424B5
Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Nos. 333-262627 and 333-262627-01

 

This preliminary prospectus supplement relates to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, but 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.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 8, 2024

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated February 10, 2022)

 

LOGO

$   

Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P.

% Senior Notes due 20   

guaranteed by

Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.

 

 

Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or the issuer, is offering $ aggregate principal amount of % senior notes due 20   , or the notes. The notes will bear interest at the rate of    % per year and will mature on , 20   . Interest on the notes is payable on and of each year, commencing on , 2024.

The issuer may redeem some or all of the notes at any time at the prices and as described under the caption “Description of Notes—Our Redemption Rights.” On or after     , 20 (    months prior to their maturity date), we may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

The notes will be the issuer’s unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, will rank equally in right of payment with all of its other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of its existing and future mortgage indebtedness and other secured indebtedness (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness), to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, of its subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes and of any entity it accounts for using the equity method of accounting and to all preferred equity not owned by it, if any, in any of its subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes and in any entity it accounts for using the equity method of accounting.

The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Phillips Edison & Company, Inc., a Maryland corporation, or the parent guarantor. In addition, following the original issue date of the notes, the notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by each subsidiary of the parent guarantor (other than the issuer) if, and for so long as, such subsidiary, directly or indirectly, guarantees or otherwise becomes obligated in respect of Triggering Indebtedness (as defined below). The parent guarantor generally does not have any significant operations or material assets other than its direct and indirect investments in the issuer.

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The issuer does not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange or for quotation of the notes on any automated dealer quotation system.

 

 

Investing in the notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement and the matters discussed in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

     Per
Note
    Total  

Public offering price (1)

           $       

Underwriting discount

           $       

Proceeds, before expenses, to Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P.

           $       

 

(1)

The public offering price above does not include accrued interest, if any. Interest will accrue from May   , 2024, if settlement occurs after that date.

The notes will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, for the accounts of its participants, including Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, against payment in New York, New York on or about May   , 2024.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Wells Fargo Securities    BofA Securities    J.P. Morgan    Mizuho    PNC Capital Markets LLC

The date of this prospectus supplement is May  , 2024.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS

     S-iii  

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

     S-iv  

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

     S-1  

RISK FACTORS

     S-5  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     S-13  

DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

     S-14  

BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM

     S-32  

UNDERWRITING

     S-34  

LEGAL MATTERS

     S-42  

EXPERTS

     S-43  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     S-44  

Prospectus

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

     2  

THE COMPANY

     4  

RISK FACTORS

     5  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     6  

GUARANTOR DISCLOSURES

     8  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     9  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     10  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     15  

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES

     24  

GLOBAL SECURITIES

     25  

DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AND THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

     29  

MATERIAL PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

     34  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     40  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     67  

LEGAL MATTERS

     68  

EXPERTS

     69  

 

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You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering in making a decision about whether to invest in the notes. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any applicable free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate only as of their respective dates or as of the date or dates that are specified in these documents. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. The description set forth in this prospectus supplement replaces and supplements, where inconsistent, the description of the general terms and provisions set forth in the accompanying prospectus.

The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. If you possess this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should find out about and observe these restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell notes and are not soliciting an offer to buy notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information about securities we may offer from time to time, some of which does not apply to this offering.

To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or documents incorporated by reference herein and therein dated prior to the date hereof, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. In addition, information incorporated by reference after the date of this prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any information in such subsequent filings that is inconsistent with this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus will supersede the information in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should read this prospectus supplement together with the accompanying prospectus and all documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. References to information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus include information deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or therein. The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement are identified under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference” in this prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires:

 

   

“we,” “our,” “us” and “our company” refer to Phillips Edison & Company, Inc., a Maryland corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including our operating partnership; provided, however, that in statements relating to qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), such terms refer solely to Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.;

 

   

“parent guarantor” refers to Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. not including our subsidiaries;

 

   

“operating partnership” refers to Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, through which we hold substantially all of our assets and conduct our operations. Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. is a limited partner of our operating partnership, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Phillips Edison Grocery Center OP GP I LLC, is the sole general partner of our operating partnership; and

 

   

“our credit facility” refers to our $1,280.0 million credit facility comprised of a $800.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility (our “revolving credit facility”), which matures in January 2026, and two senior unsecured $240.0 million term loan tranches, which mature in November 2025 and July 2026, respectively.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, other than historical facts, may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively with the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act, the “Acts”). These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate, and beliefs of, and assumptions made by, management of our company and involve uncertainties that could significantly affect our financial results.

We intend for all such forward-looking statements to be covered by the applicable safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Acts. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “can,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “possible,” “initiatives,” “focus,” “seek,” “objective,” “goal,” “strategy,” “plan,” “potential,” “potentially,” “preparing,” “projected,” “future,” “long-term,” “once,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “might,” “uncertainty,” or other similar words. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date this prospectus supplement is filed with the SEC.

Such statements include, but are not limited to: (i) statements about our plans, strategies, initiatives, and prospects; (ii) statements about our underwritten incremental yields; and (iii) statements about our future results of operations, capital expenditures and liquidity. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including, without limitation:

 

   

changes in national, regional or local economic climates;

 

   

local market conditions, including an oversupply of space in, or a reduction in demand for, properties similar to those in our portfolio;

 

   

use of proceeds from this offering;

 

   

vacancies, changes in market rental rates, and the need to periodically repair, renovate, and relet space;

 

   

competition from other available shopping centers and the attractiveness of properties in our portfolio to our tenants;

 

   

the financial stability of our tenants, including, without limitation, their ability to pay rent;

 

   

our ability to pay down, refinance, restructure, or extend our indebtedness as it becomes due;

 

   

increases in our borrowing costs as a result of changes in interest rates and other factors;

 

   

potential liability for environmental matters;

 

   

damage to our properties from catastrophic weather and other natural events, and the physical effects of climate change;

 

   

our ability and willingness to maintain our qualification as a REIT in light of economic, market, legal, tax, and other considerations;

 

   

changes in tax, real estate, environmental, and zoning laws;

 

   

information technology security breaches;

 

   

our corporate responsibility initiatives;

 

   

loss of key executives;

 

   

the concentration of our portfolio in a limited number of industries, geographies, or investments;

 

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the economic, political, and social impact of, and uncertainty relating to, pandemics or other health crises;

 

   

our ability to re-lease our properties on the same or better terms, or at all, in the event of non-renewal or in the event we exercise our right to replace an existing tenant;

 

   

the loss or bankruptcy of our tenants;

 

   

to the extent we are seeking to dispose of properties, our ability to do so at attractive prices or at all;

 

   

the impact of inflation on us and on our tenants; and

 

   

the risk factors and other risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus under the heading “Risk Factors,” the additional risk factors set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described above or elsewhere in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or the date of such incorporated documents.

All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.

Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

 

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the notes. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, including the information under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. You should also read the audited financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and our unaudited interim financial statements and related notes included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024. Such Annual Report and Quarterly Report are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”

Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.

We are a REIT and one of the nation’s largest owners and operators of omni-channel grocery-anchored shopping centers. Our business model is founded on owning and operating omni-channel grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping centers that provide necessity-based goods and services to the average American household. Grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping centers have been our primary focus since we started our business in 1991, and we believe this focus has generated strong growth and attractive risk-adjusted returns over time. As of March 31, 2024, for our wholly-owned shopping centers, 85% of our annualized base rent was generated from shopping centers anchored by the #1 or #2 grocer by sales within their respective trade area.

Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. was formed as a Maryland corporation in October 2009. Our principal executive office is located at 11501 Northlake Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249. Our telephone number is (513) 554-1110. We maintain a website at http://www.phillipsedison.com. Information contained on, or accessible through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and does not constitute a part of, this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

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The Offering

The summary below describes the principal terms of the notes. Certain of the terms and conditions described below are subject to important limitations and exceptions. The section entitled “Description of Notes” of this prospectus supplement contains a more detailed description of the terms and conditions of the notes and the indenture governing the notes. For purposes of this section and the section entitled “Description of Notes,” references to “we,” “us” and “our” refer only to Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P. and not to its subsidiaries, and references to the “parent guarantor” refer only to Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.

 

Issuer

Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P.

 

Guarantor

Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.

 

Securities Offered

$   aggregate principal amount of   % senior notes due 20   

 

Maturity Date

   , 20   

 

Interest Rate

    % per year

 

Interest Payment Dates

Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on    and   of each year, commencing on  , 2024.

 

Ranking of Notes

The notes will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to:

 

   

all of our existing and future mortgage indebtedness and other secured indebtedness (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness);

 

   

all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes and of any entity we account for using the equity method of accounting; and

 

   

all preferred equity not owned by us, if any, in any of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes and in any entity we account for using the equity method of accounting.

 

Guarantee

The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the parent guarantor. In addition, following the original issue date of the notes, the notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by each subsidiary of the parent guarantor (other than us) if, and for so long as, such subsidiary, directly or indirectly, guarantees or otherwise becomes obligated in respect of Triggering Indebtedness (as defined in “Description of Notes—Definitions”). The guarantee of the notes will be an unsecured and unsubordinated obligation of the applicable guarantor and will rank equally in right of payment with all other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and guarantees of the applicable guarantor. The applicable guarantor’s guarantee of the notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to:

 

   

all of such guarantor’s existing and future secured indebtedness and secured guarantees (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness or guarantees);

 

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all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, of such guarantor’s consolidated subsidiaries (including us) that do not guarantee the notes and of any entity such guarantor accounts for using the equity method of accounting; and

 

   

all preferred equity not owned by such guarantor, if any, in any of such guarantor’s consolidated subsidiaries (including us) that do not guarantee the notes and in any entity such guarantor accounts for using the equity method of accounting.

 

  The parent guarantor generally does not have any significant operations or material assets other than its direct and indirect investments in us.

 

Optional Redemption

We may, at our option, redeem the notes at any time in whole or from time to time in part at the applicable redemption price described under “Description of Notes— Our Redemption Rights.”

 

Use of Proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $     million, after deducting the underwriting discount and other estimated expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including to temporarily repay borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility, fund external growth with property acquisitions and for other general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

  Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders and, in certain cases, agents under our credit facility and will receive pro rata portions of the net proceeds from this offering used to repay the balance outstanding thereunder. See “Underwriting–Conflicts of Interest.”

 

Certain Covenants

The indenture governing the notes will contain certain covenants that, among other things, limit:

 

   

our ability and the ability of the parent guarantor and any of the parent guarantor’s subsidiaries that guarantee the notes, if any, to consummate a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets; and

 

   

the ability of the parent guarantor and its subsidiaries, including us, to incur secured and unsecured indebtedness.

 

  In addition, the parent guarantor will be required not to have total unencumbered assets of less than 150% of the aggregate principal amount of all of its and its subsidiaries’ outstanding unsecured debt on a consolidated basis.

 

No Limitation on Incurrence of New Debt

Subject to compliance with covenants relating to our aggregate debt, debt service, maintenance of total unencumbered assets and secured aggregate debt, the indenture will not limit the amount of debt we may issue under the indenture or otherwise.

 

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Further Issuance

We may in the future, without the consent of noteholders, issue additional notes on the same terms and conditions as the notes being offered hereby, except for any difference in the issue date, public offering price, interest accrued prior to the issue date of the additional notes, and, if applicable, the initial interest payment date. The notes and any additional notes of such series subsequently issued under the indenture would be treated as a single series for all purposes under the indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; provided, however, that if such additional notes will not be fungible with the previously issued notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional notes will have a separate CUSIP number.

 

No Public Market

The notes offered hereby are a new issue of securities with no established trading market.

 

  We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange or for quotation of the notes on any automated dealer quotation system. Certain of the underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making at any time without notice.

 

Book-Entry Form

The notes will be issued in book-entry form only and will be represented by one or more permanent global certificates deposited with a custodian for, and registered in the name of a nominee of, DTC, in New York, New York. Beneficial interests in the global certificates representing the notes will be shown on, and transfers will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its direct and indirect participants, and such interests may not be exchanged for certificated notes, except in limited circumstances.

 

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.

 

Risk Factors

Investing in the notes involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference herein or therein, before making an investment decision to purchase the notes.

 

Trustee

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in the notes involves risks. This section describes some, but not all, of the risks of investing in the notes. You should carefully consider the risk factors described below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference herein or therein, before making an investment decision to purchase the notes. In addition you should carefully review the cautionary statements referred to in the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Risks Related to this Offering and the Notes

Our indebtedness may expose us to the risk of default under our debt obligations and limit our ability to obtain additional financing and fulfill our obligations under the notes.

As of March 31, 2024, the outstanding principal amount of our consolidated indebtedness was approximately $2,032 million, all of which was incurred by our operating partnership or its subsidiaries and is comprised of $1,542 million in unsecured debt (including $350 million aggregate amount of our 2.625% Senior Notes due 2031, or 2031 Notes), $395 million in outstanding secured loan facilities, and $95 million in mortgage loans and finance lease obligations. As of March 31, 2024, our wholly-owned properties representing approximately 84% of the book value of our assets were unencumbered. As of March 31, 2024, we had approximately $561 million of borrowing capacity available (subject to customary conditions) under our revolving credit facility.

The requirements imposed by our debt agreements with regard to servicing the debt through payments of principal and/or interest, as well as, the limitations associated with the applicable restrictive covenants, subject us to the potential for defaulting on those debt agreements through the failure to satisfy the debt service requirements or non-compliance with the covenants. An occurrence of default could cause the debt to become due and payable. Provisions of our other debt agreements may contain cross default provisions whereby the default on one of our debt agreements could cause other debt agreements to be in default, leading those debt agreements to also be due and payable.

Our default on 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 required principal and interest payments with respect to the notes and our other indebtedness;

 

   

we may be unable to borrow additional funds as needed or on favorable terms, which could, among other things, adversely affect our ability to capitalize upon investment opportunities or meet ongoing operational needs;

 

   

we may be unable to refinance our indebtedness at maturity or the refinancing terms may be less favorable than the terms of the maturing indebtedness;

 

   

because a portion of our debt bears interest at variable rates, increases in interest rates could increase our interest expense, thereby adversely impacting our cash flows;

 

   

should we seek to hedge any of our floating rate indebtedness, we may be unable to hedge floating rate debt, counterparties may fail to honor their obligations under any hedge agreements we enter into, such agreements may not effectively hedge interest rate fluctuation risk, and, upon the expiration of any hedge agreements we enter into, we would be exposed to then-existing market rates of interest and future interest rate volatility;

 

   

we may be forced to dispose of properties, possibly on unfavorable terms or in violation of certain covenants to which we may be subject;

 

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we may default on any secured debt obligations we may have, and the lenders or mortgagees may foreclose on our properties subject to such indebtedness or our interests in the entities that own the properties that secure their loans and receive an assignment of rents and leases;

 

   

we may be restricted from accessing some of our excess cash flow after debt service;

 

   

we may violate restrictive covenants in our loan documents, which would entitle the lenders to accelerate our debt obligations; and

 

   

our default under any loan with cross-default provisions could result in a default on other indebtedness.

If any one of these events were to occur, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and cash available for distribution, including our ability to satisfy our debt service obligations with respect to the notes, could be materially adversely affected. Furthermore, foreclosures could create taxable income without accompanying cash proceeds, which could hinder our ability to meet the REIT distribution requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Additionally, payments of principal and interest on borrowings may leave us with insufficient cash resources to meet our other cash needs or to make distributions to our common stockholders that are necessary to maintain our REIT qualification.

The effective subordination of the notes may limit our ability to satisfy our obligations under the notes.

The notes will be our operating partnership’s unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of its other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to:

 

   

all of our operating partnership’s existing and future mortgage indebtedness and other secured indebtedness (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness);

 

   

all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, of our operating partnership’s subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes and of any entity our operating partnership accounts for using the equity method of accounting; and

 

   

all preferred equity not owned by our operating partnership, if any, in any of our operating partnership’s subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes and in any entity our operating partnership accounts for using the equity method of accounting.

Similarly, the applicable guarantor’s guarantee of the notes will be its unsecured and unsubordinated obligation and will rank equally in right of payment with all of its other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and guarantees. The applicable guarantor’s guarantee of the notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to:

 

   

all of such guarantor’s existing and future secured indebtedness and secured guarantees (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness or guarantees);

 

   

all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, of such guarantor’s consolidated subsidiaries (including our operating partnership) that do not guarantee the notes and of any entity such guarantor accounts for using the equity method of accounting; and

 

   

all preferred equity not owned by such guarantor, if any, in any of its consolidated subsidiaries (including our operating partnership) that do not guarantee the notes and in any entity such guarantor accounts for using the equity method of accounting.

Although the indenture that will govern the notes will contain covenants that will limit the ability of our company and its subsidiaries (including our operating partnership) to incur secured and unsecured indebtedness,

 

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those covenants are subject to significant exceptions. Moreover, our company and its subsidiaries (including our operating partnership) may be able to incur substantial amounts of additional secured and unsecured indebtedness without violating those covenants.

In the event of the bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up of our operating partnership or any guarantor, assets that secure any of our respective secured indebtedness, secured guarantees and other secured obligations will be available to pay our or its respective obligations under the notes or the guarantee of the notes, as applicable, and our or its other respective unsecured indebtedness, unsecured guarantees and other unsecured obligations only after all of our or its respective indebtedness, guarantees and other obligations secured by those assets have been repaid in full, and we caution you that there may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of the notes or the guarantees of the notes, as the case may be, then outstanding. In the event of the bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up of any of the subsidiaries of our operating partnership or our company, the rights of holders of indebtedness and other obligations of our operating partnership (including the notes) or the guarantors (including their respective guarantees of the notes), as the case may be, will be effectively subordinated to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s creditors and of the holders of any indebtedness or other obligations guaranteed by that subsidiary, except to the extent that our operating partnership or any guarantor, as the case may be, is itself a creditor with recognized claims against that subsidiary, in which case those claims would still be effectively subordinated to all debt secured by mortgages or other liens on the assets of that subsidiary (to the extent of the value of those assets) and would be subordinate to all indebtedness of that subsidiary senior to that held by our operating partnership or the guarantor, as the case may be. Moreover, in the event of the bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up of any subsidiary of our operating partnership or the guarantors, the rights of holders of indebtedness and other obligations of our operating partnership (including the notes) or the guarantors (including their respective guarantees of the notes), as the case may be, will be effectively subordinated to any equity interests in that subsidiary held by persons other than our operating partnership or the guarantors, as the case may be. In addition, in the event of the bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up of any subsidiary or other entity that our operating partnership or the guarantors accounts for using the equity method of accounting, the rights of holders of indebtedness and other obligations of our operating partnership (including the notes) or the guarantors (including their respective guarantees of the notes) will be subject to the prior claims of that entity’s creditors and the holders of any indebtedness or other obligations of that entity, except to the extent that our operating partnership or any guarantor, as the case may be, is itself a creditor with recognized claims against that entity, in which case those claims would still be effectively subordinated to all debt secured by mortgages or other liens on the assets of that entity (to the extent of the value of those assets) and would be subordinate to all indebtedness of that entity senior to that held by our operating partnership or the guarantors, as the case may be.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our debt service obligations.

Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, including the notes, and to fund our operations, working capital and capital expenditures, depends on our ability to generate cash flow from our operations in the future. Our operating cash flow is subject to, among other factors, general economic, industry, financial, competitive, operating, legislative, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. The instruments and agreements governing some of our outstanding indebtedness (including borrowings under our revolving credit facility) contain provisions that require us to repay that indebtedness under specified circumstances or upon the occurrence of specified events (including certain changes of control of our company), and our future debt agreements and debt securities may contain similar provisions or may require that we repurchase or offer to repurchase the applicable indebtedness for cash under specified circumstances or upon the occurrence of specified changes of control of our company or our operating partnership or other events. We may not have sufficient funds to pay our indebtedness when due (including upon any such required repurchase, repayment or offer to repurchase), and we may not be able to arrange for the financing necessary to make those payments, on favorable terms or at all. In addition, our ability to make required payments on our indebtedness when due (including upon any such required repurchase, repayment or offer to repurchase) may be limited by the

 

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terms of other debt instruments or agreements. Any of these events could materially adversely affect our ability to make payments of principal and interest on the notes when due and could prevent us from making those payments altogether.

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 pay amounts due on our indebtedness, including the notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs, including cash distributions necessary to maintain our REIT status. Additionally, if we incur additional indebtedness, including for the purpose of funding future investment activities or for any other purpose, our debt service obligations would increase.

We may need to or seek to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, including the notes, on or before maturity. Our ability to refinance our indebtedness or obtain additional financing will depend on, among other things:

 

   

our financial condition, results of operations 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 commercially reasonable terms, or at all. If we do not generate sufficient cash flow from operations, and additional borrowings or refinancings or proceeds of asset sales or other sources of cash are not available to us, we may not have sufficient cash to enable us to meet all of our obligations, including payments on the notes. Accordingly, if we cannot service our indebtedness, we may have to take actions such as seeking additional equity financing, delaying additional investments in income producing properties, postponing capital expenditures, or discontinuing the pursuit of strategic acquisitions or alliances, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, and prospectus, and on our ability to satisfy our debt service obligations (including payments on the notes).

The agreements governing our indebtedness contain, and the indenture governing the notes will contain, restrictions and covenants which may limit our ability to enter into or obtain funding for certain transactions and operate our business.

The agreements governing our indebtedness contain, and the indenture governing the notes will contain, restrictions and covenants that limit or will limit our ability to operate our business. The agreements governing our indebtedness contain covenants and other restrictions that will affect, among other things, our ability to:

 

   

incur indebtedness;

 

   

create liens on assets;

 

   

sell or substitute assets;

 

   

modify certain terms of our leases;

 

   

manage our cash flows; and

 

   

make distributions to equity holders.

The indenture governing the notes will also contain covenants and other restrictions that will affect, among other things, 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, the indenture governing the notes will require us to maintain at all times a specified ratio of unencumbered assets to unsecured debt. These covenants, as well as any additional covenants to which we may be subject in the future because of additional indebtedness, could cause us to forgo investment opportunities or obtain financing that is more expensive than financing we could obtain if we were not subject to such covenants.

 

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Despite our current level of indebtedness, we may incur significantly more debt, which could exacerbate any or all of the risks described above, and adversely impact our ability to pay the principal of or interest on the notes.

We may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. Although the agreements governing our revolving credit facility and certain other indebtedness (including the indenture governing the notes) limit, 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, we may, in compliance with these restrictions, incur additional indebtedness, which could be substantial. To the extent that we incur additional indebtedness or such other obligations, the risks associated with our leverage as described above, including our possible inability to service our debt, would increase. In addition, the agreements governing our revolving credit facility and certain other indebtedness, and the indenture governing the notes, will not prevent us from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness.

The parent guarantor does not have any significant operations or material assets other than its direct and indirect investments in our operating partnership.

The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the parent guarantor, which does not have any significant operations or material assets other than its direct and indirect investments in our operating partnership. Accordingly, if our operating partnership fails to make a payment on the notes when due, there can be no assurance that the parent guarantor would have the necessary funds to pay that amount due pursuant to our guarantee.

Furthermore, as described above under “—The effective subordination of the notes may limit our ability to satisfy our obligations under the notes,” the parent guarantor’s guarantee for the notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to:

 

   

all of the parent guarantor’s existing and future secured indebtedness and secured guarantees (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness or guarantees);

 

   

all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, of the parent guarantor’s consolidated subsidiaries (including our operating partnership) that do not guarantee the notes and of any entity it accounts for using the equity method of accounting; and

 

   

all preferred equity not owned by the parent guarantor, if any, in any of its consolidated subsidiaries (including our operating partnership) that do not guarantee the notes and in any entity it accounts for using the equity method of accounting.

Federal and state statutes allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void guarantees and require holders of guaranteed debt to return payments received from guarantors.

Under the federal bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, a guarantee, such as the guarantee provided by the guarantors, could be voided, or claims in respect of a guarantee could be subordinated to all other debts of that guarantor, if, among other things, the guarantor, at the time it incurred or entered into its guarantee:

 

   

received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for the incurrence of the guarantee;

 

   

was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of the incurrence of the guarantee;

 

   

was engaged in a business or transaction for which the guarantor’s remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or

 

   

intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay those debts as they mature.

 

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In addition, any payment by that guarantor pursuant to its guarantee could be voided and required to be returned to the guarantor, or to a fund for the benefit of the creditors of the guarantors.

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.

The court might also void such guarantee, without regard to the above factors, if it found that a guarantor entered into its guarantee with actual or deemed intent to hinder, delay, or defraud its creditors.

We cannot be certain as to the standards a court would use to determine whether reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration was received by the guarantors for their respective guarantees of the notes. If a court voided such guarantee, holders of the notes would no longer have a claim against such guarantor. In addition, the court might direct holders of the notes to repay any amounts already received from a guarantor. If the court were to void any guarantor’s guarantee, require the return of monies paid by such guarantor or subordinate the guarantee to other obligations of such guarantor, we could not assure you that funds would be available to pay the notes from any of our subsidiaries or from any other source.

Some of the guarantees may be released automatically.

Although our subsidiaries will not initially guarantee the notes, guarantees, if any, of the notes by our subsidiaries may be automatically released under various circumstances described under “Description of Notes-Guarantees.” Such release may occur at any time in the following circumstances:

 

   

such subsidiary no longer guaranteeing or otherwise being an obligor (or which guarantee or obligation is being simultaneously released or will be immediately released after the release of the subsidiary from its guarantee of the notes) in respect of Triggering Indebtedness, provided that any release of such subsidiary’s guarantee pursuant to this bullet point will not limit the obligation of such subsidiary to guarantee the notes at any time after such release if such subsidiary subsequently, directly or indirectly, guarantees, or otherwise becomes obligated in respect of, Triggering Indebtedness;

 

   

such subsidiary consolidating with, merging into or transferring all of its properties or assets to another guarantor, and as a result of, or in connection with, such transaction such subsidiary dissolves or otherwise ceases to exist;

 

   

if our operating partnership exercises its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option or if our operating partnership’s obligations under the indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of the indenture, as described in “Description of Notes—Defeasance” and “Description of Notes—Satisfaction and Discharge”;

 

   

upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of such subsidiary; or

 

   

upon the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such subsidiary;

provided, however, that in the case of the fourth and fifth bullet points above, (1) such sale or other disposition is made to a person other than the parent guarantor or any of its subsidiaries and (2) such sale or disposition is otherwise permitted by the indenture.

 

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There is no prior public market for the notes, and if an active trading market does not develop for the notes, you may not be able to resell them.

We do not intend to apply for the listing of the notes on any national securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation system. As a result, an active trading market for the notes may not develop or be sustained. We have been informed by certain of the underwriters that they currently intend to make a market in the notes after this offering is completed. However, the underwriters are not obligated to make a market in the notes, and one or more of the underwriters may cease market-making at any time. We cannot assure you that any market for the notes will develop, or if one does develop, that it will be liquid. If the notes are traded, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our credit rating, our operating performance and financial condition and other factors. If an active trading market does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected. As a result, we cannot ensure you that you will be able to sell any of the notes at a particular time, at attractive prices, or at all. Thus, you may be required to bear the financial risk of your investment in the notes indefinitely.

Our management will have broad discretion in allocating the net proceeds of this offering.

Our management has significant flexibility in applying the net proceeds we expect to receive in this offering. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering as described in “Use of Proceeds,” but because a portion of the net proceeds is not required to be allocated to any specific purpose, investment or transaction, you cannot determine at this time the value or propriety of our application of that portion of the net proceeds, and you may not agree with our decisions. In addition, our use of the net proceeds from this offering may not yield a significant return or any return at all. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects. See “Use of Proceeds.

The market price of the notes may fluctuate significantly.

The market price of the notes may fluctuate significantly in response to many factors, including:

 

   

actual or anticipated variations in our operating results, adjusted funds from operations, cash flows, liquidity or distributions;

 

   

our ability to successfully execute on our investment strategy;

 

   

our ability to successfully complete investments and lease acquired properties;

 

   

changes in our earnings estimates or those of research analysts;

 

   

publication of research reports about us, the real estate industry generally or the sectors in which we invest;

 

   

the failure to maintain our current credit ratings or comply with our debt covenants;

 

   

increases in market interest rates;

 

   

changes in market valuations of similar companies;

 

   

adverse market reaction to any debt or equity securities we may issue or additional debt we may incur in the future;

 

   

additions or departures of key management personnel;

 

   

actions by institutional investors invested in our company;

 

   

speculation in the press or investment community;

 

   

high levels of volatility in the credit markets;

 

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adverse market reactions as a result of epidemics, pandemics or other outbreaks of illness, disease or virus;

 

   

general market and economic conditions; and

 

   

the realization of any of the other risk factors included in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Many of the factors listed above are beyond our control. These factors may cause the market price of the notes to decline, regardless of our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects. We cannot assure you that the market price of the notes will not fall in the future, and as a result it may be difficult for investors to resell the notes at prices they find attractive, or at all.

An increase in interest rates could result in a decrease in the market value of the notes.

In general, as market interest rates rise, notes bearing interest at a fixed rate generally decline in value. Consequently, if you purchase these notes and market interest rates increase, the market value of your notes may decline. We are not able to predict the future level of market interest rates.

A downgrade in our credit ratings could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition and the market value of the notes.

The credit ratings assigned to the notes and other debt securities of our operating partnership could change based upon, among other things, our results of operations and financial condition. These 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, these credit ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold the notes or any other securities. If any of the credit rating agencies that have rated the notes or other debt securities of our operating partnership downgrades or lowers its credit rating, or if any credit rating agency indicates that it has placed any such rating on a so-called “watch list” for a possible downgrading or lowering or otherwise indicates that its outlook for that rating is negative, it could have a material adverse effect on the market value of the notes and our costs and availability of capital, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospectus, and on our ability to satisfy our debt service obligations (including payments on the notes), and could also have a material adverse effect on the market value of the notes.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $  million, after deducting the underwriting discount and other estimated expenses payable by us.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including to temporarily repay borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility, fund external growth with property acquisitions and for other general corporate purposes.

As of March 31, 2024, we had $227 million borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility. Our revolving facility bears interest at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR, plus an applicable margin. Our revolving credit facility matures on January 2, 2026 (extendable at our option to up to January 2, 2027, subject to certain conditions). As of March 31, 2024, our revolving credit facility bore interest at SOFR plus 1.14%.

Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders and, in certain cases, agents under our credit facility. To the extent that we use the net proceeds from this offering to repay amounts we have borrowed, may borrow or re-borrow in the future under our revolving credit facility and/or any mortgages, such underwriter will receive their pro rata portion of any of the proceeds from this offering that we use to repay any such amounts. See “Underwriting—Conflicts of Interest.”

Pending the permanent use of the net proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in interest-bearing, short-term investment-grade securities, money-market accounts or other investments that are consistent with our qualification for taxation as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

The following description summarizes key terms and provisions of the notes and the indenture referred to below, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the actual terms and provisions of the notes and the indenture, which are incorporated herein by reference. The information in this section supplements and, to the extent inconsistent therewith, replaces the information in the accompanying prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities.”

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the notes or the indenture, as applicable. As used in this “Description of Notes,” references to “we,” “our” or “us” refer solely to Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P., Delaware limited partnership, and references to the “parent guarantor” refer to Phillips Edison & Company, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and, in each case, not including such entity’s subsidiaries, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

General

The notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of October 6, 2021, and a supplemental indenture, dated as of  , 2024, between us, the parent guarantor, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. We refer to such indenture, as supplemented by such supplemental indenture, as the “indenture.”

The terms of the notes include those provisions contained in the notes and the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. The notes are subject to all such terms, and holders of notes are referred to the notes, the indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement thereof. 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 “Global Securities—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form” in the accompanying prospectus. The principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the notes will be payable in U.S. dollars. The registered holder of a note will be treated as its owner for all purposes.

If any interest payment date, stated maturity date or redemption date falls on a day that is not a business day, the required payment shall be made on the next business day as if it were made on the date such payment was due and no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable from and after such interest payment date or maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, to such next business day. 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 New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. All payments will be made in U.S. dollars.

Ranking

The notes will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. However, the notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to:

 

   

all of our existing and future mortgage indebtedness and other secured indebtedness (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness);

 

   

all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes and of any entity we account for using the equity method of accounting; and

 

   

all preferred equity not owned by us, if any, in any of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes and in any entity we account for using the equity method of accounting.

 

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Assuming we had completed this offering of the notes on March 31, 2024, the notes would have been effectively subordinated to approximately $490 million principal amount of total mortgage debt and secured loans facilities outstanding on a consolidated basis. At such date, we and our subsidiaries had no unsecured indebtedness or preferred equity outstanding on a consolidated basis other than $965 million principal amount outstanding on our unsecured term loans (a portion of which may be repaid with a portion of the net proceeds from this offering) and $350 million aggregate amount of our 2031 Notes. Except as described under “—Certain Covenants” and “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale,” the indenture governing the notes does not prohibit us, the parent guarantor or any of our respective subsidiaries from incurring additional indebtedness or issuing preferred equity in the future, nor does the indenture afford holders of the notes protection in the event of (1) a recapitalization transaction or other highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us, the parent guarantor or our or its respective subsidiaries, (2) a change of control of us, the parent guarantor or our or its respective subsidiaries or (3) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, restructuring or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our, the parent guarantor’s or our or its respective subsidiaries’ assets or similar transaction that may adversely affect the holders of the notes. We, the parent guarantor, or our or its respective subsidiaries may, in the future, enter into certain transactions such as the sale of all or substantially all of our, the parent guarantor’s or our or its respective subsidiaries’ respective assets or a merger or consolidation that may increase the amount of our, the parent guarantor’s or our or its respective subsidiaries’ indebtedness or substantially change our, the parent guarantor’s or our or its respective subsidiaries’ respective assets, which may have an adverse effect on our ability to service our indebtedness, including the notes. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to this Offering and the Notes.”

Guarantees

The parent guarantor will guarantee our obligations under the notes on a full and unconditional basis, including the due and punctual payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the notes, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration, upon redemption or otherwise. Under the terms of the guarantee, holders of the notes will not be required to exercise their remedies against us before they proceed directly against the parent guarantor. In addition, following the original issue date of the notes, the parent guarantor will cause each Subsidiary of the parent guarantor (other than us) if, and for so long as, such Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, guarantees or otherwise becomes obligated in respect of Triggering Indebtedness, to, jointly and severally with the parent guarantor and any other Subsidiary of the parent guarantor that guarantees the notes, guarantee our obligations under the notes on a full and unconditional basis, including the due and punctual payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the notes, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration, upon redemption or otherwise, by executing and delivering a supplemental indenture and a notation of guarantee that provides for the guarantee within thirty calendar days in accordance with the indenture (each such Subsidiary, unless and until such time such Subsidiary is released from its obligations under the indenture and its guarantee in accordance with the terms of the indenture, a “Subsidiary Guarantor”).

Each Guarantor’s obligations under its guarantee of the notes will be limited to the maximum amount that will not, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor, result in the guarantee constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. See “Risk factors—Risks Related to this Offering and the Notes—Federal and state statutes allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void guarantees and require holders of guaranteed debt to return payments received from guarantors.”

The guarantee of the notes will be an unsecured and unsubordinated obligation of each Guarantor and will rank equally in right of payment with all other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness and guarantees of such Guarantor. Each Guarantor’s guarantee of the notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to:

 

   

all of such Guarantor’s existing and future secured indebtedness and secured guarantees (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness or guarantees);

 

   

all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, whether secured or unsecured, of such Guarantor’s consolidated subsidiaries (including us) that do not guarantee the notes and of any entity such Guarantor accounts for using the equity method of accounting; and

 

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all preferred equity not owned by such Guarantor, if any, in any of such Guarantor’s consolidated subsidiaries (including us) that do not guarantee the notes and in any entity such Guarantor accounts for using the equity method of accounting.

The parent guarantor generally does not have any significant operations or material assets other than its direct and indirect investments in us. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to this Offering and the Notes—Our company does not have any significant operations or material assets other than its direct and indirect investments in our operating partnership.” For additional information, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to this Offering and the Notes—The effective subordination of the notes may limit our ability to satisfy our obligations under the notes.”

A Subsidiary Guarantor will be automatically released and relieved from its obligations under its guarantee and the indenture and any supplemental indenture in the following circumstances:

 

   

such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer guaranteeing or otherwise being an obligor (or which guarantee or obligation is being simultaneously released or will be immediately released after the release of the Subsidiary Guarantor from its guarantee of the notes) in respect of Triggering Indebtedness, provided that any release of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s guarantee pursuant to this bullet point will not limit the obligation of such Subsidiary Guarantor to guarantee the notes at any time after such release if such Subsidiary subsequently, directly or indirectly, guarantees, or otherwise becomes obligated in respect of, Triggering Indebtedness;

 

   

such Subsidiary Guarantor consolidating with, merging into or transferring all of its properties or assets to another Guarantor, and as a result of, or in connection with, such transaction such Subsidiary Guarantor dissolves or otherwise ceases to exist;

 

   

if we exercise our legal defeasance option or our covenant defeasance option or if our obligations under the indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of the indenture, as described below in “—Defeasance” and “—Satisfaction and Discharge”;

 

   

upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of such Subsidiary Guarantor; or

 

   

upon the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor;

provided, however, that in the case of the fourth and fifth bullet points above, (1) such sale or other disposition is made to a person other than the parent guarantor or any of its other Subsidiaries and (2) such sale or disposition is otherwise permitted by the indenture.

Additional Notes

The notes will initially be limited to an aggregate principal amount of $  . We may, without the consent of holders of the notes offered hereby, increase the principal amount of the notes by issuing additional notes in the future on the same terms and conditions, except for any difference in the issue date, issue price, interest accrued prior to the issue date of the additional notes, and, if applicable, the first interest payment date and the initial interest accrual date with the same CUSIP number as the additional notes offered hereby so long as such additional notes are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the notes offered hereby. The notes offered by this prospectus supplement and any additional notes would rank equally and ratably in right of payment and would be treated as a single series of debt securities for all purposes under the indenture.

Interest

Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of   % per year from and including  , 2024 or the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for and will be payable semi-annually in arrears   on   and of each year, beginning     , 2024. The interest so payable will be paid to each holder in whose name a note is registered at the close of business on and (whether or not a business day)

 

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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 the terms of such notes, we will pay accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, to each holder that surrenders a note for redemption. However, if a redemption falls after a record date and on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date, we will pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest due on such interest payment date to the holder of record at the close of business on the corresponding record date.

Maturity

The notes will mature on    , 20     and will be paid, subject to the procedures of DTC, against presentation and surrender thereof at the corporate trust office of the trustee unless earlier redeemed by us at our option as described under “—Our Redemption Rights” below. The notes will not be entitled to the benefits of, or be subject to, any sinking fund.

Our Redemption Rights

Prior to    , 20  (  months prior to their maturity date) (the “Par Call Date”), we may redeem the notes at our option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

 

   

the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus  basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption, and

 

   

100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed,

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

On or after the Par Call Date, we may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the us in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by us after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the date the notice of redemption is given based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, we shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For

 

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purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.

If on the third business day preceding the date the notice of redemption is given H.15 TCM is no longer published, we shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding the date the notice of redemption is given of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, we shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, we shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

Our actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest that are due and payable on any interest payment date falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable to the persons who were the registered holders of the notes (or one or more predecessor notes) at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of the indenture. Written notice of redemption must be given to holders of the notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date.

If we redeem the notes in part, the trustee will select the notes to be redeemed (in principal amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) by such method as it deems fair and appropriate or, if applicable, as is required by the depository for notes in global form.

In the event of any redemption of notes, we will not be required to:

 

   

register the transfer of or exchange any note during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the mailing of notice of redemption of the notes and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or

 

   

register the transfer of or exchange any note so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any note being redeemed in part.

Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest on the notes (or portions thereof) called for redemption on a redemption date, then, from and after the redemption date, such notes (or portions thereof, as the case may be) shall cease to bear interest.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will not redeem the notes on any date if the principal amount of the notes has been accelerated, and the acceleration has not been rescinded or cured on or prior to the redemption date.

Certain Covenants

Aggregate debt test. The parent guarantor will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds from

 

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such Debt on a pro forma basis, the aggregate principal amount of all of its and its Subsidiaries’ outstanding Debt (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) is greater than 65 % of the sum of the following (without duplication):

 

   

its and its Subsidiaries’ Total Assets as of the last day of the then most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial information is available; and

 

   

the aggregate purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the aggregate amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt), by the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such fiscal quarter, including the proceeds obtained from the incurrence of such additional Debt.

Secured debt test. The parent guarantor will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt secured by any Lien on any of its or any of its Subsidiaries’ property or assets, whether owned on the date of the indenture or subsequently acquired, if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds from such Debt on a pro forma basis, the aggregate principal amount (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) of all of its and its Subsidiaries’ outstanding Debt that is secured by a Lien on any of its and its Subsidiaries’ property or assets is greater than 40% of the sum of (without duplication):

 

   

its and its Subsidiaries’ Total Assets as of the last day of the then most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial information is available; and

 

   

the aggregate purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the aggregate amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt), by the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such fiscal quarter, including the proceeds obtained from the incurrence of such additional Debt.

Debt service test. The parent guarantor will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt if the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Annual Debt Service Charge for the period consisting of the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended for which financial information is available prior to the date on which such additional Debt is to be incurred shall have been less than 1.5:1 on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds from such Debt (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP), and calculated on the following assumptions:

 

   

such Debt and any other Debt incurred by the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter period had been incurred, and the application of the proceeds from such Debt (including to repay or retire other Debt) had occurred, on the first day of such period;

 

   

the repayment or retirement of any other Debt of the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter period had occurred on the first day of such period (except that, in making this computation, the amount of Debt under any revolving credit facility, line of credit or similar facility will be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Debt during such period);

 

   

in the case of Acquired Debt or Debt incurred by the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any acquisition since the first day of such four-quarter period, the related acquisition had occurred as of the first day of such period with appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition being included in the pro forma calculation; and

 

   

in the case of any acquisition or disposition by the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries of any asset or group of assets with a fair market value in excess of $5.0 million since the first day of such four-quarter period, whether by merger, stock purchase or sale or asset purchase or sale or otherwise, such acquisition or disposition and any related repayment of Debt had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition or disposition being included in such pro forma calculation.

 

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If the Debt giving rise to the need to make the calculation described above or any other Debt incurred after the first day of the relevant four-quarter period bears interest at a floating rate (to the extent such Debt has been hedged to bear interest at a fixed rate, only the portion of such Debt, if any, that has not been so hedged), then, for purposes of calculating the Annual Debt Service Charge, the interest rate on such Debt will be computed on a pro forma basis as if the average daily rate that would have been in effect during the entire four-quarter period had been the applicable rate for the entire such period. For purposes of the foregoing, Debt will be deemed to be incurred by the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries whenever the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries shall create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect thereof.

Maintenance of total unencumbered assets. The parent guarantor and its Subsidiaries will not have at any time Total Unencumbered Assets of less than 150% of the aggregate principal amount of all of its and its Subsidiaries’ outstanding Unsecured Debt determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Existence. Except as permitted under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale,” the parent guarantor will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its, ours and each Subsidiary Guarantor’s existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises. However, none of the parent guarantor, we or any Subsidiary Guarantor will be required to preserve any right or franchise if the parent guarantor’s board of directors (or any duly authorized committee of that board of directors), as the case may be, determines that the preservation of the right or franchise is no longer desirable in the conduct of its, our or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s business.

Maintenance of properties. The parent Guarantor will cause all of its material properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or any of its Subsidiaries’ businesses to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order, normal wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted, and supplied with all necessary equipment and cause all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements to be made, all as in the parent guarantor’s judgment may be necessary in order for it to at all times properly and advantageously conduct its business carried on in connection with such properties. The parent guarantor and its Subsidiaries will not be prevented from (1) removing permanently any property that has been condemned or suffered a casualty loss, if it is in the parent guarantor’s or its Subsidiaries’ best interest, (2) discontinuing maintenance or operation of any property if, in the parent guarantor’s or its Subsidiaries’ reasonable judgment, doing so is in the parent guarantor’s or its Subsidiaries’ best interest and is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the holders of the notes, or (3) selling or otherwise disposing for value the parent guarantor’s or its Subsidiaries’ properties in the ordinary course of business.

Insurance. The parent guarantor will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep in force upon all of its and each of its Subsidiaries’ properties and operations insurance policies carried with responsible companies in such amounts and covering all such risks as is customary in the industry in which the parent guarantor and its Subsidiaries do business in accordance with prevailing market conditions and availability.

Payment of taxes and other claims. The parent guarantor will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged before it becomes delinquent:

 

   

all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed on it or any of its Subsidiaries or on its or any such Subsidiary’s income, profits or property; and

 

   

all material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies that, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon its property or the property of its Subsidiaries.

However, the parent guarantor will not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any tax, assessment, charge or claim the amount, applicability or validity of which is being contested in good faith.

Provision of financial information. For so long as any notes are outstanding, if the parent guarantor is subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision, the parent guarantor will deliver to the trustee the annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents which it is required to file with the SEC pursuant

 

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to Section 13(a) or 15(d) or any successor provision, within 15 days after the date that the parent guarantor files the same with the SEC. If the parent guarantor is not subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision, and for so long as any notes are outstanding, we will deliver to the trustee within 15 days of the filing date that would be applicable to a non-accelerated filer at that time pursuant to applicable SEC rules and regulations, the quarterly and annual financial statements and accompanying Item 303 of Regulation S-K (“management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations”) disclosure that would be required to be contained in annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, respectively, had we been subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision.

Reports and other documents filed with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed to be delivered to the trustee as of the time of such filing via EDGAR for purposes of this covenant; provided, however, that the trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed via EDGAR. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the trustee is for informational purposes only and the trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including its compliance with any of its covenants relating to the notes (as to which the trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an officers’ certificate).

Future Subsidiary Guarantors. Following the original issue date of the notes, the parent guarantor will cause each of its Subsidiaries (other than us) if, and for so long as, such Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, guarantees or otherwise becomes obligated in respect of Triggering Indebtedness, to, jointly and severally with the parent guarantor and any other Subsidiary of the parent guarantor that guarantees the notes, guarantee our obligations under the notes on a full and unconditional basis, including the due and punctual payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the notes, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration, upon redemption or otherwise, by executing and delivering a supplemental indenture and a notation of guarantee that provides for the guarantee within thirty calendar days in accordance with the indenture.

Calculations in Respect of the Notes

Except as explicitly specified otherwise herein with respect to the Quotation Agent, we will be responsible for making all calculations required under the notes. We will make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, our calculations will be final and binding on holders of the notes. We will provide a schedule of our calculations to the trustee, and the trustee is entitled to rely upon the accuracy of our calculations without independent verification. The trustee will forward our calculations to any holder of notes upon request.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale

The indenture provides that we or the parent guarantor may merge or consolidate with or into, or sell, assign, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our or its respective property and assets to, any other entity, provided that the following conditions are met:

 

   

we or the parent guarantor shall be the continuing entity, or the successor entity (if other than us or the parent guarantor, as the case may be) formed by or resulting from any merger or consolidation or which shall have received the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease of property and assets shall be domiciled in the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume payment of the principal of and interest on all of the notes and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions in the indenture;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default under the indenture, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

   

an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel shall have delivered to the trustee, each stating that such transaction and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with the indenture and that all conditions precedent provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

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In the event of any transaction described in and complying with the conditions listed in the immediately preceding paragraphs in which neither we nor the parent guarantor is the continuing entity, the successor person formed or remaining shall succeed, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of ours or the parent guarantor, as the case may be, and (except in the case of a lease) we or the parent guarantor shall be discharged from our or its obligations, as the case may be, under the notes and the indenture.

In addition, the indenture will provide that each Subsidiary Guarantor (if any) may merge or consolidate with or into, or sell, assign, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s respective property and assets to, any other entity, provided that the following conditions are met:

 

   

such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing entity, or the successor entity (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) formed by or resulting from any consolidation or merger or which shall have received the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease of property and assets shall be domiciled in the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume payment of the principal of and interest on all of the notes and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions in the indenture; provided, that the foregoing requirement will not apply in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor (x) that has been disposed of in its entirety to another person (other than to the parent guarantor or an affiliate of the parent guarantor), whether through a merger, consolidation or sale of capital stock or has sold, assigned, conveyed, transferred or leased all or substantially all of its assets or (y) that, as a result of the disposition of all or a portion of its capital stock, ceases to be a Subsidiary;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default under the indenture, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

   

an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel shall have delivered to the trustee, each stating that such transaction and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with the indenture and that all conditions precedent provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

In the event of any transaction described in and complying with the conditions listed in the immediately preceding paragraphs in which such Subsidiary Guarantor is the continuing entity, the successor person formed or remaining shall succeed, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of such Subsidiary Guarantor and (except in the case of a lease) such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be discharged from its obligations under the notes and the indenture.

This “Merger, Consolidation or Sale” covenant will not apply to:

 

   

a merger, consolidation, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the parent guarantor, us or any Subsidiary Guarantor; provided, however that the foregoing clause shall not apply to any merger, consolidation, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of assets involving us where we not the continuing entity or the successor entity; or

 

   

a merger between the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries, respectively, and an affiliate of the parent guarantor or such Subsidiary incorporated or formed solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the parent guarantor or such Subsidiary in another state of the United States. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “all or substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve “all or substantially all” of the property or assets of a person.

 

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Events of Default

The indenture provides that the following events are “Events of Default” with respect to the notes:

 

   

default for 30 days in the payment of any installment of interest under the notes;

 

   

default in the payment of the principal amount or redemption price due with respect to the notes when the same becomes due and payable;

 

   

failure by us or any Guarantor to comply with any of our or such Guarantor’s respective other agreements in the notes, the guarantee or the indenture with respect to the notes upon receipt by us of notice of such default by the trustee or by holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the notes then outstanding and our failure to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default within 60 days after we receive such notice;

 

   

failure to pay any Debt (other than Non-Recourse Debt) for monies borrowed by us, the parent guarantor or any of our or its respective Significant Subsidiaries in an outstanding principal amount in excess of $50.0 million at final maturity or upon acceleration after the expiration of any applicable grace period, which Debt (other than Non-Recourse Debt) is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within 60 days after written notice to us from the trustee (or to us and the trustee from holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes);

 

   

the Guarantee of any Guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms of the indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the indenture or its guarantee of the notes, except by reason of the release of such guarantee of the notes in accordance with provisions of the indenture; or

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of us, the parent guarantor or any of our or its respective Significant Subsidiaries or all or substantially all of their respective property.

If an Event of Default under the indenture with respect to the notes occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default specified in the last bullet above with respect to us or the parent guarantor, which shall result in an automatic acceleration), then in every case the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes may declare the principal amount of all of the notes to be due and payable immediately by written notice thereof to us and the parent guarantor (and to the trustee if given by the holders). However, at any time after the declaration of acceleration with respect to the notes has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding notes may, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, waive all defaults or Events of Default and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal of (or specified portion thereof) or interest on the notes, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture.

The indenture also provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes may waive any past default with respect to the notes and its consequences, except a default:

 

   

in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the notes, unless such default has been cured and we or the parent guarantor shall have deposited with the trustee all required payments of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the notes; or

 

   

in respect of a covenant or provision contained in the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding note affected thereby.

The trustee will be required to give notice to the holders of the notes of a default under the indenture unless the default has been cured or waived within 90 days; provided, however, that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the notes of any default with respect to the notes (except a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the notes) if the trustee considers the withholding to be in the interest of the holders. The indenture provides that no holder of the notes may institute any proceedings, judicial or otherwise,

 

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with respect to the indenture or for any remedy thereunder, except in the case of failure of the trustee, for 60 days, to act after it has received a written request to institute proceedings in respect of an Event of Default from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes, as well as an offer of indemnity or security reasonable satisfactory to the trustee. This provision will not prevent, however, any holder of the notes from instituting suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the notes at the respective due dates thereof.

The trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any holders of the notes then outstanding under the indenture, unless the holders shall have offered, and, if requested, provided to the trustee security or indemnity reasonable satisfactory to the trustee. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee. However, the trustee may refuse to follow any direction which is in conflict with any law or the indenture, or which may be unduly prejudicial to the holders of the notes not joining therein, it being expressly understood that the trustee shall not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether such action is prejudicial.

Within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, we and each Guarantor must deliver a certificate of an officer certifying to the trustee whether or not the officer has knowledge of any default under the indenture and, if so, specifying each default and the nature and status thereof.

Defeasance

Legal defeasance

The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the notes, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the notes (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of cash in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on, the notes on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the notes.

This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service, a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

Defeasance of certain covenants

The indenture provides that upon compliance with certain conditions:

 

   

we may omit to comply with certain covenants set forth in the indenture, and

 

   

any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a default or an Event of Default with respect to the notes or covenant defeasance.

The conditions include:

 

   

depositing with the trustee cash in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or

 

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investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest in respect of the notes on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the notes, and

 

   

delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred.

Covenant defeasance and Events of Default

In the event we exercise our option to effect covenant defeasance with respect to the notes and the notes are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of cash in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the notes at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. In such a case, we would remain liable for those payments.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding notes when:

 

   

either:

 

   

all notes that have been authenticated under the indenture (other than notes that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or

 

   

all notes that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation: (i) have become due and payable by reason of sending a notice of redemption or otherwise; (ii) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year; (iii) have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the trustee in our name and at our expense; or (iv) are deemed paid and discharged as set forth under the caption “—Defeasance-Legal defeasance”; and we, in case of (i), (ii) or (iii), have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee in trust cash in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations that, through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms, will provide cash sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the notes not delivered to the trustee for cancellation for principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the notes to the date of maturity or redemption, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the notes;

 

   

we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable under the indenture by us; and

 

   

we have delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture have been complied with.

Modification, Waiver and Meetings

Modifications and amendments of the indenture with respect to the notes will be permitted to be made only with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of all outstanding notes; provided, however, that no modification or amendment may, without the consent of each holder affected:

 

   

reduce the principal amount of the notes whose holders must consent to an amendment or waiver;

 

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reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on the notes;

 

   

reduce the principal of, or premium, if any, on, or change the fixed maturity of, the notes;

 

   

waive a default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the notes by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

   

make the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the notes payable in currency other than that stated in the notes;

 

   

make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of the notes to receive payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the notes and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments;

 

   

waive a redemption payment with respect to the notes; or

 

   

release any Guarantor as a guarantor of the notes other than as provided in the indenture or modify the guarantee in any manner adverse to the holders of the notes.

 

   

Notwithstanding the foregoing, modifications and amendments of the indenture with respect to the notes will be permitted to be made by us, the Guarantors and the trustee without the consent of any holder of the notes for any of the following purposes:

 

   

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture; provided that this action shall not adversely affect the interests of holders of the notes in any material respect;

 

   

to evidence a successor to us as obligor or any Guarantor as guarantor under the indenture with respect to the notes;

 

   

to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any notes then outstanding;

 

   

to provide for the issuance of additional notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the indenture;

 

   

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

 

   

to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

   

to reflect the release of any Guarantor, as guarantor, in accordance with the provisions of the indenture;

 

   

to secure the notes;

 

   

to add guarantors with respect to the notes; or

 

   

to conform the text of the indenture, any guarantee or the notes to any provision of this “Description of notes” and “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.

In determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding notes have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver thereunder or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of holders of notes, the indenture provides that notes owned by us or any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the notes or any affiliate of ours or any Guarantor or any of the other obligors actually known to a responsible officer of the trustee shall be disregarded.

The indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of notes. A meeting will be permitted to be called at any time by the trustee, and also, upon request, by us or the Parent Guarantor or the holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding notes, in any case upon notice given as provided in the indenture. Except for any consent that must be given by the holder of each note affected by certain

 

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modifications and amendments of the indenture, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present will be permitted to be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes; provided, however, that, except as referred to above, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the outstanding notes may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the holders of the specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding notes. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of notes duly held in accordance with the indenture will be binding on all holders of the notes. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and at any reconvened meeting, will be holders holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at the meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding notes, holders holding or representing the specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding notes will constitute a quorum. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any action to be taken at a meeting of holders of the notes with respect to any action that the indenture expressly provides may be taken by the holders of a specified percentage which is less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes may be taken at a meeting at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of holders of the specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding notes.

Trustee

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association will initially act as the trustee, registrar and paying agent for the notes, subject, in the case of the registrar and paying agent, to replacement at our option as provided in the indenture.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent man in the conduct of its own affairs. The trustee will become obligated to exercise any of its powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the required percentage under the indenture of holders of the notes only after those holders have offered the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it.

If the trustee becomes one of our or any Guarantor’s creditors, it will be subject to limitations on its rights to obtain payment of claims or to realize on some property received for any such claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us, any Guarantor and our and its affiliates. If, however, it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate that conflict or resign.

No Conversion or Exchange Rights

The notes will not be convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of beneficial interest of us or the parent guarantor.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

No director, officer, employee, incorporator, controlling person, stockholder, general partner, limited partner, member or agent of us or any Guarantor, as such, or of any of our or any Guarantor’s predecessors or successors, will have any liability for any of our obligations under the notes, the indenture, any guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of notes by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Notices

Except as otherwise provided in the indenture, notices to holders of the notes will be given by mail to the addresses of holders of the notes as they appear in the note register; provided that notices given to holders holding notes in book-entry form shall be given electronically through the facilities of DTC or any successor depository.

 

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Governing Law

The indenture is, and the notes and any guarantees will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

Definitions

As used in the indenture, the following terms have the respective meanings specified below:

“Acquired Debt” means Debt of a person (i) existing at the time the person becomes a Subsidiary or (ii) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from the person, in each case, other than Debt incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, the person becoming a Subsidiary or the acquisition. Acquired Debt is deemed to be incurred on the date of the related acquisition of assets from any person or the date the acquired person becomes a Subsidiary.

“Annual Debt Service Charge” means, for any period, without duplication, the amount that is payable for interest expense on, and the amortization during such period of any original issue discount of, the parent guarantor’s and its Subsidiaries’ Debt in such period, but excluding prepayment penalties and gains or losses on early extinguishment of debt to the extent otherwise included in arriving at the Annual Debt Service Charge in such period.

“Consolidated EBITDA” for any period means Consolidated Net Income of the Parent Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for such period, plus amounts which have been deducted and minus amounts that have been added for, without duplication:

 

   

interest expense on Debt;

 

   

provision for taxes based on income;

 

   

amortization of debt discount, premium and deferred financing costs;

 

   

the income or expense attributable to transactions involving derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting in accordance with GAAP;

 

   

depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items deducted or added in arriving at Consolidated Net Income;

 

   

net amount of extraordinary items and non-recurring items, as may be determined by us in good faith (including, without limitation, all prepayment penalties and any costs and fees incurred in connection with any equity issuance, debt financing or amendments thereto, or any acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or similar transaction (regardless of whether such transaction is completed));

 

   

amortization of deferred charges;

 

   

gains or losses on early extinguishment of debt;

 

   

noncontrolling interests;

 

   

provisions for unrealized gains and losses, impairment losses and gains and losses on sales or other dispositions of properties and other investments;

 

   

amortization or right-of-use assets associated with finance leases of property; and

 

   

credit losses recognized on financial assets and certain other instruments not measured at fair value;

all reasonably determined by us on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, except to the extent GAAP is not applicable.

 

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“Consolidated Net Income” for any period means the amount of net income (or loss) of the parent guarantor and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Debt” means, with respect to any person, any:

 

   

indebtedness of such person in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments;

 

   

indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned by such person, but only to the extent of the lesser of (a) the amount of indebtedness so secured and (b) the fair market value (determined in good faith by us) of the property subject to such Lien;

 

   

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 except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

 

   

any lease of property by such person as lessee which is required to be reflected on such person’s balance sheet as a finance lease in accordance with GAAP;

in the case of items of indebtedness under the first and third bullets immediately above to the extent that any such items (other than letters of credit) would appear as liabilities on such person’s balance sheet in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that the term “Debt” will (1) include, to the extent not otherwise included, any non-contingent obligation of such person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise (other than for purposes of collection in the ordinary course of business), Debt of the types referred to above of another person (other than the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries); provided, however, that the term “Debt” shall not include Permitted Non-Recourse Guarantees of the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries until they become primary obligations of, and payments are due and required to be made thereunder by, the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries; (2) exclude any such indebtedness (or obligations referenced in clause (1) above) that has been the subject of an “in substance” defeasance in accordance with GAAP; and (3) exclude Intercompany Indebtedness that is subordinate in right of payment to the notes (or an obligation to be liable for, or to pay, Intercompany Indebtedness that is subordinate in right of payment to the notes). In the case of indebtedness under the fourth bullet immediately above, the term “Debt” will exclude operating lease liabilities on such person’s balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the date of any required calculation or determination.

“Guarantors” means collectively the parent guarantor and each Subsidiary Guarantor, if any.

“Intercompany Indebtedness” means Debt to which the only parties are any of us, the parent guarantor or any of our respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that with respect to any such Debt of which we or the parent guarantor is the borrower, such Debt is subordinate in right of payment to the notes.

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance or any security interest existing on property owned by the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries securing Debt, other than a Permitted Lien.

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Debt of a joint venture or Subsidiary of ours (or an entity in which we are the general partner or managing member) that is directly or indirectly secured by real estate assets or other real estate-related assets (including equity interests) of the joint venture or Subsidiary of ours (or entity in which we are the general partner or managing member) that is the borrower and is non-recourse to the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to a Permitted Non-Recourse Guarantee and other than with respect to the joint venture or Subsidiary of ours (or entity in which we are the general partner or managing member) that is the borrower); provided further that, if any such Debt is partially recourse to the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to a Permitted Non-Recourse Guarantee and other than with respect to the joint

 

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venture or Subsidiary of ours (or entity in which we are the general partner or managing member) that is the borrower) and therefore does not meet the criteria set forth above, only the portion of such Debt that does meet the criteria set forth above shall constitute “Non-Recourse Debt.”

“Permitted Lien” means an operating lease, Lien securing taxes, assessments and similar charges, mechanics’ lien and other similar Liens and any Lien that secures Debt of the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries owed to us.

“Permitted Non-Recourse Guarantees” means customary completion or budget guarantees, indemnities or other customary guarantees provided to lenders (including by means of separate indemnification agreements, carve-out guarantees or pledges of the equity interests in the borrower) under such Non-Recourse Debt in the ordinary course of business of the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries in financing transactions that are directly or indirectly secured by real estate assets or other real estate-related assets (including equity interests) of a joint venture or Subsidiary of ours (or an entity in which we are the general partner or managing member), in each case that is the borrower in such financing, but is non-recourse to parent guarantor or any of its other Subsidiaries, except for such completion or budget guarantees, indemnities or other guarantees (including by means of separate indemnification agreements or carve-out guarantees or pledges of the equity interests in the borrower) as are consistent with customary industry practice (such as environmental indemnities and recourse triggers based on violation of transfer restrictions and other customary exceptions to non-recourse liability).

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary or group of Subsidiaries that meets either of the following conditions: (1) the parent guarantor’s and its Subsidiaries’ investments in and advances to the Subsidiary exceed 10% of the parent guarantor’s consolidated total assets (determined in accordance with GAAP) as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which an annual or quarterly report has been furnished to holders of the notes or filed with the SEC; or (2) the parent guarantor’s and its Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) of the Subsidiary exceeds 10% of the parent guarantor’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated total assets (determined in accordance with GAAP) as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which an annual or quarterly report has been furnished to holders of the notes or filed with the SEC.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to us or the parent guarantor, any person (as defined in the indenture but excluding an individual), a majority of the outstanding voting stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interest, as the case may be, of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by us or the parent guarantor, as the case may be, or by one or more other Subsidiaries of us or the parent guarantor, as the case may be. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock having voting power for the election of directors, trustees or managers, as the case may be, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

“Total Assets” means the sum of, without duplication:

 

   

Undepreciated Real Estate Assets; and

 

   

all other assets (excluding accounts receivable, right-of-use operating lease assets and non-real estate intangibles) of the parent guarantor and its Subsidiaries,

all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Total Unencumbered Assets” means the sum of, without duplication:

 

   

those Undepreciated Real Estate Assets that are not subject to a Lien securing Debt; and

 

   

all other assets (excluding accounts receivable and non-real estate intangibles) of the parent guarantor and its Subsidiaries that are not subject to a Lien securing Debt,

all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that in determining Total Unencumbered Assets as a percentage of outstanding Unsecured Debt for purposes of the covenant set forth above in “—Maintenance of total unencumbered assets,” all investments by the parent guarantor or any of its

 

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Subsidiaries in unconsolidated limited partnerships, unconsolidated limited liability companies and other unconsolidated entities shall be excluded from Total Unencumbered Assets.

“Triggering Indebtedness” means Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2021, by and among us, as borrower, the parent guarantor, as parent entity, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other lending institutions that are parties thereto, as lenders, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, refunded or replaced (in whole or in part, including with any new credit agreement or credit facility) from time to time.

“Undepreciated Real Estate Assets” means, as of any date, the cost (original cost plus capital improvements) of real estate assets, loans secured by real estate assets, right of use assets associated with finance leases in accordance with GAAP and related intangibles of the parent guarantor and its Subsidiaries on such date, before depreciation and amortization, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that “Undepreciated Real Estate Assets” shall not include the right of use assets associated with an operating lease in accordance with GAAP.

“Unsecured Debt” means Debt of the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries which is not secured by a Lien on any property or assets of the parent guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are direct obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

Same-Day Settlement and Payment

Settlement for the notes will be made by the purchasers in immediately available funds. All payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the notes will be made by us in immediately available funds or the equivalent, so long as DTC continues to make its Same-Day Funds Settlement System available to us.

 

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BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM

The certificates representing the notes will be issued in fully registered form without interest coupons.

Global Notes

We expect that, pursuant to procedures established by DTC, (i) upon the issuance of the global notes, DTC or its custodian will credit, on its internal system, the principal amount at maturity of the individual beneficial interests represented by such global notes to the respective accounts of persons who have accounts with such depositary (“participants”) and (ii) ownership of beneficial interests in the global notes will be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). Such accounts initially will be designated by or on behalf of the underwriters, and ownership of beneficial interests in the global notes will be limited to participants or persons who hold interests through participants. Holders may hold their interests in the global notes directly through DTC if they are participants in such system, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such system.

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner or holder of the notes, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes represented by such global notes for all purposes under the indenture. No beneficial owner of an interest in the global notes will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC’s procedures, in addition to those provided for under the indenture with respect to the notes.

Payments of the principal of, and premium (if any) and interest on, the global notes will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner thereof. Neither we, the trustee nor any paying agent 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 notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interest.

We expect that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal of, and premium (if any) and interest on, the global notes, will credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global notes as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global notes held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practice, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way through DTC’s same-day funds system in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in same-day funds. If a holder requires physical delivery of a Certificated Security (as defined below) for any reason, including to sell notes to persons in states that require physical delivery of the notes, or to pledge such securities, such holder must transfer its interest in a global note, in accordance with the normal procedures of DTC and with the procedures set forth in the indenture.

Cross-market transfers between DTC participants, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by their respective depositaries; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant global note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

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DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes (including the presentation of notes for exchange as described below) only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account the DTC interests in the global notes are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of notes as to which such participant or participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an event of default under the indenture, DTC will exchange the applicable global notes for Certificated Securities (as defined below), which it will distribute to its participants.

DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under 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 issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity, corporate and municipal debt issues that participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates.

Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to the DTC system is also available to indirect participants 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 participant, either directly or indirectly. Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers or interests in the global notes among participants of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time.

Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Certificated Securities

A global note is exchangeable for certificated notes in fully registered form without interest coupons (“Certificated Securities”) only in the following limited circumstances:

 

   

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the global note and we fail to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days of such notice, or

 

   

there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the notes.

 

   

Certificated Securities may be exchanged for beneficial interests in Global Notes.

The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer the notes will be limited to such extent.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC and PNC Capital Markets LLC are acting as representatives of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement among our company, our operating partnership and the representatives of the underwriters, our operating partnership has agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from our operating partnership, the principal amount of notes set forth opposite its name below.

 

Underwriters

   Principal Amount of Notes  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

   $             

BofA Securities, Inc.

  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

  

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

  

PNC Capital Markets LLC

  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $             
  

 

 

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the notes sold under the underwriting agreement if any of these notes are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

Our operating partnership and our company have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities in connection with this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the notes, subject to prior sale, when, as and if delivered to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of certain closing deliverables. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Discounts

The representatives of the underwriters have advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the notes to the public at the public offering price appearing on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and may offer notes to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of   % of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of   % of the principal amount of the notes to other dealers. After the initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may be changed.

The following table shows the underwriting discount to be paid to the underwriters by us.

 

Underwriters

   Per Note     Total  

Underwriting discount

           $       

The expenses of this offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated to be approximately $ million and are payable by us.

New Issue of Notes

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange or for inclusion of the notes on any automated quotation system.

 

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We have been advised by the underwriters that they presently intend to make a market in the notes after completion of the offering. However, they are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without any notice.

We cannot assure you that an active trading market for the notes will develop or as to the liquidity of any trading market that may develop. If an active trading market for the notes does not develop, or, if developed, is not sustained, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected.

Price Stabilization and Short Positions

In connection with the offering of the notes, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the notes. Specifically, the underwriters may overallot in connection with this offering, creating a short position. In addition, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the notes in the open market to cover short positions or to stabilize the price of the notes. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the notes above independent market levels, but no representation is made that the underwriters will engage in any of those transactions or of the magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above, if commenced, may have on the market price of the notes. The underwriters will not be required to engage in these activities, and if they engage in these activities, they may end any of these activities at any time without notice.

Delayed Settlement

We expect that the delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about the settlement date specified on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which will be the   business day following the date of pricing of the notes (such settlement cycle being referred to herein as “T+   ”). Under rules of the SEC, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to that trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes before the second business day prior to the settlement date specified on the cover page of this prospectus supplement will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+   , to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement and should consult their own advisors.

No Sales of Similar Securities

We have agreed that we will not, for a period beginning on the date of the underwriting agreement and ending on the date that this offering closes, without the prior written consent of the representatives, directly or indirectly issue, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option or right to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by either of our operating partnership or our company (other than the notes) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any debt securities issued or guaranteed by either our operating partnership or our company having a tenor of more than one year.

Electronic Distribution

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters and/or selling group members participating in this offering, or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and, depending upon the particular underwriter or selling group member, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of notes for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the representatives on the same basis as other allocations.

Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter’s or selling group member’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter or selling

 

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group member is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter or selling group member in its capacity as underwriter or selling group member and should not be relied upon by investors.

Conflicts of Interest

As described under “Use of Proceeds,” we may use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to repay borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility. Affiliates of certain of the underwriters participating in this offering are lenders under our revolving credit facility and the underwriters and/or their respective affiliates may from time to time hold debt securities or other indebtedness of our operating partnership, our company or their respective subsidiaries. To the extent that net proceeds from this offering are used to repay borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility and any other indebtedness of our operating partnership, our company or any of their respective subsidiaries that is held by any of the underwriters or their respective affiliates, those underwriters and/or affiliates, as applicable, will receive proceeds from this offering through the repayment of that indebtedness. If 5% or more of such net proceeds (not including the underwriting discount) is used to repay indebtedness owed to at least one of the underwriters and/or affiliates of such underwriter, such underwriter or underwriters will be deemed to have a conflict of interest under Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc., or FINRA. However, if such a conflict of interest were to occur, the appointment of a “qualified independent underwriter” would not be required under FINRA Rule 5121 because this offering is excluded from that requirement. For additional information, see “Use of Proceeds” above and “—Other Relationships” below.

Other Relationships

In addition to the matters discussed above under “—Conflicts of Interest,” some or all of the underwriters and/or their respective affiliates have engaged in, and/or may in the future engage in, investment banking, commercial banking, financial advisory and/or other commercial transactions and dealings in the ordinary course of business with our operating partnership, our company and/or their respective subsidiaries, for which they have received and/or in the future may receive fees and commissions.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their various 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 and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of our operating partnership and our company. To the extent that any of the underwriters or their respective affiliates have lending relationships with our operating partnership, our company or any of their respective subsidiaries, they may also choose to hedge their credit exposure to our operating partnership, our company or any such subsidiary, as the case may be, consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, those underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions, which may consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in securities of our operating partnership or our company, as the case may be, 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 respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of securities or financial instruments of our operating partnership or our company and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Selling Restrictions

No action has been taken in any jurisdiction (except in the United States) that would permit a public offering of the notes, or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying

 

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prospectus or any other material relating to us or the notes where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the notes may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the notes may be distributed or published, in or from any country or jurisdiction except in compliance with any applicable rules and regulations of any such country or jurisdiction.

Each of the underwriters may arrange to sell the notes offered hereby in certain jurisdictions outside the United States, either directly or through affiliates, where they are permitted to do so.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

None of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus is a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below). This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) will only be made to a legal entity which is a qualified investor under the Prospectus Regulation (“EEA Qualified Investors”). Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Member State of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus may only do so with respect to EEA Qualified Investors. Neither our operating partnership, our company nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of notes other than to EEA Qualified Investors. The expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

PROHIBITION OF SALES TO EEA RETAIL INVESTORS – The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes: (a) a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; and (b) the expression “offer” includes 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 for the notes. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

None of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus is a prospectus for the purposes of the UK Prospectus Regulation (as defined below). This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in the United Kingdom will only be made to a legal entity which is a qualified investor under the UK Prospectus Regulation (“UK Qualified Investors”). Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in the United Kingdom of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus may only do so with respect to UK Qualified Investors. Neither our operating partnership, our company nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of notes other than to UK Qualified Investors. The expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (the “EUWA”).

PROHIBITION OF SALES TO UNITED KINGDOM RETAIL INVESTORS -The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to

 

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any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For these purposes: (a) a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; and (b) the expression “offer” includes 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 for the notes. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

The communication of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any related free writing prospectus and any other document or materials relating to the issue of the notes offered hereby is not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the FSMA. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to those persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion Order”)), or who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order, or who are any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). In the United Kingdom, the notes offered hereby are only available to, and any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus relates will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus or any of their contents.

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the notes may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to our operating partnership or our company.

All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in respect to anything done by any person in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to this offering. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and do not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

Any offer in Australia of the notes may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional

 

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investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the notes without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

The notes applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under this offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring notes must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain general information only and do not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. They must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein or therein and has no responsibility for this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. The notes to which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the notes offered should conduct their own due diligence on notes. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The contents of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been reviewed or approved by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer or invitation to the public in Hong Kong to acquire the notes. Accordingly, (1) no person has offered or sold or will offer or sell in Hong Kong, by means of any document, any notes other than (i) to “professional investors” (as such term is defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”) and any rules made under the SFO; or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in this prospectus supplement and/or the accompanying prospectus being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong (the “C(WUMP)O”), or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the C(WUMP)O; and (2) no person has issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, or will issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules made under the SFO. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If you are in any doubt about the contents of this prospectus supplement and/or the accompanying prospectus, you should obtain independent professional advice.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus under the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the offer of the notes in Singapore is made primarily pursuant to the exemptions under Sections 274 and 275 of the SFA. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and 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 any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined under Section 4A of the SFA) (an “Institutional Investor”) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to an accredited investor (as defined under Section 4A of the SFA) (an “Accredited Investor”) or other relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) (a “Relevant Person”) and pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with, the conditions of any other applicable exemption or provision of the SFA.

It is a condition of the offer that where the notes are subscribed for or acquired pursuant to an offer made in reliance on Section 275 of the SFA 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), the sole purpose of which is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an Accredited Investor, securities or securities-based derivatives (each as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within 6 months after that corporation or that trust has subscribed for or acquired the notes except:

 

  i.

to an Institutional Investor, an Accredited Investor, a Relevant Person, or which arises from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA (in the case of a corporation) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA (in the case of a trust);

 

  ii.

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

  iii.

where the transfer is by operation of law; or

 

  iv.

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA.

Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification - Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to Sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, our operating partnership has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the notes are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and “Excluded Investment Products” (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

The prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the notes. The notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material

 

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relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters, including certain tax matters and the validity of the notes to be issued and sold in this offering, will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, Los Angeles, California. Certain legal matters under Maryland law will be passed upon for us by Ballard Spahr LLP, Baltimore, Maryland. Goodwin Procter LLP, New York, New York, is counsel for the underwriters in connection with this offering.

 

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EXPERTS

The financial statements of Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Available Information

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov. Our reference to the SEC’s internet site is intended to be an inactive textual reference only.

Our website address is http://www.phillipsedison.com. The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Forms of the indenture and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus certain information we file with the SEC prior to the termination of the applicable offering of the notes pursuant to this prospectus supplement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus incorporate by reference the following documents that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 12, 2024;

 

   

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on April 26, 2024;

 

   

the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 21, 2024; and

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 16, 2024; February 13, 2024; and April 30, 2024 (except for information furnished in Item 7.01 therein and all exhibits related thereto).

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus supplement but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed

 

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with, the SEC (including any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K), will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:

PHILLIPS EDISON & COMPANY, INC.

11501 Northlake Drive

Cincinnati, Ohio 45249

(513) 554-1110

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

PHILLIPS EDISON & COMPANY, INC.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Rights

Units

Guarantees of Debt Securities

Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P.

Debt Securities

 

 

We may offer and sell the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings. Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P. may offer from time to time debt securities in one or more series. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities.

Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities to be offered, which may include limitations on actual or constructive ownership and restrictions on transfer of the securities, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve the status of Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”). The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.

We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. 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 between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution,” respectively, for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) under the ticker symbol “PECO.” On February 9, 2022, the last reported sale price of our common stock on Nasdaq was $32.46 per share.

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ AND CONSIDER THE SECTION ENTITLED “RISK FACTORS” BEGINNING ON PAGE 5 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SIMILAR SECTION CONTAINED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is February 10, 2022


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

     2  

THE COMPANY

     4  

RISK FACTORS

     5  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     6  

GUARANTOR DISCLOSURES

     8  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     9  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     10  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     15  

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES

     24  

GLOBAL SECURITIES

     25  

DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AND THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

     29  

MATERIAL PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

     34  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     40  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     67  

LEGAL MATTERS

     68  

EXPERTS

     69  


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities from time to time and in one or more offerings as described in this prospectus. Each time that we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as applicable. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement (and any applicable free writing prospectuses), together with the additional information described in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective cover, that the information appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.

When we refer to “PECO,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean Phillips Edison & Company, Inc., and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (our “operating partnership”), unless otherwise specified; provided, however, that in statements relating to qualification as a REIT, such terms refer solely to Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. We are a limited partner of our operating partnership, and our wholly-owned subsidiary, Phillips Edison Grocery Center OP GP I LLC, is the sole general partner of our operating partnership. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential holders of the applicable class or series of securities.


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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than historical facts, may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively with the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act, the “Acts”). These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which the Company operates, and beliefs of, and assumptions made by, management of the Company and involve uncertainties that could significantly affect the financial results of the Company.

We intend for all such forward-looking statements to be covered by the applicable safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Acts. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “can,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “possible,” “initiatives,” “focus,” “seek,” “objective,” “goal,” “strategy,” “plan,” “potential,” “potentially,” “preparing,” “projected,” “future,” “long-term,” “once,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “might,” “uncertainty,” or other similar words. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date this report is filed with the SEC.

Such statements include, but are not limited to: (i) statements about our plans, strategies, initiatives, and prospects; (ii) statements about the COVID-19 pandemic, including its duration and potential or expected impact on our tenants, our business and our view on forward trends; (iii) statements about our underwritten incremental yields; and (iv) statements about our future results of operations, capital expenditures, and liquidity. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including, without limitation:

 

   

changes in national, regional or local economic climates;

 

   

local market conditions, including an oversupply of space in, or a reduction in demand for, properties similar to those in our portfolio;

 

   

use of proceeds from any future offering pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus;

 

   

vacancies, changes in market rental rates, and the need to periodically repair, renovate, and re-let space;

 

   

competition from other available shopping centers and the attractiveness of properties in our portfolio to our tenants;

 

   

the financial stability of our tenants, including, without limitation, their ability to pay rent;

 

   

our ability to pay down, refinance, restructure, or extend our indebtedness as it becomes due;

 

   

increases in our borrowing costs as a result of changes in interest rates and other factors;

 

   

the potential liability for environmental matters;

 

   

damage to our properties from catastrophic weather and other natural events and the physical effects of climate change;

 

   

our ability and willingness to maintain our qualification as a REIT in light of economic, market, legal, tax, and other considerations;

 

   

changes in tax, real estate, environmental, and zoning laws;

 

   

information technology security breaches;

 

   

our corporate responsibility initiatives;

 

   

loss of key executives;

 

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the concentration of our portfolio in a limited number of industries, geographies, or investments;

 

   

the economic, political and social impact of, and uncertainty relating to, the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

   

our ability to re-lease our properties on the same or better terms, or at all, in the event of non-renewal or in the event we exercise our right to replace an existing tenant;

 

   

the loss or bankruptcy of our tenants;

 

   

to the extent we are seeking to dispose of properties, our ability to do so at attractive prices or at all;

 

   

the impact of inflation on us and on our tenants; and

 

   

the risk factors and other risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus under the heading “Risk Factors,” the additional risk factors set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described above or elsewhere in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus or the date of such incorporated documents.

All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that the Company or persons acting on their behalf may issue.

Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

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THE COMPANY

We are a REIT and one of the nation’s largest owners and operators of omni-channel grocery-anchored neighborhood and community shopping centers. Our business model is founded on owning and operating omni-channel grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping centers that provide necessity-based goods and services to the average American household. Grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping centers have been our primary focus since we started our business in 1991, and we believe this focus has generated superior growth and attractive risk-adjusted returns over time.

Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. was formed as a Maryland corporation in October 2009. Our principal executive office is located at 11501 Northlake Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249. Our telephone number is (513) 554-1110. We maintain a website at http://www.phillipsedison.com. Information contained on, or accessible through, our website is not incorporated by reference into and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any of such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Available Information

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.

Our website address is http://www.phillipsedison.com. The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Forms of the indenture and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the following documents that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

   

the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2021 (except for Item 8, which was updated in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 2, 2021 listed below);

 

   

the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 4, 2021 (except for Item 1, which was updated in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 2, 2021 listed below);

 

   

the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on August 5, 2021;

 

   

the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on November 4, 2021; and

 

   

the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 7, 2021; January  14, 2021; March  25, 2021; June  21, 2021; July  2, 2021; July  19, 2021; August  2, 2021; September  27, 2021; September  28, 2021; October  4, 2021; October  6, 2021; and January 13, 2022 (except for information furnished in Items 2.02 and 7.01 therein and all exhibits related thereto).

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC (including any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K), will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

 

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You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:

PHILLIPS EDISON & COMPANY, INC.

11501 Northlake Drive

Cincinnati, Ohio 45249

(513) 554-1110

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

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GUARANTOR DISCLOSURES

Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. may guarantee debt securities of our operating partnership as described in the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities.” Any such guarantees by Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. will be full, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute joint and several guarantees to the holders of each series of such outstanding guaranteed debt securities. Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. owns all of its assets and conducts all of its operations through our operating partnership, and our operating partnership is consolidated into its financial statements.

On January 4, 2021, the SEC’s amendments to Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X and creation of Rule 13-01 to simplify disclosure requirements related to certain registered securities became effective. Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. and our operating partnership have filed this prospectus with the SEC registering, among other securities, debt securities of our operating partnership, which will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. As a result of the amendments to Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X, subsidiary issuers of obligations guaranteed by the parent are not required to provide separate financial statements, provided that the subsidiary obligor is consolidated into the parent company’s consolidated financial statements, the parent guarantee is “full and unconditional” and, subject to certain exceptions as set forth below, the alternative disclosure required by Rule 13-01 of Regulation S-X is provided, which includes narrative disclosure and summarized financial information. Accordingly, separate consolidated financial statements of our operating partnership have not been presented.

Furthermore, as permitted under Rule 13-01(a)(4)(vi) of Regulation S-X, we have excluded the summarized financial information for our operating partnership because the assets, liabilities and results of operations of our operating partnership are not materially different than the corresponding amounts in Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference herein, and management believes such summarized financial information would be repetitive and would not provide incremental value to investors.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to contribute the net proceeds from any sale of offered securities by us to our operating partnership. Our operating partnership will use the net proceeds from us or from any sale of offered securities by it as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary of the general terms of our capital stock. You should read our charter and bylaws and the applicable provisions of Maryland law for complete information on our capital stock. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of any class or series of common stock or preferred stock, you must refer to both the prospectus supplement relating to that class or series and the description of our stock in this prospectus. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. See “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”

General

Our charter provides that we may issue up to 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share and up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. Our charter authorizes our board of directors (our “Board”) without stockholder approval, to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock that we are authorized to issue or the number of authorized shares of any class or series. As of January 31, 2022, 113,452,274 shares of our common stock and no shares of our preferred stock were issued and outstanding. Under Maryland law, our stockholders generally are not liable for our debts or obligations solely as a result of the stockholder’s status as a stockholder.

Common Stock

All of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will, upon issuance, be duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable. Subject to the preferential rights, if any, of holders of any other class or series of our stock and to the provisions of our charter relating to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if authorized by our Board and declared by us out of assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, and will be entitled to share ratably in our assets 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 of our known debts and liabilities.

Subject to the specific class voting rights, if any, of holders of any other class or series of our stock, and to the provisions of our charter relating to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, including the election of directors. Except as provided with respect to any other class or series of our stock, the holders of our common stock will possess the exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of our directors. In uncontested elections, directors are elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes cast “for” and “against” each director nominee. In contested elections, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. See “Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and BylawsElection and Removal of Directors; Board of Directors.”

Holders of shares of our common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or redemption rights, nor do they have any preemptive rights to subscribe for any securities of PECO. Holders of our common stock generally also have no appraisal rights unless our Board determines that appraisal rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of common stock, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which stockholders would otherwise be entitled to exercise appraisal rights. Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of its stock, shares of common stock will have equal distribution, liquidation and other rights.

Under Maryland law and our charter, we generally cannot amend our charter, consolidate, convert, merge, sell all or substantially all of our assets, engage in a statutory share exchange or dissolve unless the action is advised by our Board and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Maryland law also permits a Maryland corporation to transfer all or

 

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substantially all of its assets without the approval of its stockholders to an entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation. Because our operating assets may be held by our wholly-owned subsidiaries, these subsidiaries may be able to merge or transfer all or substantially all of their assets without the approval of our stockholders.

Tender Offers

Our charter provides that any tender offer made by any person, including any “mini-tender” offer, must comply with the provisions of Regulation 14D of the Exchange Act, including the notice and disclosure requirements. Among other things, the offeror must provide us notice of such tender offer at least ten business days before initiating the tender offer. If a person makes a tender offer that does not comply with such provisions, we will have the right to redeem that person’s shares and any shares acquired in such tender offer. The redemption price of the shares in connection with a non-compliant tender offer will be the lesser of (i) the price then being paid per share purchased in our latest offering at full purchase price (not discounted for commission reductions or for reductions in sale price permitted pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan), (ii) the fair market value of our shares as determined by an independent valuation obtained by us or (iii) the lowest tender offer price offered in such non-compliant tender offer. In addition, the non-complying offeror will be responsible for all of our expenses in connection with that offeror’s noncompliance.

Preferred Stock

Under our charter, our Board, without common stockholder approval, is authorized to approve the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series, to establish the number of shares in each class or series, and to fix the terms thereof. Our Board could authorize the issuance of additional shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction that holders of common stock might believe to be in their best interests or in which holders of some, or a majority, of the shares of common stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then-market price of such shares of common stock.

Power to Reclassify and Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of Stock

Our Board may, without common stockholder approval, classify any unissued shares of our preferred stock and reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock or previously-classified shares of our preferred stock into other classes or series of stock. Before authorizing the issuance of shares of any new class or series, our Board must set, subject to the provisions of our charter relating to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series of stock. In addition, our charter authorizes our Board, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and without stockholder approval, to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock, or the number of shares of any class or series of stock, that we are authorized to issue. These actions can be taken without stockholder approval, unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law, the terms of any other class or series of our stock, or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded.

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

In order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), our stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons or entities during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of our stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities such as qualified pension plans) during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made).

 

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Our charter contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of common stock, preferred stock and other capital stock that are intended to assist us in complying with these requirements and continuing to qualify as a REIT. The relevant sections of our charter provide that, subject to the exceptions described below, no person or entity may beneficially own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% (by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of common stock, or more than 9.8% of the value of our outstanding capital stock. We refer to these restrictions as the “common stock ownership limit” and the “aggregate stock ownership limit,” respectively, and as the “ownership limits” collectively. A person or entity that becomes subject to one or both of the ownership limits by virtue of a violative transfer that results in a transfer to a trust, as set forth below, is referred to as a “prohibited owner” if, had the violative transfer been effective, the person or entity would have been a record owner and beneficial owner or solely a beneficial owner of common stock or our capital stock, as applicable.

The constructive ownership 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 common stock or less than 9.8% of the value of our outstanding capital stock (or the acquisition of an interest in an entity that owns, actually or constructively, our capital stock) by an individual or entity could, nevertheless, cause that individual or entity, or another individual or entity, to own constructively more than 9.8% of outstanding common stock or capital stock, as applicable, and thereby subject such stock to the applicable ownership limit.

Our Board, in its sole discretion, may exempt (prospectively or retroactively) a person or entity from the aggregate stock ownership limit and the common stock ownership limit, as the case may be, and may establish or increase an excepted holder limit for such person if our Board obtains certain agreements, representations and undertakings from such person or entity required by our charter, if such exemption and/or excepted holder limit will not result in us being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT.

Our Board may increase the common stock ownership limit and the aggregate stock ownership limit for one or more persons or entities and decrease the applicable ownership limit for all other persons and entities if the new common stock ownership limit and/or aggregate stock ownership limit would not allow five or fewer persons or entities to beneficially own more than 49.9% in value of our outstanding capital stock or result in us being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT. Any decreased common stock ownership limit and/or aggregate stock ownership limit will not be effective for any person or entity whose percentage ownership in shares of our stock exceeds the decreased common stock ownership limit and/or aggregate stock ownership limit until such time as such person’s or entity’s percentage of shares of stock equals or falls below the decreased common stock ownership limit and/or aggregate stock ownership limit, but any further acquisition of shares of our stock in excess of such percentage ownership of shares of stock will be in violation of the common stock ownership limit and/or aggregate stock ownership limit.

In addition to the ownership limits, our charter prohibits:

 

   

any person from beneficially or constructively owning shares of our stock that would result in us being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the stockholder’s interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT; and

 

   

any person from beneficially or constructively owning shares of our stock to the extent that such beneficial ownership or constructive ownership would cause us to recognize income that would otherwise qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of Section 856(d) of the Code to fail to qualify as such (including, but not limited to, as a result of causing any entity that we intend to treat as an “eligible independent contractor” within the meaning of Section 856(d)(9)(A) of the Code to fail to qualify as such); and

 

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any person from transferring shares of our stock if the transfer would result in shares of our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons.

Any person or entity who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial ownership or constructive ownership of shares of our stock that will or may violate any of these restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock must give written notice immediately to us of such event or, in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice and provide to us such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such transfer on our status as a REIT.

Any attempted transfer of shares of our stock that, if effective, would result in our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons will be void and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in the shares. Any attempted transfer of our stock or any other event that, if effective, would otherwise result in any person or entity violating the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock described above (including the ownership limits) will cause the number of shares causing the violation (rounded to the nearest whole share) automatically to be transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable organizations selected by us and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in such shares. The automatic transfer will be effective as of the close of business on the business day before the purported transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the trust. Shares of our stock held in the trust will be issued and outstanding shares. The proposed transferee will not benefit economically from ownership of any shares of our stock held in the trust and will have no rights to dividends and no rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares of our stock held in the trust. The trustee of the trust will exercise all voting rights and receive all dividends and other distributions with respect to shares held in the trust for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary of the trust. Any dividend or other distribution paid before we discover that the shares have been transferred to a trust as described above must be repaid by the recipient to the trustee upon demand. Subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares have been transferred to the trust, the trustee will have the authority to rescind as void any vote cast by a proposed transferee before our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust and to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee. However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee may not rescind and recast the vote.

Within 20 days of receiving notice of the transfer of shares to the trust, the trustee of the trust must sell the shares to a person or entity selected by the trustee whose ownership of the shares would not violate the ownership limits or the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock. Upon such sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee must distribute the net proceeds of the sale, and any other amounts held in the trust with respect to such shares, to the prohibited owner and to the charitable beneficiary. The prohibited owner will receive the lesser of (i) the price paid by the prohibited owner for the shares or, if the prohibited owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the trust (e.g., in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the market price (as defined in our charter) of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the trust and (ii) the price per share received by the trust from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the trust. The trustee may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of any distributions which have been paid to the prohibited owner and are owed by the prohibited owner to the trust. Any net sale proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the prohibited owner will be immediately paid to the charitable beneficiary. If, before we discover that shares of stock have been transferred to the trust, the shares are sold by a prohibited owner, then (i) the shares will be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and (ii) to the extent that the prohibited owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that the prohibited owner was entitled to receive, the excess must be paid to the trust upon demand.

Shares of our stock held in the trust will be deemed to be offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer to the trust or, if the prohibited owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the trust, the market price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the trust and (ii) the market price on the date we, or our designee, accept the offer. We may reduce the amount so payable

 

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by the amount of any dividends or other distributions that we paid to the prohibited owner before we discovered that the shares had been transferred to the trust and that is owed by the prohibited to the trust as described above, and we may pay such amount to the trust for distribution to the charitable beneficiary. We may accept the offer until the trustee has otherwise sold the shares of our stock held in the trust. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee must distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the proposed transferee and distribute any dividends or other distributions held by the trustee with respect to the shares to the charitable beneficiary.

In addition, if our Board determines in good faith that a transfer or other event would violate the restrictions on ownership and transfer set forth in our charter, our Board or a committee thereof may take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such transfer or other event, including, but not limited to, causing us to redeem shares, refusing to give effect to such transfer on our books or instituting proceedings to enjoin the transfer or other event.

Any beneficial owner or constructive owner of shares of our stock and each person or entity (including the stockholder of record) who is holding shares of our stock for a beneficial owner must provide us such information as we may request, in good faith, in order to determine our status as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.

The foregoing restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock will not apply if our Board determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions and limitations on beneficial ownership, constructive ownership and transfers of shares of our stock is no longer required in order for us to qualify as a REIT.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for shares of our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

As used in this section only, references to “we,” “our” and “us” refer either to Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. or Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P. as the case may be, as the issuer of the applicable series of debt securities and not to any subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus, including the terms of any related guarantees. We will also indicate in the prospectus supplement to what extent the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and may be issued in one or more series.

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. We have summarized select portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. Capitalized terms used in the summary and not defined in this prospectus have the meanings specified in the indenture.

General

The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of the board of directors of Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (with respect to debt securities of Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.) or the board of directors of Phillips Edison & Company, Inc., as the sole member of the sole general partner of Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P. (with respect to debt securities of Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P.), and set forth or determined in the manner provided in such resolution, in an officer’s certificate or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series (including any pricing supplement or term sheet).

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the indenture will designate U.S. Bank National Association as the trustee for the indenture with respect to one or more series of our debt securities. U.S. Bank National Association, or any other specified trustee, may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of our debt securities, and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to that series.

We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement or term sheet) relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, if applicable:

 

   

whether the issuer of the debt securities is Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. or Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P.;

 

   

the title and ranking of the debt securities (including the terms of any subordination provisions);

 

   

the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities;

 

   

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

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the date or dates on which the principal of the securities of the series is payable;

 

   

the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;

 

   

the place or places where principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities will be payable (and the method of such payment), where the securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to us in respect of the debt securities may be delivered;

 

   

the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities;

 

   

any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and in the terms and conditions upon which securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

   

the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations;

 

   

the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities;

 

   

the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount;

 

   

the currency of denomination of the debt securities, which may be United States Dollars or any foreign currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;

 

   

the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities will be made;

 

   

if payments of principal of, or any premium or interest on, the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined;

 

   

the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

 

   

any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities or any guarantees;

 

   

any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default (as defined below) described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

 

   

any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

 

   

a discussion of any additional material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to an investment in the debt securities;

 

   

any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities;

 

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the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of such series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price and period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange;

 

   

any other terms of the debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series, including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities are entitled to the benefits of the guarantee of any guarantor, and whether any such guarantee is made on a senior or subordinated basis and, if applicable, a description of the subordination terms of any such guarantee;

 

   

whether a person other than U.S. Bank National Association is to act as trustee;

 

   

the securities exchange, if any, on which the debt securities may be listed; and

 

   

any change in the right of the trustee or the right of the requisite holders to declare the principal amount of debt securities due and payable.

We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on any special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Transfer and Exchange

Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”), or a nominee of the Depositary (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a “book-entry debt security”), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a “certificated debt security”) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth below in the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities - Transfer and Exchange - Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System,” book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.

Certificated Debt Securities. You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.

You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, and any premium and interest on, certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.

Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. Please see the section entitled “Global Securities.

 

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Covenants

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.

No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control

Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions that may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) that could adversely affect holders of debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person (a “successor person”) unless:

 

   

we are the surviving entity or the successor person (if other than Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. or Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P.) is an entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; and

 

   

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.

Notwithstanding the above, any of our subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to us.

Guarantees

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities issued by Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P. will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. These guarantees will be joint and several obligations of the guarantor. If a series of debt securities is so guaranteed, an indenture, or a supplemental indenture thereto, will be executed by the guarantor. The obligations of the guarantor under the guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent that guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. The terms of the guarantee will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Events of Default

“Event of Default” means the occurrence of any of the following events, unless otherwise provided by resolution of the board of directors of Phillips Edison & Company, Inc., supplemental indenture or officer’s certificate:

 

   

default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period);

 

   

default in the payment of principal of any security of that series at its maturity;

 

   

default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty by us in the debt security of that series or the indenture (other than defaults pursuant to the first or second bullet of this paragraph or pursuant to a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee or we and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture;

 

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certain voluntary or involuntary events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us, or any guarantor; or

 

   

any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain indebtedness of ours or our subsidiaries outstanding from time to time.

If an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any securities of that series are discount securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such debt securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will become immediately due and payable. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal amount (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice in writing to our operating partnership and the trustee, may rescind and annul the acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.

The indenture provides that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any cost, liability or expense that might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in 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 exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:

 

   

that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to debt securities of that series;

 

   

the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities have made written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as trustee;

 

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such holder or holders have offered to the trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, claims, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by the trustee in compliance with such request;

 

   

the trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

   

no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60 day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities.

Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment.

The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the securities of any series and if it is known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the securities of that series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a responsible officer of the trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any Default or Event of Default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if the trustee determines in good faith that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.

Modification and Waiver

We and the trustee may modify, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder of any debt security:

 

   

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

   

to comply with covenants in the indenture described in the section entitled “Description of Debt SecuritiesConsolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”;

 

   

to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities;

 

   

to surrender any of our rights or powers under the indenture;

 

   

to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any series;

 

   

to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary;

 

   

to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities;

 

   

to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture;

 

   

to effect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of any series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide for or facilitate administration by more than one trustee;

 

   

to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

   

to reflect the release of a guarantor of the debt securities in accordance with the terms of the indenture; or

 

   

to add guarantors with respect to any or all of the debt securities or to secure any or all of the debt securities or the guarantees.

 

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We may also modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:

 

   

reduce the principal amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

   

reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security;

 

   

reduce the principal of or premium on or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities;

 

   

reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity;

 

   

waive a default in the payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

   

make the principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt security payable in any currency other than that stated in the debt security;

 

   

make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, those debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments;

 

   

waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security, provided that such redemption is made at our option; or

 

   

if the debt securities of that series are entitled to the benefit of a guarantee, release any guarantor of such series other than as provided in the indenture or modify the guarantee in any manner adverse to the holders.

Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all of the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.

Regarding the Trustee

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, U.S. Bank National Association will initially act as the trustee, registrar and paying agent for the debt securities, subject to replacement at our option as provided in the indenture.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required to use the same degree of care and skill a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of its own affairs. The trustee will become obligated to exercise any of its powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the required percentage under the indenture only after those holders have offered, and, if requested, provided the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it.

 

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If the trustee becomes one of our creditors, it will be subject to limitations on its rights to obtain payment of claims or to realize on some property received for any such claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us. If, however, it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate that conflict or resign.

Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances

Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, money and/or Foreign Government Obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.

This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:

 

   

we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading “Merger, Consolidation or Sale” and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants that may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and

 

   

any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series, or covenant defeasance.

The conditions include:

 

   

depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, money and/or Foreign Government Obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities, and

 

   

delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

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Covenant Defeasance and Events of Default. In the event we exercise our option to effect covenant defeasance with respect to any series of debt securities and the debt securities of that series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and/or U.S. government obligations or money and/or Foreign Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from the Event of Default. In such a case, we would remain liable for those payments.

“Foreign Government Obligations” means, with respect to debt securities of any series that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights or registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, as expressly provided for in the indenture) as to all outstanding debt securities when:

 

   

either:

 

   

all the debt securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities which have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or

 

   

all debt securities not theretofore delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their maturity within one year, have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year, or are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to the legal defeasance provisions of the indenture, and we have irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the trustee as trust funds in trust cash or noncallable U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such debt securities not theretofore delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities which have become due and payable) or to the maturity date or redemption date, as the case may be;

 

   

we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable under the indenture by us; and

 

   

we have delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture have been complied with.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees or Stockholders

No director, officer, employee, or stockholder will have any liability for any of our obligations under the debt securities, the indenture, any guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of debt securities by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability.

The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the debt securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Governing Law

The indenture, the debt securities and any guarantees will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of any depositary shares, warrants, rights or units issued by us that may be offered and sold pursuant to this prospectus.

 

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GLOBAL SECURITIES

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

Unless we indicate differently in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the securities initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global notes or global securities (collectively, “global securities”). The global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged for individual certificates evidencing securities under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.

DTC has advised us that it 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 securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. “Direct participants” in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (the “DTCC”). DTCC is 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, which we sometimes refer to as indirect participants, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser of a security, which we sometimes refer to as a beneficial owner, is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. However, beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities, except under the limited circumstances described below.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

 

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So long as the securities are in book-entry form, you will receive payments and may transfer securities only through the facilities of the depositary and its direct and indirect participants. We will maintain an office or agency in the location specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable securities, where notices and demands in respect of the securities and the indenture may be delivered to us and where certificated securities may be surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange.

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 legal requirements in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the securities of a particular series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the securities of such series to be redeemed.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (or such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities of such series are credited on the record date, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.

So long as securities are in book-entry form, we will make payments on those securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of such securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. If securities are issued in definitive certificated form under the limited circumstances described below and unless if otherwise provided in the description of the applicable securities herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will have the option of making payments by check mailed to the addresses of the persons entitled to payment or by wire transfer to bank accounts in the United States designated in writing to the applicable trustee or other designated party at least 15 days before the applicable payment date by the persons entitled to payment, unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the applicable trustee or other designated party.

Redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC 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 account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

Except under the limited circumstances described below, purchasers of securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to exercise any rights under the securities and the indenture.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in securities.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depositary is not obtained, securities certificates are required to be printed and delivered.

 

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As noted above, beneficial owners of a particular series of securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in those securities. However, if:

 

   

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global security or securities representing such series of securities or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when it is required to be registered and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days of the notification to us or of our becoming aware of DTC’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be;

 

   

we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have such securities represented by one or more global securities; or

 

   

an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series of securities,

we will prepare and deliver certificates for such securities in exchange for beneficial interests in the global securities. Any beneficial interest in a global security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names that the depositary directs. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities.

Euroclear and Clearstream. If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may hold interests in a global security through Clearstream Banking S.A., which we refer to as “Clearstream,” or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, which we refer to as “Euroclear,” either directly if you are a participant in Clearstream or Euroclear or indirectly through organizations which are participants in Clearstream or Euroclear. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their respective participants through customers’ securities accounts in the names of Clearstream and Euroclear, respectively, on the books of their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in such depositaries’ names on DTC’s books.

Clearstream and Euroclear are securities clearance systems in Europe. Clearstream and Euroclear hold securities for their respective participating organizations and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between those participants through electronic book-entry changes in their accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.

Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global securities owned through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and other participants in DTC, on the other hand, are also subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.

Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers and other transactions involving any beneficial interests in global securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.

Cross-market transfers between participants in DTC, on the one hand, and participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with the DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by their respective U.S. depositaries; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (European time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, 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 or receiving interests in the global securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day fund settlement. Participants in Euroclear or Clearstream may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.

 

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Due to time zone differences, the securities accounts of a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream purchasing an interest in a global security from a direct participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant participant in Euroclear or Clearstream, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a global security by or through a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream to a direct participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.

Other. The information in this section of this prospectus concerning DTC, Clearstream, Euroclear and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we do not take responsibility for this information. This information has been provided solely as a matter of convenience. The rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear are solely within the control of those organizations and could change at any time. Neither we nor the trustee nor any agent of ours or of the trustee has any control over those entities and none of us takes any responsibility for their activities. You are urged to contact DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants directly to discuss those matters. In addition, although we expect that DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear will perform the foregoing procedures, none of them is under any obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor any agent of ours will have any responsibility for the performance or nonperformance by DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants of these or any other rules or procedures governing their respective operations.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AND THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

A summary of the material terms and provisions of the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P., which we refer to as the “partnership agreement,” is set forth below. This summary is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable provisions of Delaware law and the partnership agreement. For more detail, please refer to the partnership agreement itself, a copy of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.” For purposes of this section, references to “we,” “our,” and “us” refer solely to Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. and not any of its subsidiaries.

General

Substantially all of our assets are held by, and substantially all of our operations are conducted through, the Operating Partnership, either directly or through subsidiaries. As of January 31, 2022, 5,767,386 units of limited partnership interest (“OP units”) in our operating partnership were held by third-party limited partners and 9,127,757.1 OP units were held by our management team, and we directly owned approximately 88.4% of the outstanding OP units. We also indirectly hold the sole general partnership interest in our operating partnership through Phillips Edison Grocery Center OP GP I LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, the general partner of our operating partnership.

Purpose, Business, and Management

Our operating partnership is formed for the purpose of conducting any business, enterprise, or activity permitted by or under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act. However, our operating partnership may not take, or refrain from taking, any action which, in the general partner’s judgment, in its sole and absolute discretion:

 

   

could adversely affect our ability to continue to qualify as a REIT, unless we otherwise cease to qualify as a REIT;

 

   

could subject us to any additional taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code; or

 

   

could violate any law or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over us or our securities, unless we have specifically consented to such action (or inaction) in writing.

In general, our Board manages the business and affairs of our operating partnership through control of the general partner, which directs our operating partnership’s business and affairs. If there is a conflict in the fiduciary duties owed by us (as the sole member of the general partner) to our stockholders on one hand and by the general partner to any 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 any limited partners; provided, however, to the extent that any such conflict cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either our stockholders or any limited partners, we shall be entitled to resolve such conflict in favor of our stockholders. The partnership agreement also provides that the general partner will not be liable to our operating partnership, its partners, or any other person bound by the partnership agreement for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred, or benefits not derived by our operating partnership or any limited partner, except for liability for the general partner’s intentional harm or gross negligence. Moreover, the partnership agreement provides that our operating partnership is required to indemnify the general partner and its members, managers, managing members, officers, employees, agents, and designees from and against any and all claims that relate to the operations of our operating partnership, except: (i) if the act or omission of the person was material to the matter giving rise to the action and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active or deliberate dishonesty; (ii) for any transaction for which the indemnified party received an improper personal benefit, in money, property, or services or otherwise in violation or breach of any provision of the partnership agreement; or (iii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, if the indemnified person had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

 

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Except as otherwise expressly provided in the partnership agreement and subject to the rights of future holders of any class or series of partnership interests, all management powers over the business and affairs of our operating partnership are exclusively vested in Phillips Edison Grocery Center OP GP I LLC, in its capacity as the sole general partner of our operating partnership. No limited partner, in its capacity as a limited partner, has any right to participate in or exercise management power over our operating partnership’s business, transact any business in our operating partnership’s name, or sign documents for or otherwise bind our operating partnership. Phillips Edison Grocery Center OP GP I LLC may not be removed as the general partner of our operating partnership, with or without cause, by the limited partners. In addition to the powers granted to the general partner under applicable law or any provision of the partnership agreement, but subject to certain other provisions of the partnership agreement and the rights of future holders of any class or series of partnership interest, Phillips Edison Grocery Center OP GP I LLC, in its capacity as the general partner of our operating partnership, has the full and exclusive power and authority to do all things that it deems necessary or desirable to conduct the business and affairs of our operating partnership, to exercise or direct the exercise of all of the powers of our operating partnership, and to effectuate the purposes of our operating partnership without the approval or consent of any limited partner. The general partner may authorize our operating partnership to incur debt and enter into credit, guarantee, financing, or refinancing arrangements for any purpose, including, without limitation, in connection with any acquisition of shopping centers, on such terms as it determines to be appropriate, and to acquire or dispose of any, all, or substantially all of its assets (including goodwill), dissolve, merge, consolidate, reorganize or otherwise combine with another entity, without the approval or consent of any limited partner. Subject to the exceptions described below, the general partner may execute, deliver, and perform agreements and transactions on behalf of our operating partnership without the approval or consent of any limited partner.

Redemption Rights of Qualifying Parties

Beginning 12 months after first acquiring such OP units, each limited partner and some assignees of limited partners will have the right, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the partnership agreement, to require our operating partnership to redeem all or a portion of the OP units held by such limited partner or assignee in exchange for a cash amount per OP unit equal to the value of one share of our common stock, determined in accordance with and subject to adjustment under the partnership agreement. Our operating partnership’s obligation to redeem OP units does not arise and is not binding against our operating partnership until the fourth business day after the general partner receives the holder’s notice of redemption or, if earlier, the day the general partner notifies the holder seeking redemption that the general partner has declined to require us to acquire some or all of the OP units tendered for redemption. If the general partner does not elect to require us to acquire the OP units tendered for redemption in exchange for shares of our common stock (as described below), our operating partnership must deliver the cash redemption amount, subject to certain exceptions, on or before the sixth business day after the general partner receives the holder’s notice of redemption. In the event the general partner elects not to require us to acquire any OP units that are tendered for redemption, our operating partnership may elect to raise funds for the payment of the cash redemption pursuant to the terms further described in the partnership agreement. Among other limitations, a limited partner or qualifying assignee may not require our operating partnership to redeem its OP units if the exchange of such OP units for shares of our common stock would cause any person to violate the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock or violate certain limitations intended to prevent our operating partnership from being treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under the Code.

On or before the close of business on the third business day after a holder of OP units gives notice of redemption to us, the general partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion but subject to the restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our stock set forth in our charter and described in “Description of Capital Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer,” elect to require us to acquire some or all of the OP units tendered for redemption from the tendering party in exchange for shares of our common stock, based on an exchange ratio of one share of common stock for each OP unit, subject to adjustment as provided in the partnership agreement. The partnership agreement does not require us to register, qualify, or list any shares of common stock issued in

 

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exchange for OP units with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with any state securities commissioner, department, or agency, under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or with any stock exchange.

Transferability of Operating Partnership Units; Extraordinary Transactions

Generally, prior to the first 12-month anniversary of acquiring their OP units, limited partners in our operating partnership cannot transfer all or any portion of their partnership interest without the written consent of the general partner. Beginning 12 months after first acquiring OP units, a limited partner (other than us) may, without the consent of the general partner, transfer all or any portion of its partnership interest or any of such limited partner’s economic right as a limited partner, subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

   

General Partner Right of First Refusal. The transferring partner is required to give written notice of the proposed transfer to the general partner, upon which the general partner may elect to purchase such partnership units on the same terms as the proposed transfer described in the written notice.

 

   

Qualified Transferee. Transfers of partnership interests shall be made only to an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

   

Opinion of Counsel. The transferring partner shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the general partner an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to it that the proposed transfer will not require a registration under the Securities Act or violation any applicable securities laws.

 

   

Minimum Transfer Restriction. Any transferring partner may not transfer less than the lesser of (i) 500 OP units or (ii) all of the remaining OP units owned by such transferring partner.

Phillips Edison Grocery Center OP GP I LLC, the general partner of our operating partnership, generally is not able to withdraw voluntarily from our operating partnership or transfer any of its interest in our operating partnership unless the withdrawal or transfer is: (i) to us; (ii) to a subsidiary that is wholly-owned by us or the general partner and is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” (as defined in Section 856(i) of the Code); or (iii) with the consent of the limited partners holding percentage interests in our operating partnership greater than 66 2/3% of the aggregate percentage interests of all limited partners.

The partnership agreement provides that we may not, without the approval of 66 2/3% of the aggregate interests of the outside limited partners in our operating partnership (which excludes us and our subsidiaries), engage in any merger, consolidation, or other combination of us or our operating partnership with or into another entity or sale of all or substantially all of our or our operating partnership’s assets, or any reclassification, recapitalization, or change of any outstanding shares of our capital stock or other equity interests (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination of our common stock), unless:

 

   

in connection with such a transaction, all limited partners (other than us), will receive, or will have the right to elect to receive on substantially identical terms as holders of our common stock, for each OP unit an amount of cash, securities, or other property equal in value to the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property paid in the transaction to a holder of shares of our common stock, provided that if, in connection with the transaction, a purchase, tender, or exchange offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of the outstanding shares of our common stock, each holder of OP units shall be given the option to exchange its OP units for the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property that a limited partner would have received had it exercised its redemption right and received shares of our common stock in exchange for its partnership units immediately prior to the expiration of such purchase, tender, or exchange offer and had thereupon accepted such purchase, tender, or exchange offer; or

 

   

all the following conditions are met: (i) substantially all of the assets directly or indirectly owned by the surviving partnership are owned directly or indirectly by our operating partnership or another limited partnership or limited liability company, which we refer to as the surviving partnership; (ii) the limited partners that held OP units immediately prior to the transaction own a percentage interest of the

 

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Surviving Partnership based on the relative fair market value of the net assets of our operating partnership and the other net assets of the surviving partnership immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction; (iii) the rights, preferences, and privileges of such limited partners in the surviving partnership are at least as favorable as those in the partnership agreement and as those applicable to any other limited partners or non-managing members of the surviving partnership; and (iv) the rights of the limited partners include at least the following: (A) the right to redeem their interests in the surviving partnership for consideration paid in the transaction to a holder of shares of our common stock; or (B) the right to redeem their interests in the surviving partnership for cash on terms substantially equivalent to those in effect prior to consummation of such transaction, or, if the ultimate controlling person of the surviving partnership has publicly traded common equity securities, such common equity securities, with an exchange ratio based on the relative fair market value of such securities and the shares of our common stock as of the time of the transaction.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the partnership agreement requires the general partner or us, as the parent of the general partner, to obtain the approval of the limited partners in our operating partnership (including us and our subsidiaries) in connection with the consummation by us or our operating partnership of (i) a merger, consolidation, or other change of control (as defined below) transaction, (ii) any merger involving our operating partnership, (iii) the sale of all or substantially all of our assets or the assets of our operating partnership to any person, or (iv) any OP unit issuance in respect of a transaction required to be submitted for approval of our stockholders, unless:

 

   

the general partner provides the limited partners with advance notice;

 

   

in connection with such advance notice, the general partner provides the limited partners with written materials describing the proposed transaction; and

 

   

the transaction is approved by the holders of the partnership interests issued under the partnership agreement at the same level of approval as required for the approval of the holders of shares of our common stock. For this purpose, approval is obtained when the sum of (i) the number of OP units consenting to the transaction that are held by the limited partners (other than us and our subsidiaries) plus (ii) the product of (A) the number of OP units held by us and our subsidiaries multiplied by (B) the percentage of the votes that were cast in favor of the transaction by the holders of shares of our common stock, exceeds the level of approval required for holders of shares of our common stock to approve the transaction.

Under the partnership agreement, a “change of control” means (i) any “person” or “group” of related persons (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) (A) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by way of purchase, exchange, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification, business combination, or other similar transaction of more than 50% of the total voting power of (1) us or (2) any of our direct or indirect parent entities (or its or their successors by merger, consolidation, or purchase of all or substantially all of its or their assets); or (B) becomes entitled, either alone or together with its affiliates or group members, to nominate, designate, or elect a majority of our Board; or (ii) our stockholders (or the stockholders of our successors by merger, consolidation, reorganization, business combination, or other similar transaction) adopt a plan or proposal for liquidation or dissolution of us or our operating partnership.

Additional Limited Partners

We may cause our operating partnership to issue additional units or other partnership interests and to admit additional limited partners to our operating partnership from time to time, on such terms and conditions and for such capital contributions as we may establish in our sole and absolute discretion, without the approval or consent of any limited partner. The net capital contribution need not be equal for all limited partners. Each person admitted as an additional limited partner must make certain representations to each other partner relating to,

 

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among other matters, such person’s ownership of any Neighbor or our operating partnership. No person may be admitted as an additional limited partner without our consent, which we may give or withhold in our sole and absolute discretion, and no approval or consent of any limited partner will be required in connection with the admission of any additional limited partner.

Our operating partnership may issue additional partnership interests in one or more series or classes, or in one or more series of any such class senior, on a parity with, or junior to the OP Units to any persons at any time or from time to time, on such terms and conditions as the general partner shall establish in each case in its sole and absolute discretion subject to Delaware law, without the approval of any limited partner or any other person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we may specify, as to any such class or series of partnership interest:

 

   

the allocations of items of partnership income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit to each such class or series of partnership interest;

 

   

the right of each such class or series of partnership interest to share in partnership distributions; and

 

   

the rights of each such class or series of partnership interest upon dissolution and liquidation of our operating partnership.

Ability to Engage in Other Businesses; Conflicts of Interest

We may not conduct any business other than in connection with the ownership, acquisition and disposition of partnership interests, the management of the business and affairs of our operating partnership and its general partner, our operation as a reporting company with a class (or classes) of securities registered under the Exchange Act, our operations as a REIT, the offering, sale, syndication, private placement or public offering of stock, bonds, securities or other interests, financing or refinancing of any type related to our operating partnership or its assets or activities, and such activities as are incidental to those activities discussed above. In general, we must contribute any assets or funds that we acquire to our operating partnership in exchange for additional partnership interests. We may, however, in our sole and absolute discretion, from time to time hold or acquire assets in our own name or otherwise other than through our operating partnership so long as we take commercially reasonable measures to ensure that the economic benefits and burdens of such property are otherwise vested in our operating partnership.

 

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MATERIAL PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

The following is a summary of some of the general terms of our charter and bylaws and of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”). You should read our charter and bylaws and the applicable provisions of the MGCL for complete information. The following summary is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of our charter and bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and the applicable provisions of the MGCL. See “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”

Election and Removal of Directors; Board of Directors

Our charter provides that the number of our directors may be established pursuant to our bylaws but may not be fewer than three nor more than 15. Our charter requires that, so long as a class of our stock is listed for trading on a national securities exchange, a majority of our directors be “independent” in accordance with the rules and regulations of such exchange.

At each annual meeting of our stockholders, our stockholders will elect each of our directors to serve until the next annual meeting of our stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. Holders of shares of our common stock will have no right to cumulative voting in the election of directors. In uncontested elections, directors are elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes cast “for” and “against” each director nominee. In contested elections, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. An election will be considered to be contested if: (i) our secretary has received notice that a stockholder has nominated or proposes to nominate one or more persons for election as a director, which notice complies or purports to comply with the requirements for advance notice of stockholder nominations set forth in our bylaws; and (ii) the nomination or proposed nomination has not been withdrawn at least 14 days prior to the date that our proxy statement with respect to the meeting at which such nomination or proposed nomination would be made is first released to stockholders and would thereby cause the number of nominees and proposed nominees to exceed the number of directors to be elected at the meeting, irrespective of whether such notice delivered to our secretary actually complies with the requirements for advance notice of stockholder nominations set forth in our bylaws or such nomination or proposed nomination is thereafter withdrawn by such stockholder.

A director may be removed at any meeting of stockholders called expressly for such purpose with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors.

We have elected to be subject to a provision of Maryland law requiring that, except as otherwise provided in the terms of any class or series of our stock, vacancies on our Board may be filled only by the remaining directors, and that any individual elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Business Combinations

Under Maryland law, certain “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:

 

   

any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock; or

 

   

an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period before the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

 

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A person is not an interested stockholder if the Board approved in advance the transaction by which he or she otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the Board 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.

After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the Board of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

   

80% of the votes entitled to be cast by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; and

 

   

two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, other than the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s 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 exempted by the Board before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. As permitted by statute, our Board has adopted a resolution exempting any business combination between us and any other person. There can be no assurance that our Board will not amend or revoke this resolution, without stockholder approval, at any time in the future.

Control Share Acquisitions

Maryland law provides that a holder of control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition has no voting rights with respect to the control shares except to the extent approved by at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, excluding votes entitled to be cast by the acquiror, officers and employees who are directors of the corporation. Control shares are voting shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would cause the acquiror to be entitled to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:

 

   

one-tenth or more but less than one-third,

 

   

one-third or more but less than a majority, or

 

   

a majority or more.

Control shares do not include shares that the acquiror is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval or shares acquired directly from the corporation. 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 may, upon satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay expenses), compel the corporation 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 of control shares are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiror does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may, subject to certain limitations and conditions, redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have

 

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previously been approved. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or, if a meeting of stockholders is held at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved, as of the date of the meeting. 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, unless the corporation’s charter or bylaws provide otherwise. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.

The control share acquisition statute does not apply to: (i) shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction; or (ii) acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. There can be no assurance that this provision will not be amended or eliminated, without stockholder approval, at any time in the future.

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 of the MGCL which provide, respectively, that:

 

   

the corporation’s board of directors will be divided into three classes;

 

   

the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors generally is required to remove a director;

 

   

the number of directors may be fixed only by vote of the directors;

 

   

a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining directors and that directors elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred; and

 

   

the request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at a special meeting is required for stockholders to require the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.

Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already require the request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of votes entitled to be cast at the meeting to call a special meeting, unless called by our President, our Chief Executive Officer, or our Board. We have elected to be subject to the provision of Subtitle 8 that requires that vacancies on our Board may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, and directors elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred. Our Board is not currently classified, and we have not elected to be subject to any of the other provisions of Subtitle 8, including the provisions that would permit us to classify our Board without stockholder approval. Moreover, we intend our charter to provide that, without the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, we may not elect to be subject to the provision of Subtitle 8 that would permit us to classify our Board without stockholder approval.

Stockholder Rights Plan

We do not currently have a stockholder rights plan, and we will not adopt a stockholder rights plan in the future without (i) the approval of our stockholders by a majority of the votes cast on the matter or (ii) seeking ratification from our stockholders by a majority of the votes cast on the matter within 12 months of adoption of

 

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the plan if our Board determines, in the exercise of its duties under applicable law, that it is in our best interest to adopt a rights plan without the delay of seeking prior stockholder approval.

Special Meetings of Stockholders

Our President, Chief Executive Officer, or Board may call special meetings of our stockholders. A special meeting of our stockholders to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of our stockholders must also be called by our secretary upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at the meeting and containing the information required by our bylaws. Our secretary will inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing the notice of meeting (including our proxy materials), and the requesting stockholder must pay such estimated cost before our secretary may prepare and mail the notice of the special meeting.

Advance Notice of Director Nomination and New Business

Our bylaws provide that nominations of individuals for election to our Board and proposals of business to be considered by stockholders at any annual meeting of our stockholders may be made only (i) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (ii) by our Board, or (iii) by any stockholder who (A) was a stockholder of record as of the record date for the meeting, at the time the stockholder provides the notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the annual meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of the individuals so nominated or on such other proposed business, and (C) has complied with the advance notice requirements of, and provided the information and other materials required by, our bylaws. Stockholders generally must provide notice to our secretary not before the 150th day or after the 120th day before the first anniversary of the date of the mailing of our proxy statement for the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors at the preceding year’s annual meeting.

Only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before a special meeting of our stockholders. Nominations of individuals for election to our Board at a special meeting of stockholders may be made only (i) by or at the direction of our Board, or (ii) if the special meeting has been called in accordance with our bylaws for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder who (A) was a stockholder of record as of the record date for the meeting, at the time the stockholder provides the notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the special meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and (C) has complied with the advance notice requirements of, and provided the information and other materials required by, our bylaws. Stockholders generally must provide notice to our secretary not before the 120th day before such special meeting and after the later of the 90th day before the special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such meeting is made less than 100 days before the date of such special meeting, the tenth day after public announcement of the date of the special meeting and the nominees of our Board to be elected at the meeting.

Exclusive Forum

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division, will be the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in the MGCL; (ii) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf (other than actions arising under federal securities laws); (iii) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other associates to us or to our stockholders; (iv) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other associates arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL or our charter or bylaws; or (v) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other associates that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. These choice of forum provisions will not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

 

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Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and our Charter and Bylaws

The restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock discussed under the caption “Description of Capital StockRestrictions on Ownership and Transfer” prevent any person from acquiring more than 9.8% of our outstanding common stock or 9.8% of our outstanding stock without the prior approval of our Board. These provisions, as well as the business combination statute and control share statute discussed above under the captions “—Business Combinations” and “—Control Share Acquisitions,” as well as the mini-tender provisions discussed under the caption “Description of Capital StockTender Offers,” may delay, defer or prevent a change in control of us. Our Board has the power to increase the aggregate number of authorized shares and to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock into other classes or series of stock, and to authorize us to issue the newly-classified shares, as discussed under the captions “Description of Capital StockGeneral” and “Description of Capital StockPower to Reclassify and Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of Stock,” and could authorize the issuance of shares of common stock or a series of preferred stock that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us. We believe that the power to increase the aggregate number of authorized shares and to classify or reclassify unissued shares of common or preferred stock, without stockholder approval, provides us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise.

The provisions of our bylaws discussed above under the captions “—Special Meetings of Stockholders” and “—Advance Notice of Director Nomination and New Business” require stockholders seeking to call a special meeting, nominate an individual for election as a director or propose other business at an annual meeting to comply with certain notice and information requirements. We believe that these provisions will help to assure the continuity and stability of our business strategies and policies as determined by our Board and promote good corporate governance by providing us with clear procedures for calling special meetings, information about a stockholder proponent’s interest in us and adequate time to consider stockholder nominees and other business proposals. However, these provisions, alone or in combination, could make it more difficult for our stockholders to remove incumbent directors or fill vacancies on our Board with their own nominees and could delay, defer or prevent a change in control, including a proxy contest or tender offer that might involve a premium price for our common stockholders or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

Amendment of our Bylaws

Our bylaws provide that our Board shall have the power to adopt, alter, or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws. Our bylaws are expected to further provide that our stockholders that meet certain ownership and eligibility requirements under the Exchange Act may alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and adopt new bylaws if any such alteration, repeal, or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision eliminating the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from:

 

   

actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property, or services; or

 

   

active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action.

Our charter contains a provision that eliminates the liability of our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

Maryland law requires a Maryland 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

 

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proceeding to which he or she is made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a Maryland 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:

 

   

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) 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.

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation also may not indemnify a director or officer in a suit by or on behalf of the corporation in which the director or officer was adjudged liable to the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct; however, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by us or on our behalf, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.

In addition, the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s 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 his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that he or she did not meet the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation.

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, our charter requires us to indemnify any present or former director or officer for any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative) relating to any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity as a director or officer, and to pay or reimburse all reasonable expenses incurred by such a person in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law. Our charter also permits us to indemnify and advance expenses to any individual who served a predecessor of our Company in any of the capacities described above and any employee or agent of our Company or a predecessor of our Company.

Our Board has approved, and we entered into, indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that provide for indemnification and advance of expenses to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

We have purchased and intend to maintain insurance on behalf of all of our directors and executive officers against liability asserted against or incurred by them in their official capacities, whether or not we are required or have the power to indemnify them against the same liability.

Insofar as the foregoing provisions permit indemnification of directors, officers or persons controlling us for liability arising under the Securities Act, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a general summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations regarding our election to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), and the purchase, ownership or disposition of our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities. Supplemental U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the ownership of the securities offered by this prospectus may be provided in the prospectus supplement that relates to those securities. For purposes of this discussion, references to “we,” “our” and “us” mean only Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. and do not include any of its subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated. This summary is for general information only and is not tax advice. The information in this summary is based on:

 

   

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”);

 

   

current, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code (the “Treasury Regulations”);

 

   

the legislative history of the Code; administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, (the “IRS”); and

 

   

court decisions;

in each case, as of the date of this prospectus. In addition, the administrative interpretations and practices of the IRS include its practices and policies as expressed in private letter rulings that are not binding on the IRS except with respect to the particular taxpayers who requested and received those rulings. The sections of the Code and the corresponding Treasury Regulations that relate to qualification and taxation as a REIT are highly technical and complex. The following discussion sets forth certain material aspects of the sections of the Code that govern the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a REIT and its stockholders. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof. Potential tax reforms may result in significant changes to the rules governing U.S. federal income taxation. New legislation, Treasury Regulations, administrative interpretations and practices and/or court decisions may significantly and adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of such qualification, or the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in us, including those described in this discussion. Moreover, the law relating to the tax treatment of other entities, or an investment in other entities, could change, making an investment in such other entities more attractive relative to an investment in a REIT. Any such changes could apply retroactively to transactions preceding the date of the change. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, any rulings from the IRS that we qualify as a REIT, and the statements in this prospectus are not binding on the IRS or any court. Thus, we can provide no assurance that the tax considerations contained in this discussion will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained by a court if challenged by the IRS. This summary does not discuss any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences, or any tax consequences arising under any U.S. federal tax laws other than U.S. federal income tax laws, associated with the purchase, ownership or disposition of our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities, or our election to be taxed as a REIT.

You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to you of:

 

   

the purchase, ownership and disposition of our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities, including the U.S. federal, state, local, non-U.S. and other tax consequences;

 

   

our election to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and

 

   

potential changes in applicable tax laws.

Taxation of Our Company

General—We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2010. We believe that we have been organized and have operated in a

 

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manner that has allowed us to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code commencing with such taxable year, and we intend to continue to be organized and operate in this manner. However, qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet the various qualification tests imposed under the Code, including through actual operating results, asset composition, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that we have been organized and have operated, or will continue to be organized and operate, in a manner so as to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT. See “—Failure to Qualify” for potential tax consequences if we fail to qualify as a REIT.

Latham & Watkins LLP has acted as our tax counsel in connection with this prospectus and our election to be taxed as a REIT. Latham & Watkins LLP has rendered an opinion to us, as of the date of this prospectus, to the effect that, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2010, we have been organized and have operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and our proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. It must be emphasized that this opinion is based on various assumptions and representations as to factual matters, including representations made by us in a factual certificate provided by one or more of our officers. In addition, this opinion is based upon our factual representations set forth in this prospectus. Moreover, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet the various qualification tests imposed under the Code, which are discussed below, including through actual operating results, asset composition, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership, the results of which have not been and will not be reviewed by Latham & Watkins LLP. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that our actual results of operations for any particular taxable year have satisfied or will satisfy those requirements. Further, the anticipated U.S. federal income tax treatment described herein may be changed, perhaps retroactively, by legislative, administrative or judicial action at any time. Latham & Watkins LLP has no obligation to update its opinion subsequent to the date of such opinion.

Provided we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be required to pay U.S. federal corporate income taxes on our REIT taxable income that is currently distributed to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” that ordinarily results from investment in a C corporation. A C corporation is a corporation that generally is required to pay tax at the corporate level. Double taxation means taxation once at the corporate level when income is earned and once again at the stockholder level when the income is distributed. We will, however, be required to pay U.S. federal income tax as follows:

 

   

First, we will be required to pay regular U.S. federal corporate income tax on any undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed capital gain.

 

   

Second, if we have (1) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (2) other nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be required to pay regular U.S. federal corporate income tax on this income. To the extent that income from foreclosure property is otherwise qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, this tax is not applicable. Subject to certain other requirements, foreclosure property generally is defined as property we acquired through foreclosure or after a default on a loan secured by the property or a lease of the property. See “—Foreclosure Property.”

 

   

Third, we will be required to pay a 100% tax on any net income from prohibited transactions. Prohibited transactions are, in general, sales or other taxable dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.

 

   

Fourth, if we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, as described below, but have otherwise maintained our qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements are met, we will be required to pay a tax equal to (1) the greater of (A) the amount by which we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test and (B) the amount by which we fail to satisfy the 95% gross income test, multiplied by (2) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

 

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Fifth, if we fail to satisfy any of the asset tests (other than a de minimis failure of the 5% or 10% asset test), as described below, due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, and we nonetheless maintain our REIT qualification because of specified cure provisions, we will be required to pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the product of (1) the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate and (2) the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets that caused us to fail such test.

 

   

Sixth, if we fail to satisfy any provision of the Code that would result in our failure to qualify as a REIT (other than a violation of the gross income tests or certain violations of the asset tests, as described below) and the violation is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, we may retain our REIT qualification but we will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.

 

   

Seventh, we will be required to pay a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of amounts actually distributed and amounts retained for which U.S. federal income tax was paid if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (1) 85% of our ordinary income for the year, (2) 95% of our capital gain net income for the year, and (3) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods.

 

   

Eighth, if we acquire any asset from a corporation that is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which our tax basis in the asset is less than the fair market value of the asset, in each case determined as of the date on which we acquired the asset, and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of the asset during the five-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired the asset, then we generally will be required to pay regular U.S. federal corporate income tax on this gain to the extent of the excess of (1) the fair market value of the asset over (2) our adjusted tax basis in the asset, in each case determined as of the date on which we acquired the asset. The results described in this paragraph with respect to the recognition of gain assume that the C corporation will refrain from making an election to receive different treatment under applicable Treasury Regulations on its tax return for the year in which we acquire the asset from the C corporation. Under applicable Treasury Regulations, any gain from the sale of property we acquired in an exchange under Section 1031 (a like-kind exchange) or Section 1033 (an involuntary conversion) of the Code generally is excluded from the application of this built-in gains tax.

 

   

Ninth, our subsidiaries that are C corporations and are not qualified REIT subsidiaries, including our “taxable REIT subsidiaries” described below, generally will be required to pay regular U.S. federal corporate income tax on their earnings.

 

   

Tenth, we will be required to pay a 100% tax on any “redetermined rents,” “redetermined deductions,” “excess interest” or “redetermined TRS service income,” as described below under “—Penalty Tax.” In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of services furnished to any of our tenants by our taxable REIT subsidiaries. Redetermined deductions and excess interest generally represent amounts that are deducted by our taxable REIT subsidiaries for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s length negotiations. Redetermined TRS service income generally represents income of a taxable REIT subsidiary that is understated as a result of services provided to us or on our behalf.

 

   

Eleventh, we may elect to retain and pay income tax on our net capital gain. In that case, a stockholder would include its proportionate share of our undistributed capital gain (to the extent we make a timely designation of such gain to the stockholder) in its income, would be deemed to have paid the tax that we paid on such gain, and would be allowed a credit for its proportionate share of the tax deemed to have been paid, and an adjustment would be made to increase the tax basis of the stockholder in our capital stock by the difference between (1) the amount of capital gain included in income and (2) the amount of tax deemed paid by the stockholder.

 

   

Twelfth, if we fail to comply with the requirement to send annual letters to our stockholders holding at least a certain percentage of our stock, as determined under applicable Treasury Regulations, requesting information regarding the actual ownership of our stock, and the failure is not due to

 

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reasonable cause or is due to willful neglect, we will be subject to a $25,000 penalty, or if the failure is intentional, a $50,000 penalty.

We and our subsidiaries may be subject to a variety of taxes other than U.S. federal income tax, including payroll taxes and state and local income, property and other taxes on our assets and operations.

Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

 

  1.

that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

 

  2.

that issues transferable shares or transferable certificates to evidence its beneficial ownership;

 

  3.

that would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 860 of the Code;

 

  4.

that is not a financial institution or an insurance company within the meaning of certain provisions of the Code;

 

  5.

that is beneficially owned by 100 or more persons;

 

  6.

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

 

  7.

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

The Code provides that conditions (1) to (4), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year and that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. Conditions (5) and (6) do not apply until after the first taxable year for which an election is made to be taxed as a REIT. For purposes of condition (6), the term “individual” includes a supplemental unemployment compensation benefit plan, a private foundation or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes, but generally does not include a qualified pension plan or profit sharing trust.

We believe that we have been organized and have operated in a manner that has allowed us, and will continue to allow us, to satisfy conditions (1) through (7), inclusive, during the relevant time periods. In addition, our charter provides for restrictions regarding ownership and transfer of our shares that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. A description of the share ownership and transfer restrictions relating to our capital stock is contained in the discussion in this prospectus under the heading “Description of Capital Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.” These restrictions, however, do not ensure that we have previously satisfied, and may not ensure that we will, in all cases, be able to continue to satisfy, the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, then except as provided in the next sentence, our status as a REIT will terminate. If, however, we comply with the rules contained in applicable Treasury Regulations that require us to ascertain the actual ownership of our shares and we do not know, or would not have known through the exercise of reasonable diligence, that we failed to meet the requirement described in condition (6) above, we will be treated as having met this requirement. See “—Failure to Qualify.”

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

Ownership of Interests in Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies and Qualified REIT Subsidiaries—In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership (for purposes of this discussion, references to “partnership” include a limited liability company treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and references

 

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to “partner” include a member in such a limited liability company), Treasury Regulations provide that the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership based on its interest in partnership capital, subject to special rules relating to the 10% asset test described below. Also, the REIT will be deemed to be entitled to its proportionate share of the income of that entity. The assets and gross income of the partnership retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and the asset tests. Thus, our pro rata share of the assets and items of income of our operating partnership, including our operating partnership’s share of these items of any partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which it owns an interest, is treated as our assets and items of income for purposes of applying the requirements described in this discussion, including the gross income and asset tests described below. A brief summary of the rules governing the U.S. federal income taxation of partnerships is set forth below in “—Tax Aspects of Our Operating Partnership, the Subsidiary Partnerships and the Limited Liability Companies.”

We have control of our operating partnership and indirectly own the manager or managing member of the subsidiary partnerships and intend to operate them in a manner consistent with the requirements for our qualification as a REIT. If we are or become a limited partner or non-managing member in any partnership and such entity takes or expects to take actions that could jeopardize our status as a REIT or require us to pay tax, we may be forced to dispose of our interest in such entity. In addition, it is possible that a partnership could take an action which could cause us to fail a gross income or asset test, and that we would not become aware of such action in time to dispose of our interest in the partnership or take other corrective action on a timely basis. In such a case, we could fail to qualify as a REIT unless we were entitled to relief, as described below.

We may from time to time own and operate certain properties through wholly-owned subsidiaries that we intend to be treated as “qualified REIT subsidiaries” under the Code. A corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will qualify as our qualified REIT subsidiary if we own 100% of the corporation’s outstanding stock (either directly or through other disregarded subsidiaries) and do not elect with the subsidiary to treat it as a “taxable REIT subsidiary,” as described below. A qualified REIT subsidiary is not treated as a separate corporation, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of a qualified REIT subsidiary are treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the parent REIT for all purposes under the Code, including all REIT qualification tests. Thus, in applying the U.S. federal income tax requirements described in this discussion, any qualified REIT subsidiaries we own are ignored, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of such corporations are treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit. A qualified REIT subsidiary is not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and our ownership of the stock of a qualified REIT subsidiary will not violate the restrictions on ownership of securities, as described below under “—Asset Tests.”

Ownership of Interests in Taxable REIT Subsidiaries—We and our operating partnership own interests in companies that have elected, together with us, to be treated as our taxable REIT subsidiaries, and we may acquire securities in additional taxable REIT subsidiaries in the future. A taxable REIT subsidiary is a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) other than a REIT in which a REIT directly or indirectly holds stock, and that has made a joint election with such REIT to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. If a taxable REIT subsidiary owns more than 35% of the total voting power or value of the outstanding securities of another corporation, such other corporation will also be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. Other than some activities relating to lodging and health care facilities, a taxable REIT subsidiary may generally engage in any business, including the provision of customary or non-customary services to tenants of its parent REIT. A taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to U.S. federal income tax, and state and local income tax, where applicable, as a regular C corporation. A REIT is not treated as holding the assets of a taxable REIT subsidiary or as receiving any income that the taxable REIT subsidiary earns. Rather, the stock issued by the taxable REIT subsidiary is an asset in the hands of the REIT, and the REIT generally recognizes as income the dividends, if any, that it receives from the taxable REIT subsidiary. A REIT’s ownership of securities of a taxable REIT subsidiary is not subject to the 5% or 10% asset test described below. See “—Asset Tests.” However, no more than 20% (25% for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018) of the value of a REIT’s total assets

 

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may be represented by securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries (as discussed below). One or more of our taxable REIT subsidiaries may perform certain services for our tenants, receive management fee income and/or hold interests in joint ventures and private equity real estate funds that might hold assets or generate income that could otherwise cause us to fail the REIT income or asset tests or subject us to the 100% penalty tax on prohibited transactions (discussed below) if we performed such services, derived such income or held such assets directly, as applicable. Taxpayers are subject to a limitation on their ability to deduct net business interest generally equal to 30% of adjusted taxable income, subject to certain exceptions. See “—Annual Distribution Requirements.” While not certain, this provision may limit the ability of our taxable REIT subsidiaries to deduct interest, which could increase their taxable income.

Ownership of Interests in Subsidiary REITs—We own and may acquire direct or indirect interests in one or more entities that have elected or will elect to be taxed as REITs under the Code (“Subsidiary REITs”). A Subsidiary REIT is subject to the various REIT qualification requirements and other limitations described herein that are applicable to us. If a Subsidiary REIT were to fail to qualify as a REIT, then (i) that Subsidiary REIT would become subject to U.S. federal income tax and (ii) the Subsidiary REIT’s failure to qualify could have an adverse effect on our ability to comply with the REIT income and asset tests, and thus could impair our ability to qualify as a REIT unless we could avail ourselves of certain relief provisions.

Income Tests—We must satisfy two gross income requirements annually to maintain our qualification as a REIT. First, in each taxable year we must derive directly or indirectly at least 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, certain hedging transactions and certain foreign currency gains) from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including “rents from real property,” dividends from other REITs and, in certain circumstances, interest, or certain types of temporary investments. Second, in each taxable year we must derive at least 95% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, certain hedging transactions and certain foreign currency gains) from the real property investments described above or dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities that are not assets held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of our trade or business, or from any combination of the foregoing. For these purposes, the term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, if the determination of all or some of the amount depends in any way on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “interest” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales.

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

 

   

The amount of rent is not based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount we receive or accrue generally will not be excluded from the term “rents from real property” solely because it is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales or if it is based on the net income of a tenant which derives substantially all of its income with respect to such property from subleasing of substantially all of such property, to the extent that the rents paid by the subtenants would qualify as rents from real property if we earned such amounts directly;

 

   

Neither we nor an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of our capital stock actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the interests in the assets or net profits of a non-corporate tenant, or, if the tenant is a corporation, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote or 10% or more of the total value of all classes of stock of the tenant. Rents we receive from such a tenant that is a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours, however, will not be excluded from the definition of “rents from real property” as a result of this condition if at least 90% of the total leased space at the property to which the rents relate is leased to third parties, and the rents paid by the taxable REIT subsidiary are substantially comparable to rents paid by our other tenants for comparable space. Whether rents paid by a taxable REIT subsidiary are substantially comparable to rents paid by other tenants is determined at the time the lease with the taxable REIT subsidiary is entered into, extended,

 

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and modified, if such modification increases the rents due under such lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, if a lease with a “controlled taxable REIT subsidiary” is modified and such modification results in an increase in the rents payable by such taxable REIT subsidiary, any such increase will not qualify as “rents from real property.” For purposes of this rule, a “controlled taxable REIT subsidiary” is a taxable REIT subsidiary in which the parent REIT owns stock possessing more than 50% of the voting power or more than 50% of the total value of the outstanding stock of such taxable REIT subsidiary;

 

   

Rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, is not greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease. If this condition is not met, then the portion of the rent attributable to personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property.” To the extent that rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, exceeds 15% of the total rent received under the lease, we may transfer a portion of such personal property to a taxable REIT subsidiary; and

 

   

We generally may not operate or manage the property or furnish or render certain “impermissible tenant services” to our tenants, subject to a 1% de minimis exception and except as provided below. If the income derived from the services exceeds 1% of the total amount received by that REIT with respect to the property, then no amount received by the REIT with respect to the property will qualify as “rents from real property.” For these purposes, the income that a REIT is considered to receive from the provision of “impermissible tenant services” will not be less than 150% of the direct cost of providing the service. If the amount so received is 1% or less of the total amount received by us with respect to the property, then only the income from the impermissible tenant services will not qualify as “rents from real property.” We are permitted, however, to perform services that are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant” of the property. Examples of these services include the provision of light, heat, or other utilities, trash removal and general maintenance of common areas. In addition, we may employ an independent contractor from whom we derive no revenue to provide customary services to our tenants, or a taxable REIT subsidiary (which may be wholly or partially owned by us) to provide both customary and non-customary services to our tenants, without causing the rent we receive from those tenants to fail to qualify as “rents from real property.”

We generally do not intend, and, as the sole owner of the general partner of our operating partnership, we do not intend to permit our operating partnership, to take actions we believe will cause us to fail to satisfy the rental conditions described above. However, we may intentionally fail to satisfy some of these conditions to the extent we determine, based on the advice of our tax counsel, that the failure will not jeopardize our tax status as a REIT. In addition, with respect to the limitation on the rental of personal property, we generally have not obtained appraisals of the real property and personal property leased to tenants. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not disagree with our determinations of value.

From time to time, we may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Our hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase these items, and futures and forward contracts. Income from a hedging transaction, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction, that is clearly identified as a hedging transaction as specified in the Code will not constitute gross income under, and thus will be exempt from, the 75% and 95% gross income tests. The term “hedging transaction,” as used above, generally means (A) any transaction we enter into in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of (1) interest rate changes or fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made by us to acquire or carry real estate assets, or (2) currency fluctuations with respect to an item of qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income test or any property which generates such income and (B) new transactions entered into to hedge the income or loss from prior hedging transactions, where the property or indebtedness which was the subject of the prior hedging transaction was extinguished or disposed of. To the extent that we do not properly identify such transactions as hedges or we hedge with other types of financial instruments, the income from those transactions is not likely to be treated as qualifying income

 

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for purposes of the gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT.

To the extent our taxable REIT subsidiaries pay dividends or interest, our allocable share of such dividend or interest income will qualify under the 95%, but not the 75%, gross income test (except that our allocable share of such interest would also qualify under the 75% gross income test to the extent the interest is paid on a loan that is adequately secured by real property).

We will monitor the amount of the dividend and other income from our taxable REIT subsidiaries and will take actions intended to keep this income, and any other nonqualifying income, within the limitations of the gross income tests. Although we expect these actions will be sufficient to prevent a violation of the gross income tests, we cannot guarantee that such actions will in all cases prevent such a violation.

If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for the year if we are entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. We generally may make use of the relief provisions if:

 

   

following our identification of the failure to meet the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we file a schedule with the IRS setting forth a description of each item of our gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for such taxable year in accordance with Treasury Regulations to be issued; and

 

   

our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect.

It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. For example, if we fail to satisfy the gross income tests because nonqualifying income that we intentionally accrue or receive exceeds the limits on nonqualifying income, the IRS could conclude that our failure to satisfy the tests was not due to reasonable cause. If these relief provisions do not apply to a particular set of circumstances, we will not qualify as a REIT. See “—Failure to Qualify” below. As discussed above in “—General,” even if these relief provisions apply, and we retain our status as a REIT, a tax would be imposed with respect to our nonqualifying income. We may not always be able to comply with the gross income tests for REIT qualification despite periodic monitoring of our income.

Prohibited Transaction Income—Any gain that we realize on the sale of property (other than any foreclosure property) held as inventory or otherwise held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, including our share of any such gain realized by our operating partnership, either directly or through its subsidiary partnerships, will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% tax, unless certain safe harbor exceptions apply. This prohibited transaction income may also adversely affect our ability to satisfy the gross income tests for qualification as a REIT. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction. As the sole owner of the general partner of our operating partnership, we intend to cause our operating partnership to hold its properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring, developing and owning its properties and to make occasional sales of the properties as are consistent with our investment objectives. We do not intend, and do not intend to permit our operating partnership or its subsidiary partnerships, to enter into any sales that are prohibited transactions. However, the IRS may successfully contend that some or all of the sales made by our operating partnership or its subsidiary partnerships are prohibited transactions. We would be required to pay the 100% tax on our allocable share of the gains resulting from any such sales. The 100% tax will not apply to gains from the sale of assets that are held through a taxable REIT subsidiary, but such income will be subject to regular U.S. federal corporate income tax.

Penalty Tax—Any redetermined rents, redetermined deductions, excess interest or redetermined TRS service income we generate will be subject to a 100% penalty tax. In general, redetermined rents are rents from

 

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real property that are overstated as a result of any services furnished to any of our tenants by a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours, redetermined deductions and excess interest represent any amounts that are deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s length negotiations, and redetermined TRS service income is income of a taxable REIT subsidiary that is understated as a result of services provided to us or on our behalf. Rents we receive will not constitute redetermined rents if they qualify for certain safe harbor provisions contained in the Code.

We do not believe we have been, and do not expect to be, subject to this penalty tax, although any rental or service arrangements we enter into from time to time may not satisfy the safe-harbor provisions referenced above. These determinations are inherently factual, and the IRS has broad discretion to assert that amounts paid between related parties should be reallocated to clearly reflect their respective incomes. If the IRS successfully made such an assertion, we would be required to pay a 100% penalty tax on any overstated rents paid to us, or any excess deductions or understated income of our taxable REIT subsidiaries.

One or more of our taxable REIT subsidiaries may provide services to certain of our tenants and, from time to time, we may enter into leases with our taxable REIT subsidiaries that also provide services to our tenants. We believe we have set, and we intend to set in the future, any fees paid to our taxable REIT subsidiaries for such services, and any rent payable to us by our taxable REIT subsidiaries, at arm’s length rates, although the amounts paid may not satisfy the safe-harbor provisions referenced above. These determinations are inherently factual, and the IRS has broad discretion to assert that amounts paid between related parties should be reallocated to clearly reflect their respective incomes. If the IRS successfully made such an assertion, we would be required to pay a 100% penalty tax on any overstated rents paid to us, or any excess deductions or understated income of our taxable REIT subsidiaries.

Asset Tests—At the close of each calendar quarter of our taxable year, we must also satisfy certain tests relating to the nature and diversification of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets, cash, cash items and U.S. government securities. For purposes of this test, the term “real estate assets” generally means real property (including interests in real property and interests in mortgages on real property or on both real property and, to a limited extent, personal property), shares (or transferable certificates of beneficial interest) in other REITs, any stock or debt instrument attributable to the investment of the proceeds of a stock offering or a public offering of debt with a term of at least five years (but only for the one-year period beginning on the date the REIT receives such proceeds), debt instruments of publicly offered REITs, and personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property for which the rent attributable to personal property is not greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease.

Second, not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities (including securities of taxable REIT subsidiaries), other than those securities includable in the 75% asset test.

Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class, and except for certain investments in other REITs, our qualified REIT subsidiaries and taxable REIT subsidiaries, the value of any one issuer’s securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets, and we may not own more than 10% of the total vote or value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. Certain types of securities we may own are disregarded as securities solely for purposes of the 10% value test, including, but not limited to, securities satisfying the “straight debt” safe harbor, securities issued by a partnership that itself would satisfy the 75% income test if it were a REIT, any loan to an individual or an estate, any obligation to pay rents from real property and any security issued by a REIT. In addition, solely for purposes of the 10% value test, the determination of our interest in the assets of a partnership in which we own an interest will be based on our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership, excluding for this purpose certain securities described in the Code. From time to time we may own securities (including debt securities) of issuers that do not qualify as a REIT, a qualified REIT subsidiary or a taxable REIT subsidiary. We intend that our ownership of any such securities will be structured in a manner that allows us to comply with the asset tests described above.

 

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Fourth, not more than 20% (25% for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018) of the value of our total assets may be represented by the securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries. We and our operating partnership own interests in companies that have elected, together with us, to be treated as our taxable REIT subsidiaries, and we may acquire securities in additional taxable REIT subsidiaries in the future. So long as each of these companies qualifies as a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours, we will not be subject to the 5% asset test, the 10% voting securities limitation or the 10% value limitation with respect to our ownership of the securities of such companies. We believe that the aggregate value of our taxable REIT subsidiaries has not exceeded, and in the future will not exceed, 20% (25% for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018) of the aggregate value of our gross assets. We generally do not obtain independent appraisals to support these conclusions. In addition, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not disagree with our determinations of value.

Fifth, not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by debt instruments of publicly offered REITs to the extent those debt instruments would not be real estate assets but for the inclusion of debt instruments of publicly offered REITs in the meaning of real estate assets, as described above (e.g., a debt instrument issued by a publicly offered REIT that is not secured by a mortgage on real property).

In addition, we may acquire certain mezzanine loans secured by equity interests in pass-through entities that directly or indirectly own real property. Revenue Procedure 2003-65 (the “Revenue Procedure”), provides a safe harbor pursuant to which mezzanine loans meeting the requirements of the safe harbor will be treated by the IRS as real estate assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests. In addition, any interest derived from such mezzanine loans will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% gross income test (described above). Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. The mezzanine loans that we acquire may not meet all of the requirements of the safe harbor. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge the qualification of such assets as real estate assets or the interest generated by these loans as qualifying income under the 75% gross income test (described above).

The asset tests must be satisfied at the close of each calendar quarter of our taxable year in which we (directly or through any partnership or qualified REIT subsidiary) acquire securities in the applicable issuer, and also at the close of each calendar quarter in which we increase our ownership of securities of such issuer (including as a result of an increase in our interest in any partnership that owns such securities). For example, our indirect ownership of securities of each issuer will increase as a result of our capital contributions to our operating partnership or as limited partners exercise any redemption/exchange rights. Also, after initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our status as a REIT for failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in the relative values of our assets (including changes in relative values as a result of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates). If we fail to satisfy an asset test because we acquire securities or other property during a quarter (including as a result of an increase in our interest in any partnership), we may cure this failure by disposing of sufficient nonqualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We believe that we have maintained, and we intend to maintain, adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests. If we fail to cure any noncompliance with the asset tests within the 30-day cure period, we would cease to qualify as a REIT unless we are eligible for certain relief provisions discussed below.

Certain relief provisions may be available to us if we discover a failure to satisfy the asset tests described above after the 30-day cure period. Under these provisions, we will be deemed to have met the 5% and 10% asset tests if the value of our nonqualifying assets (i) does not exceed the lesser of (a) 1% of the total value of our assets at the end of the applicable quarter or (b) $10,000,000, and (ii) we dispose of the nonqualifying assets or otherwise satisfy such tests within (a) six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or (b) the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued. For violations of any of the asset tests due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and that are, in the case of the 5% and 10% asset tests, in excess of the de minimis exception described above, we may avoid disqualification as a REIT after the 30-day cure period by taking steps including (i) the disposition of sufficient

 

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nonqualifying assets, or the taking of other actions, which allow us to meet the asset tests within (a) six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or (b) the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued, (ii) paying a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 or (b) the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets, and (iii) disclosing certain information to the IRS.

Although we believe we have satisfied the asset tests described above and plan to take steps to ensure that we satisfy such tests for any quarter with respect to which retesting is to occur, there can be no assurance that we will always be successful, or will not require a reduction in our operating partnership’s overall interest in an issuer (including in a taxable REIT subsidiary). If we fail to cure any noncompliance with the asset tests in a timely manner, and the relief provisions described above are not available, we would cease to qualify as a REIT.

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

 

   

90% of our REIT taxable income; and

 

   

90% of our after-tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property; minus

 

   

the excess of the sum of certain items of non-cash income over 5% of our REIT taxable income.

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

In addition, our REIT taxable income will be reduced by any taxes we are required to pay on any gain we recognize from the disposition of any asset we acquired from a corporation that is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which our tax basis in the asset is less than the fair market value of the asset, in each case determined as of the date on which we acquired the asset, within the five-year period following our acquisition of such asset, as described above under “—General.”

Subject to certain exceptions, a taxpayer’s deduction for net business interest expense will generally be limited to 30% of its taxable income, as adjusted for certain items of income, gain, deduction or loss. Any business interest deduction that is disallowed due to this limitation may be carried forward to future taxable years, subject to special rules applicable to partnerships. If we or any of our subsidiary partnerships (including our operating partnership) are subject to this interest expense limitation, our REIT taxable income for a taxable year may be increased. Taxpayers that conduct certain real estate businesses may elect not to have this interest expense limitation apply to them, provided that they use the alternative depreciation system to depreciate certain property. We believe that we or any of our subsidiary partnerships that are subject to this interest expense limitation will be eligible to make this election. If such election is made, although we or such subsidiary partnership, as applicable, would not be subject to the interest expense limitation described above, depreciation deductions may be reduced and, as a result, our REIT taxable income for a taxable year may be increased.

We generally must pay, or be treated as paying, the distributions described above in the taxable year to which they relate. At our election, a distribution will be treated as paid in a taxable year if it is declared before we timely file our tax return for such year and paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration, provided such payment is made during the 12-month period following the close of such year. These distributions are treated as received by our stockholders in the year in which they are paid. This is so even though these distributions relate to the prior year for purposes of the 90% distribution requirement. In order to be taken into account for purposes of our distribution requirement, except as provided below, the amount distributed must not be preferential—i.e., every stockholder of the class of stock to which a distribution is made must be treated

 

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the same as every other stockholder of that class, and no class of stock may be treated other than according to its dividend rights as a class. This preferential dividend limitation will not apply to distributions made by us, provided we qualify as a “publicly offered REIT.” We believe that we are, and expect we will continue to be, a publicly offered REIT. However, Subsidiary REITs we may own from time to time may not be publicly offered REITs. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain, or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, we will be required to pay regular U.S. federal corporate income tax on the undistributed amount. We believe that we have made, and we intend to continue to make, timely distributions sufficient to satisfy these annual distribution requirements and to minimize our corporate tax obligations. In this regard, the partnership agreement of our operating partnership authorizes us, as the sole owner of the general partner of our operating partnership, to take such steps as may be necessary to cause our operating partnership to distribute to its partners an amount sufficient to permit us to meet these distribution requirements and to minimize our corporate tax obligation.

We expect that our REIT taxable income will be less than our cash flow because of depreciation and other non-cash charges included in computing REIT taxable income. Accordingly, we anticipate that we generally will have sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable us to satisfy the distribution requirements described above. However, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet these distribution requirements due to timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses, and the inclusion of income and deduction of expenses in determining our taxable income. In addition, we may decide to retain our cash, rather than distribute it, in order to repay debt or for other reasons. If these timing differences occur, we may borrow funds to pay dividends or pay dividends in the form of taxable stock distributions in order to meet the distribution requirements, while preserving our cash.

Under some circumstances, we may be able to rectify an inadvertent failure to meet the 90% distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. In that case, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, subject to the 4% excise tax described below. However, we will be required to pay interest to the IRS based upon the amount of any deduction claimed for deficiency dividends. While the payment of a deficiency dividend will apply to a prior year for purposes of our REIT distribution requirements, it will be treated as an additional distribution to our stockholders in the year such dividend is paid.

Furthermore, we will be required to pay a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the extent we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of 85% of our ordinary income for such year, 95% of our capital gain net income for the year and any undistributed taxable income from prior periods. Any ordinary income and net capital gain on which U.S. federal corporate income tax is imposed for any year is treated as an amount distributed during that year for purposes of calculating this excise tax.

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

Like-Kind Exchanges—We may dispose of real property that is not held primarily for sale in transactions intended to qualify as like-kind exchanges under the Code. Such like-kind exchanges are intended to result in the deferral of gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The failure of any such transaction to qualify as a like-kind exchange could require us to pay U.S. federal income tax, possibly including the 100% prohibited transaction tax, or deficiency dividends, depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction.

Tax Liabilities and Attributes Inherited in Connection with Acquisitions—From time to time, we or our operating partnership may acquire other corporations or entities and, in connection with such acquisitions, we may succeed to the historical tax attributes and liabilities of such entities. For example, if we acquire a C

 

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corporation and subsequently dispose of its assets within five years of the acquisition, we could be required to pay the built-in gain tax described above under “—General.” In addition, in order to qualify as a REIT, at the end of any taxable year, we must not have any earnings and profits accumulated in a non-REIT year. As a result, if we acquire a C corporation, we must distribute the corporation’s earnings and profits accumulated prior to the acquisition before the end of the taxable year in which we acquire the corporation. We also could be required to pay the acquired entity’s unpaid taxes even though such liabilities arose prior to the time we acquired the entity.

Moreover, we may from time to time acquire other REITs through a merger or acquisition. If any such REIT failed to qualify as a REIT for any of its taxable years, such REIT would be liable for (and we, as the surviving corporation in the merger or acquisition, would be obligated to pay) regular U.S. federal corporate income tax on its taxable income for such taxable years. In addition, if such REIT was a C corporation at the time of the merger or acquisition, the tax consequences described in the preceding paragraph generally would apply. If such REIT failed to qualify as a REIT for any of its taxable years, but qualified as a REIT at the time of such merger or acquisition, and we acquired such REIT’s assets in a transaction in which our tax basis in the assets of such REIT is determined, in whole or in part, by reference to such REIT’s tax basis in such assets, we generally would be subject to tax on the built-in gain on each asset of such REIT as described above if we were to dispose of the asset in a taxable transaction during the five-year period following such REIT’s requalification as a REIT, subject to certain exceptions. Moreover, even if such REIT qualified as a REIT at all relevant times, we would similarly be liable for other unpaid taxes (if any) of such REIT (such as the 100% tax on gains from any sales treated as “prohibited transactions” as described above under “—Prohibited Transaction Income”).

Furthermore, after our acquisition of another corporation or entity, the asset and income tests will apply to all of our assets, including the assets we acquire from such corporation or entity, and to all of our income, including the income derived from the assets we acquire from such corporation or entity. As a result, the nature of the assets that we acquire from such corporation or entity and the income we derive from those assets may have an effect on our tax status as a REIT.

Foreclosure Property—The foreclosure property rules permit us (by our election) to foreclose or repossess properties without being disqualified as a REIT as a result of receiving income that does not qualify under the gross income tests. However, in such a case, we would be subject to the U.S. federal corporate income tax on the net non-qualifying income from “foreclosure property,” and the after-tax amount would increase the dividends we would be required to distribute to stockholders. See “—Annual Distribution Requirements.” This corporate tax would not apply to income that qualifies under the REIT 75% income test.

Foreclosure property treatment is generally available for an initial period of three years and may, in certain circumstances, be extended for an additional three years. However, foreclosure property treatment will end on the first day on which we enter into a lease of the applicable property that will give rise to income that does not qualify under the REIT 75% income test, but will not end if the lease will give rise only to qualifying income under such test. Foreclosure property treatment also will end if any construction takes place on the property (other than completion of a building or other improvement that was more than 10% complete before default became imminent).

Failure to Qualify—If we discover a violation of a provision of the Code that would result in our failure to qualify as a REIT, certain specified cure provisions may be available to us. Except with respect to violations of the gross income tests and asset tests (for which the cure provisions are described above), and provided the violation is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, these cure provisions generally impose a $50,000 penalty for each violation in lieu of a loss of REIT status. If we fail to satisfy the requirements for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions do not apply, we will be required to pay regular U.S. federal corporate income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018, on our taxable income. Distributions to stockholders in any year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT will not be deductible by us. As a result, we anticipate that our failure to qualify as a REIT would reduce the cash available for distribution by us to our stockholders. In addition, if we fail to qualify as a

 

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REIT, we will not be required to distribute any amounts to our stockholders and all distributions to stockholders will be taxable as regular corporate dividends to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. In such event, corporate stockholders may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. In addition, non-corporate stockholders, including individuals, may be eligible for the preferential tax rates on qualified dividend income. Non-corporate stockholders, including individuals, generally may deduct up to 20% of dividends from a REIT, other than capital gain dividends and dividends treated as qualified dividend income, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2026 for purposes of determining their U.S. federal income tax (but not for purposes of the 3.8% Medicare tax), subject to certain holding period requirements and other limitations. If we fail to qualify as a REIT, such stockholders may not claim this deduction with respect to dividends paid by us. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we would also be ineligible to elect to be treated as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year for which we lose our qualification. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to this statutory relief.

Tax Aspects of Our Operating Partnership, the Subsidiary Partnerships and the Limited Liability Companies

General—All of our investments are held indirectly through our operating partnership. In addition, our operating partnership holds certain of its investments indirectly through subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies that we believe are and will continue to be treated as partnerships or disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, entities that are treated as partnerships or disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes are “pass-through” entities which are not required to pay U.S. federal income tax. Rather, partners of such partnerships are allocated their shares of the items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the partnership, and are potentially required to pay tax on this income, without regard to whether they receive a distribution from the partnership. We will include in our income our share of these partnership items for purposes of the various gross income tests, the computation of our REIT taxable income, and the REIT distribution requirements. Moreover, for purposes of the asset tests, we will include our pro rata share of assets held by our operating partnership, including its share of the assets of its subsidiary partnerships, based on our capital interests in each such entity. See “—Taxation of Our Company—Ownership of Interests in Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies and Qualified REIT Subsidiaries.” A disregarded entity is not treated as a separate entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of a disregarded entity are treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of its parent that is not a disregarded entity (e.g., our operating partnership) for all purposes under the Code, including all REIT qualification tests.

Entity Classification—Our interests in our operating partnership and the subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies involve special tax considerations, including the possibility that the IRS might challenge the status of these entities as partnerships or disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For example, an entity that would otherwise be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes may nonetheless be taxable as a corporation if it is a “publicly traded partnership” and certain other requirements are met. A partnership would be treated as a publicly traded partnership if its interests are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or a substantial equivalent thereof, within the meaning of applicable Treasury Regulations. We do not anticipate that our operating partnership or any subsidiary partnership will be treated as a publicly traded partnership that is taxable as a corporation. However, if any such entity were treated as a corporation, it would be required to pay an entity-level tax on its income. In this situation, the character of our assets and items of gross income would change and could prevent us from satisfying the REIT asset tests and possibly the REIT income tests. See “—Taxation of Our Company—Asset Tests” and “—Income Tests.” This, in turn, could prevent us from qualifying as a REIT. See “—Taxation of Our Company—Failure to Qualify” for a discussion of the effect of our failure to meet these tests. In addition, a change in the tax status of our operating partnership or a subsidiary treated as a partnership or disregarded entity to a corporation might be treated as a taxable event. If so, we might incur a tax liability without any related cash payment. We believe our operating partnership and each of the subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies are and will continue to be treated as partnerships or disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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Allocations of Items of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction—A partnership agreement (or, in the case of a limited liability company treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the limited liability company agreement) generally will determine the allocation of income and loss among partners. These allocations, however, will be disregarded for tax purposes if they do not comply with the provisions of Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. Generally, Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder require that partnership allocations respect the economic arrangement of the partners. If an allocation of partnership income or loss does not comply with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partners’ interests in the partnership. This reallocation will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item. The allocations of taxable income and loss of our operating partnership and any subsidiaries that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

Tax Allocations with Respect to the Properties—Under Section 704(c) of the Code, items of income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership must be allocated in a manner so that the contributing partner is charged with the unrealized gain or benefits from the unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of the unrealized gain or unrealized loss generally is equal to the difference between the fair market value or book value and the adjusted tax basis of the contributed property at the time of contribution (this difference is referred to as a book-tax difference), as adjusted from time to time. These allocations are solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes and do not affect the book capital accounts or other economic or legal arrangements among the partners.

Our operating partnership may, from time to time, acquire interests in property in exchange for interests in our operating partnership. In that case, the tax basis of these property interests generally will carry over to our operating partnership, notwithstanding their different book (i.e., fair market) value. The partnership agreement requires that income and loss allocations with respect to these properties be made in a manner consistent with Section 704(c) of the Code. Treasury Regulations issued under Section 704(c) of the Code provide partnerships with a choice of several methods of accounting for book-tax differences. Depending on the method we choose in connection with any particular contribution, the carryover basis of each of the contributed interests in the properties in the hands of our operating partnership (1) could cause us to be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes than would be allocated to us if any of the contributed properties were to have a tax basis equal to its respective fair market value at the time of the contribution and (2) could cause us to be allocated taxable gain in the event of a sale of such contributed interests or properties in excess of the economic or book income allocated to us as a result of such sale, with a corresponding benefit to the other partners in our operating partnership. An allocation described in clause (2) above might cause us or the other partners to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds in the event of a sale or other disposition of property, which might adversely affect our ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. See “—Taxation of Our Company—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT” and “—Annual Distribution Requirements.”

Any property acquired by our operating partnership in a taxable transaction will initially have a tax basis equal to its fair market value, and Section 704(c) of the Code generally will not apply.

Partnership Audit Rules—Under the current rules applicable to U.S. federal income tax audits of partnerships, subject to certain exceptions, any audit adjustment to items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit of a partnership (and any partner’s distributive share thereof) is determined, and taxes, interest, or penalties attributable thereto are assessed and collected, at the partnership level. It is possible that these rules could result in partnerships in which we directly or indirectly invest, including our operating partnership, being required to pay additional taxes, interest and penalties as a result of an audit adjustment, and we, as a direct or indirect partner of these partnerships, could be required to bear the economic burden of those taxes, interest, and penalties

 

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even though we, as a REIT, may not otherwise have been required to pay additional corporate-level taxes as a result of the related audit adjustment. Investors are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to these changes and their potential impact on their investment in our capital stock.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Holders of Our Capital Stock or Debt Securities or Our Operating Partnership’s Debt Securities

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of purchasing, owning and disposing of our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities. This discussion is limited to holders who hold our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a holder’s particular circumstances, including the alternative minimum tax. In addition, except where specifically noted, it does not address consequences relevant to holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

 

   

U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

   

U.S. holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

 

   

persons holding our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;

 

   

banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions;

 

   

REITs or regulated investment companies;

 

   

brokers, dealers or traders in securities;

 

   

“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

 

   

S corporations, partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);

 

   

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

 

   

persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities being taken into account in an applicable financial statement;

 

   

persons deemed to sell our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;

 

   

persons who hold 10% or more (by vote or value) of our capital stock;

 

   

persons who hold or receive our capital stock pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation.

THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED AS TAX ADVICE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK OR DEBT SECURITIES OR OUR OPERATING PARTNERSHIP’S DEBT SECURITIES ARISING UNDER OTHER U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS (INCLUDING ESTATE AND GIFT TAX LAWS), UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.

 

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For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

For purposes of this discussion, a “non-U.S. holder” is any beneficial owner of our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities that is neither a U.S. holder nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders of Our Capital Stock

Distributions Generally—Distributions out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as dividends and, other than with respect to capital gain dividends and certain amounts which have previously been subject to corporate level tax, as discussed below, will be taxable to our taxable U.S. holders as ordinary income when actually or constructively received. See “—Tax Rates” below. As long as we qualify as a REIT, these distributions will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of U.S. holders that are corporations or, except to the extent described in “—Tax Rates” below, the preferential rates on qualified dividend income applicable to non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals. For purposes of determining whether distributions to holders of our capital stock are out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, our earnings and profits will be allocated first to our outstanding preferred stock, if any, and then to our outstanding common stock.

To the extent that we make distributions on our capital stock in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits allocable to such stock, these distributions will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to a U.S. holder to the extent of the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in such shares of stock. This treatment will reduce the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in such shares of stock by such amount, but not below zero. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits and in excess of a U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares will be taxable as capital gain. Such gain will be taxable as long-term capital gain if the shares have been held for more than one year. Dividends we declare in October, November, or December of any year and which are payable to a holder of record on a specified date in any of these months will be treated as both paid by us and received by the holder on December 31 of that year, provided we actually pay the dividend on or before January 31 of the following year. U.S. holders may not include in their own income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.

U.S. holders that receive taxable stock distributions, including distributions partially payable in our capital stock and partially payable in cash, would be required to include the full amount of the distribution (i.e., the cash and the stock portion) as a dividend (subject to limited exceptions) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as described above. The amount of any distribution

 

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payable in our capital stock generally is equal to the amount of cash that could have been received instead of the capital stock. Depending on the circumstances of a U.S. holder, the tax on the distribution may exceed the amount of the distribution received in cash, in which case such U.S. holder would have to pay the tax using cash from other sources. If a U.S. holder sells the capital stock it received in connection with a taxable stock distribution in order to pay this tax and the proceeds of such sale are less than the amount required to be included in income with respect to the stock portion of the distribution, such U.S. holder could have a capital loss with respect to the stock sale that could not be used to offset such income. A U.S. holder that receives capital stock pursuant to such distribution generally has a tax basis in such capital stock equal to the amount of cash that could have been received instead of such capital stock as described above, and has a holding period in such capital stock that begins on the day immediately following the payment date for the distribution.

Capital Gain Dividends—Dividends that we properly designate as capital gain dividends will be taxable to our taxable U.S. holders as a gain from the sale or disposition of a capital asset held for more than one year, to the extent that such gain does not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year and may not exceed our dividends paid for the taxable year, including dividends paid the following year that are treated as paid in the current year. U.S. holders that are corporations may, however, be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income. If we properly designate any portion of a dividend as a capital gain dividend, then, except as otherwise required by law, we presently intend to allocate a portion of the total capital gain dividends paid or made available to holders of all classes of our capital stock for the year to the holders of each class of our capital stock in proportion to the amount that our total dividends, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, paid or made available to the holders of each such class of our capital stock for the year bears to the total dividends, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, paid or made available to holders of all classes of our capital stock for the year. In addition, except as otherwise required by law, we will make a similar allocation with respect to any undistributed long-term capital gains which are to be included in our stockholders’ long-term capital gains, based on the allocation of the capital gain amount which would have resulted if those undistributed long-term capital gains had been distributed as “capital gain dividends” by us to our stockholders.

Retention of Net Capital Gains—We may elect to retain, rather than distribute as a capital gain dividend, all or a portion of our net capital gains. If we make this election, we would pay tax on our retained net capital gains. In addition, to the extent we so elect, our earnings and profits (determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) would be adjusted accordingly, and a U.S. holder generally would:

 

   

include its pro rata share of our undistributed capital gain in computing its long-term capital gains in its U.S. federal income tax return for its taxable year in which the last day of our taxable year falls, subject to certain limitations as to the amount that is includable;

 

   

be deemed to have paid its share of the capital gains tax imposed on us on the designated amounts included in the U.S. holder’s income as long-term capital gain;

 

   

receive a credit or refund for the amount of tax deemed paid by it;

 

   

increase the adjusted tax basis of its capital stock by the difference between the amount of includable gains and the tax deemed to have been paid by it; and

 

   

in the case of a U.S. holder that is a corporation, appropriately adjust its earnings and profits for the retained capital gains in accordance with Treasury Regulations to be promulgated by the IRS.

Passive Activity Losses and Investment Interest Limitations—Distributions we make and gain arising from the sale or exchange of our capital stock by a U.S. holder will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, U.S. holders generally will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against this income or gain. A U.S. holder generally may elect to treat capital gain dividends, capital gains from the disposition of our capital stock and income designated as qualified dividend income, as described in “—Tax Rates” below, as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation, but in such case, the holder will be taxed at ordinary

 

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income rates on such amount. Other distributions made by us, to the extent they do not constitute a return of capital, generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation.

Dispositions of Our Capital Stock—Except as described below under “—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders of Our Capital Stock—Redemption or Repurchase by Us,” if a U.S. holder sells or disposes of shares of our capital stock, it will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received on the sale or other disposition and the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares. This gain or loss, except as provided below, will be long-term capital gain or loss if the holder has held such capital stock for more than one year. However, if a U.S. holder recognizes a loss upon the sale or other disposition of capital stock that it has held for six months or less, after applying certain holding period rules, the loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent the U.S. holder received distributions from us which were required to be treated as long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Redemption or Repurchase by Us—A redemption or repurchase of shares of our capital stock will be treated under Section 302 of the Code as a distribution (and taxable as a dividend to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits as described above under “—Distributions Generally”) unless the redemption or repurchase satisfies one of the tests set forth in Section 302(b) of the Code and is therefore treated as a sale or exchange of the redeemed or repurchased shares. The redemption or repurchase generally will be treated as a sale or exchange if it:

 

   

is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. holder,

 

   

results in a “complete redemption” of the U.S. holder’s stock interest in us, or

 

   

is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. holder,

all within the meaning of Section 302(b) of the Code.

In determining whether any of these tests has been met, shares of our capital stock, including common stock and other equity interests in us, considered to be owned by the U.S. holder by reason of certain constructive ownership rules set forth in the Code, as well as shares of our capital stock actually owned by the U.S. holder, generally must be taken into account. Because the determination as to whether any of the alternative tests of Section 302(b) of the Code will be satisfied with respect to the U.S. holder depends upon the facts and circumstances at the time that the determination must be made, U.S. holders are advised to consult their tax advisors to determine such tax treatment.

If a redemption or repurchase of shares of our capital stock is treated as a distribution, the amount of the distribution will be measured by the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received. See “—Distributions Generally.” A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the redeemed or repurchased shares generally will be transferred to the holder’s remaining shares of our capital stock, if any. If a U.S. holder owns no other shares of our capital stock, under certain circumstances, such basis may be transferred to a related person or it may be lost entirely. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of a redemption or repurchase of our capital stock.

If a redemption or repurchase of shares of our capital stock is not treated as a distribution, it will be treated as a taxable sale or exchange in the manner described under “—Dispositions of Our Capital Stock.”

Tax Rates—The maximum tax rate for non-corporate taxpayers for (1) long-term capital gains, including certain “capital gain dividends,” generally is 20% (although depending on the characteristics of the assets which produced these gains and on designations which we may make, certain capital gain dividends may be taxed at a 25% rate) and (2) “qualified dividend income” generally is 20%. In general, dividends payable by REITs are not

 

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eligible for the reduced tax rate on qualified dividend income, except to the extent that certain holding period requirements have been met and the REIT’s dividends are attributable to dividends received from taxable corporations (such as its taxable REIT subsidiaries) or to income that was subject to tax at the corporate/REIT level (for example, if the REIT distributed taxable income that it retained and paid tax on in the prior taxable year). Capital gain dividends will only be eligible for the rates described above to the extent that they are properly designated by the REIT as “capital gain dividends.” U.S. holders that are corporations may be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain dividends as ordinary income. In addition, non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, generally may deduct up to 20% of dividends from a REIT, other than capital gain dividends and dividends treated as qualified dividend income, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2026 for purposes of determining their U.S. federal income tax (but not for purposes of the 3.8% Medicare tax), subject to certain holding period requirements and other limitations.

Taxation of U.S. Tax-Exempt Holders of Our Capital Stock

Dividend income from us and gain arising upon a sale of shares of our capital stock generally should not be unrelated business taxable income, “UBTI”, to a U.S. tax-exempt holder, except as described below. This income or gain will be UBTI, however, to the extent a U.S. tax-exempt holder holds its shares as “debt-financed property” within the meaning of the Code. Generally, “debt-financed property” is property the acquisition or holding of which was financed through a borrowing by the U.S. tax-exempt holder.

For U.S. tax-exempt holders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations or supplemental unemployment benefit trusts exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9) or (c)(17) of the Code, respectively, income from an investment in our shares will constitute UBTI unless the organization is able to properly claim a deduction for amounts set aside or placed in reserve for specific purposes so as to offset the income generated by its investment in our shares. These prospective investors should consult their tax advisors concerning these “set aside” and reserve requirements.

Notwithstanding the above, however, a portion of the dividends paid by a “pension-held REIT” may be treated as UBTI as to certain trusts that hold more than 10%, by value, of the interests in the REIT. A REIT will not be a “pension-held REIT” if it is able to satisfy the “not closely held” requirement without relying on the “look-through” exception with respect to certain trusts or if such REIT is not “predominantly held” by “qualified trusts.” As a result of restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock contained in our charter, we do not expect to be classified as a “pension-held REIT,” and as a result, the tax treatment described above should be inapplicable to our holders. However, because our common stock is publicly traded (and, we anticipate, will continue to be publicly traded), we cannot guarantee that this will always be the case.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of Our Capital Stock

The following discussion addresses the rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our capital stock by non-U.S. holders. These rules are complex, and no attempt is made herein to provide more than a brief summary of such rules. Accordingly, the discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation and does not address other federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences that may be relevant to a non-U.S. holder in light of its particular circumstances. We urge non-U.S. holders to consult their tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax laws and any applicable tax treaty on the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of our capital stock, including any reporting requirements.

Distributions Generally—Distributions (including any taxable stock distributions) that are neither attributable to gains from sales or exchanges by us of United States real property interests (“USRPIs”), nor designated by us as capital gain dividends (except as described below) will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions ordinarily will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be

 

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specified by an applicable income tax treaty, unless the distributions are treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the non-U.S. holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable). Under certain treaties, however, lower withholding rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from a REIT. Certain certification and disclosure requirements must be satisfied for a non-U.S. holder to be exempt from withholding under the effectively connected income exemption. Dividends that are treated as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business generally will not be subject to withholding but will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis at the regular rates, in the same manner as dividends paid to U.S. holders are subject to U.S. federal income tax. Any such dividends received by a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate (applicable after deducting U.S. federal income taxes paid on such effectively connected income) or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

Except as otherwise provided below, we expect to withhold U.S. federal income tax at the rate of 30% on any distributions made to a non-U.S. holder unless:

 

  1.

a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. holder furnishes an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) evidencing eligibility for that reduced treaty rate; or

 

  2.

the non-U.S. holder furnishes an IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable documentation) claiming that the distribution is income effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s trade or business.

Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a non-U.S. holder to the extent that such distributions do not exceed the adjusted tax basis of the holder’s capital stock, but rather will reduce the adjusted tax basis of such stock. To the extent that such distributions exceed the non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in such capital stock, they generally will give rise to gain from the sale or exchange of such stock, the tax treatment of which is described below. However, such excess distributions may be treated as dividend income for certain non-U.S. holders. For withholding purposes, we expect to treat all distributions as made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. However, amounts withheld may be refundable if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, provided that certain conditions are met.

Capital Gain Dividends and Distributions Attributable to a Sale or Exchange of United States Real Property Interests—Distributions to a non-U.S. holder that we properly designate as capital gain dividends, other than those arising from the disposition of a USRPI, generally should not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation, unless:

 

  1.

the investment in our capital stock is treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the non-U.S. holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), in which case the non-U.S. holder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. holders with respect to such gain, except that a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation may also be subject to a branch profits tax of up to 30%, as discussed above; or

 

  2.

the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met, in which case the non-U.S. holder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% on the non-U.S. holder’s capital gains (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses of such non-U.S. holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the non-U.S. holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

Pursuant to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (“FIRPTA”), distributions to a non-U.S. holder that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of USRPIs, whether or not designated as capital gain

 

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dividends, will cause the non-U.S. holder to be treated as recognizing such gain as income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Non-U.S. holders generally would be taxed at the regular rates applicable to U.S. holders, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals. We also will be required to withhold and to remit to the IRS 21% of any distribution to non-U.S. holders attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of USRPIs. Distributions subject to FIRPTA may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation. The amount withheld is creditable against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. However, any distribution with respect to any class of stock that is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market located in the United States is not subject to FIRPTA, and therefore, not subject to the 21% U.S. withholding tax described above, if the non-U.S. holder did not own more than 10% of such class of stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution. Instead, such distributions generally will be treated as ordinary dividend distributions and subject to withholding in the manner described above with respect to ordinary dividends. In addition, distributions to certain non-U.S. publicly traded shareholders that meet certain record-keeping and other requirements, or qualified shareholders, are exempt from FIRPTA, except to the extent owners of such qualified shareholders that are not also qualified shareholders own, actually or constructively, more than 10% of our capital stock. Furthermore, distributions to “qualified foreign pension funds” or entities all of the interests of which are held by “qualified foreign pension funds” are exempt from FIRPTA. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.

Retention of Net Capital Gains—Although the law is not clear on the matter, it appears that amounts we designate as retained net capital gains in respect of our capital stock should be treated with respect to non-U.S. holders as actual distributions of capital gain dividends. Under this approach, the non-U.S. holders may be able to offset as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability their proportionate share of the tax paid by us on such retained net capital gains and to receive from the IRS a refund to the extent their proportionate share of such tax paid by us exceeds their actual U.S. federal income tax liability. If we were to designate any portion of our net capital gain as retained net capital gain, non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the taxation of such retained net capital gain.

Sale of Our Capital Stock—Except as described below under “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of Our Capital Stock—Redemption or Repurchase by Us,” gain realized by a non-U.S. holder upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our capital stock generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless such stock constitutes a USRPI. In general, stock of a domestic corporation that constitutes a “United States real property holding corporation,” or USRPHC, will constitute a USRPI. We believe that we are a USRPHC. Our capital stock will not, however, constitute a USRPI so long as we are a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.” A “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” includes a REIT in which at all times during a five-year testing period less than 50% in value of its stock is held directly or indirectly by non-United States persons, subject to certain rules. For purposes of determining whether a REIT is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity,” a person who at all applicable times holds less than 5% of a class of stock that is “regularly traded” is treated as a United States person unless the REIT has actual knowledge that such person is not a United States person. We believe, but cannot guarantee, that we are a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.” Because our common stock is publicly traded (and, we anticipate, will continue to be publicly traded), no assurance can be given that we will continue to be a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.”

Even if we do not qualify as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” at the time a non-U.S. holder sells our capital stock, gain realized from the sale or other taxable disposition by a non-U.S. holder of such capital stock would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI if:

 

  1.

such class of stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market such as Nasdaq; and

 

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  2.

such non-U.S. holder owned, actually and constructively, 10% or less of such class of stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period.

In addition, dispositions of our capital stock by qualified shareholders are exempt from FIRPTA, except to the extent owners of such qualified shareholders that are not also qualified shareholders own, actually or constructively, more than 10% of our capital stock. Furthermore, dispositions of our capital stock by “qualified foreign pension funds” or entities all of the interests of which are held by “qualified foreign pension funds” are exempt from FIRPTA. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, gain from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our capital stock not otherwise subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a non-U.S. holder if either (a) the investment in our capital stock is treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the non-U.S. holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable), in which case the non-U.S. holder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. holders with respect to such gain, except that a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such gain, as adjusted for certain items, or (b) the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met, in which case the non-U.S. holder will be subject to a 30% tax on the non-U.S. holder’s capital gains derived from sources within the United States (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by capital losses of the non-U.S. holder derived from sources within the United States (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the non-U.S. holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses. In addition, even if we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, upon disposition of our capital stock, a non-U.S. holder may be treated as having gain from the sale or other taxable disposition of a USRPI if the non-U.S. holder (1) disposes of such stock within a 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been treated as gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI and (2) acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, or is deemed to acquire, other shares of that stock during the 61-day period beginning with the first day of the 30-day period described in clause (1), unless such class of stock is “regularly traded” and the non-U.S. holder did not own more than 10% of such class of stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution described in clause (1).

If gain on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our capital stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. holder would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return and would be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax with respect to such gain in the same manner as a taxable U.S. holder (subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals). In addition, if the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our capital stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, and if shares of the applicable class of our capital stock were not “regularly traded” on an established securities market, the purchaser of such capital stock generally would be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 15% of the purchase price.

Redemption or Repurchase by Us—A redemption or repurchase of shares of our capital stock will be treated under Section 302 of the Code as a distribution (and taxable as a dividend to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits) unless the redemption or repurchase satisfies one of the tests set forth in Section 302(b) of the Code and is therefore treated as a sale or exchange of the redeemed or repurchased shares. See “—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders of Our Capital Stock—Redemption or Repurchase by Us.” Qualified shareholders and their owners may be subject to different rules, and should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of such rules. If the redemption or repurchase of shares is treated as a distribution, the amount of the distribution will be measured by the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received. See “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of Our Capital Stock—Distributions Generally” above. If the redemption or

 

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repurchase of shares is not treated as a distribution, it will be treated as a taxable sale or exchange in the manner described above under “—Sale of Our Capital Stock.”

Taxation of Holders of Our Debt Securities or Our Operating Partnership’s Debt Securities

The following summary describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of debt securities issued by us or our operating partnership. This discussion assumes the debt securities will be issued with less than a statutory de minimis amount of original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, this discussion is limited to persons purchasing the debt securities for cash at original issue and at their original “issue price” within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of the debt securities is sold to the public for cash).

U.S. Holders

Payments of Interest—Interest on a debt security generally will be taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary income at the time such interest is received or accrued, in accordance with such U.S. holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition—A U.S. holder will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a debt security. The amount of such gain or loss generally will be equal to the difference between the amount received for the debt security in cash or other property valued at fair market value (less amounts attributable to any accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as interest to the extent not previously included in income) and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the debt security. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in a debt security generally will be equal to the amount the U.S. holder paid for the debt security. Any gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder has held the debt security for more than one year at the time of such sale or other taxable disposition. Otherwise, such gain or loss will be short-term capital gain or loss. Long-term capital gains recognized by certain non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, generally will be taxable at a reduced rate. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Non-U.S. Holders

Payments of Interest—Interest paid on a debt security to a non-U.S. holder that is not effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, or withholding tax of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), provided that:

 

   

the non-U.S. holder does not, actually or constructively, own, in the case of our debt securities, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock, or, in the case of our operating partnership’s debt securities, 10% or more of our operating partnership’s capital or profits;

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related to us or our operating partnership, as applicable, through actual or constructive stock ownership; and

 

   

either (1) the non-U.S. holder certifies in a statement provided to the applicable withholding agent under penalties of perjury that it is not a United States person and provides its name and address; (2) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the debt security on behalf of the non-U.S. holder certifies to the applicable withholding agent under penalties of perjury that it, or the financial institution between it and the non-U.S. holder, has received from the non-U.S. holder a statement under penalties of perjury that such holder is not a United States person and provides a copy of such statement to the applicable withholding agent; or (3) the non-U.S. holder holds its debt security directly through a “qualified intermediary” (within the meaning of applicable Treasury Regulations) and certain conditions are satisfied.

 

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If a non-U.S. holder does not satisfy the requirements above, such non-U.S. holder may be entitled to a reduction in or an exemption from withholding on such interest as a result of an applicable tax treaty. To claim such entitlement, the non-U.S. holder must provide the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) claiming a reduction in or exemption from withholding tax under the benefit of an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is established.

If interest paid to a non-U.S. holder is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the non-U.S. holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such interest is attributable), the non-U.S. holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the non-U.S. holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that interest paid on a debt security is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business within the United States.

Any such effectively connected interest generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the regular rates. A non-U.S. holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected interest, as adjusted for certain items.

The certifications described above must be provided to the applicable withholding agent prior to the payment of interest and must be updated periodically. Non-U.S. holders that do not timely provide the applicable withholding agent with the required certification, but that qualify for a reduced rate under an applicable income tax treaty, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition—A non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a debt security (such amount excludes any amount allocable to accrued and unpaid interest, which generally will be treated as interest and may be subject to the rules discussed above in “—Taxation of Holders of Our Debt Securities or Our Operating Partnership’s Debt Securities—Non-U.S. Holders—Payments of Interest”) unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the non-U.S. holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable); or

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met.

Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular rates. A non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.

A non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of a debt security, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses of the non-U.S. holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the non-U.S. holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

 

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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

U.S. Holders—A U.S. holder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding when such holder receives payments on our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities or proceeds from the sale or other taxable disposition of such stock or debt securities (including a redemption or retirement of a debt security). Certain U.S. holders are exempt from backup withholding, including corporations and certain U.S. tax-exempt organizations. A U.S. holder will be subject to backup withholding if such holder is not otherwise exempt and:

 

   

the holder fails to furnish the holder’s taxpayer identification number, which for an individual is ordinarily his or her social security number;

 

   

the holder furnishes an incorrect taxpayer identification number;

 

   

the applicable withholding agent is notified by the IRS that the holder previously failed to properly report payments of interest or dividends; or

 

   

the holder fails to certify under penalties of perjury that the holder has furnished a correct taxpayer identification number and that the IRS has not notified the holder that the holder is subject to backup withholding.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption.

Non-U.S. Holders—Payments of dividends on our capital stock or interest on our debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities generally will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the holder is a United States person and the holder either certifies its non-U.S. status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any distributions on our capital stock or interest on our debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities paid to the non-U.S. holder, regardless of whether such distributions constitute a dividend or whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of such stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities (including a retirement or redemption of a debt security) within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person, or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of such stock or debt securities conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.

Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is established.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Medicare Contribution Tax on Unearned Income

Certain U.S. holders that are individuals, estates or trusts are required to pay an additional 3.8% tax on, among other things, dividends on stock, interest on debt obligations and capital gains from the sale or other

 

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disposition of stock or debt obligations, subject to certain limitations. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of these rules on their ownership and disposition of our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities.

Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts

Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, “FATCA”) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on our capital stock, interest on our debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities or (subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities, in each case paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in clause (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on our capital stock or interest on our debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of stock or debt securities on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued. Because we may not know the extent to which a distribution is a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the time it is made, for purposes of these withholding rules we may treat the entire distribution as a dividend.

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities.

Other Tax Consequences

State, local and non-U.S. income tax laws may differ substantially from the corresponding U.S. federal income tax laws, and this discussion does not purport to describe any aspect of the tax laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction, or any U.S. federal tax other than income tax. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the effect of state, local and non-U.S. tax laws with respect to our tax treatment as a REIT and on an investment in our capital stock or debt securities or our operating partnership’s debt securities.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the offered securities from time to time:

 

   

through underwriters or dealers;

 

   

through agents;

 

   

directly to one or more purchasers; or

 

   

through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

We will identify the specific plan of distribution and terms, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers, the amount underwritten and their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, Los Angeles, California. Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of shares of our capital stock and certain other legal matters relating to Maryland law will be passed upon for us by Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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EXPERTS

The financial statements of Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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Phillips Edison Grocery Center Operating Partnership I, L.P.

  % Senior Notes due 20  

guaranteed by

Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Securities    BofA Securities    J.P. Morgan    Mizuho    PNC Capital Markets LLC

 

 

May , 2024