stock as our board of directors deems reasonably necessary to determine the effect of the stockholders constructive ownership on our REIT status, to ensure compliance with the capital stock ownership limit and to comply with the requirements or any taxing authority or governmental agency.
Any certificates representing shares of our capital stock shall bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.
These ownership limits could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control in EdR that might involve a premium price over the then prevailing market price for the holders of some, or a majority, of our outstanding shares of common stock (and certain other series or classes of capital stock that we may issue in the future) or which such holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interest.
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.
The following is a summary of certain provisions of Maryland law and of our charter and bylaws. See Where You Can Find More Information in this prospectus.
The Board of Directors. Our bylaws provide that the number of directors of our Company may be established by our board of directors but may not be fewer than the minimum number permitted under the MGCL (generally, one) nor more than 15. Any vacancy may be filled, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which such vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies.
Each member of our board of directors will serve a one-year term, with each current director serving until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. Our common stockholders will have no right to cumulative voting in the election of directors. Consequently, at
11
each annual meeting of stockholders, the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock will be able to elect all of the members of our board of directors. Moreover, our charter permits our stockholders to remove a director, but only for cause, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Business Combinations. Maryland law prohibits business combinations between a corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, certain transfers of assets, certain stock issuances and transfers, liquidation plans and reclassifications involving interested stockholders and their affiliates. Maryland law defines an interested stockholder as:
| any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock; or |
| an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding stock of the corporation. |
A person is not an interested stockholder if the board of directors approves in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving the transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board of directors.
After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
| 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of the then outstanding shares of voting stock; and |
| two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of the voting stock other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or shares held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder. |
These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.
The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are approved by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Pursuant to the statute, our board of directors has adopted a resolution (which resolution is reflected in our bylaws) exempting any transactions between us and any other person. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the super-majority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations involving us. Our bylaws provide that this exemption may only be revoked with the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by our common stockholders present and voting at a duly held meeting of our stockholders.
Control Share Acquisitions. The MGCL provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved at a special meeting by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares of stock in a corporation in respect of which any of the following persons is entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power of shares of stock of the corporation in the election of directors: (i) a person who makes or proposes to make a control share acquisition, (ii) an officer of the corporation or (iii) an employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other such shares of stock previously acquired by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power: (i) one-tenth or more but less than one-third, (ii) one-third or more but less than a majority, or (iii) a majority or more of all voting power. Control shares do not include shares that the
12
acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay expenses), may compel our board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the corporation may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of such shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of such appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.
The control share acquisition statute does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation. Our bylaws contain a provision exempting any and all acquisitions of shares of our stock from the control share provisions of the MGCL. The bylaws further prohibit the repeal, amendment or alteration of this bylaw provision without the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by our common stockholders present and voting at a duly held meeting of our stockholders.
Subtitle 8. Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to any or all of five provisions:
| a classified board; |
| a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director; |
| a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors; |
| a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred; and |
| a majority requirement for the calling by stockholders of a special meeting of stockholders. |
Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already (a) vest in the board the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships and (b) require, unless called by our chairman of the board of directors, our president, our chief executive officer or the board of directors, the request of holders of a majority of outstanding shares entitled to vote to call a special meeting. We have elected to be subject to the provisions of Subtitle 8 relating to the filling of vacancies on the board. Our charter prohibits us from electing in the future to classify our board of directors without the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by our stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Amendment to our charter. Our charter may be amended only if declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, other than amendments to provisions relating to the removal of directors or the vote required for certain amendments, which must be declared advisable by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Dissolution of our Company. The dissolution of our Company must be declared advisable by a majority of the entire board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
13
Advance notice of director nominations and new business. Our bylaws provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only:
| pursuant to our notice of the meeting; |
| by, or at the direction of, our board of directors; or |
| by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws. |
With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our Companys notice of meeting may be brought before the meeting of stockholders, unless otherwise provided by law.
Nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors at any special meeting of stockholders may be made only:
| by, or at the direction of, our board of directors; or |
| provided that our board of directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such special meeting, by any stockholder who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws. |
Anti-takeover effect of certain provisions of Maryland law and of our charter and bylaws. The provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock and the advance notice provisions of our bylaws could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control in EdR that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. Likewise, if our board of directors resolves to avail the corporation of any of the provisions of Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL not currently applicable to us (with the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by our stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors in the case of the classified board provisions of Subtitle 8) or if the resolution of our board of directors opting out of the business combination provisions of the MGCL or the provision in the bylaws opting out of the control share acquisition provisions of the MGCL were rescinded (with the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by our common stockholders present and voting at a duly held meeting of our stockholders), these provisions of the MGCL could have similar anti-takeover effects.
Indemnification and limitation of directors and officers liability. Maryland law permits us to include in our charter a provision limiting the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (i) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (ii) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and material to the cause of action. Our charter contains a provision that eliminates directors and officers liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
14
The MGCL requires a corporation unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not, to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:
| an act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and: |
º | was committed in bad faith; or |
º | was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; |
| the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or |
| in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. |
However, under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, the MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporations receipt of:
| a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and |
| a written undertaking by the director or officer or on the directors or officers behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer did not meet the standard of conduct. |
Our charter authorizes us to obligate our Company and our bylaws obligate us, to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to:
| any present or former director or officer who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or |
| any individual who, while a director or officer of our Company and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee and who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. |
Our bylaws also authorize us, subject to approval from our board of directors or a committee thereof, to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of ours in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of our Company or a predecessor of our Company.
The partnership agreements of our Operating Partnership and University Towers Partnership provide that we, as the sole owner of the general partner of our Operating Partnership and the sole general partner of our University Towers Partnership, and our officers and directors are indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law.
15
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, which will more fully describe the terms of those depositary shares. 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 to be issued 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. The particular terms of the depositary shares offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may not apply to the depositary shares so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such securities. You should refer to, and read this summary together with, the deposit agreement and related depositary receipt. You can obtain copies of any form of deposit agreement or other agreement pursuant to which the depositary shares are issued by following the directions described under the caption Where You Can Find More Information in the accompanying prospectus.
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of our preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to such preferred stock in proportion to the number of such depositary shares owned by such holders. The depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent, and the balance not so distributed shall be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to record holders of depositary shares.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares entitled thereto, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.
The deposit agreement will also contain provisions relating to the manner in which any subscription or similar rights offered by us to holders of our preferred stock shall be made available to the holders of depositary shares.
If a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of such series of preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to such series of preferred stock. Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock so redeemed. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the depositary.
After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the money, securities or other property payable upon such redemption and any money, securities or other property to which the holders of such depositary shares were entitled upon such redemption upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing such depositary shares.
16
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in such notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of such depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for our preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of preferred stock represented by such holders depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will agree to take all action which may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary may abstain from voting shares of preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between the depositary and us. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us or the depositary only if (i) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or (ii) there has been a final distribution in respect of our preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of our preferred stock and any redemption of our preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and such other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.
The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from EdR that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to holders of preferred stock.
Neither the depositary nor EdR will be liable if it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the depositary and EdR under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of their duties thereunder and they will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. They may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the depositary, any such resignation or removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal.
The deposit agreement will contain provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of depositary shares. Such restrictions will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and will be referenced on the applicable depositary receipts.
17
We may offer by means of this prospectus warrants for the purchase of the common stock, preferred stock and/or depositary shares offered by this prospectus. We may issue warrants separately or together with any other securities offered by means of this prospectus, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent specified therein or the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the 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 warrants.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, where applicable, of the warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
| the title and issuer of such warrants; |
| the aggregate number of such warrants; |
| the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued; |
| the currencies in which the price or prices of such warrants may be payable; |
| the designation, amount and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants; |
| if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants will be separately transferable; |
| the price or prices at which and currency or currencies in which the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased; |
| the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| a discussion of material federal income tax consequences; and |
| any other material terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants. |
18
We may issue subscription rights to purchase one or more series or classes of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and depositary shares. We may issue subscription rights independently or together with any other offered security, which may or may not be transferable by the stockholder. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
The accompanying prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights we may offer will contain the specific terms of the subscription rights. These terms may include the following:
| the price, if any, for the subscription rights; |
| the exercise price payable for common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or depositary shares upon the exercise of the subscription rights; |
| the number of subscription rights issued to each security holder; |
| the number and terms of the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or depositary shares which may be purchased per each subscription right; |
| the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable; |
| any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the subscription rights or the exercise price of the subscription rights; |
| any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights; |
| the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire; |
| the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and |
| if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights. |
The description in the accompanying prospectus supplement of any subscription rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable subscription rights certificate or subscription rights agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer subscription rights. For more information on how you can obtain copies of any subscription rights certificate or subscription rights agreement if we offer subscription rights, see Where You Can Find More Information in this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable subscription rights certificate, the applicable subscription rights agreement and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.
19
The debt securities will be issued in one or more series under an indenture to be entered into among the Operating Partnership, the Company, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. References herein to the Indenture refer to such indenture and references to the Trustee refer to such trustee or any other trustee for any particular series of debt securities issued under the Indenture. The terms of the debt securities of any series will be those specified in or pursuant to the Indenture and in the applicable debt securities of that series and those made part of the Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act.
The following description of selected provisions of the Indenture and the debt securities is not complete, and the description of selected terms of the debt securities of a particular series included in the applicable prospectus supplement also will not be complete. You should review the form of the Indenture and the form of the applicable debt securities, which forms have been or will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or as exhibits to documents which have been or will be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. To obtain a copy of the form of the Indenture or the form of the applicable debt securities, see Where You Can Find More Information in this prospectus. The following description of debt securities and the description of the debt securities of the particular series in the applicable prospectus supplement are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the Indenture and the applicable debt securities, which provisions, including defined terms, are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this section shall have the meanings assigned to those terms in the Indenture.
The following description of debt securities describes general terms and provisions of the series of debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. When the debt securities of a particular series are offered for sale, the specific terms of such debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any particular terms of such debt securities described in a prospectus supplement are inconsistent with any of the terms of the debt securities generally described in this prospectus, then the terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supersede the terms described in this prospectus.
The debt securities of each series will constitute the unsecured unsubordinated obligations of the Operating Partnership and will rank on parity in right of payment with all of its other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The Operating Partnership may issue an unlimited principal amount of debt securities under the Indenture. The Indenture provides that debt securities of any series may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount which may be authorized from time to time by the Operating Partnership. Please read the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of the particular series being offered thereby for the specific terms of such debt securities, including, where applicable:
| the title of the series of debt securities; |
| the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the series and any limit thereon; |
| the date or dates on which the Operating Partnership will pay the principal of and premium, if any, on debt securities of the series, or the method or methods, if any, used to determine such date or dates; |
| the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which debt securities of the series will bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, used to determine such rate or rates; |
| the basis used to calculate interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series if other than a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; |
| the date or dates, if any, from which interest on the debt securities of the series will accrue, or the method or methods, if any, used to determine such date or dates; |
| the date or dates, if any, on which the interest on the debt securities of the series will be payable and the record dates for any such payment of interest; |
20
| the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Operating Partnership is required to, or may, at its option, redeem debt securities of the series; |
| the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Operating Partnership will be required to repay debt securities of the series at the option of the holders of debt securities of the series; |
| the terms of any sinking fund or analogous provision; |
| the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities of the series which will be payable upon acceleration if other than the full principal amount; |
| the authorized denominations in which the series of debt securities will be issued, if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
| the place or places where (1) amounts due on the debt securities of the series will be payable, (2) the debt securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer and exchange and (3) notices or demands to or upon the Operating Partnership in respect of the debt securities of the series or the Indenture may be served, if different than the corporate trust office of the Trustee; |
| if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which purchases of, and payments on, the debt securities of the series must be made and the ability, if any, of the Operating Partnership or the holders of debt securities of the series to elect for payments to be made in any other currency or currencies; |
| whether the amount of payments on the debt securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula, or other method or methods (any of those debt securities being referred to as Indexed Securities) and the manner used to determine those amounts; |
| any addition to, modification of, or deletion of, any covenant or Event of Default with respect to debt securities of the series; |
| the identity of the depositary for the global debt securities; |
| the circumstances under which the Operating Partnership will pay Additional Amounts on the debt securities of the series in respect of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge and whether the Operating Partnership will have the option to redeem such debt securities rather than pay the Additional Amounts; |
| the circumstances under which the Company will pay Additional Amounts on any payment made on the debt securities of the series pursuant to its guarantee of the debt securities of the series; and |
| any other terms of debt securities of the series. |
As used in this prospectus, references to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of a series include Additional Amounts, if any, payable on the debt securities of such series in that context.
The Operating Partnership may issue debt securities as original issue discount securities to be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. In the event of an acceleration of the maturity of any original issue discount security, the amount payable to the holder upon acceleration will be determined in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Important federal income tax and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The terms of the debt securities of any series may be inconsistent with the terms of the debt securities of any other series, and the terms of particular debt securities within any series may be inconsistent with each other. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Operating Partnership may, without the consent of, or notice to, the holders of the debt securities of any series, reopen an existing series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series.
21
Other than to the extent provided with respect to the debt securities of a particular series and described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Indenture will not contain any provisions that would limit our ability or the ability of the Operating Partnership to incur indebtedness or to substantially reduce or eliminate our consolidated assets, which may have a materially adverse effect on our ability or the ability of the Operating Partnership to service our or the Operating Partnerships 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 or our affiliates. |
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of debt securities will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be payable and may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange at an office of the Operating Partnership or an agent of the Operating Partnership in The City of New York. However, the Operating Partnership, at its option, may make payments of interest on any interest payment date on any debt security by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to receive that payment or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States.
Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date with respect to the debt securities of any series will forthwith cease to be payable to the holders of those debt securities on the applicable regular record date and may either be paid to the persons in whose names those debt securities are 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 holders of those debt securities 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 completely described in the Indenture.
Subject to certain limitations imposed on 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 designated place or places. 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 registration of transfer or exchange thereof at the designated place or places if duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, redemption or repayment of debt securities, but the Operating Partnership may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with certain of those transactions.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Operating Partnership will not be required to:
| issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of debt securities of that series of like tenor and terms to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of that selection; |
| register the transfer of or exchange any debt security, or portion of any debt security, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part; or |
| issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the holder, except the portion, if any, of the debt security not to be repaid. |
22
In determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding debt securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver under the Indenture:
| the principal amount of an original issue discount security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for these purposes shall be that portion of the principal amount of the original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the original issue discount security as of the date of the determination, |
| the principal amount of any Indexed Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for these purposes shall be the principal amount of the Indexed Security determined on the date of its original issuance, |
| the principal amount of a debt security denominated in a foreign currency shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on the date of its original issuance, of the principal amount of the debt security, and |
| a debt security owned by the Operating Partnership, the Company or any obligor on the debt security or any affiliate of the Operating Partnership, the Company or such other obligor shall be deemed not to be outstanding. |
The debt securities of any series may be redeemable at the Operating Partnerships option or may be subject to mandatory redemption by the Operating Partnership as required by a sinking fund or otherwise. In addition, the debt securities of any series may be subject to repayment by the Operating Partnership at the option of the holders. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions regarding any optional or mandatory redemption or option to repay the debt securities of the related series.
The Operating Partnerships payment obligations under the debt securities will be irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis by the Company. The guarantee will be the Companys direct obligation, ranking equally and ratably with all of its existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, other than obligations mandatorily preferred by law.
Any material covenants applicable to the debt securities of the applicable series will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of any series is defined in the Indenture as being:
(1) | default for 30 days in the payment of any interest on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any interest on, any debt security of that series; |
(2) | default in the payment of any principal of or premium, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on, any debt security of such series when due (whether at Maturity or otherwise and whether payable in cash or in shares of Common Equity or other securities or property); |
(3) | default for three Business Days in the deposit of any sinking fund payment or payment under any analogous provision when due with respect to any debt security of that series; |
(4) | the guarantee of the Company is not (or is claimed by the Company not to be) in full force and effect with respect to the debt securities of such series; |
(5) | default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Operating Partnership or the Company, as the case may be, in the Indenture or any debt security of that series not covered |
23
elsewhere in this section or the guarantee of the Company, other than a covenant or warranty included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series, which shall not have been remedied for a period of 60 days after written notice by the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding; |
(6) | default under any bond, debenture, promissory note, mortgage, indenture or debt instrument of the Operating Partnership or any of its Group Subsidiaries with an aggregate principal amount outstanding of at least $35 million; which default has resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled within a period of 60 days after written notice to us as provided in the indenture; |
(7) | specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization with respect to the Operating Partnership or the Company; or |
(8) | any other Event of Default established for the debt securities of that series. |
As used in this section, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.
No Event of Default with respect to any particular series of debt securities necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The Trustee is required to give notice to holders of the debt securities of the applicable series within 60 days after the Trustee has actual knowledge (as such knowledge is described in the Indenture) of a default relating to such debt securities.
If an Event of Default specified in clause (7) above occurs, then the principal of all the outstanding debt securities and unpaid interest, if any, accrued thereon shall automatically become immediately due and payable. If any other Event of Default with respect to the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding may declare the principal of, or if debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of that series of debt securities, and unpaid interest, if any, accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately. However, upon specified conditions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding may rescind and annul any such declaration of acceleration and its consequences.
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 the appointment of a receiver or Trustee, 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 at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, as well as an offer of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it, and no inconsistent direction has been given to the Trustee during such 60 day period by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, each holder of a debt security will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, and any Additional Amounts on that debt security on the respective due dates for those payments and to institute suit for the enforcement of those payments and any right to effect such exchange, and this right shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.
Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act requiring the Trustee, during the continuance of an Event of Default under the Indenture, to act with the requisite standard of care, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities of any series unless those holders have offered the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will 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, provided that
24
the direction would not conflict with any rule or law or with the Indenture or with any series of debt securities, such direction would not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder of debt securities of that series (or the debt securities of any other series), and the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
Within 150 days after the close of each fiscal year, the Operating Partnership and the Company, as guarantor, must deliver to the Trustee an officers certificate stating whether or not each certifying officer has knowledge of any Event of Default or default which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default under the Indenture and, if so, specifying each such default and the nature and status thereof; provided that any default that results solely from the taking of an action that would have been permitted but for the continuation of a previous default will be deemed to be cured if such previous default is cured prior to becoming an Event of Default.
The Indenture permits the Operating Partnership, the Company, as guarantor, and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series issued under the Indenture and affected by a modification or amendment (voting as separate classes), to modify or amend any of the provisions of the Indenture or of the debt securities of the applicable series or the rights of the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series under the Indenture. However, no modification or amendment shall, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:
| change the stated maturity of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, any debt securities, or |
| reduce the principal of or any premium on any debt securities or reduce the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest on or the redemption or repurchase price of any debt securities, or any Additional Amounts with respect to any debt securities or related guarantee, or change the Operating Partnerships or the Companys obligation to pay Additional Amounts, or |
| reduce the amount of principal of any original issue discount securities that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity of any debt security, or |
| adversely affect any right of repayment or repurchase at the option of any holder, or |
| release the Company, as guarantor, from any of its obligations under its guarantee or the Indenture, or |
| change any place where, or the currency in which, any debt securities are payable, or |
| impair the holders right to institute suit to enforce the payment of any debt securities on or after their stated maturity, or |
| reduce the percentage of the outstanding debt securities of any series whose holders must consent to any modification or amendment or any waiver of compliance with specific provisions of such Indenture or specified defaults under the Indenture and their consequences, or |
| reduce the requirements for a quorum or voting at a meeting of holders of the applicable debt securities. |
The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Operating Partnership, the Company, as guarantor, and the Trustee, without the consent of the holders of any debt securities, to modify or amend the Indenture, among other things:
| to add to the Events of Default or covenants in a manner that benefits the holders of all or any series of debt securities issued under the Indenture; |
| to provide for security of debt securities of any series or add guarantees in favor of debt securities of any series; |
25
| to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series, and the form of the guarantee of debt securities of any series; |
| to cure any mistake, ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision in the Indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with other provisions in the Indenture, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture, or to make any change necessary to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, in each case which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of debt securities; |
| to amend or supplement any provision contained in the Indenture, provided that the amendment or supplement does not apply to any outstanding debt securities issued before the date of the amendment or supplement and entitled to the benefits of that provision; or |
| to conform the terms of the Indenture, the debt securities of a series or the related guarantee to the description thereof contained in any prospectus or other offering document or memorandum relating to the offer and sale of those securities. |
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive the Operating Partnerships or the Companys compliance with some of the restrictive provisions of the Indenture, which may include covenants, if any, which are specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive any continuing default under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series and its consequences, except a default which is continuing (i) in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, the debt securities of that series, or (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the affected series.
The Indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of a series of debt securities. A meeting may be called at any time by the Trustee, and also, upon the Operating Partnerships request, or the request of holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series. Notice of a meeting must be given in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. Except for any consent which must be given by the holder of each outstanding debt security affected in the manner described above, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum, as described below, is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series. However, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action which may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage, other than a majority, in aggregate 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 aggregate 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 aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series, subject to exceptions; 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 a supermajority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding or representing that specified supermajority percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series will constitute a quorum.
Upon the Operating Partnerships direction, the Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the debt securities of any series specified by the Operating Partnership and the related guarantee, subject to the survival of specified provisions of the Indenture, including (unless the accompanying prospectus supplement provides otherwise) the Operating Partnerships obligation to repay such debt securities at the
26
option of the holders thereof, if applicable, and the Operating Partnerships obligation to pay Additional Amounts in respect of such debt securities to the extent described below, when:
| either |
(A) | all outstanding debt securities of that series have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, subject to exceptions, or |
(B) | all debt securities of that series have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and the Operating Partnership has deposited with the Trustee, in trust, funds in the currency in which the debt securities of that series are payable in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of that series, including the principal thereof and, premium, if any, and interest, if any, thereon, and, to the extent that (x) the debt securities of that series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts and (y) the amount of any Additional Amounts which are or will be payable is at the time of deposit reasonably determinable by the Operating Partnership, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, those Additional Amounts, to the date of such deposit, if the debt securities of that series have become due and payable, or to the maturity or redemption date of the debt securities of that series, as the case may be; |
| the Operating Partnership has paid all other sums payable under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series (including amounts payable to the Trustee); and |
| the Trustee has received an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel to the effect that all conditions precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture in respect of the debt securities of such series have been satisfied. |
If the debt securities of any series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Operating Partnership will remain obligated, following the deposit described above, to pay Additional Amounts on those debt securities to the extent that they exceed the amount deposited in respect of those Additional Amounts as described above.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Operating Partnership may elect with respect to the debt securities of the particular series either:
| to defease and discharge itself and the Company, as guarantor, from any and all obligations with respect to those debt securities (legal defeasance), except for, among other things: |
(A) | the obligation to pay Additional Amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of specified events of taxation, assessment, or governmental charge with respect to payments on those debt securities to the extent that those Additional Amounts exceed the amount deposited in respect of those amounts as provided below, |
(B) | the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of those debt securities, |
(C) | the obligation to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen debt securities, |
(D) | the obligation to maintain an office or agent of the Operating Partnership in The City of New York, in respect of those debt securities, |
(E) | the obligation to hold moneys for payment in respect of those debt securities in trust, and |
(F) | the obligation, if applicable, to repurchase those debt securities at the option of the holders thereof, or |
| to be released from its obligations and to release the Company, as guarantor, of its obligations with respect to those debt securities under (A) certain covenants in the Indenture related to the preservation of the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Operating Partnership |
27
and the Company and (B) if applicable, other covenants as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, 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), |
in either case upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee, or other qualifying Trustee, in trust for that purpose, of an amount in the currency in which those debt securities are payable at maturity or, if applicable, upon redemption, and/or government obligations (as defined in the Indenture) which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and any premium and any interest on, and, to the extent that (x) those debt securities provide for the payment of Additional Amounts and (y) the amount of the Additional Amounts which are or will be payable is at the time of deposit reasonably determinable by the Operating Partnership, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, the Additional Amounts with respect to, those debt securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments on those debt securities, on the due dates for those payments, whether at maturity, upon redemption, upon repayment at the option of the holder or otherwise.
The legal defeasance or covenant defeasance described above shall only be effective if, among other things:
| it shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Operating Partnership or the Company, as guarantor, is a party or is bound; |
| in the case of legal defeasance, the Operating Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that: |
(A) | the Operating Partnership has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or |
(B) | since the date of the Indenture, there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law, |
in either case to the effect that, and based on this ruling or change the opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the legal 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 the legal defeasance had not occurred;
| in the case of covenant defeasance, the Operating Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the 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 the covenant defeasance had not occurred; |
| if the cash and government obligations deposited are sufficient to pay the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series on a particular redemption date, the Operating Partnership shall have given the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem those debt securities on that date; |
| no Event of Default or default which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of the applicable series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of the deposit into trust; and, solely in the case of legal defeasance, no Event of Default arising from specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization with respect to the Operating Partnership or the Company, as guarantor or default which with notice or lapse of time or both would become such an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of the deposit into trust; and |
| the Operating Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers certificate and legal opinion to the effect that all conditions precedent to the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, have been satisfied. |
28
In the event the Operating Partnership effects covenant defeasance with respect to debt securities of any series and those debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default other than an Event of Default with respect to the covenants as to which covenant defeasance has been effected, which covenants would no longer be applicable to the debt securities of that series after covenant defeasance, the amount of monies and/or government obligations deposited with the Trustee to effect covenant defeasance may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of any acceleration resulting from that Event of Default. However, the Operating Partnership would remain liable to make payment of those amounts due at the time of acceleration.
29
We may issue the securities offered by means of this prospectus in whole or in part in book-entry form, meaning that beneficial owners of the securities will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the securities, except in the event the book-entry system for the securities is discontinued. If securities are issued in book entry form, they will be evidenced by one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the securities. The Depository Trust Company is expected to serve as depository. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual securities represented thereby, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository for the global security to a nominee of such depository or by a nominee of such depository to such depository or another nominee of such depository or by the depository or any nominee of such depository to a successor depository or a nominee of such successor. 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 class or series of securities that differ from the terms described here will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we anticipate that the following provisions will apply to depositary arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary for the global security or its nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of the individual securities represented by such global security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with such depositary, who are called participants. Such accounts shall be designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to the securities or by us if the securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to the depositarys participants or persons that may hold interests through such participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the applicable depositary or its nominee (with respect to beneficial interests of participants) and records of the participants (with respect to beneficial interests of persons who hold through participants). The laws of some states require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and laws may impair the ability to own, pledge or transfer beneficial interest in a global security.
So long as the depositary for a global security or its nominee is the registered owner of such global security, such depositary or nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by such global security for all purposes under the applicable instrument defining the rights of a holder of the securities. Except as provided below or in the applicable prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interest in a global security will not be entitled to have any of the individual securities of the series represented by such global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable instrument defining the rights of the holders of the securities.
Payments of amounts payable with respect to individual securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security representing such securities. None of us, our officers and trustees or any paying agent, rights agent, warrant agent, units agent or security registrar for an individual series of securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security for such securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary for a series of securities offered by means of this prospectus or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest, dividend or other amount in respect of a permanent global security representing any of such securities, will immediately credit its participants accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global security for such securities as shown on the records of such depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such global security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case
30
with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in street name. Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.
If a depositary for a series of securities at any time is unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue individual securities of such series in exchange for the global security representing such series of securities. In addition, we, at any time and in our sole discretion, but subject to any limitations described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such securities, may determine not to have any securities of such series represented by one or more global securities and, in such event, will issue individual securities of such series in exchange for the global security or securities representing such series of securities.
31
We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Education Realty Operating Partnership, LP, as amended, which we refer to as the partnership agreement. This summary is not complete. For more detail, you should refer to the partnership agreement itself. See Where to Find Additional Information for information on how to obtain documents from us, including the partnership agreement. For purposes of this section, references to we, our, us, and our company refer to Education Realty Trust, Inc. in our capacity as the sole owner of Education Realty OP GP, Inc., the general partner of the Operating Partnership, or the general partner.
Our Operating Partnership, Education Realty Operating Partnership, LP, is a Delaware limited partnership that was formed on July 12, 2004. We are the sole owner of the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of September 30, 2014, we owned 99.4% of the units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership, which we refer to as OP Units. We conduct substantially all of our business through the Operating Partnership. As sole owner of the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, we exercise exclusive and complete responsibility and discretion in the day-to-day management and control of our Operating Partnership. We have the power to cause our Operating Partnership to enter into certain major transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions and refinancings, subject to certain limited exceptions. The limited partners of our Operating Partnership may not transact business for, or participate in the management activities or decisions of, our Operating Partnership, except as provided in the partnership agreement and as required by applicable law. Certain restrictions under the partnership agreement restrict our ability to engage in a business combination, as more fully described in Restrictions on Mergers, Sales, Transfers and Other Significant Transactions below.
Under the terms of the partnership agreement, the limited partners of our Operating Partnership expressly acknowledge that we, as the sole owner of the sole general partner of our Operating Partnership, are acting for the benefit of our Operating Partnership, the limited partners and our stockholders collectively. Our Company is under no obligation to give priority to the separate interests of the limited partners or our stockholders in deciding whether to cause our Operating Partnership to take or decline to take any actions. If there is a conflict between the interests of our stockholders on one hand and the limited partners on the other, we will endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either our stockholders or the limited partners. However, for so long as we own a controlling interest in our Operating Partnership, any conflict that cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either our stockholders or the limited partners shall be resolved in favor of our stockholders. We are not liable under the Partnership agreement to our Operating Partnership or to any partner for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred, or benefits not derived by limited partners in connection with such decisions, provided that we have acted in good faith.
All of our business activities, including all activities pertaining to the acquisition and operation of properties, must be conducted through our Operating Partnership, and our Operating Partnership must be operated in a manner that will enable us to satisfy the requirements for being classified as a REIT.
Except in connection with a transfer to an affiliate of the general partner or a transaction described in Termination transactions below, the general partner, may not voluntarily withdraw from our Operating Partnership, or transfer or assign all or any portion of our interest in our Operating Partnership.
Amendments to the partnership agreement may be proposed by us, as the sole owner of the general partner, or by limited partners owning at least 25% of the units held by limited partners.
32
Generally, the partnership agreement may be amended, modified or terminated with the approval of partners holding more than 50% of all outstanding units (including the units held by us as the sole owner of the general partner). As the sole owner of the general partner, we will have the power to unilaterally make certain amendments to the partnership agreement without obtaining the consent of the limited partners as may be required to:
| reflect the issuance of additional units or the admission, substitution, termination or withdrawal of partners in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement; |
| reflect a change of an inconsequential nature that does not change the substance of the agreement, or cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions of the Partnership agreement not inconsistent with law or with other provisions of the Partnership agreement, or make other changes concerning matters under the Partnership agreement that will not otherwise be inconsistent with the Partnership agreement or law; |
| satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines of federal or state law; |
| reflect changes that are reasonably necessary for us, as sole owner of the general partner, to maintain our status as a REIT; or |
| modify the manner in which capital accounts are computed. |
Amendments that would, among other things, convert a limited partners interest into a general partners interest, modify the limited liability of a limited partner, alter a partners right to receive any distributions or allocations of profits or losses, or materially alter or modify the redemption rights described below must be approved by more than 50% of all outstanding units.
The partnership agreement provides that holders of units are entitled to receive quarterly distributions of available cash as determined by us, the sole owner of the general partner, in our sole discretion.
Limited partners who acquire units have the right to require our Operating Partnership to redeem part or all of their units for cash based upon the fair market value of an equivalent number of shares of our Companys common stock at the time of the redemption. No limited partner, however, may require any redemption until such limited partner has held its units for not less than one year. Alternatively, we may elect to acquire those units in exchange for shares of our Companys common stock. Our acquisition will be on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, issuance of stock rights, specified extraordinary distributions and similar events. Limited partners who hold units may exercise this redemption right once per calendar quarter, a minimum of 1,000 units (or all units owned if less than 1,000 units), at any time following the one-year anniversary of such limited partners acquisition of its units, except when, as a consequence of shares of our common stock being issued, any persons actual or constructive stock ownership would exceed our Companys ownership limits, or any other limit as provided in our charter or as otherwise determined by our Board of Directors as described under the section entitled Description of Capital Stock Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.
As the sole owner of the general partner, we have authority to make tax elections under the Code on behalf of our Operating Partnership. In addition, we are the tax matters partner of our Operating Partnership.
The net income or net loss of our Operating Partnership will generally be allocated to us, as sole owner of the general partner, and the limited partners in accordance with our respective percentage interests in our Operating Partnership. However, in some cases losses may be disproportionately allocated to partners who have guaranteed debt of our Operating Partnership. The allocations described above are subject to special allocations relating to depreciation deductions and to compliance with the provisions of Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and the associated Treasury Regulations.
33
The partnership agreement provides that, as the sole owner of the general partner, will determine and distribute all available cash, which includes, without limitation, the net operating cash revenues of our Operating Partnership, as well as the net sales and refinancing proceeds, quarterly, pro rata in accordance with the partners percentage interests.
The partnership agreement also provides that our Operating Partnership will assume and pay when due, or reimburse us for payment of, all costs and expenses relating to the operations of, or for the benefit of, our Operating Partnership.
The partnership agreement provides that we, as the sole owner of the general partner of the Operating Partnership, may not merge, consolidate or otherwise combine our assets with another entity, in a transaction in which we are not the surviving entity or sell all or substantially all of our assets, or reclassify, recapitalize or change the terms of our outstanding common equity interests without the consent of limited partners holding more than 50% of the outstanding limited partner OP units other than us, unless:
| all limited partners will receive, or have the right to elect to receive, for each unit an amount of cash, securities, or other property equal to the product of: |
º | the number of shares of our Companys common stock into which each unit is then exchangeable; and |
º | the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid to the holder of one share of our Companys common stock in consideration of one share of our common stock pursuant to the termination transaction; |
provided that, if, in connection with a termination transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer is made to and accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, each holder of units will receive, or will have the right to elect to receive, the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property which such holder would have received had it exercised its redemption right and received shares of our common stock in exchange for its units immediately prior to the expiration of such purchase, tender or exchange offer and accepted such purchase, tender or exchange offer; or
| the following conditions are met: |
º | substantially all of the assets of the successor or surviving entity, which we refer to as the Surviving Partner, other than units held by us, are contributed to our Operating Partnership as a capital contribution in exchange for units with a fair market value equal to the value of the assets so contributed as determined by the Surviving Partner in good faith; and |
º | the Surviving Partner or one of its subsidiaries expressly agrees to assume all of our obligations under the Partnership agreement. |
Our Operating Partnership will continue in full force and effect until it is dissolved in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement or as otherwise provided by law.
34
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the partnership agreement indemnifies us, as the sole owner of the general partner, and our officers, directors, employees, agents and any other persons we may designate from and against any and all claims arising from operations of our Operating Partnership in which any indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, unless it is established that:
| the act or omission of the indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and either was committed in bad faith or fraud or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; |
| the indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or |
| in the case of any criminal proceeding, the indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. |
In any event, we, as the sole owner of the general partner of our Operating Partnership, and our officers, directors, agents or employees, are not liable or accountable to our Operating Partnership for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived as a result of errors in judgment or mistakes of fact or law or any act or omission so long as we acted in good faith.
35
This section summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that you, as a prospective investor, may consider relevant in connection with the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock or our debt securities and our election to be taxed as a REIT. As used in this section, and except relating to discussion of our debt securities, the terms we and our refer solely to Education Realty Trust, Inc. and not to our subsidiaries and affiliates, which have not elected to be taxed as REITs for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
This discussion does not exhaust all possible tax considerations and does not provide a detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax considerations. Nor does this discussion address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to particular investors in light of their personal investment or tax circumstances, or to certain types of investors that are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, broker-dealers, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, persons holding our stock or debt securities as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction, constructive sale or conversion transaction, non-U.S. individuals and foreign corporations and other persons subject to special tax rules. Moreover, this summary assumes that our investors hold our common stock or debt securities as a capital asset for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which generally means property held for investment.
The statements in this section are based on the current U.S. federal income tax laws, including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department or the Treasury Regulations, rulings and other administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion is for general purposes only and is not tax advice. We cannot assure you that new laws, interpretations of law, or court decisions, any of which may take effect retroactively, will not cause any statement in this section to be inaccurate.
We urge you to consult your own tax advisor regarding the specific tax consequences to you of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock or debt securities and of our election to be taxed as a REIT. Specifically, you are encouraged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, foreign, and other tax consequences of such acquisition, ownership, disposition and election, and regarding potential changes in applicable tax laws.
We elected to be taxed as a REIT under the federal income tax laws beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 2005. We believe that, beginning with such taxable year, we have been organized and have operated in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code, and we intend to continue to operate in such a manner. However, no assurances can be provided regarding our qualification as a REIT because such qualification depends on our ability to satisfy numerous asset, income, stock ownership and distribution tests described below, the satisfaction of which will depend, in part, on our operating results.
The sections of the Code relating to qualification, operation and taxation as a REIT are highly technical and complex. The following discussion sets forth only the material aspects of those sections. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions and the related Treasury Regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof.
In connection with the filing of this registration statement, Morrison & Foerster LLP has rendered an opinion that we have been organized and have operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the U.S. federal income tax laws for our taxable years ended December 31, 2009 through December 31, 2013, and our current and proposed method of operation will enable us to satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the U.S. federal income tax laws for our taxable year ending December 31, 2014 and thereafter. Investors should be aware that Morrison & Foerster LLPs opinion is based on the U.S. federal income tax laws governing qualification as a REIT as of the date of such opinion, which is subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, is not binding on the IRS or any court, and speaks only as of the date issued. In addition, Morrison & Foerster LLPs opinion is based on customary assumptions and is conditioned upon certain representations made by us as to factual matters,
36
including representations regarding the nature of our assets and the future conduct of our business. Moreover, our continued qualification and taxation as a REIT depend on our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, through actual results, certain qualification tests set forth in the U.S. federal income tax laws. Those qualification tests involve, among other things, the percentage of our gross income that we earn from specified sources, the percentage of our assets that falls within specified categories, the diversity of our stock ownership and the percentage of our earnings that we distribute. Morrison & Foerster LLP will not review our compliance with those tests on a continuing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any particular taxable year will satisfy such requirements. Morrison & Foerster LLPs opinion does not foreclose the possibility that we may have to use one or more of the REIT savings provisions described below, which may require us to pay a material excise or penalty tax in order to maintain our REIT qualification. For a discussion of the tax consequences of our failure to maintain our qualification as a REIT, see Failure to Qualify as a REIT below.
If we qualify as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the taxable income that we distribute to our stockholders because we will be entitled to a deduction for dividends that we pay. Such tax treatment avoids the double taxation, or taxation at both the corporate and stockholder levels, that generally results from owning stock in a corporation. In general, income generated by a REIT is taxed only at the stockholder level if such income is distributed by the REIT to its stockholders. However, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the following circumstances:
| We will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on any REIT taxable income, including net capital gain, that we do not distribute to our stockholders during, or within a specified time period after, the calendar year in which the income is earned. |
| We may be subject to corporate alternative minimum tax. |
| We will be subject to tax, at the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate, on net income from the sale or other disposition of property acquired through foreclosure (foreclosure property) that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, and other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property. |
| We will be subject to a 100% tax on net income from sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. |
| If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, as described below under Gross Income Tests, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because we meet certain other requirements, we will be subject to a 100% tax on: |
º | the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, in either case, multiplied by |
º | a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. |
| If we fail to distribute during a calendar year at least the sum of: (1) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, (2) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year, and (3) any undistributed taxable income required to be distributed from earlier periods, then we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amount we actually distributed. |
| If we fail any of the asset tests, other than a de minimis failure of the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test or the 10% value test, as described below under Asset Tests, as long as (1) the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, (2) we file a description of each asset that caused such failure with the IRS, and (3) we dispose of the assets causing the failure or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify such failure, we will pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate (currently 35%) multiplied by the net income from the nonqualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy the asset tests. |
37
| If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, and such failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. |
| We will be subject to a 100% excise tax on transactions with a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, that are not conducted on an arms-length basis. |
| If we acquire any asset from a C corporation, or a corporation that generally is subject to full corporate-level tax, in a merger or other transaction in which we acquire a basis in the asset that is determined by reference either to the C corporations basis in the asset or to another asset, we will pay tax at the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate applicable if we recognize gain on the sale or disposition of the asset during the 10-year period after we acquire the asset. The amount of gain on which we will pay tax generally is the lesser of: |
º | the amount of gain that we recognize at the time of the sale or disposition, and |
º | the amount of gain that we would have recognized if we had sold the asset at the time we acquired it. |
| The earnings of our subsidiary entities that are C corporations, including TRSs, will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax. |
In addition, we may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local and foreign income, property and other taxes on our assets and operations. We also could be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.
A REIT is a corporation, trust or association that satisfies each of the following requirements:
(1) | It is managed by one or more trustees or directors; |
(2) | Its beneficial ownership is evidenced by transferable shares of stock, or by transferable shares or certificates of beneficial interest; |
(3) | It would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, i.e., the REIT provisions; |
(4) | It is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to special provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws; |
(5) | At least 100 persons are beneficial owners of its stock or ownership shares or certificates (determined without reference to any rules of attribution); |
(6) | Not more than 50% in value of its outstanding stock or shares of beneficial interest are owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals, which the U.S. federal income tax laws define to include certain entities, during the last half of any taxable year; |
(7) | It elects to be a REIT, or has made such election for a previous taxable year, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS that must be met to qualify to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
(8) | It uses a calendar year for U.S. federal income tax purposes and complies with the recordkeeping requirements of the U.S. federal income tax laws; and |
(9) | It meets certain other requirements described below, regarding the sources of its gross income, the nature and diversification of its assets and the distribution of its income. |
We must satisfy requirements 1 through 4, and 8 during our entire taxable year and must satisfy requirement 5 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. If we comply with certain requirements for ascertaining the beneficial ownership of our outstanding stock in a taxable year and have no reason to know that we violated requirement 6, we will be deemed to have satisfied requirement 6 for that taxable year. For purposes of determining stock
38
ownership under requirement 6, an individual generally includes a supplemental unemployment compensation benefits plan, a private foundation, or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes. An individual, however, generally does not include a trust that is a qualified employee pension or profit sharing trust under the U.S. federal income tax laws, and beneficiaries of such a trust will be treated as holding our stock in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for purposes of requirement 6. Our charter provides for restrictions regarding the ownership and transfer of our stock. We believe that we will issue sufficient stock with enough diversity of ownership to allow us to satisfy requirements 5 and 6 above. The restrictions in our charter are intended, among other things, to assist us in satisfying requirements 5 and 6 described above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will be able to satisfy such share ownership requirements in all cases. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, our qualification as a REIT may terminate. For purposes of requirement 8, we have adopted December 31 as our year end for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and thereby satisfy this requirement.
Qualified REIT Subsidiaries. A qualified REIT subsidiary generally is a corporation, all of the stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a REIT and that is not treated as a TRS. A corporation that is a qualified REIT subsidiary is treated as a division of the REIT that owns, directly or indirectly, all of its stock and not as a separate entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Thus, all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of a qualified REIT subsidiary are treated as assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of the REIT that directly or indirectly owns the qualified REIT subsidiary. Consequently, in applying the REIT requirements described herein, the separate existence of any qualified REIT subsidiary that we own will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of such subsidiary will be treated as our assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit.
Other Disregarded Entities and Partnerships. An unincorporated domestic entity, such as a partnership or limited liability company, that has a single owner, as determined under U.S. federal income tax laws, generally is not treated as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We own various direct and indirect interests in entities that are classified as partnerships and limited liability companies for state law purposes. Nevertheless, many of these entities currently are not treated as entities separate from their owners for U.S. federal income tax purposes because such entities are treated as having a single owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, the assets and liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit, of such entities will be treated as our assets and liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including the application of the various REIT qualification requirements.
An unincorporated domestic entity with two or more owners, as determined under the U.S. federal income tax laws, generally is taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the case of a REIT that is an owner in an entity that is taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the REIT is treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the entity and as earning its allocable share of the gross income of the entity for purposes of the applicable REIT qualification tests. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of gross income of our Operating Partnership and any other partnership, joint venture, or limited liability company that is taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is treated as our assets and items of gross income for purposes of applying the various REIT qualification tests. For purposes of the 10% value test (described in Asset Tests), our proportionate share is based on our proportionate interest in the equity interests and certain debt securities issued by the entity. For all of the other asset and income tests, our proportionate share is based on our proportionate interest in the capital of the entity.
Taxable REIT Subsidiaries. A REIT is permitted to own, directly or indirectly, up to 100% of the stock of one or more TRSs. The subsidiary and the REIT generally must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a TRS. However, a corporation of which a TRS directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the securities is automatically treated as a TRS without an election.
Unlike a qualified REIT subsidiary, the separate existence of a TRS is not ignored for U.S. federal income tax purposes and a TRS is a fully taxable corporation subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on its earnings. We will not be treated as holding the assets of any TRS or as receiving the income earned by any
39
TRS. Rather, we will treat the stock issued by any TRS as an asset and will treat any distributions paid to us from any TRS as income. This treatment may affect our compliance with the gross income test and asset tests.
Restrictions imposed on REITs and their TRSs are intended to ensure that TRSs will be subject to appropriate levels of U.S. federal income taxation. These restrictions limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT and impose a 100% excise tax on transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT or the REITs tenants that are not conducted on an arms-length basis. Dividends paid to us from a TRS, if any, will be treated as dividend income received from a corporation. The foregoing treatment of TRSs may reduce the cash flow generated by us and our subsidiaries in the aggregate and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders and may affect our compliance with the gross income tests and asset tests.
A TRS generally may be used by a REIT to undertake indirectly activities that the REIT requirements might otherwise preclude the REIT from doing directly, such as the provision of noncustomary tenant services or the disposition of property held for sale to customers. See Gross Income Tests Rents from Real Property and Gross Income Tests Prohibited Transactions.
We must satisfy two gross income tests annually to qualify and maintain our qualification as a REIT. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year generally must consist of the following:
| rents from real property; |
| interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property; |
| dividends or other distributions on, and gain from the sale of, stock or shares of beneficial interest in other REITs; |
| gain from the sale of real estate assets; |
| income and gain derived from foreclosure property; and |
| income derived from the temporary investment of new capital attributable to the issuance of our stock or a public offering of our debt with a maturity date of at least five years and that we receive during the one-year period beginning on the date on which we receive such new capital. |
Second, in general, at least 95% of our gross income for each taxable year must consist of income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, other types of interest and dividends, gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, or any combination of these.
Cancellation of indebtedness income and gross income from a sale of property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. In addition, gains from hedging transactions, as defined in Hedging Transactions, that are clearly and timely identified as such will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Finally, certain foreign currency gains will be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of the gross income tests.
The following paragraphs discuss the specific application of certain relevant aspects of the gross income tests to us.
Rents from Real Property. Rent that we receive for the use of our real property will qualify as rents from real property, which is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests, only if the following conditions are met:
40
First, the rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, participating rent will qualify as rents from real property if it is based on percentages of receipts or sales and the percentages generally:
| are fixed at the time the leases are entered into; |
| are not renegotiated during the term of the leases in a manner that has the effect of basing percentage rent on income or profits; and |
| conform with normal business practice. |
In compliance with the rules above, we intend to set and accept rents which are fixed dollar amounts with an annual percentage increase, if any, after a certain fixed number of years based on either a fixed percentage or the consumer price index, and not to any extent determined by reference to any persons income or profits.
Second, we generally must not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the stock or the assets or net profits of any tenant, referred to as a related-party tenant. The constructive ownership rules generally provide that, if 10% or more in value of our stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for any person, we are considered as owning the stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for such person. Because the constructive ownership rules are broad and it is not possible to monitor direct and indirect transfers of our stock continually, no assurance can be given that such transfers or other events of which we have no knowledge will not cause us to own constructively 10% or more of a tenant (or a subtenant, in which case only rent attributable to the subtenant is disqualified).
Under an exception to the related-party tenant rule, rent that we receive from a TRS lessee will qualify as rents from real property as long as (1) at least 90% of the leased space in the property is leased to persons other than TRS lessees and related-party tenants, and (2) the amount paid by the TRS lessee to rent space at the property is substantially comparable to rents paid by other tenants of the property for comparable space.
Third, we must not furnish or render noncustomary services, other than a de minimis amount of noncustomary services, to the tenants of our properties other than through (i) an independent contractor from whom we do not derive or receive any income or (ii) a TRS. However, we generally may provide services directly to our tenants to the extent that such services are usually or customarily rendered in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not considered to be provided for the tenants convenience. In addition, we may provide a minimal amount of noncustomary services to the tenants of a property, other than through an independent contractor from whom we do not derive or receive any income or a TRS, as long as the income attributable to the services (valued at not less than 150% of the direct cost of performing such services) does not exceed 1% of our gross income from the related property. If the rent from a lease does not qualify as rents from real property because we furnish noncustomary services having a value in excess of 1% of our gross income from the related property to the tenants of the property, other than through a qualifying independent contractor or a TRS, none of the rent from the property will qualify as rents from real property. We have not performed, and do not intend to provide any noncustomary services to our tenants unless such services are provided through independent contractors from whom we do not derive or receive any income or TRSs.
Fourth, rent attributable to any personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property will not qualify as rents from real property if the rent attributable to such personal property exceeds 15% of the total rent received under the lease. If a portion of the rent that we receive from a property does not qualify as rents from real property because the rent attributable to personal property exceeds 15% of the total rent for a taxable year, the portion of the rent attributable to personal property will not be qualifying income for purposes of either the 75% or 95% gross income test. We do not and do not intend to lease significant amounts of personal property pursuant to our leases.
Fifth, the leases must be respected as true leases for federal income tax purposes and not treated as service contracts, joint ventures or some other type of arrangement. The determination of whether our leases are true leases depends on an analysis of all the surrounding facts and circumstances. We intend to enter into leases that will be treated as true leases.
41
We believe rents received under our leases generally qualify as rents from real property and any income attributable to noncustomary services or personal property will not jeopardize our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT. However, there can be no assurance that the IRS would not challenge our conclusions, or that a court would agree with our conclusions. If such a challenge were successful, we could fail to satisfy the 75% or 95% gross income test and thus potentially lose our REIT status.
Interest. Interest income constitutes qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test to the extent that the obligation upon which such interest is paid is secured by a mortgage on real property or on an interest in real property. For purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests, the term interest generally does not include any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, if the determination of such 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 because it is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Furthermore, to the extent that interest from a loan that is based on the profit or net cash proceeds from the sale of the property securing the loan constitutes a shared appreciation provision, income attributable to such participation feature will be treated as gain from the sale of the secured property.
We may provide mortgage loans. Interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, including, for this purpose, prepayment penalties, loan assumption fees and late payment charges that are not compensation for services, generally is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. In general, under applicable Treasury Regulations, if a loan is secured by real property and other property and the highest principal amount of the loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property securing the loan determined as of the date we agreed to acquire or originate the loan then a portion of the interest income from such loan will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, but will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. We anticipate that the interest on our mortgage loans generally would be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test.
Certain mezzanine loans are secured by equity interests in an entity that directly or indirectly owns real property, rather than by a direct mortgage of the real property. IRS Revenue Procedure 2003-65 provides a safe harbor pursuant to which a mezzanine loan, if it meets each of the requirements contained in the Revenue Procedure, will be treated by the IRS as a real estate asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests described below, and interest derived from it will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. We anticipate that any mezzanine loans that we originate typically may not meet all of the requirements for reliance on this safe harbor. Nevertheless, if we invest in mezzanine loans, we intend to do so in a manner that will enable us to satisfy the gross income tests and asset tests.
Dividends. Our share of any dividends received from any corporation or entity treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes (including any taxable REIT subsidiary, but excluding any REIT or qualified REIT subsidiary) in which we own an equity interest will qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Our share of any dividends received from any other REIT in which we own an equity interest will be qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests. Any dividends received by us from a qualified REIT subsidiary will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
Prohibited Transactions. A REIT will incur a 100% tax on the net income derived from any sale or other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that the REIT holds primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. Net income derived from such prohibited transactions is excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Whether a REIT holds an asset primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business depends on the facts and circumstances that exist from time to time, including those related to a particular asset. A safe harbor to the characterization of the sale of property by a REIT as a prohibited transaction is available if the following requirements are met:
| the REIT has held the property for not less than two years; |
42
| the aggregate capital expenditures made by the REIT, or any partner of the REIT, during the two-year period preceding the date of the sale do not exceed 30% of the selling price of the property; |
| either (1) during the year in question, the REIT did not make more than seven property sales other than sales of foreclosure property or sales to which Section 1033 of the Code applies, (2) the aggregate adjusted bases of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate bases of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year or (3) the aggregate fair market value of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year; |
| in the case of property not acquired through foreclosure or lease termination, the REIT has held the property for at least two years for the production of rental income; and |
| if the REIT has made more than seven property sales (excluding sales of foreclosure property) during the taxable year, substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property were made through an independent contractor from whom the REIT derives no income. |
We will attempt to comply with the terms of the foregoing safe-harbor. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to comply with the safe-harbor provisions or that we will avoid owning property that may be characterized as property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. We may hold and dispose of certain properties through a TRS if we conclude that the sale or other disposition of such property may not fall within the safe-harbor provisions. The 100% prohibited transactions tax will not apply to gains from the sale of property by a TRS, although such income will be taxed to the TRS at U.S. federal corporate income tax rates.
Foreclosure Property. We generally will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate on any net income from foreclosure property, other than income that otherwise would be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Gross income from foreclosure property will qualify under the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
Hedging Transactions. From time to time, we or our subsidiaries may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our or our subsidiaries assets or liabilities. Our or our subsidiaries hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase such items, and futures and forward contracts. Income and gain from hedging transactions will be excluded from gross income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests. A hedging transaction means either (1) any transaction entered into in the normal course of our or our subsidiaries trade or business primarily to manage the risk of interest rate, price changes, or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets or (2) any transaction entered into primarily to manage the risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income test (or any property which generates such income or gain). We are required to clearly identify any such hedging transaction before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into and to satisfy other identification requirements. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT; however, no assurance can be given that our hedging activities will give rise to income that is excluded from gross income or qualifies for purposes of either or both of the gross income tests.
Failure to Satisfy Gross Income Tests. We intend to monitor our sources of income, including any non-qualifying income received by us, and manage our assets so as to ensure our compliance with the gross income tests. If we fail to satisfy one or both of the gross income tests for any taxable year, we nevertheless may qualify as a REIT for that year if we qualify for relief under certain provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws. Those relief provisions are available if:
| our failure to meet the applicable test is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect; and |
43
| following such failure for any taxable year, we file a schedule of the sources of our income with the IRS in accordance with the Treasury Regulations. |
We cannot predict, however, whether any failure to meet these tests will qualify for the relief provisions. In addition, as discussed above in Taxation of Our Company, even if the relief provisions apply, we would incur a 100% tax on the gross income attributable to the greater of (1) the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test, or (2) the amount by which we fail the 95% gross income test, multiplied, in either case, by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.
To qualify as a REIT, we also must satisfy the following asset tests at the end of each quarter of each taxable year.
First, under the 75% asset test, at least 75% of the value of our total assets generally must consist of:
| cash or cash items, including certain receivables and shares in certain money market funds; |
| government securities; |
| interests in real property, including leaseholds and options to acquire real property and leaseholds; |
| interests in mortgage loans secured by real property; |
| stock or shares of beneficial interest in other REITs; and |
| investments in stock or debt instruments during the one-year period following our receipt of new capital that we raise through equity offerings or public offerings of debt with at least a five-year term. |
Second, under the 5% asset test, of our assets that are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test described above, the value of our interest in any one issuers securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets.
Third, of our assets that are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test described above, we may not own more than 10% of the voting power of any one issuers outstanding securities, or the 10% vote test, or more than 10% of the value of any one issuers outstanding securities, or the 10% value test.
Fourth, no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of one or more TRSs.
Fifth, no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of TRSs and other assets that are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test.
For purposes of the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test and the 10% value test, the term securities does not include securities that qualify under the 75% asset test, securities of a TRS and equity interests in an entity taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For purposes of the 10% value test, the term securities also does not include: certain straight debt securities; any loan to an individual or an estate; most rental agreements and obligations to pay rent; any debt instrument issued by an entity taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which we are an owner to the extent of our proportionate interest in the debt and equity securities of the entity; and any debt instrument issued by an entity taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes if at least 75% of the entitys gross income, excluding income from prohibited transactions, is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test described above in Gross Income Tests.
We believe that the assets that we hold satisfy the foregoing asset test requirements. We will not obtain, nor are we required to obtain under the U.S. federal income tax laws, independent appraisals to support our conclusions as to the value of our assets and securities or the real estate collateral for the mortgage or mezzanine loans that we may originate. Moreover, the values of some assets may not be susceptible to a precise determination. As a result, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that our ownership of securities and other assets violates one or more of the asset tests applicable to REITs.
44
Failure to Satisfy Asset Tests. We will monitor the status of our assets for purposes of the various asset tests and will manage our portfolio in order to comply at all times with such tests. Nevertheless, if we fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, we will not lose our REIT status if:
| we satisfied the asset tests at the end of the preceding calendar quarter; and |
| the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the asset test requirements arose from changes in the market values of our assets and was not caused, in part or in whole, by the acquisition of one or more non-qualifying assets. |
If we did not satisfy the condition described in the second bullet point immediately above, we still could avoid REIT disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which the discrepancy arose.
In the event that we violate the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test or the 10% value test described above, we will not lose our REIT status if (1) the failure is de minimis (up to the lesser of 1% of our assets or $10 million) and (2) we dispose of assets causing the failure or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify such failure. In the event of a failure of any of such asset tests other than a de minimis failure, as described in the preceding sentence, we will not lose our REIT status if (1) the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, (2) we file a description of each asset causing the failure with the IRS, (3) we dispose of assets causing the failure or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify the failure, and (4) we pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate (currently 35%) multiplied by the net income from the nonqualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy the asset tests.
Each taxable year, we must make distributions, other than capital gain dividend distributions and deemed distributions of retained capital gain, to our stockholders in an aggregate amount at least equal to:
| the sum of: |
º | 90% of our REIT taxable income, computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gain, and |
º | 90% of our after-tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property, minus |
| the sum of certain items of non-cash income. |
Generally, we must pay such distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if either (1) we declare the distribution before we timely file our U.S. federal income tax return for the year and pay the distribution on or before the first regular dividend payment date after such declaration or (2) we declare the distribution in October, November, or December of the taxable year, payable to stockholders of record on a specified day in any such month, and we actually pay the dividend before the end of January of the following year. In both instances, these distributions relate to our prior taxable year for purposes of the annual distribution requirement to the extent of our earnings and profits for such prior taxable year.
We will pay U.S. federal income tax on any taxable income, including net capital gain, that we do not distribute to our stockholders. Furthermore, if we fail to distribute during a calendar year, or by the end of January of the following calendar year in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, at least the sum of:
| 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, |
| 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year, and |
| any undistributed taxable income from prior years, |
we will incur a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts we actually distributed.
45
We may elect to retain and pay U.S. federal income tax on the net long-term capital gain that we receive in a taxable year. If we so elect, we will be treated as having distributed any such retained amount for purposes of the 4% nondeductible excise tax described above. We intend to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirement and to minimize U.S. federal corporate income tax and avoid the 4% nondeductible excise tax.
It is possible that, from time to time, we may experience timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses and the inclusion of that income and deduction of such expenses in arriving at our REIT taxable income. Further, it is possible that, from time to time, we may be allocated a share of net capital gain from an entity taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which we own an interest that is attributable to the sale of depreciated property that exceeds our allocable share of cash attributable to that sale. As a result of the foregoing, we may have less cash than is necessary to make distributions to our stockholders that are sufficient to avoid U.S. federal corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax imposed on certain undistributed income or even to meet the annual distribution requirement. In such a situation, we may need to borrow funds or issue additional stock or, if possible, pay dividends consisting, in whole or in part, of our stock or debt securities.
In order for distributions to be counted as satisfying the annual distribution requirement applicable to REITs and to provide us with a REIT-level tax deduction, the distributions must not be preferential dividends. A distribution is not a preferential dividend if the distribution is (1) pro rata among all outstanding shares within a particular class, and (2) in accordance with the preferences among different classes of stock as set forth in our organizational documents.
Under certain circumstances, we may be able to correct a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying deficiency dividends to our stockholders in a later year. We may include such deficiency dividends in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Although we may be able to avoid income tax on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, we will be required to pay interest to the IRS based on the amount of any deduction we take for deficiency dividends.
We must maintain certain records in order to maintain our qualification as a REIT. To avoid paying monetary penalties, we must demand, on an annual basis, information from certain of our stockholders designed to disclose the actual ownership of our outstanding stock, and we must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with such demand as part of our records. A stockholder that fails or refuses to comply with such demand is required by the Treasury Regulations to submit a statement with its tax return disclosing the actual ownership of our stock and other information. We intend to comply with these recordkeeping requirements.
If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, we could avoid disqualification if our failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect and we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. In addition, there are relief provisions available under the Code for a failure of the gross income tests and asset tests, as described in Gross Income Tests and Asset Tests.
If we were to fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT in any taxable year, and no relief provision applied, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at U.S. federal corporate income tax rates and any applicable alternative minimum tax. In calculating our taxable income for a year in which we failed to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we would not be able to deduct amounts distributed to our stockholders, and we would not be required to distribute any amounts to our stockholders for that year. Unless we qualified for relief under the statutory relief provisions described in the preceding paragraph, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we ceased to maintain our qualification as a REIT. We cannot predict whether in all circumstances we would qualify for such statutory relief.
46
For purposes of our discussion, the term U.S. stockholder means a beneficial owner of our common stock that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:
| an individual citizen or resident of the United States; |
| a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any of its states or the District of Columbia; |
| an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| any trust if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person. |
If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a partnership) holds our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an owner of the partnership generally will depend on the status of the owner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships and their owners should consult their tax advisors regarding the consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock by the partnership.
Distributions. If we qualify as a REIT, distributions made out of our current and accumulated earnings and profits that we do not designate as capital gain dividends will be ordinary dividend income to taxable U.S. stockholders. A corporate U.S. stockholder will not qualify for the dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations. Our ordinary dividends also generally will not qualify for the preferential long-term capital gain tax rate applicable to qualified dividends unless certain holding period requirements are met and such dividends are attributable to (i) qualified dividends received by us from non-REIT corporations, such as any TRSs, or (ii) income recognized by us and on which we have paid U.S. federal corporate income tax. We do not expect a meaningful portion of our ordinary dividends to be eligible for taxation as qualified dividends.
Any distribution we declare in October, November, or December of any year that is payable to a U.S. stockholder of record on a specified date in any of those months and is attributable to our current and accumulated earnings and profits for such year will be treated as paid by us and received by the U.S. stockholder on December 31 of that year, provided that we actually pay the distribution during January of the following calendar year.
Distributions to a U.S. stockholder which we designate as capital gain dividends generally will be treated as long-term capital gain, without regard to the period for which the U.S. stockholder has held our stock. A corporate U.S. stockholder may be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.
We may elect to retain and pay U.S. federal corporate income tax on the net long-term capital gain that we receive in a taxable year. In that case, to the extent that we designate such amount in a timely notice to our stockholders, a U.S. stockholder would be taxed on its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain. The U.S. stockholder would receive a credit or refund for its proportionate share of the U.S. federal corporate income tax we paid. The U.S. stockholder would increase its basis in our common stock by the amount of its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain, minus its share of the U.S. federal corporate income tax we paid.
A U.S. stockholder will not incur U.S. federal income tax on a distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if the distribution does not exceed the U.S. stockholders adjusted basis in our common stock. Instead, the distribution will reduce the U.S. stockholders adjusted basis in our common stock. The excess of any distribution to a U.S. stockholder over both its share of our current and accumulated earnings and profits and its adjusted basis will be treated as capital gain and long-term capital gain if the stock has been held for more than one year.
47
U.S. stockholders may not include in their individual federal income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses. Instead, these losses are generally carried over by us for potential offset against our future income. We will notify U.S. stockholders after the close of our taxable year as to the portions of the distributions attributable to that taxable year that constitute ordinary income, return of capital and capital gain.
Dispositions. In general, a U.S. stockholder will recognize gain or loss on the sale or other taxable disposition of our stock in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the fair market value of any property and the amount of cash received in such disposition and (ii) the U.S. stockholders adjusted tax basis in such stock. A U.S. stockholders adjusted tax basis in our stock generally will equal the U.S. stockholders acquisition cost, increased by the excess of undistributed net capital gains deemed distributed to the U.S. stockholder over the federal corporate income tax deemed paid by the U.S. stockholder on such gains and reduced by any returns of capital. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. stockholder has held such stock for more than one year and short-term capital gain or loss otherwise. However, a U.S. stockholder must treat any loss on a sale or exchange of our common stock held by such stockholder for six months or less as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends and any other actual or deemed distributions from us that such U.S. stockholder treats as long-term capital gain. All or a portion of any loss that a U.S. stockholder realizes on a taxable disposition of shares of our common stock may be disallowed if the U.S. stockholder purchases other shares of our common stock within 30 days before or after the disposition. Capital losses generally are available only to offset capital gains of the stockholder except in the case of individuals, who may offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income each year.
Other Considerations. U.S. stockholders may not include in their individual U.S. federal income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses. Taxable distributions from us and gain from the disposition of our common stock will not be treated as passive activity income and, therefore, U.S. stockholders generally will not be able to apply any passive activity losses against such income. In addition, taxable distributions from us and gain from the disposition of our common stock generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitations.
Tax Rates. The maximum U.S. federal income tax rate on ordinary income and short-term capital gains applicable to U.S. holders that are taxed at individual rates currently is 39.6%, and the maximum U.S. federal income tax rate on long-term capital gains applicable to U.S. holders that are taxed at individual rates currently is 20%. However, the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain from the sale or exchange of section 1250 property (i.e., generally, depreciable real property) is 25% to the extent the gain would have been treated as ordinary income if the property were section 1245 property (i.e., generally, depreciable personal property). We generally will designate whether a distribution that we designate as a capital gain dividend (and any retained capital gain that we are deemed to distribute) is attributable to the sale or exchange of section 1250 property.
Additional Medicare Tax. Certain U.S. holders, including individuals, estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional 3.8% tax, which, for individuals, applies to the lesser of (i) net investment income or (ii) the excess of modified adjusted gross income over $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly or $125,000 if married and filing separately). Net investment income generally equals the taxpayers gross investment income reduced by the deductions that are allocable to such income. Investment income generally includes passive income such as interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rents and capital gains.
Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts, or qualified trusts, and individual retirement accounts and annuities, generally are exempt from U.S. federal income taxation. However, they are subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income, or UBTI. Amounts that we distribute to tax-exempt stockholders generally should not constitute UBTI. However, if a tax-exempt stockholder were to finance its acquisition of our common stock with debt, a portion of the distribution that it received from us would constitute UBTI pursuant to the debt-financed property rules. Furthermore, social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans that are exempt from taxation under special provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally will require them to characterize distributions that they receive from us as UBTI.
48
Finally, in certain circumstances, a qualified trust that owns more than 10% of the value of our stock must treat a percentage of the dividends that it receives from us as UBTI. Such percentage is equal to the gross income that we derive from unrelated trades or businesses, determined as if we were a qualified trust, divided by our total gross income for the year in which we pay the dividends. Such rule applies to a qualified trust holding more than 10% of the value of our stock only if:
| we are classified as a pension-held REIT; and |
| the amount of gross income that we derive from unrelated trades or businesses for the year in which we pay the dividends, determined as if we were a qualified trust, is at least 5% of our total gross income for such year. |
We will be classified as a pension-held REIT if:
| we qualify as a REIT by reason of the modification of the rule requiring that no more than 50% of our stock be owned by five or fewer individuals that allows the beneficiaries of the qualified trust to be treated as holding our stock in proportion to their actuarial interests in the qualified trust; and |
| either: |
º | one qualified trust owns more than 25% of the value of our stock; or |
º | a group of qualified trusts, of which each qualified trust holds more than 10% of the value of our stock, collectively owns more than 50% of the value of our stock. |
As a result of limitations included in our charter on the transfer and ownership of our stock, we do not expect to be classified as a pension-held REIT, and, therefore, the tax treatment described in this paragraph should be inapplicable to our stockholders. However, because shares of our common stock are publicly traded, we cannot guarantee that this will always be the case.
For purposes of our discussion, the term non-U.S. stockholder means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is not a U.S. stockholder, an entity or arrangement taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or a tax-exempt stockholder. The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of non-U.S. stockholders, including nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and other foreign stockholders, are complex. This section is only a summary of certain of those rules.
We urge non-U.S. stockholders to consult their own tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income tax laws on the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock, including any reporting requirements.
Distributions. Distributions to a non-U.S. stockholder (i) out of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, (ii) not attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of a United States real property interest, or a USRPI, and (iii) not designated by us as a capital gain dividend will be subject to a withholding tax at a rate of 30% unless:
| a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. stockholder submits an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any applicable successor form), to us evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate; or |
| the non-U.S. stockholder submits an IRS Form W-8ECI (or any applicable successor form) to us claiming that the distribution is income effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business of such stockholder. |
A non-U.S. stockholder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates on any distribution treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholders conduct of a U.S. trade or business in the same manner as a U.S. stockholder. In addition, a corporate non-U.S. stockholder may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax with respect to any such distribution.
49
A non-U.S. stockholder will not incur tax on a distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if such excess does not exceed such non-U.S. stockholders adjusted basis in our common stock. Instead, the excess portion of such distribution will reduce the non-U.S. stockholders adjusted basis in our common stock. The excess of a distribution over both our current and accumulated earnings and profits and the non-U.S. stockholders adjusted basis in our common stock will be taxed, if at all, as gain from the sale or disposition of our common stock. See Dispositions below. Under FIRPTA (discussed below), we may be required to withhold 10% of the portion of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Because we generally cannot determine at the time we make a distribution whether the distribution will exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, we may withhold tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be provided under an applicable tax treaty) on the entire amount of any distribution. A non-U.S. stockholder may obtain a refund of amounts that we withhold if we later determine that a distribution in fact exceeded our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, or FIRPTA, distributions attributable to capital gains from the sale or exchange by us of USRPIs are treated like income effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, generally are subject to U.S. federal income taxation in the same manner and at the same rates applicable to U.S. stockholders and, with respect to corporate non-U.S. stockholders, may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax. However, these distributions will not be subject to tax under FIRPTA, and will instead be taxed in the same manner as distributions described above, if:
| the distribution is made with respect to a class of shares regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States; and |
| the non-U.S. stockholder does not own more than 5% of such class at any time during the year within which the distribution is received. |
If our common stock is not regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States or if a non-U.S. stockholder owned more than 5% of our outstanding common stock any time during the one-year period preceding the distribution, capital gain distributions to such non-U.S. stockholder attributable to our sales of USRPIs would be subject to tax under FIRPTA. We are required to withhold 35% of any distribution to a non-U.S. stockholder owning more than 5% of the relevant class of shares that could be designated by us as a capital gain dividend. Any amount so withheld is creditable against the non-U.S. stockholders U.S. federal income tax liability.
Although not free from doubt, amounts we designate as retained capital gains in respect of the common stock held by U.S. stockholders generally should be treated with respect to non-U.S. stockholders in the same manner as actual distributions by us of capital gain dividends. Under this approach, a non-U.S. stockholder would be able to offset as a credit against its U.S. federal income tax liability resulting from its proportionate share of the tax paid by us on such retained capital gains, and to receive from the IRS a refund to the extent the non-U.S. stockholders proportionate share of such tax paid by us exceeds its actual U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the non-U.S. stockholder furnishes required information to the IRS on a timely basis.
Dispositions. Non-U.S. stockholders may incur tax under FIRPTA with respect to gain recognized on a disposition of our common stock unless one of the applicable exceptions described below applies. Any gain subject to tax under FIRPTA generally will be taxed in the same manner as it would be in the hands of U.S. stockholders, except that corporate non-U.S. stockholders also may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax. In addition, the purchaser of such common stock could be required to withhold 10% of the purchase price for such stock and remit such amount to the IRS.
Non-U.S. stockholders generally will not incur tax under FIRPTA with respect to gain on a sale of our common stock as long as, at all times during a specified testing period, we are domestically controlled, i.e., non-U.S. persons hold, directly or indirectly, less than 50% in value of our outstanding stock. We cannot assure you that we will be domestically controlled. In addition, even if we are not domestically controlled, if our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, a non-U.S. stockholder that owned, actually or constructively, 5% or less of our outstanding common stock at all times during a specified
50
testing period will not incur tax under FIRPTA on gain from a sale of our common stock. Accordingly, provided our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, a non-U.S. stockholder that has not owned more than 5% of our common stock at any time during the five-year period prior to such sale will not incur tax under FIRPTA on gain from a sale of our common stock.
A non-U.S. stockholder generally will incur tax on gain from a disposition of our common stock not subject to FIRPTA if:
| the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of the non-U.S. stockholders U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. stockholder generally will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders with respect to such gain, except that a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax; or |
| the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are satisfied, in which case the non-U.S. stockholder generally will incur a 30% tax on its capital gains. |
Interest. Except as set forth below, all payments of interest and principal on the debt securities made to a non-U.S. holder will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax, provided that: (i) such non-U.S. holder does not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the capital or profits interest in the Partnership, (ii) such non-U.S. holder is not a controlled foreign corporation with respect to which the Operating Partnership is a related person within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4), (iii) such non-U.S. holder is not a bank receiving certain types of interest, and (iv) the beneficial owner of the debt securities certifies, under penalties of perjury, to us or our paying agent on IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or appropriate substitute form) that it is not a United States person and provides its name, address and certain other required information or certain other certification requirements are satisfied.
If a non-U.S. holder cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest will be subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless such non-U.S. holder provides us with a properly executed (i) IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or appropriate substitute form) claiming an exemption from or reduction in withholding under the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty or (ii) IRS Form W-8ECI (or appropriate substitute form) stating that interest paid or accrued on the debt securities is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
Sale, Exchange, Retirement or Other Disposition of the Debt Securities. Subject to the discussion below and except with respect to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as described above under Interest, a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on the receipt of payments of principal on a debt security, or on any gain recognized upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of a debt security, unless in the case of gain (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by such non-U.S. holder of a trade or business within the United States and, if a treaty applies (and the holder complies with applicable certification and other requirements to claim treaty benefits), is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder within the United States or (ii) such non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition, and certain other conditions are met.
If a non-U.S. holder of debt securities is engaged in a trade or business in the United States, and if interest on the debt securities or gain realized on the sale, exchange, or other disposition of the debt securities is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business, the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax on such income or gain in the same manner as if the non-U.S. holder were a U.S. holder. If the non-U.S. holder is eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty between the United States and the holders country of residence, any effectively connected income or gain generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the holder in the United States. Payments of interest that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (and, if an income tax treaty applies, attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base), and therefore included in the gross income of a non-U.S. holder, will not be subject to the
51
30% withholding tax provided that the holder claims exemption from withholding. To claim exemption from withholding, the holder must certify its qualification, which can be done by filing a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI. In addition, if such a non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, such holder may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments.
We will report to our holders and to the IRS the amount of interest or distributions that we pay during each calendar year, and the amount of tax that we withhold, if any. Under the backup withholding rules, a holder may be subject to backup withholding (at a rate of 28%) with respect to distributions or interest unless the holder:
| is a corporation or qualifies for certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact; or |
| provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. |
A holder who does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification number also may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against the holders U.S. federal income tax liability. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any stockholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to us.
Backup withholding generally will not apply to payments of dividends or interest made by us or our paying agents, in their capacities as such, to a non-U.S. holder provided that such non-U.S. holder furnishes to us or our paying agent the required certification as to its non-U.S. status, such as providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or W-8ECI (or any applicable successor form), or certain other requirements are met. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding may apply if either we or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a U.S. person that is not an exempt recipient. Payments of the proceeds from a disposition or a redemption of our common stock or debt securities that occurs outside the U.S. by a non-U.S. holder made by or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, information reporting (but not backup withholding) generally will apply to such a payment if the broker has certain connections with the U.S. unless the broker has documentary evidence in its records that demonstrates that the beneficial owner is a non-U.S. holder and specified conditions are met or an exemption is otherwise established. Payment of the proceeds from a disposition of our stock or debt security by a non-U.S. holder made by or through the U.S. office of a broker generally is subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the non-U.S. holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person and satisfies certain other requirements, or otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against the holders U.S. federal income tax liability if certain required information is furnished to the IRS. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding application of backup withholding to them and the availability of, and procedure for obtaining an exemption from, backup withholding.
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax on certain types of payments made to foreign financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities unless certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligation requirements are satisfied. FATCA generally imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% on dividends, interest and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our stock or debt securities if paid to a foreign entity unless either (i) the foreign entity is a foreign financial institution that undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations, or in the case of a foreign financial institution that is a resident in a jurisdiction that is treated as having an intergovernmental agreement to implement FATCA, the entity complies with the diligence and reporting requirements of such agreement, (ii) the foreign entity is not a foreign financial
52
institution and identifies certain of its U.S. investors, or (iii) the foreign entity otherwise is excepted under FATCA. If we determine withholding is appropriate, we may withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate, and we will not pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. FATCA withholding became applicable on July 1, 2014 with respect to dividends and interest from our stock and debt securities. However, under delayed effective dates provided for in the Treasury Regulations and other IRS guidance, FATCA withholding will not become applicable until January 1, 2017 with respect to gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our stock or debt securities.
If withholding is required under FATCA on a payment related to our common stock or debt securities, holders of our common stock or debt securities that otherwise would not be subject to withholding (or that otherwise would be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding) generally will be required to seek a refund or credit from the IRS to obtain the benefit of such exemption or reduction (provided that such benefit is available). You are encouraged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the effect of FATCA on an investment in our common stock or debt securities.
The following discussion summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that are applicable to our direct and indirect investments in our subsidiaries that are taxed as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, each individually referred to as a Partnership and, collectively, as the Partnerships. The following discussion does not address state or local tax laws or any U.S. federal tax laws other than income tax laws.
We are required to include in our income our distributive share of each Partnerships income and allowed to deduct our distributive share of each Partnerships losses but only if such Partnership is classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a partnership rather than as a corporation or an association treated as a corporation. An unincorporated entity with at least two owners, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, will be classified as a partnership, rather than as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes if it:
| is treated as a partnership under the Treasury Regulations relating to entity classification, or the check-the-box regulations; and |
| is not a publicly traded partnership. |
Under the check-the-box regulations, an unincorporated entity with at least two owners may elect to be classified either as an association treated as a corporation or as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If such an entity does not make an election, it generally will be taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our Operating Partnership intends to be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will not elect to be treated as an association treated as a corporation.
A publicly traded partnership is a partnership whose interests are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. A publicly traded partnership generally is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but will not be so treated if, for each taxable year beginning after December 31, 1987 in which it was classified as a publicly traded partnership, at least 90% of the partnerships gross income consisted of specified passive income, including real property rents, gains from the sale or other disposition of real property, interest, and dividends, or the 90% passive income exception. The Treasury Regulations provide limited safe harbors from treatment as a publicly traded partnership. Pursuant to one of those safe harbors, interests in a partnership will not be treated as readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof if (1) all interests in the partnership were issued in a transaction or transactions that were not required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (2) the partnership does not have more than 100 partners at any time during the partnerships taxable year. In determining the number of partners in a partnership, a person owning an interest in a partnership, grantor trust, or S corporation that owns an interest in the partnership is treated as a partner in such partnership only if (1) substantially all of the value of the owners interest in the entity is attributable to the entitys direct or indirect interest in the partnership and (2) a principal purpose of the use of the entity is to permit the partnership to satisfy the 100-partner limitation. If any Partnership does not qualify
53
for any safe harbor and is treated as a publicly traded partnership, we believe that such Partnership would have sufficient qualifying income to satisfy the 90% passive income exception and, therefore, would not be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We have not requested, and do not intend to request, a ruling from the IRS that any Partnership is or will be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If, for any reason, a Partnership were treated as a corporation, rather than as a partnership, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we may not be able to qualify as a REIT, unless we qualify for certain statutory relief provisions. See Gross Income Tests and Asset Tests. In addition, any change in a Partnerships status for U.S. federal income tax purposes might be treated as a taxable event, in which case we might incur tax liability without any related cash distribution. See Annual Distribution Requirements. Further, items of income and deduction of such Partnership would not pass through to us, and we would be treated as a stockholder for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, such Partnership would be required to pay income tax at U.S. federal corporate income tax rates on its net income, and distributions to us would constitute dividends that would not be deductible in computing such Partnerships taxable income.
Partners, Not the Partnerships, Subject to Tax. A partnership is not a taxable entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Rather, we are required to take into account our distributive share of each Partnerships income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits for each taxable year of the Partnership ending with or within our taxable year, even if we receive no distribution from the Partnership for that year or a distribution that is less than our share of taxable income. Similarly, even if we receive a distribution, it may not be taxable if the distribution does not exceed our adjusted tax basis in our interest in the Partnership.
Partnership Allocations. Although an agreement among the owners of an entity taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes generally will determine the allocation of income and losses among the owners, such allocations will be disregarded for tax purposes if they do not comply with the provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws governing partnership allocations. If an allocation is not recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partners interests in the partnership, which will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the owners with respect to such item.
Tax Allocations With Respect to Contributed Properties. Income, gain, loss, and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property contributed to an entity taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in exchange for an interest in such entity must be allocated for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a manner such that the contributing owner is charged with, or benefits from, respectively, the unrealized gain or unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution (the 704(c) Allocations). The amount of such unrealized gain or unrealized loss, referred to as built-in gain or built-in loss, at the time of contribution is generally equal to the difference between the fair market value of the contributed property at the time of contribution and the adjusted tax basis of such property at that time, referred to as a book-tax difference.
A book-tax difference attributable to depreciable property generally is decreased on an annual basis as a result of the allocation of depreciation deductions to the contributing owner for book purposes, but not for tax purposes. The Treasury Regulations require entities taxed as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes to use a reasonable method for allocating items with respect to which there is a book-tax difference and outline several reasonable allocation methods.
Any gain or loss recognized by a partnership on the disposition of contributed properties generally will be allocated first to the partners of the partnership who contributed such properties to the extent of their built-in gain or loss on those properties for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as adjusted to take into account reductions in book-tax differences described in the previous paragraph. Any remaining gain or loss recognized by the partnership on the disposition of the contributed properties generally will be allocated among the partners in accordance with their partnership agreement unless such allocations and agreement do not satisfy the requirements of applicable Treasury Regulations, in which case such allocation will be made in accordance with the partners interests in the partnership.
54
Under the traditional method, as well as certain other reasonable methods available to us, built-in gain or loss with respect to our depreciable properties (i) could cause us to be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes than for economic purposes and (ii) in the event of a sale of such properties, could cause us to be allocated taxable gain in excess of the economic gain allocated to us as a result of such sale, with a corresponding tax benefit to the contributing partners.
Basis in Partnership Interest. Our adjusted tax basis in any Partnership interest we own generally will be:
| the amount of cash and the basis of any other property we contribute to the Partnership; |
| increased by our distributive share of the Partnerships income (including tax-exempt income) and any increase in our allocable share of indebtedness of the Partnership; and |
| reduced, but not below zero, by our distributive share of the Partnerships loss (including any non-deductible items), the amount of cash and the basis of property distributed to us, and any reduction in our allocable share of indebtedness of the Partnership. |
Loss allocated to us in excess of our basis in a Partnership interest will not be taken into account for U.S. federal income tax purposes until we again have basis sufficient to absorb the loss. A reduction of our allocable share of Partnership indebtedness will be treated as a constructive cash distribution to us, and will reduce our adjusted tax basis in the Partnership interest. Distributions, including constructive distributions, in excess of the basis of our Partnership interest will constitute taxable income to us. Such distributions and constructive distributions normally will be characterized as long-term capital gain.
Sale of a Partnerships Property. Generally, any gain realized by a Partnership on the sale of property held for more than one year will be long-term capital gain, except for any portion of the gain treated as depreciation or cost recovery recapture. Our share of any Partnerships gain from the sale of inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the Partnerships trade or business will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction subject to a 100% tax. See Gross Income Tests.
Prospective holders should recognize that the present U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in us may be modified by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time and that any such action may affect investments and commitments previously made. The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process, the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department, resulting in revisions of regulations and revised interpretations of established concepts as well as statutory changes. Revisions in U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations of these laws could adversely affect the tax consequences of your investment.
We and/or you may be subject to taxation by various states and localities, including those in which we or a stockholder transacts business, owns property or resides. The state and local tax treatment may differ from the U.S. federal income tax treatment described above. Consequently, you should consult your own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in our common stock or our debt securities.
Information about selling securityholders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment or in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference.
55
Unless otherwise set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement to this prospectus, we may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. Any such underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we do not name a firm in the prospectus supplement, the firm may not directly or indirectly participate in any underwriting of those securities, although it may participate in the distribution of securities under circumstances entitling it to a dealers allowance or agents commission. In addition, we may sell securities directly to investors on our own behalf in those jurisdictions where we are authorized to do so.
Our securities, including common and preferred stock, may also be sold in one or more of the following transactions: (i) block transactions (which may involve crosses) in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of such shares as agent, but may position and resell all or a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (ii) purchases by any such broker-dealer as principal, and resale by such broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to an accompanying prospectus supplement; (iii) a special offering, an exchange distribution or a secondary distribution in accordance with applicable New York Stock Exchange or other stock exchange, quotation system or over-the-counter market rules; (iv) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which any such broker-dealer solicits purchasers; (v) sales at the market to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, for such shares; and (vi) sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers.
For each offering of our securities hereunder, the accompanying prospectus supplement or other offering materials will describe the specific plan, including (i) the terms of the offering and the specific plan of distribution; (ii) the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers; (iii) the purchase price of the securities; (iv) any delayed delivery arrangements; (v) any commissions paid to agents and any underwriting discounts, commissions or other items constituting underwriters compensation; (vi) any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and (vii) any other applicable terms of the specific offering.
Underwriters may offer and sell the securities at a fixed price or prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. We also may, from time to time, authorize dealers or agents to offer and sell the securities upon such terms and conditions as may be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement. In connection with the sale of any of the securities, underwriters may receive compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.
Any underwriting compensation paid by us to underwriters or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts or concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.
In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, the maximum discount or commission to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate offering price of the securities offered hereby. It is anticipated that the maximum compensation to be received in any particular offering of securities will be less than this amount.
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. Unless otherwise set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriters to purchase any of the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such securities, if any are purchased.
56
Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
If indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we may authorize underwriters or other agents to solicit offers by institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which we may make these delayed delivery contracts include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts. The underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility with regard to the validity or performance of these delayed delivery contracts.
In connection with the offering of the securities hereby, certain underwriters, and selling group members and their respective affiliates may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the applicable securities. Such transactions may include stabilization transactions effected in accordance with Rule 104 of Regulation M promulgated by the SEC pursuant to which such persons may bid for or purchase securities for the purpose of stabilizing their market price. The underwriters in an offering of securities may also create a short position for their account by selling more securities in connection with the offering than they are committed to purchase from us. In such case, the underwriters could cover all or a portion of such short position by either purchasing securities in the open market following completion of the offering of such securities or by exercising any overallotment option granted to them by us. In addition, the managing underwriter may impose penalty bids under contractual arrangements with other underwriters, which means that they can reclaim from an underwriter (or any selling group member participating in the offering) for the account of the other underwriters, the selling concession with respect to securities that are distributed in the offering but subsequently purchased for the account of the underwriters in the open market. Any of the transactions described in this paragraph or comparable transactions that are described in any accompanying prospectus supplement may result in the maintenance of the price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. None of such transactions described in this paragraph or in an accompanying prospectus supplement are required to be taken by any underwriters and, if they are undertaken, may be discontinued at any time.
We may sell the securities in exchange in whole or part for consideration other than cash. This consideration may consist of services or products, whether tangible or intangible, and including services or products we may use in our business; outstanding debt or equity securities of our company or one or more of its subsidiaries; debt or equity securities or assets of other companies, including in connection with investments, joint ventures or other strategic transactions, or acquisitions; release of claims or settlement of disputes; and satisfaction of obligations, including obligations to make payments to distributors or other suppliers and payment of interest on outstanding obligations. We may sell the securities as part of a transaction in which outstanding debt or equity securities of our company or one or more of our subsidiaries are surrendered, converted, exercised, canceled or transferred.
Education Realty Trusts common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EDR. Any securities that we issue, other than common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market and may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange, quotation system or over-the-counter market. Any underwriters or agents to or through which securities are sold by us may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters or agents will not be obligated to do so and any of them may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of or trading market for any securities sold by us.
57
Certain matters of Maryland law, including the validity of the common stock to be offered by means of this prospectus, will be passed upon for us by Venable LLP. Certain federal income tax matters will be passed upon for us by Morrison & Foerster LLP.
The consolidated financial statements of the Company incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The financial statements of University Village Greensboro, LLC as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012 included in Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed April 11, 2014 have been audited by Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated by reference herein, and which has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of the Operating Partnership incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 7, 2014 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
We are a public company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SECs public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, you may read and copy our SEC filings at the office of the New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. We also make available free of charge through our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as our definitive proxy statement and Section 16 reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5. Our website address is www.edrtrust.com. However, the information located on, or accessible from, our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, except as described below, a part of this prospectus or incorporated into any other filings that we make with the SEC.
This prospectus is only part of a registration statement on Form S-3 we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 and therefore omits some of the information contained in the registration statement. We have also filed exhibits and schedules to the registration statement which are excluded from this prospectus, and you should refer to the applicable exhibit or schedule for a complete description of any statement referring to any contract or other document. You may inspect or obtain a copy of the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules, as described in the previous paragraph.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus and the information we file subsequently with the SEC prior to the completion of this offering will automatically update and supersede this information.
58
We previously filed the following documents with the SEC and such filings are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:
| Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on April 11, 2014 (including portions of our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders incorporated therein by reference); |
| Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014; |
| Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 7, 2014 (two reports filed), January 17, 2014, March 25, 2014, May 12, 2014, May 22, 2014, June 2, 2014, June 20, 2014, July 7, 2014, August 8, 2014, August 26, 2014 (with respect to Item 5.03), October 14, 2014, October 17, 2014, October 24, 2014 and November 7, 2014 (two reports filed); and |
| The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on January 25, 2005. |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we and the Operating Partnership may file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, from the date of this prospectus until all of the securities offered by this prospectus have been sold or we and the Operating Partnership otherwise terminate the offering of these securities, including all filings made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement; provided, however, that information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information furnished to the SEC is not deemed filed and not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus. Information that we and the Operating Partnership subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update and may supersede information in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC.
You may request a copy of these filings (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into these documents) at no cost by writing or calling Investor Relations at the following address and telephone number:
Education Realty Trust, Inc.
999 South Shady Grove Road, Suite 600
Memphis, Tennessee 38120
(901) 259-2500
59
Joint Book-Running Managers
November , 2014