As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 22, 2011
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| Maryland | 20-1142292 | |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
17190 Bernardo Center Drive
San Diego, California 92128
(858) 485-9840
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Alan D. Gold
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.
17190 Bernardo Center Drive
San Diego, California 92128
(858) 485-9840
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
Craig M. Garner, Esq.
Latham & Watkins LLP
12636 High Bluff Drive, Suite 400
San Diego, California 92130
(858) 523-5400
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement, as determined by market conditions.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement of the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
| Large accelerated filer | x | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ¨ | |||
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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| Title of Securities Being Registered(1) | Amount to be Registered(1) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(2) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price(2) |
Amount of Registration Fee(2) | ||||
| Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share |
2,593,538 | — | — | — | ||||
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| (1) | This registration statement is filed pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and includes solely 2,593,538 shares of common stock that were previously registered by BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. on Registration Statement No. 333-155667, filed on November 25, 2008, and were not sold thereunder. This registration statement also includes an indeterminate number of shares which may be issued by BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. with respect to such shares of common stock by way of a stock dividend, stock split or in connection with a stock combination, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or otherwise. |
| (2) | Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the filing fee of $7,000.27 related to the 2,593,538 shares of common stock included in this registration statement that were previously registered by BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. on Registration Statement No. 333-155667, filed on November 25, 2008, and were not sold thereunder, will continue to be applied to such unsold securities. In accordance with Rule 415(a)(6), no registration fee is due and Registration Statement No. 333-155667 will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this registration statement. |
PROSPECTUS
2,593,538 Shares
BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.
Common Stock
This prospectus relates to the possible issuance of up to 2,593,538 shares of our common stock in exchange for units representing limited partnership interests, or partnership units, in BioMed Realty, L.P., or our operating partnership, upon any redemption by one or more of the limited partners pursuant to their contractual rights, and the possible resale from time to time of some or all of such shares of common stock by the selling stockholders named in this prospectus. We are registering the applicable shares of our common stock to provide the selling stockholders with freely tradable securities. The registration of the shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus does not necessarily mean that any of the holders of partnership units will redeem their units, that upon any such redemption we will elect, in our sole and absolute discretion, to exchange some or all of the partnership units for shares of our common stock rather than cash, or that any shares of our common stock received in exchange for partnership units will be sold by the selling stockholders.
We will receive no proceeds from any issuance of the shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus to the selling stockholders or from any sale of such shares by the selling stockholders, but we have agreed to pay certain registration expenses.
Our common stock currently trades on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “BMR.” On November 21, 2011, the last reported sales price of our common stock on the NYSE was $17.30 per share.
You should consider the risks that we have described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 before buying shares of our common stock.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is November 22, 2011
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| Description of the Partnership Agreement of BioMed Realty, L.P. |
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| Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws |
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References in this prospectus to “we,” “our,” “us” and “our company” refer to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, BioMed Realty, L.P., and any of our other subsidiaries. BioMed Realty, L.P. is a Maryland limited partnership of which we are the sole general partner and to which we refer in this prospectus as our operating partnership.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from that contained in this prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, as well as information we previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated herein by reference, is accurate only as of their respective dates or on other dates which are specified in those documents, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
We operate as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, developing, owning, leasing and managing laboratory and office space for the life science industry. Our tenants primarily include biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, scientific research institutions, government agencies and other entities involved in the life science industry. Our properties are generally located in markets with well-established reputations as centers for scientific research, including Boston, San Francisco, Maryland, San Diego, New York/New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Seattle. At September 30, 2011, we owned or had interests in properties comprising approximately 12.3 million rentable square feet.
Our senior management team has significant experience in the real estate industry, principally focusing on properties designed for life science tenants. We operate as a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed REIT, providing management, leasing, development and administrative services to our properties. As of September 30, 2011, we had 161 employees.
Our principal offices are located at 17190 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego, California 92128. Our telephone number at that location is (858) 485-9840. Our website is located at www.biomedrealty.com. The information found on, or otherwise accessible through, our website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this prospectus or any other report or document we file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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An investment in our common stock involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, the risks discussed below and the other information contained in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, before exchanging partnership units for shares of our common stock or purchasing shares of our common stock from the selling stockholders. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. Please also refer to the section below entitled “Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Related to Exchange of Partnership Units for Common Stock
The exchange of partnership units for our common stock is a taxable transaction.
The exchange of partnership units for shares of our common stock will be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a taxable sale of the partnership units by the limited partner making the exchange. A limited partner will recognize gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the “amount realized” by the limited partner in the exchange and the limited partner’s adjusted tax basis in the partnership units exchanged. Generally, the amount realized by a limited partner on an exchange will be the fair market value of the shares of our common stock received in the exchange, plus the amount of our operating partnership’s liabilities allocable to the partnership units being exchanged. The recognition of any loss resulting from an exchange of partnership units for shares of our common stock is subject to a number of limitations set forth in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. It is possible that the amount of gain recognized or the tax liability resulting from the gain could exceed the value of the shares of our common stock received upon the exchange. In addition, the ability of a limited partner to sell a substantial number of shares of our common stock in order to raise cash to pay tax liabilities associated with the exchange of our partnership units may be restricted and, as a result of stock price fluctuations, the price the holder receives for the shares of our common stock may not equal the value of the partnership units at the time of the exchange.
An investment in our common stock is different from an investment in partnership units.
If a limited partner exchanges his or her partnership units for shares of our common stock, he or she will become one of our stockholders rather than a limited partner in our operating partnership. Although the nature of an investment in our common stock is similar to an investment in partnership units, there are also differences between ownership of partnership units and ownership of our common stock. These differences include:
| • | form of organization, |
| • | management control, |
| • | voting and consent rights, |
| • | liquidity, and |
| • | federal income tax considerations. |
See “Exchange of Partnership Units for Common Stock.”
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
The market price and trading volume of our common stock may be volatile.
The market price of our common stock has recently been, and may continue to be, volatile. In addition, the trading volume in our common stock may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. We cannot assure you that the market price of our common stock will not fluctuate or decline significantly in the future.
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Some of the factors that could negatively affect our share price or result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume of our common stock include:
| • | actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly operating results or distributions, |
| • | changes in our funds from operations or earnings estimates, |
| • | publication of research reports about us or the real estate industry, |
| • | increases in market interest rates that lead purchasers of our shares to demand a higher yield, |
| • | changes in market valuations of similar companies, |
| • | adverse market reaction to any additional debt we incur or acquisitions we make in the future, |
| • | additions or departures of key management personnel, |
| • | actions by institutional stockholders, |
| • | speculation in the press or investment community, |
| • | the realization of any of the other risk factors presented in this report, and |
| • | general market and economic conditions. |
Market interest rates may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.
One of the factors that will influence the price of our common stock and preferred stock will be the dividend yield on such stock (as a percentage of the price of the stock) relative to market interest rates. An increase in market interest rates may lead prospective purchasers of our common stock or our 7.375% Series A cumulative redeemable preferred stock, or Series A preferred stock, to expect a higher dividend yield, and higher interest rates would likely increase our borrowing costs and potentially decrease funds available for distribution. Thus, higher market interest rates could cause the market price of our common stock and Series A preferred stock to fall.
Future sales of shares of our common stock may depress the price of our shares.
We cannot predict whether future issuances of shares of our common stock or the availability of shares of our common stock for resale in the open market will decrease the market price per share of our common stock. Any sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, including upon the redemption of partnership units under this prospectus, or the perception that such sales might occur, may cause the market price of our common stock to decline. Any shares of common stock exchanged for partnership units or sold pursuant to this prospectus will be freely tradable without restriction (other than any restrictions set forth in our charter relating to our qualification as a REIT).
The redemption of partnership units for common stock, the exercise of any options or the vesting of any restricted stock granted to directors, executive officers and other employees under our incentive award plan, the conversion or exchange of other convertible or exchangeable securities for common stock, the issuance of our common stock or partnership units in connection with property, portfolio or business acquisitions and other issuances of our common stock could have an adverse effect on the market price of the shares of our common stock, and the existence of partnership units, options and shares of our common stock reserved for issuance as restricted stock or upon redemption of partnership units or exercise, conversion or exchange of options or other convertible or exchangeable securities may adversely affect the terms upon which we may be able to obtain additional capital through the sale of equity securities. In addition, future sales of our securities may be dilutive to our stockholders and depress the market price of our common stock.
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Holders of our outstanding shares of preferred stock have, and holders of any future outstanding shares of preferred stock will have, liquidation, dividend and other rights that are senior to the rights of the holders of our common stock.
Our board of directors has the authority to designate and issue preferred stock with liquidation, dividend and other rights that are senior to those of our common stock. Our preferred stock, including our issued and outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock as well as any other shares of preferred stock that may be issued in the future, would receive, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, before any payment is made to holders of our common stock, their liquidation preferences as well as any accrued and unpaid distributions. These payments would reduce the remaining amount of our assets, if any, available for distribution to holders of our common stock.
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This prospectus and the documents that we incorporate by reference herein contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act). Also, documents we subsequently file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporate by reference will contain forward-looking statements. In particular, statements pertaining to our capital resources, portfolio performance and results of operations contain forward-looking statements. Likewise, our statements regarding anticipated growth in our funds from operations and anticipated market conditions, demographics and results of operations are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and you should not rely on them as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements depend on assumptions, data or methods which may be incorrect or imprecise, and we may not be able to realize them. We do not guarantee that the transactions and events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “pro forma,” “estimates” or “anticipates” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements:
| • | adverse economic or real estate developments in the life science industry or in our target markets, including the inability of our tenants to obtain funding to run their businesses, |
| • | our dependence on significant tenants, |
| • | our failure to obtain necessary outside financing on favorable terms or at all, including the continued availability of our unsecured line of credit, |
| • | general economic conditions, including downturns in the national and local economies, |
| • | volatility in financial and securities markets, |
| • | defaults on or non-renewal of leases by tenants, |
| • | our inability to compete effectively, |
| • | increased interest rates and operating costs, |
| • | our inability to successfully complete real estate acquisitions, developments and dispositions, |
| • | risks and uncertainties affecting property development and construction, |
| • | our failure to successfully operate acquired properties and operations, |
| • | reductions in asset valuations and related impairment charges, |
| • | the loss of services of one or more of our executive officers, |
| • | our failure to qualify or continue to qualify as a REIT, |
| • | our failure to maintain our investment grade corporate credit ratings or a downgrade in our investment grade corporate credit ratings from one or more of the ratings agencies, |
| • | government approvals, actions and initiatives, including the need for compliance with environmental requirements, |
| • | the effects of earthquakes and other natural disasters, |
| • | lack of or insufficient amounts of insurance, and |
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| • | changes in real estate, zoning and other laws and increases in real property tax rates. |
While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could impact our future results, performance or transactions, see the section of this prospectus above entitled “Risk Factors,” including the risks incorporated therein from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as updated by our future filings.
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We are filing the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part pursuant to our contractual obligation to the holders of our partnership units named in the section entitled “Selling Stockholders.” We will not receive any of the proceeds from the issuance of shares of our common stock to such holders or the resale of shares of our common stock from time to time by such holders.
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The “selling stockholders” are the people or entities who may receive shares of our common stock registered pursuant to this registration statement upon exchange of partnership units. The following table provides the names of the selling stockholders, the maximum number of shares of our common stock issuable to such selling stockholders in the exchange and the aggregate number of shares of our common stock that will be owned by such selling stockholders after the exchange. The number of shares on the following table represents the number of shares of our common stock into which partnership units held by the selling stockholders are exchangeable. Since the selling stockholders may sell all, some or none of their shares, we cannot estimate the aggregate number of shares that the selling stockholders will offer pursuant to this prospectus or that the selling stockholders will own upon completion of the offering to which this prospectus relates.
The selling stockholders named below and their respective pledgees, donees and other successors in interest may from time to time offer the shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus:
| Shares of Our Common Stock and LTIP Units Owned Prior to the |
Maximum Number of Shares of Our Common Stock Issuable in the Exchange and Available for |
Shares of
Our Common Stock and LTIP Units Owned Following the Exchange(1)(2) |
Maximum Number of Shares of Our Common Stock to be |
Shares of Our Common Stock and LTIP Units Owned after Resale(2)(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name |
Exchange | Resale | Shares | Percent | Resold | Shares | Percent | |||||||||||||||||||
| Alan D. Gold(4) |
502,398 | (5) | 1,041,742 | 1,544,140 | 1.1 | % | 1,041,742 | 502,398 | * | |||||||||||||||||
| Gary A. Kreitzer(6) |
133,264 | (7) | 642,528 | 775,792 | * | 642,528 | 133,264 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| SIXJWS, L.P.(8) |
— | 425,073 | 425,073 | * | 425,073 | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| SunMar Investments, Inc.(9) |
— | 260,300 | 260,300 | * | 260,300 | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ventanas Del Mar, L.P.(10) |
— | 80,000 | 80,000 | * | 80,000 | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| HW Investments, Inc.(11) |
— | 75,600 | 75,600 | * | 75,600 | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| SciMed Prop III, Inc.(12) |
— | 28,453 | 28,453 | * | 28,453 | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| Glen P. Vieira |
— | 19,113 | 19,113 | * | 19,113 | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mark A. Chandik, Inc. Retirement Plan Trust |
— | 13,750 | 13,750 | * | 13,750 | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| E. Duane Dobbs |
— | 6,979 | 6,979 | * | 6,979 | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Total |
2,593,538 | 2,593,538 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| * | Less than 1%. |
| (1) | Amounts assume that all partnership units are exchanged for shares of our common stock. The percentage ownership is determined for each selling stockholder by taking into account the issuance and sale of shares of our common stock issued in exchange for partnership units of only such selling stockholder. Amounts also assume that no transactions with respect to our common stock or partnership units occur other than the exchange. |
| (2) | Based on a total of 153,831,024 shares of our common stock outstanding as of November 21, 2011. |
| (3) | Assumes the selling stockholders sell all of their shares of our common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus. The percentage ownership is determined for each selling stockholder by taking into account the issuance and sale of shares of our common stock issued in exchange for partnership units of only such selling stockholder. |
| (4) | Mr. Gold serves as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. |
| (5) | Includes 98,200 long term incentive plan, or LTIP, units held by Mr. Gold directly. |
| (6) | Mr. Kreitzer serves as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and as a Director. |
| (7) | Includes 80,879 LTIP units held by Mr. Kreitzer directly. |
| (8) | John F. Wilson, II exercises sole voting and investment power over the securities held by SIXJWS, L.P. |
| (9) | Messrs. Gold and Kreitzer have an interest in 161,894 and 98,406 units, respectively, held by SunMar Investments, Inc., over which Messrs. Gold and Kreitzer share voting and investment power. |
| (10) | Mr. Kreitzer has sole voting and investment power over the 80,000 units held by Ventanas Del Mar, L.P. |
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| (11) | Mr. Vieira has sole voting and investment power over the 75,600 units held by HW Investments, Inc. |
| (12) | Messrs. Gold and Kreitzer have an interest in 17,144 and 11,309 units, respectively, held by SciMed Prop III, Inc., over which Messrs. Gold and Kreitzer share voting and investment power. |
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This prospectus relates to:
| • | the issuance by us of up to 2,593,538 shares of our common stock if, and to the extent that, the selling stockholders tender their partnership units for redemption and we elect, in our sole and absolute discretion, to exchange such partnership units for common stock in lieu of a cash redemption, and |
| • | the offer and sale from time to time of some or all of those 2,593,538 shares of common stock by the selling stockholders or their donees, pledgees, transferees and other successors in interest. |
We are registering the shares of our common stock to provide the holders with freely tradable securities, but the registration of these shares does not necessarily mean that any of these shares will be offered or sold by the holders.
We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the shares of our common stock to the selling stockholders or from the sale of such shares by the selling stockholders, but we have agreed to pay the following expenses of the registration of such shares:
| • | fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants, |
| • | premiums and other costs of policies of insurance against liabilities arising out of the sale of any securities, |
| • | all registration, filing and stock exchange fees, |
| • | fees and expenses for complying with securities or blue sky laws, |
| • | fees and expenses of custodians, transfer agent and registrar, and |
| • | printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses. |
We have no obligation to pay any out-of-pocket expenses of the selling stockholders, transfer taxes, underwriting or brokerage commissions or discounts associated with the exchange of partnership units for our common stock or the resale of our common stock contemplated hereby.
The selling stockholders may from time to time sell the shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus directly to purchasers. Alternatively, the selling stockholders may from time to time offer such shares through dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of commissions from the selling stockholders and from the purchasers of such shares for whom they may act as agent. The selling stockholders and any dealers or agents that participate in the distribution of such shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any profit on the sale of our common stock by them and any commissions received by any of these dealers or agents might be deemed to be underwriting commissions under the Securities Act.
In connection with distribution of the shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus:
| • | the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, |
| • | the broker-dealers may engage in short sales of our common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume with the selling stockholders, |
| • | the selling stockholders may sell our common stock short and deliver our common stock to close out these short positions, |
| • | the selling stockholders may enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers that involve the delivery of our common stock to the broker-dealers, who may then resell or otherwise transfer our common stock, and |
| • | the selling stockholders may loan or pledge our common stock to a broker-dealer and the broker-dealer may sell our common stock so loaned or upon a default may sell or otherwise transfer the pledged stock. |
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Persons participating in the distribution of the shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of our common stock. The anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of our common stock in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholders.
This prospectus describes the general terms of our capital stock. For a more detailed description of these securities, you should read the applicable provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or MGCL, and our charter and bylaws, as amended and supplemented from time to time. Copies of our existing charter and bylaws are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
Common Stock
Our charter provides that we may issue up to 200,000,000 shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share. Our charter authorizes our board of directors to amend our charter to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series without stockholder approval. As of November 21, 2011, 153,831,024 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding. Under Maryland law, stockholders generally are not liable for the corporation’s debts or obligations.
All shares of our common stock offered hereby will be duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable. Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock and to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on transfer and ownership of stock, holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends on such stock if, as and when authorized by our board of directors out of assets legally available therefor and declared by us and to share ratably in the assets of our company legally available for distribution to our stockholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up after payment of or adequate provision for all known debts and liabilities of our company.
Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on transfer and ownership of stock, each outstanding share of our common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors and, except as provided with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of such shares will possess the exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of our directors, which means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock can elect all of the directors then standing for election and the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any directors.
Holders of shares of our common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal rights and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any securities of our company. Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on transfer and ownership of stock, shares of our common stock will have equal dividend, liquidation and other rights.
Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business unless such action is advised by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the corporation’s charter. Our charter provides, except with respect to an amendment to the section relating to the removal of directors and the corresponding reference in the general amendment provision, that the foregoing items may be approved by a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, Maryland law permits a corporation to transfer all or substantially all of its assets without the approval of the stockholders of the corporation to one or more persons if all of the equity interests of the person or persons are owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation. Because operating assets may be held by a corporation’s subsidiaries, as in our situation, this may mean that our subsidiary can merge or transfer all of its assets without a vote of our stockholders.
Our charter authorizes our board of directors to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock into other classes or series of stock. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, our board of directors is required by the MGCL and our charter to set, subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on
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transfer and ownership of stock, the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each such class or series.
Power to Increase Authorized Stock and Issue Additional Shares of Our Common Stock
We believe that the power of our board of directors to amend our charter to increase the number of authorized shares of stock or the number of shares of any class or series of stock, to cause us to issue additional authorized but unissued shares of our common stock and to classify or reclassify unissued shares of our common stock and thereafter to cause us to issue such classified or reclassified shares of stock will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs which might arise. The additional classes or series, as well as the common stock, will be available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless stockholder consent is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Although our board of directors does not currently intend to do so, it could authorize us to issue a class or series that could, depending upon the terms of the particular class or series, delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for our stockholders or otherwise be in their best interest.
Preferred Stock
Our charter provides that we may issue up to 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. Our charter authorizes our board of directors to amend our charter to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series without stockholder approval.
As of November 21, 2011, 7,920,000 shares of Series A preferred stock were issued and outstanding. Dividends are cumulative on the Series A preferred stock from the date of original issuance in the amount of $1.84375 per share each year, which is equivalent to 7.375% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share. Dividends on the Series A preferred stock are payable quarterly in arrears on or about the 15th day of January, April, July and October of each year. Following a change in control, if the Series A preferred stock is not listed on the NYSE, the American Stock Exchange or NASDAQ, holders will be entitled to receive (when and as authorized by the board of directors and declared by us), cumulative cash dividends from, but excluding, the first date on which both the change of control has occurred and the Series A preferred stock is not so listed at an increased rate of 8.375% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share (equivalent to an annual rate of $2.09375 per share) for as long as the Series A preferred stock is not so listed. The Series A preferred stock does not have a stated maturity date and is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption provisions. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the Series A preferred stock will rank senior to the common stock with respect to the payment of distributions and other amounts. We are not allowed to redeem the Series A preferred stock before January 18, 2012, except in limited circumstances to preserve our status as a REIT or at any time following a change of control that the Series A preferred stock is not listed on the NYSE, the American Stock Exchange or NASDAQ. On or after January 18, 2012, we may, at our option, redeem the Series A preferred stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Series A preferred stock up to, but excluding the redemption date. Holders of the Series A preferred stock generally have no voting rights except for limited voting rights if we fail to pay dividends for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive) and in certain other circumstances. The Series A preferred stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any of our other property or securities.
Our charter authorizes our board of directors to classify any unissued shares of preferred stock and to reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of any class or series. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, our board of directors is required by the MGCL and our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each such class or series.
The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power, dividend rights and other rights of holders of our common stock. Although the board of directors does not have the intention at this present time, it could establish a series of preferred stock, that could, depending on the terms of the series, delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control of us that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in
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the best interest of the holders thereof. Management believes that the availability of preferred stock will provide our company with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financing and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise.
Under Maryland law, our stockholders generally are not liable for our debts or obligations.
Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer
To assist us in complying with certain United States federal income tax requirements applicable to REITs, we have adopted certain restrictions relating to the ownership and transfer of our stock. See “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock and Series A preferred stock is Mellon Investor Services LLC.
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RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER
The following summary with respect to restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of our charter. This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our charter. Copies of our existing charter documents are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
In order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, our stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve months (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made) or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of our outstanding shares of stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made).
Our charter contains restrictions on the amount of shares of our stock that a person may own. No person may acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, in excess of 9.8% in value of the aggregate of our outstanding shares of capital stock. In addition, no person may acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, (1) common stock in excess of 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of our outstanding shares of common stock or (2) Series A preferred stock in excess of 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of our outstanding Series A preferred stock.
Our charter further prohibits (1) any person from owning shares of our stock that would result in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT and (2) any person from transferring shares of our stock if the transfer would result in our stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons. Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire shares of our stock that may violate any of these restrictions, or who is the intended transferee of shares of our stock which are transferred to a trust, as described below, is required to give us immediate written notice (or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transaction, at least 15 days’ prior written notice) and provide us with such information as we may request in order to determine the effect of the transfer on our status as a REIT. The above restrictions will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue to qualify as a REIT.
Our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, waive the ownership limit with respect to a particular stockholder if it:
| • | determines that such ownership will not cause any individual’s beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our capital stock to result in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or that any exemption from the ownership limit will not jeopardize our status as a REIT, and |
| • | determines that such stockholder does not and will not own, actually or constructively, an interest in a tenant of ours (or a tenant of any entity owned in whole or in part by us) that would cause us to own, actually or constructively, more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant or that any such ownership would not cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT under the Code. |
As a condition of our waiver, our board of directors may require an opinion of counsel or Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, ruling satisfactory to our board of directors, and/or representations or undertakings from the applicant with respect to preserving our REIT status.
Any attempted transfer of our stock which, if effective, would result in our stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons will be null and void and the intended transferee will not acquire any rights in the shares of stock. Any attempted transfer of our stock which, if effective, would result in violation of the ownership limits discussed above or in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT, will cause the number of shares causing the violation (rounded up to the nearest whole share) to be automatically transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries, and the proposed transferee will not acquire any rights in the shares. The automatic transfer will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the
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business day prior to the date of the transfer. 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 stock held in the trust, will have no rights to dividends, to vote the shares, or to any other rights attributable to the shares of stock held in the trust. The trustee of the trust will have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares held in the trust. These rights will be exercised for the exclusive benefit of a charitable beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to our discovery that shares of stock have been transferred to the trust must be paid by the recipient to the trustee upon demand. Any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid will be paid when due to the trustee. Any dividend or distribution paid to the trustee will be held in trust for the charitable beneficiary. Subject to Maryland law, the trustee will have the authority (1) to rescind as void any vote cast by the proposed transferee prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust and (2) to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee will not have the authority to rescind and recast the vote.
Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that shares of our stock have been transferred to the trust, the trustee will sell the shares to a person designated by the trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the above ownership limitations. Upon the sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the proposed transferee and to the charitable beneficiary as follows. The proposed transferee will receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the proposed transferee for the shares or, if the proposed transferee did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the trust (e.g., a gift, devise or other similar transaction), the market price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the trust and (2) the price received by the trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of the sale) from the sale or other disposition of the shares. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the proposed transferee will be paid immediately to the charitable beneficiary. If, prior to our discovery that shares of our stock have been transferred to the trust, the shares are sold by the proposed transferee, then (1) the shares will be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and (2) to the extent that the proposed transferee received an amount for the shares that exceeds the amount he was entitled to receive, the excess must be paid to the trustee upon demand.
In addition, shares of our stock held in the trust will be deemed to have been offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (1) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer to the trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the market price at the time of the devise or gift) and (2) the market price on the date we, or our designee, accept the offer. We will have the right to accept the offer until the trustee has sold the shares. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the proposed transferee.
If any shares of our stock are represented by certificates, such certificates will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.
Every owner of 5% or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) of our stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, is required to give us written notice, stating his name and address, the number of shares of each class and series of our stock which he beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each such owner will provide us with such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of his or her beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limits. In addition, each stockholder will upon demand be required to provide us with such information as we may request in good faith in order to determine our status as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.
These ownership limits could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF BIOMED REALTY, L.P.
The material terms and provisions of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of BioMed Realty, L.P. which we refer to as the “partnership agreement” are summarized below. For more detail, you should refer to the partnership agreement itself, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.” For purposes of this section, references to “we,” “our,” “us” and “our company” refer to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.
Management of Our Operating Partnership
Our operating partnership, BioMed Realty, L.P., is a Maryland limited partnership that was formed on April 30, 2004. Our company is the sole general partner of our operating partnership, and we conduct substantially all of our business in or through it. As sole general partner of our operating partnership, we exercise exclusive and complete responsibility and discretion in its day-to-day management and control. We can cause our operating partnership to enter into certain major transactions including acquisitions, dispositions and refinancings, subject to limited exceptions. The limited partners of our operating partnership may not transact business for, or participate in the management activities or decisions of, our operating partnership, except as provided in the partnership agreement and as required by applicable law. Some restrictions in the partnership agreement restrict our ability to engage in a business combination as more fully described in “— Termination Transactions” below.
The limited partners of our operating partnership expressly acknowledged that we, as general partner of our operating partnership, are acting for the benefit of our operating partnership, the limited partners and our stockholders collectively. Our company is under no obligation to give priority to the separate interests of the limited partners or our stockholders in deciding whether to cause our operating partnership to take or decline to take any actions. If there is a conflict between the interests of our stockholders on one hand and the limited partners on the other, we will endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either our stockholders or the limited partners; provided, however, that for so long as we own a controlling interest in our operating partnership, any conflict that cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either our stockholders or the limited partners will be resolved in favor of our stockholders. We are not liable under the partnership agreement to our operating partnership or to any partner for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by limited partners in connection with such decisions, so long as we have acted in good faith.
The partnership agreement provides that substantially all of our business activities, including all activities pertaining to the acquisition and operation of properties, must be conducted through our operating partnership, and that our operating partnership must be operated in a manner that will enable our company to satisfy the requirements for being classified as a REIT.
Transferability of Interests
Except in connection with a transaction described in “— Termination Transactions” below, we, as general partner, may not voluntarily withdraw from our operating partnership, or transfer or assign all or any portion of our interest in our operating partnership, without the consent of the holders of a majority of the limited partnership interests (including our 97.5% limited partnership interest therein) except for permitted transfers to our affiliates. Currently, any transfer of units by the limited partners, except to us, as general partner, to an affiliate of the transferring limited partner, to other original limited partners, to immediate family members of the transferring limited partner, to a trust for the benefit of a charitable beneficiary, or to a lending institution as collateral for a bona fide loan, subject to specified limitations, will be subject to a right of first refusal by us and must be made only to “accredited investors” as defined under Rule 501 of the Securities Act.
Capital Contributions
We contributed to our operating partnership all of the net proceeds of our IPO as our initial capital contribution in exchange for a 91.5% partnership interest. Some of our directors, executive officers and their affiliates contributed properties and assets to our operating partnership and became limited partners and, together with other limited partners, initially owned the remaining 8.5% limited partnership interest. As of September 30, 2011, we owned a 97.5% limited partnership interest and a 0.3% general partnership interest and other limited partners, including some of our directors, executive officers and their affiliates, owned the remaining 2.2% partnership interest (including LTIP units).
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The partnership agreement provides that we, as general partner, may determine that our operating partnership requires additional funds for the acquisition of additional properties or for other purposes. Under the partnership agreement, we are obligated to contribute the proceeds of any offering of stock as additional capital to our operating partnership. Our operating partnership is authorized to cause partnership interests to be issued for less than fair market value if we conclude in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of our operating partnership.
The partnership agreement provides that we may make additional capital contributions, including properties, to our operating partnership in exchange for additional partnership units. If we contribute additional capital and receive additional partnership interests for the capital contribution, our percentage interests will be increased on a proportionate basis based on the amount of the additional capital contributions and the value of our operating partnership at the time of the contributions. Conversely, the percentage interests of the other limited partners will be decreased on a proportionate basis. In addition, if we contribute additional capital and receive additional partnership interests for the capital contribution, the capital accounts of the partners may be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any unrealized gain or loss attributable to the properties as if there were an actual sale of the properties at the fair market value thereof. Limited partners have no preemptive right or obligation to make additional capital contributions.
Our operating partnership could issue preferred partnership interests in connection with acquisitions of property or otherwise. Any such preferred partnership interests would have priority over common partnership interests with respect to distributions from our operating partnership, including the partnership interests that our wholly owned subsidiaries own.
Amendments of the Partnership Agreement
Amendments to the partnership agreement may be proposed by us, as general partner, or by limited partners holding at least 25% of the units held by limited partners.
Generally, the partnership agreement may be amended, modified or terminated only with the approval of partners holding 50% of all outstanding units (including the units held by us as general partner and as a limited partner). However, as general partner, we will have the power to unilaterally amend the partnership agreement without obtaining the consent of the limited partners as may be required to:
| • | add to our obligations as general partner or surrender any right or power granted to us as general partner for the benefit of the limited partners, |
| • | reflect the issuance of additional units or the admission, substitution, termination or withdrawal of partners in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement, |
| • | set forth or amend the designations, rights, powers, duties and preferences of the holders of any additional partnership interests issued by our operating partnership, |
| • | reflect a change of an inconsequential nature that does not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect, |
| • | cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision of the partnership agreement not inconsistent with law or with other provisions of the partnership agreement, or make other changes concerning matters under the partnership agreement that will not otherwise be inconsistent with the partnership agreement or law, |
| • | satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines of federal or state law, |
| • | reflect changes that are reasonably necessary for us, as general partner, to maintain our status as a REIT, |
| • | modify the manner in which capital accounts are computed, or |
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| • | amend or modify any provision of the partnership agreement in connection with a termination transaction. |
Amendments that would convert a limited partner’s interest into a general partner’s interest, modify the limited liability of a limited partner, alter a partner’s right to receive any distributions or allocations of profits or losses or materially alter or modify the redemption rights described below (other than a change to reflect the seniority of any distribution or liquidation rights of any preferred units issued in accordance with the partnership agreement) must be approved by each limited partner that would be adversely affected by such amendment; provided that any such amendment does not require the unanimous consent of all the partners who are adversely affected unless the amendment is to be effective against all adversely affected partners.
In addition, without the written consent of limited partners holding a majority of the units, we, as general partner, may not do any of the following:
| • | take any action in contravention of an express prohibition or limitation contained in the partnership agreement, |
| • | enter into or conduct any business other than in connection with our role as general partner of our operating partnership and our operation as a public reporting company and as a REIT, |
| • | acquire an interest in real or personal property other than through our operating partnership or our subsidiary partnerships, |
| • | withdraw from our operating partnership or transfer any portion of our general partnership interest, except to an affiliate, or |
| • | be relieved of our obligations under the partnership agreement following any permitted transfer of our general partnership interest. |
Redemption/Exchange Rights
Limited partners who acquired units in our formation transactions have the right to require our operating partnership to redeem part or all of their units for cash based upon the fair market value of an equivalent number of shares of our common stock at the time of the redemption. Alternatively, we may elect to acquire those units in exchange for shares of our common stock. Our acquisition will be on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, issuance of stock rights, specified extraordinary distributions and similar events. With each redemption or exchange, we increase our company’s percentage ownership interest in our operating partnership. Limited partners who hold units may exercise this redemption right from time to time, in whole or in part, except when, as a consequence of shares of our common stock being issued, any person’s actual or constructive stock ownership would exceed our company’s ownership limits, or violate any other restriction as provided in our charter as described under the section entitled “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.” In all cases, unless we agree otherwise, no limited partner may exercise its redemption right for fewer than 1,000 units or, if a limited partner holds fewer than 1,000 units, all of the units held by such limited partner.
Issuance of Additional Units, Common Stock or Convertible Securities
As sole general partner, we have the ability to cause our operating partnership to issue additional units representing general and limited partnership interests. These additional units may include preferred limited partnership units. In addition, we may issue additional shares of our common stock or convertible securities, but only if we cause our operating partnership to issue to us partnership interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of our operating partnership having parallel designations, preferences and other rights, so that the economic interests of our operating partnership’s interests issued are substantially similar to the securities that we have issued.
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Tax Matters
We are the tax matters partner of our operating partnership. We have authority to make tax elections under the Code on behalf of our operating partnership.
Allocations of Net Income and Net Losses to Partners
The net income or net loss of our operating partnership generally will be allocated to us, as the general partner, and to the limited partners in accordance with our respective percentage interests in our operating partnership. However, in some cases losses may be disproportionately allocated to partners who have guaranteed debt of our operating partnership. The allocations described above are subject to special allocations relating to depreciation deductions and to compliance with the provisions of Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and the associated Treasury regulations. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — Tax Aspects of Our Operating Partnership, the Subsidiary Partnerships and the Limited Liability Companies.”
Operations and Distributions
The partnership agreement provides that we, as general partner, will determine and distribute the net operating cash revenues of our operating partnership, as well as the net sales and refinancing proceeds, in such amount as determined by us in our sole discretion, quarterly, pro rata in accordance with the partners’ percentage interests.
The partnership agreement provides that our operating partnership will assume and pay when due, or reimburse us for payment of all costs and expenses relating to the operations of, or for the benefit of, our operating partnership.
Termination Transactions
The partnership agreement provides that our company may not engage in any merger, consolidation or other combination with or into another person, sale of all or substantially all of our assets or any reclassification or any recapitalization or change in our outstanding equity interests, each a termination transaction, unless in connection with a termination transaction either:
(1) all limited partners will receive, or have the right to elect to receive, for each unit an amount of cash, securities, or other property equal to the product of:
| • | the number of shares of our common stock into which each unit is then exchangeable, and |
| • | the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid to the holder of one share of our common stock in consideration of one share of our common stock in the termination transaction, |
provided that, if, in connection with a termination transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer is made to and accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, each holder of units will receive, or will have the right to elect to receive, the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property which such holder would have received had it exercised its redemption right and received shares of our common stock in exchange for its units immediately prior to the expiration of such purchase, tender or exchange offer and accepted such purchase, tender or exchange offer, or
(2) the following conditions are met:
| • | substantially all of the assets of the surviving entity are held directly or indirectly by our operating partnership or another limited partnership or limited liability company that is the surviving entity of a merger, consolidation or combination of assets with our operating partnership, |
| • | the holders of units own a percentage interest of the surviving entity based on the relative fair market value of the net assets of our operating partnership and the other net assets of the surviving entity immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction, |
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| • | the rights, preferences and privileges of such unit holders in the surviving entity are at least as favorable as those in effect immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction and as those applicable to any other limited partners or non-managing members of the surviving entity, and |
| • | the limited partners may redeem their interests in the surviving entity for either the consideration available to the common limited partners pursuant to the first paragraph in this section, or if the ultimate controlling person of the surviving entity has publicly traded common equity securities, shares of those common equity securities, at an exchange ratio based on the relative fair market value of those securities and our common stock. |
Term
Our operating partnership will continue in full force and effect until December 31, 2104, or until sooner dissolved in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement or as otherwise provided by law.
Indemnification and Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the partnership agreement requires our operating partnership to indemnify us, as general partner, and our officers, directors and any other persons we may designate from and against any and all claims arising from operations of our operating partnership in which any indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, unless it is established that:
| • | the act or omission of the indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and either was committed in bad faith, fraud or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, |
| • | the indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services, or |
| • | in the case of any criminal proceeding, the indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. |
Similarly, we, as general partner of our operating partnership, and our officers, directors, agents or employees, are not liable or accountable to our operating partnership for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived as a result of errors in judgment or mistakes of fact or law or any act or omission so long as we acted in good faith.
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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS
The following is a summary of certain provisions of Maryland law and of our charter and bylaws. This description is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, Maryland law and our charter and bylaws, copies of which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
Our Board of Directors
Our charter and bylaws provide that our board of directors may establish the number of directors of our company as long as the number is not fewer than the minimum required under the MGCL nor, unless our bylaws are amended, more than 15. Except as may be provided by our board of directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any vacancy on the board of directors may be filled, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, by a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum.
Pursuant to our charter, each of our directors is elected by our stockholders to serve until the next annual meeting and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. Directors are elected by a plurality of all the votes cast at a duly called meeting of stockholders, and holders of shares of our common stock have no right to cumulative voting in the election of directors. Consequently, at each annual meeting of stockholders, the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock will be able to elect all of our directors.
Removal of Directors
Our charter provides that a director may be removed only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. This provision, when coupled with the provision in our bylaws authorizing our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, precludes stockholders from removing incumbent directors and filling the vacancies created by such removal with their own nominees.
Business Combinations
Maryland law prohibits “business combinations” between us and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in certain circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. Maryland law defines an interested stockholder as:
| • | any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock, or |
| • | an affiliate or associate of ours who, at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of our then-outstanding stock. |
A person is not an interested stockholder if our board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, our board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by our board of directors.
After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between us and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
| • | 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of our then-outstanding shares of voting stock, and |
| • | two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of our voting stock other than stock held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or stock held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder. |
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These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if our common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their stock in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its stock.
The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are approved or exempted by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Our board of directors has adopted a resolution exempting any business combination between us and any person from the business combination provisions of the MGCL, provided such business combination is first approved by our board of directors (including a majority of the directors who are not affiliates or associates of such person). However, this resolution may be altered or repealed in whole or in part at any time.
We can provide no assurance that our board of directors will not amend or rescind this resolution in the future. If this resolution is repealed, or our board of directors does not otherwise approve a business combination, the business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.
Control Share Acquisitions
The MGCL provides that holders of “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights except to the extent approved at a special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiring person, or by officers or by directors who are our employees, are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. “Control shares” are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other such shares of stock previously acquired by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:
| • | one-tenth or more but less than one-third, |
| • | one-third or more but less than a majority, or |
| • | a majority or more of all voting power. |
Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay expenses), may compel our board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the corporation may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of such shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of such appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.
The control share acquisition statute does not apply (1) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (2) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.
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Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of our stock. We can provide no assurance that our board of directors will not amend or eliminate such provision in the future. Should this happen, the control share acquisition statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.
Other Anti-Takeover Provisions of Maryland Law
Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and with at least three independent directors to elect to be subject to any or all of five provisions:
| • | a classified board, |
| • | a two-thirds vote requirement to remove a director, |
| • | a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by the vote of the directors, |
| • | a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred, and |
| • | a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders. |
A corporation can elect into this statute by provision in its charter or bylaws or by a resolution of its board of directors. Furthermore, a corporation can elect to be subject to the above provisions regardless of any contrary provisions in its charter or bylaws.
Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8,
(1) vacancies on the board may be filled exclusively by the remaining directors,
(2) the number of directors may be fixed only by the vote of the directors,
(3) a two-thirds vote is required to remove any director from the board, and
(4) unless called by our chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or the board of directors, the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting is required to call a special meeting.
Amendment to Our Charter and Bylaws
Our charter may generally be amended only if declared advisable by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of the stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter under consideration. However, the provision regarding director removal and the corresponding amendment provision may be amended only if advised by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of the stockholders entitled to cast not less than two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our bylaws provide that only our board of directors may amend or repeal our bylaws or adopt new bylaws.
Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business
Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only:
| • | pursuant to our notice of the meeting, |
| • | by or at the direction of our board of directors, or |
| • | by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving the stockholder’s notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws. |
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With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our company’s notice of meeting may be brought before the meeting of stockholders and nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors may be made only:
| • | pursuant to our notice of the meeting, |
| • | by or at the direction of our board of directors, or |
| • | provided that the board of directors has determined that directors will be elected at such meeting, by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving the stockholder’s notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting, and has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in our bylaws. |
Generally, under our bylaws, a stockholder seeking to nominate a director or bring other business before our annual meeting of stockholders must deliver a notice to our secretary not later than the close of business on the 120th day nor earlier than the 150th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the prior year’s annual meeting. For a stockholder seeking to nominate a candidate for our board of directors, the notice must describe various matters regarding the nominee, including name, address, occupation and number of shares held, and other specified matters. For a stockholder seeking to propose other business, the notice must include a description of the proposed business, the reasons for the proposal and other specified matters.
Anti-Takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws
The provisions of our charter on removal of directors and the advance notice provisions of the bylaws could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for our common stockholders or otherwise be in their best interest. Likewise, if our company’s board of directors were to rescind the resolution exempting business combinations from the business combination provisions of the MGCL (or does not otherwise approve a business combination) or if the provision in the bylaws opting out of the control share acquisition provisions of the MGCL were rescinded, these provisions of the MGCL could have similar anti-takeover effects.
Ownership Limit
Our charter provides that no person or entity may actually or beneficially own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Code, (1) more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate of outstanding shares of our capital stock, (2) more than 9.8% in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the aggregate of outstanding shares of our common stock, or (3) more than 9.8% in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our Series A preferred stock. We refer to this restriction as the “ownership limit.” For a more detailed description of this restriction and the constructive ownership rules, see “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”
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EXCHANGE OF PARTNERSHIP UNITS FOR COMMON STOCK
Terms of the Exchange
The holders of partnership units of our operating partnership who hold units which may be redeemed for shares of our common stock issued under this prospectus are referred to as the “selling stockholders.” The selling stockholders hold an aggregate of 2,593,538 partnership units. The selling stockholders may require our operating partnership to redeem their partnership units for cash by delivering to us, as general partner of our operating partnership, a notice of redemption. Upon receipt of the notice of redemption, we may, in our sole and absolute discretion, subject to the limitations on ownership and transfer of our common stock set forth in our charter, elect to exchange some or all of those partnership units for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described in the section entitled “Description of the Partnership Agreement of BioMed Realty, L.P. — Redemption/Exchange Rights.”
Once we receive a notice of redemption from a limited partner, we will determine whether to redeem the tendering partner’s partnership units for cash or exchange some or all of the tendering partner’s partnership units for shares of our common stock. We will promptly notify the tendering partner if we decide to exchange the tendering partner’s partnership units for shares of our common stock. Any shares of our common stock that we issue will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares, free of any pledge, lien, encumbrance or restriction other than those provided in:
| • | our charter, |
| • | our bylaws, |
| • | the Securities Act, |
| • | relevant state securities or blue sky laws, and |
| • | any applicable registration rights agreement with respect to the shares entered into by the tendering partner. |
Each tendering partner will continue to own all partnership units subject to any redemption or exchange, and be treated as a limited partner with respect to the partnership units for all purposes, until the limited partner transfers the partnership units to us, is paid for them or receives shares of our common stock in exchange for them. Until that time, the limited partner will have no rights as one of our stockholders with respect to the shares issued under this prospectus.
Conditions to the Exchange
We will issue shares of our common stock in exchange for partnership units to a tendering partner if each of the following conditions is satisfied or waived:
| • | the exchange would not cause the tendering partner or any other person to violate the ownership limit set forth in our charter or any other provision of our charter, |
| • | the exchange is for at least 1,000 partnership units, or, if less than 1,000 partnership units, all of the partnership units held by the tendering partner, |
| • | the redemption is not effected during the period after the record date that we established for a distribution from our operating partnership to its partners and before the record date that we established for a distribution to our common stockholders, and |
| • | the consummation of any redemption or exchange will be subject to the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended. |
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Comparison of the Rights, Privileges and Preferences of Ownership of Partnership Units and Common Stock
Generally, the nature of an investment in our common stock is similar in several respects to an investment in partnership units of our operating partnership. Holders of our common stock and holders of partnership units generally receive the same distributions.
Common stockholders and holders of partnership units generally share in the risks and rewards of ownership in our business conducted through our operating partnership. However, there are differences between ownership of partnership units and ownership of our common stock, some of which may be material to investors.
The information below highlights a number of the significant differences between our operating partnership and us relating to, among other things, form of organization, management control, voting and consent rights, liquidity and federal income tax considerations. These comparisons are intended to assist limited partners in understanding how their investment changes if they exchange their partnership units for shares of our common stock. This discussion is summary in nature and does not constitute a complete discussion of these matters, and holders of partnership units should carefully review the rest of this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and the documents we incorporate by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, particularly our charter, our bylaws and the partnership agreement, for additional important information about us.
| BIOMED REALTY, L.P. | BIOMED REALTY TRUST, INC. | |
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Form of Organization and Assets Owned |
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| Our operating partnership is organized as a Maryland limited partnership. Substantially all of our assets are held by, and our operations run through, our operating partnership. Our operating partnership’s purpose is to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Maryland Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, provided that it must conduct its business in a manner that allows us to maintain our qualification as a REIT, unless we cease to qualify as a REIT for reasons other than the conduct of the business of our operating partnership. | We are a Maryland corporation. We elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2004. We intend to maintain our qualification as a REIT. Our only substantial asset is our interest in our operating partnership, which gives us an indirect investment in its properties. Under our charter, we may engage in any lawful act or activity permitted by the MGCL. | |
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Additional Equity |
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As sole general partner, we have the ability to cause our operating partnership to issue additional units representing general and limited partnership interests. These additional units may include preferred limited partnership units with terms, provisions and rights that are preferential to those of the common units. In addition, we may issue additional shares of our common stock, preferred stock or convertible securities, but only if we cause our operating partnership to issue to us partnership interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of our operating partnership having parallel designations, preferences and other rights, so that the economic interests of our operating partnership’s interests issued are substantially similar to the securities that we have issued. |
Our board of directors may cause us to issue, in its discretion, additional shares of common stock or additional shares of preferred stock provided that such additional shares do not exceed the authorized number of shares of stock stated in our charter. Our charter authorizes our board of directors to increase the number of authorized shares of our common stock and preferred stock without stockholder approval. As long as our operating partnership is in existence, we are required to contribute to our operating partnership, in exchange for units in our operating partnership, the proceeds of all equity capital raised by us. | |
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| Management Control | ||
| We are the sole general partner of our operating partnership and conduct substantially all of our business in or through it. As sole general partner of our operating partnership, we exercise exclusive and complete responsibility and discretion in its day-to-day management and control. We can cause our operating partnership to enter into certain major transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions and refinancings, subject to certain limited exceptions. The limited partners of our operating partnership may not transact business for, or participate in the management activities or decisions of, our operating partnership, except as provided in the partnership agreement and as required by applicable law. The limited partners of our operating partnership expressly acknowledged that we, as general partner of our operating partnership, are acting for the benefit of our operating partnership, the limited partners and our stockholders collectively. Our company is under no obligation to give priority to the separate interests of the limited partners or our stockholders in deciding whether to cause our operating partnership to take or decline to take any actions. If there is a conflict between the interests of our stockholders on one hand and the limited partners on the other, we will endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either our stockholders or the limited partners; provided, however, that for so long as we own a controlling interest in our operating partnership, any conflict that cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either our stockholders or the limited partners shall be resolved in favor of our stockholders. | Under our charter and bylaws:
• our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors, except as conferred on or reserved to the stockholders by statute or by our charter or bylaws,
• at each annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders elect directors for one-year terms, serving until the next annual meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualify,
• if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue to be qualified as a REIT, our board of directors may revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code,
• our charter may be amended only if the amendment is declared advisable by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of the stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, except that the provision regarding director removal and the corresponding amendment provision may be amended only if advised by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, and
• our board of directors has the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws. | |
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Duties of Directors |
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| Under Maryland law, we are subject to the restrictions and liabilities of a partner in a partnership. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the partnership agreement indemnifies us, as general partner, and our officers, directors and any other persons we may designate from and against any and all claims arising from operations of our operating partnership in which any indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, unless it is established that: | Under Maryland law, each director must perform his or her duties in good faith, in a manner that the director reasonably believes to be in our best interests and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. Directors who act in this manner generally will not be liable to us for monetary damages arising from their activities. | |
| • the act or omission of the indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and either was committed in bad faith or was fraud or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, |
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| • the indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services, or |
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| • in the case of any criminal proceeding, the indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. |
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| Similarly, we, as general partner of our operating partnership, and our officers, directors, agents or employees, are not liable or accountable to our operating partnership for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived as a result of errors in judgment or mistakes of fact or law or any act or omission so long as we acted in good faith. | ||
| Anti-Takeover Provisions | ||
| As sole general partner of our operating partnership, we exercise exclusive and complete responsibility and discretion in its day-to-day management and control. A general partner may not be removed by a limited partner with or without cause, except with the consent of the general partner.
The partnership agreement provides that our company may not engage in any termination transaction, unless in connection with such termination transaction:
(1) all limited partners will receive, or have the right to elect to receive, for each unit an amount of cash, securities, or other property equal to the product of:
• the number of shares of our common stock into which each unit is then exchangeable, and
• the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid to the holder of one share of our common stock in consideration of one share of our common stock in the termination transaction,
provided that, if, in connection with a termination transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer is made to and accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, each holder of units will receive, or will have the right to elect to receive, the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property which such holder would have received had it exercised its redemption right and received shares of our common stock in exchange for its units immediately prior to the expiration of such purchase, tender or exchange offer and accepted such purchase, tender or exchange offer; or
(2) the following conditions are met:
• substantially all of the assets of the surviving entity |
Certain provisions of our charter and our bylaws could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for our stockholders or otherwise be in their best interest. These provisions include:
• authorized stock that our board of directors may issue in its discretion as preferred stock with voting and other rights superior to our common stock,
• a requirement that members of our board of directors may be removed only by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors,
• limitations on the ownership of our stock in order for us to maintain our status as a REIT, among other purposes,
• a requirement that nominations of persons for election to our board of directors and proposals of other business to be considered by our stockholders at the annual meeting may be made only:
• pursuant to our notice of the meeting,
• by or at the direction of our board of directors, or
• by any stockholder who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the applicable notice procedures.
Likewise, if our board of directors were to rescind the resolution exempting business combinations from the business combination provisions of the MGCL (or does not otherwise approve a business combination) or if the provision in our bylaws opting out of the control share | |
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| are held directly or indirectly by our operating partnership or another limited partnership or limited liability company that is the surviving entity of a merger, consolidation or combination of assets with our operating partnership,
• the holders of units own a percentage interest of the surviving entity based on the relative fair market value of the net assets of our operating partnership and the other net assets of the surviving entity immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction,
• the rights, preferences and privileges of such unit holders in the surviving entity are at least as favorable as those in effect immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction and as those applicable to any other limited partners or non-managing members of the surviving entity, and
• either (a) the limited partners may redeem their interests in the surviving entity for the consideration available to the common limited partners pursuant to subsection (1) in this section above, or (b) the limited partners have the right to redeem their units (i) for cash on terms equivalent to those in effect with respect to their units immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction or (ii) if the ultimate controlling person of the surviving entity has publicly traded common equity securities, for shares of those common equity securities, at an exchange ratio based on the relative fair market value of those securities and our common stock. |
acquisition provisions of the MGCL were rescinded, these provisions of the MGCL could have similar anti-takeover effects. | |
| Voting and Consent Rights | ||
| Under the partnership agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of our operating partnership are exclusively vested in the general partner, and no limited partner shall have any right to participate in or exercise control or management power over the business and affairs of our operating partnership, including voting or consent rights. However, certain amendments to the partnership agreement, as well as certain termination transactions, require consent from the limited partners, as set forth below. | Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors. Stockholders elect the directors to one-year terms at our annual meeting of stockholders. Maryland law requires that some major corporate transactions, including most amendments to our charter, may not be consummated without the approval of stockholders as set forth below. All holders of our common stock have one vote per share. Our charter permits our board of directors to classify and cause us to issue preferred stock in one or more classes or series, having voting rights which may differ from that of our common stock. | |
The following is a comparison of the voting rights of the limited partners of our operating partnership and our common stockholders as they relate to some major events or transactions:
A. Amendment of the Partnership Agreement or Our Charter and Bylaws
| Generally, the partnership agreement may be amended, modified or terminated only with the approval of partners holding 50% of all outstanding units (including | Our charter may generally be amended only if declared advisable by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of |
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| the units held by us as general partner and as a limited partner). However, as general partner, we will have the power to unilaterally amend the partnership agreement without obtaining the consent of the limited partners as may be required to:
• add to our obligations as general partner or surrender any right or power granted to us as general partner for the benefit of the limited partners,
• reflect the issuance of additional units or the admission, substitution, termination or withdrawal of partners in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement,
• set forth or amend the designations, rights, powers, duties and preferences of the holders of any additional partnership interests issued by our operating partnership,
• reflect a change of an inconsequential nature that does not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect,
• cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions of the partnership agreement not inconsistent with law or with other provisions of the partnership agreement, or make other changes concerning matters under the partnership agreement that will not otherwise be inconsistent with the partnership agreement or law,
• satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines of federal or state law,
• reflect changes that are reasonably necessary for us, as general partner, to maintain our status as a REIT,
• modify the manner in which capital accounts are computed, or
• amend or modify any provision of the partnership agreement in connection with a termination transaction. |
all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter under consideration. However, the provision regarding director removal and the corresponding amendment provision may be amended only if advised by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our bylaws provide that only our board of directors may amend or repeal our bylaws or adopt new bylaws. | |
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Amendments that would convert a limited partner’s interest into a general partner’s interest, adversely affect the limited liability of a limited partner, alter a partner’s right to receive any distributions or allocations of profits or losses or materially alter or modify the redemption rights described below (other than a change to reflect the seniority of any distribution or liquidation rights of any preferred units issued in accordance with the partnership agreement) must be approved by each limited partner that would be adversely affected by such amendment. In addition, without the written consent of a majority of the units held by limited partners, we, as general partner, may not do any of the following: |
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| • take any action in contravention of an express prohibition or limitation contained in the partnership agreement,
• enter into or conduct any business other than in connection with our role as general partner of our operating partnership and our operation as a public reporting company and as a REIT,
• acquire an interest in real or personal property other than through our operating partnership or our subsidiary partnerships,
• withdraw from our operating partnership or transfer any portion of our general partnership interest, except to an affiliate, or
• be relieved of our obligations under the partnership agreement following any permitted transfer of our general partnership interest. |
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| B. Dissolution of BioMed Realty, L.P. or BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. | ||
| Our operating partnership will dissolve, and its affairs will be wound up, upon the first to occur of the following: | Under applicable Maryland law and our charter, our dissolution: | |
| • the expiration of the term of the partnership agreement,
• an event of withdrawal of the general partner, as defined in the partnership agreement,
• an election to dissolve our operating partnership made by the general partner,
• an entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of our operating partnership pursuant to applicable Maryland law,
• any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of our operating partnership,
• the incapacity of a general partner, as defined in the partnership agreement, unless all the remaining partners agree in writing to continue to the business of our operating partnership and to the appointment of a substitute general partner,
• the redemption or exchange for common stock of all partnership units pursuant to the partnership agreement, or
• a ruling that the general partner is bankrupt or insolvent. |
• must be declared advisable by a majority of our board of directors, and
• must be approved by stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. | |
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| C. Vote Required to Merge, Consolidate or Sell Assets | ||
| The partnership agreement provides that our company may not engage in any termination transaction unless certain conditions are met (see “— Anti-Takeover Provisions” above). | Under Maryland law and our charter, the sale of all or substantially all of our assets or our merger or consolidation generally:
• must be declared advisable by our board of directors, and
• must be approved by stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. | |
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Tax Indemnity |
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| Under the contribution agreements by which certain of the selling stockholders, including our executive officers, Alan D. Gold and Gary A. Kreitzer, contributed their direct and indirect interests in certain properties to us in exchange for partnership units, we agreed to indemnify these contributors against adverse tax consequences to them in the event that we directly or indirectly sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any interest in any of the contributed properties in a taxable transaction until the tenth anniversary of the completion of our IPO. If any of such selling stockholders exchanges partnership units for our common stock pursuant to this prospectus and no longer retains ownership of 25% or more of the partnership units received by them in connection with our IPO, such selling stockholder will no longer be the beneficiary of our indemnification against adverse tax consequences. | Our common stockholders are not entitled to any tax indemnity. | |
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Debt Guarantees |
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| Under contribution agreements of Messrs. Gold and Kreitzer and one other selling stockholder, all of whom are selling stockholders under this prospectus, we have agreed for a period of ten years following the date of our IPO to use reasonable best efforts consistent with our fiduciary duties to maintain at least $8.0 million of debt, some of which must be property specific, to enable the contributors of these properties to guarantee such debt in order to defer any taxable gain they may incur if our operating partnership repays existing debt. If any of such selling stockholders exchanges partnership units for our common stock pursuant to this prospectus and falls below the above-mentioned 25% ownership threshold, such selling stockholder will no longer be the beneficiary of our covenant to make debt available to guarantee. | Our common stockholders are not entitled to any debt guarantee. | |
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| Compensation, Fees and Distributions | ||
| We do not receive any compensation for our services as general partner of our operating partnership. As a partner, however, we have a right to allocations and distributions similar to other partners. In addition, our operating partnership will reimburse us for all expenses incurred relating to our ongoing operations and any issuance of additional partnership interests. | Our officers receive compensation for their services. Each of our directors who is not an employee of our company or our subsidiaries receives an annual fee of $35,000 for services as a director. The chair of the audit committee receives an additional $15,000 annual fee and each non-employee director who chaired any other committee of the board of directors receives an additional $10,000 annual fee for each committee chaired. In addition, each non-employee director receives a fee of $1,500 for each board of directors meeting attended in person or by telephone, a fee of $1,500 for each audit committee meeting attended in person or by telephone, and a fee of $1,000 for each other committee meeting attended in person or by telephone. Non-employee directors are also reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred to attend board of directors and committee meetings. Our non-employee directors also receive automatic grants of restricted stock under our 2004 incentive award plan upon initial election or appointment to the board of directors and on the date of each annual meeting thereafter, each of which vests one year from the date of grant. | |
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Directors who are employees of our company or our subsidiaries do not receive compensation for their services as directors. | ||
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Liability of Investors |
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| Under applicable Maryland law, a limited partner is generally not liable for the obligations of our operating partnership, unless the limited partner is also a general partner or, in addition to the exercise of the limited partner’s rights and powers as a limited partner, the limited partner takes part in the control of the business. The liability of the limited partners for debts and obligations is generally limited to the amount of their current investment in our operating partnership, measured as an amount equal to their respective capital account balance. Under the partnership agreement, limited partners have no liability except as expressly provided for therein or under Maryland law. | Under Maryland law, our stockholders generally are not personally liable for our debts or obligations. | |
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Liquidity |
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| Except in connection with a termination transaction, as general partner, we may not voluntarily withdraw from our operating partnership or transfer or assign all or any portion of our interest in our operating partnership, without the consent of the holders of a majority of the limited partnership interests (including our 97.5% limited partnership interest therein). Any transfer of units by the limited partners, other than to us, as general partner, to an affiliate of the transferring limited partner, to other original limited partners, to | A stockholder is entitled to freely transfer the shares of our common stock received in exchange for partnership units, subject to prospectus delivery and other requirements for registered securities and subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of our stock contained in our charter. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE. The success of the secondary market for shares of our common stock depends, among other things, upon the number of shares outstanding, our financial results and prospects, the general interest in us and other real estate investments and our dividend yield compared to that of other debt and equity securities. | |
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| immediate family members of the transferring limited partner, to a trust for the benefit of a charitable beneficiary, or to a lending institution as collateral for a bona fide loan, subject to specified limitations, will be subject to a right of first refusal by us and must be made only to “accredited investors” as defined under Rule 501 of the Securities Act. |
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Taxes
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| We are the tax matters partner of our operating partnership and, as such, we have authority to make tax elections under the Code on behalf of our operating partnership.
Our operating partnership itself is not required to pay federal income taxes. Instead, each holder of units is required to include its allocable share of partnership taxable income or loss in determining its federal income tax liability. Income and loss generally is subject to “passive activity” limitations. Under the “passive activity” rules, partners can generally offset income and loss that is considered “passive” against income and loss from other investments that constitute “passive activities.”
Partnership cash distributions are generally not taxable to a holder of units except to the extent they exceed the holder’s basis in its partnership interest, which will include such holder’s allocable share of the liabilities of the partnership.
Holders of units are required, in some cases, to file state income tax returns and/or pay state income taxes in the states in which our operating partnership owns property, even if they are not residents of those states. |
As long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, other than capital gain dividends discussed below, generally will constitute dividends taxable to our taxable U.S. stockholders as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of U.S. stockholders that are corporations. In addition, these distributions generally will not be eligible for treatment as “qualified dividend income” for individual U.S. stockholders. Distributions that we properly designate as capital gain dividends will be taxable to our taxable U.S. stockholders as gain from the sale or disposition of a capital asset, to the extent that such gain does not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of a stockholder’s adjusted basis in his, her or its common stock. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits and in excess of a U.S. stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares will be taxable as capital gains.
Distributions we make and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. stockholder of our shares will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, U.S. stockholders generally will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against this income or gain.
Stockholders who are individuals generally will not be required to file state income tax returns and/or pay state income taxes outside of their state of residence with respect to our operations and distributions. |
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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general summary of the material United States federal income tax considerations regarding our election to be taxed as a REIT, and the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock. For purposes of this section under the heading “Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” references to “BioMed,” “we,” “our,” and “us” mean only BioMed Realty Trust Inc., and not its subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated. This summary is based on current law, is for general information only and is not tax advice.
The information in this summary is based on current law, including:
| • | the Code, |
| • | current, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code, |
| • | the legislative history of the Code, |
| • | current administrative interpretations and practices of 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. Future legislation, Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations and practices and/or court decisions may adversely affect the tax considerations described in this prospectus. Any such change could apply retroactively to transactions preceding the date of the change. We have not requested and do not intend to request a ruling from the IRS that we qualify as a REIT, and the statements in this summary are not binding on the IRS or any court. Thus, we can provide no assurance that the tax considerations contained in this summary will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained by a court if so challenged. State, local and foreign income tax laws may differ substantially from any corresponding federal income tax laws. This discussion does not address any aspect of the laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction, or any federal tax other than the income tax.
You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to you of:
| • | the acquisition, ownership, and/or sale or other disposition of our common stock, including the federal, state, local, foreign and other tax consequences, |
| • | our election to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, and |
| • | potential changes in the applicable tax laws. |
Tax Consequences of the Exercise of Exchange Rights
If you exercise your right to require the operating partnership to acquire all or part of your partnership units, and we elect to acquire some or all of your units in exchange for our common stock, the exchange will be a taxable transaction. You generally will recognize gain in an amount equal to the value of our common stock received, plus the amount of liabilities of the operating partnership allocable to your partnership units being exchanged, less your tax basis in those units. The recognition of any loss is subject to a number of limitations set forth in the Code. The character of any gain or loss as capital or ordinary will depend on the nature of the assets of the operating partnership at the time of the exchange. The tax treatment of any acquisition of your partnership units by the operating partnership in exchange for cash may be similar, depending on your circumstances.
Taxation of Our Company
General. We elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2004. We believe that we have been organized and have operated in a manner that has allowed us to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code commencing with our taxable year ended
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December 31, 2004, and we intend to continue to be organized and operate in this manner. However, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet the various qualification tests imposed under the Code, including through our actual annual operating results, asset composition, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that we have been organized and have operated, or will continue to be organized and operated, in a manner so as to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT. See “— Failure to Qualify.”
The sections of the Code and the corresponding Treasury regulations that relate to qualification and operation as a REIT are highly technical and complex. The following sets forth the material aspects of the sections of the Code that govern the federal income tax treatment of a REIT and the holders of certain of its securities. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, relevant rules and regulations promulgated under the Code, and administrative and judicial interpretations of the Code and these rules and regulations.
Latham & Watkins LLP has acted as our tax counsel in connection with this prospectus and our election to be taxed as a REIT. In connection with the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, Latham & Watkins LLP has rendered an opinion to us to the effect that, commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2004, we have been organized and have operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification 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 was based on various assumptions and representations as to factual matters, including representations made by us in a factual certificate provided by one of our officers. In addition, this opinion was 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 annual operating results, asset composition, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership, the results of which have not been and will not be reviewed by Latham & Watkins LLP. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that our actual results of operation for any particular taxable year have satisfied or will satisfy those requirements. Latham & Watkins LLP has no obligation to update its opinion subsequent to its date. Further, the anticipated income tax treatment described in this summary may be changed, perhaps retroactively, by legislative, administrative or judicial action at any time. See “— Failure to Qualify.”
Provided we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be required to pay 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 is generally required to pay tax at the corporate level. Double taxation generally means taxation that occurs 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 federal income tax as follows:
| • | We will be required to pay tax at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains. |
| • | We may be required to pay the “alternative minimum tax” on our items of tax preference under some circumstances. |
| • | 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 tax at the highest corporate rate 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. 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 and for which an election is in effect. |
| • | 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 primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. |
| • | 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 75% of our gross income exceeds the |
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| amount qualifying under the 75% gross income test, and (b) the amount by which 95% of our gross income (90% for our taxable year ended December 31, 2004) exceeds the amount qualifying under the 95% gross income test, multiplied by (2) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. |
| • | If we fail to satisfy any of the REIT asset tests (other than a de minimis failure of the 5% or 10% asset tests), 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 highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets that caused us to fail such test. |
| • | 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 REIT gross income tests or certain violations of the asset tests 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. |
| • | We will be required to pay a 4% excise tax to the extent we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (1) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, (2) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year, and (3) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods. |
| • | If we acquire any asset from a corporation which is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which the basis of the asset in our hands is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of the C corporation, and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of the asset during the ten-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired the asset, then we will be required to pay tax at the highest regular corporate tax rate on this gain to the extent of the excess of (1) the fair market value of the asset over (2) our adjusted 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 certain elections specified in applicable Treasury regulations are either made or forgone by us or by the entity from which the assets are acquired, in each case, depending on the date such acquisition occurred. |
| • | We will be required to pay a 100% tax on any “redetermined rents,” “redetermined deductions” or “excess interest.” In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of services furnished to our tenants by a “taxable REIT subsidiary” of ours. Redetermined deductions and excess interest represent amounts that are deducted by our taxable REIT subsidiary for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s-length negotiations. See “— Penalty Tax.” |
| • | Certain of our subsidiaries are C corporations, the earnings of which will be subject to United States federal corporate income tax. |
| • | We may be required to pay penalties to the IRS in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet recordkeeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of our stockholders. |
| • | 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 Real Estate Investment Trust. 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 special Code provisions applicable to REITs,
(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,
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(6) not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals, including specified entities, during the last half of each taxable year, and
(7) that meets other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions.
The 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 twelve months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than twelve 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” generally 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 does not include a qualified pension plan or profit sharing trust.
We believe that we have been organized, have operated and have issued sufficient shares of capital stock with sufficient diversity of ownership to allow us to satisfy conditions (1) through (7) inclusive during the relevant time periods. In addition, our charter provides for restrictions regarding the ownership and transfer of our shares that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will, in all cases, be able to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, except as provided in the next sentence, our status as a REIT will terminate. If, however, we comply with the rules contained in 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. Moreover, if our failure to satisfy the share ownership requirements is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, we may retain our REIT qualification but will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. See the section below entitled “— Failure to Qualify.”
In addition, we may not maintain our status as a REIT unless our taxable year is the calendar year. We have and will continue to have a calendar taxable year.
Ownership of Interests in Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies. In the case of a REIT which is a partner in a partnership, Treasury regulations provide that the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of 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 the partnership. The assets and gross income of the partnership retain the same character in the hands of the REIT, including for purposes of 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 in which it owns an interest, are treated as our assets and items of income for purposes of applying the requirements described in this summary, including the REIT income and asset tests described below. A brief summary of the rules governing the federal income taxation of partnerships and limited liability companies is set forth below in “— Tax Aspects of Our Operating Partnership, the Subsidiary Partnerships and the Limited Liability Companies.” The treatment described above also applies with respect to the ownership of interests in limited liability companies that are treated as partnerships for tax purposes.
We have control of our operating partnership and the subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies and intend to continue to operate them in a manner consistent with the requirements for our qualification as a REIT. In the future, we or our operating partnership may be a limited partner or non-managing member in a partnership or limited liability company. If such a partnership or limited liability company were to take actions which could jeopardize our status as a REIT or require us to pay tax, we could be forced to dispose of our interest in such entity. In addition, it is possible that a partnership or limited liability company could take an action which could cause us to fail a REIT income or asset test, and that we would not become aware of such action in time to dispose of our interest in the applicable entity or take other corrective action on a timely basis. In that case, we could fail to qualify as a REIT unless we were entitled to relief, as described below. See “— Failure to Qualify.”
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Ownership of Interests in Qualified REIT Subsidiaries. We may from time to time own certain wholly-owned subsidiaries that we intend to be treated as “qualified REIT subsidiaries” under the Code. A corporation will qualify as our qualified REIT subsidiary if we own 100% of the corporation’s outstanding stock and we do not elect with the corporation to treat it as a “taxable REIT subsidiary,” as described below. A qualified REIT subsidiary is not treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes, 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 (as the case may be) of the parent REIT for all purposes under the Code, including the REIT qualification tests. Thus, in applying the federal income tax requirements described in this summary, any qualified REIT subsidiary we own is ignored, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of such subsidiary are treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit. A qualified REIT subsidiary is not required to pay federal income tax, and our ownership of the stock of a qualified REIT subsidiary will not violate the restrictions on ownership of securities described below under “— Asset Tests.”
Ownership of Interests in Taxable REIT Subsidiaries. A taxable REIT subsidiary is a corporation other than a REIT in which a REIT directly or indirectly holds stock, and that has made a joint election with the REIT to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. A taxable REIT subsidiary also includes any corporation, other than a REIT, with respect to which a taxable REIT subsidiary owns securities possessing more than 35% of the total voting power or value. 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 federal income tax as a regular C corporation. In addition, a taxable REIT subsidiary may be prevented from deducting interest on debt funded directly or indirectly by its parent REIT if certain tests regarding the taxable REIT subsidiary’s debt to equity ratio and interest expense are not satisfied. A REIT’s ownership of securities of its taxable REIT subsidiaries will not be subject to the 10% or 5% asset tests described below. See “Asset Tests.”
We currently hold an interest in one taxable REIT subsidiary and may acquire securities in additional taxable REIT subsidiaries in the future.
Income Tests. We must satisfy two gross income requirements annually to maintain our qualification as a REIT. 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 entered into after July 30, 2008, and certain foreign currency gains recognized after July 30, 2008, from (a) investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including “rents from real property” and, in certain circumstances, interest, or (b) some 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 designated hedges of indebtedness, and certain foreign currency gains recognized after July 30, 2008, from the real property investments described above, dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, 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 must not be based in any way 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, |
| • | We, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of our capital stock, must not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the interests in the tenant, or, if the tenant is a corporation, 10% or more of the voting power or value of all classes of stock of the tenant. Rents we receive from such a tenant that is also our taxable REIT subsidiary, 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 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 |
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| 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, 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 we own stock possessing more than 50% of the voting power or more than 50% of the total value, |
| • | 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 requirement is not met, then the portion of the rent attributable to personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property”, and |
| • | We generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to our tenants, subject to a 1% de minimis exception and except as provided below. We may, however, 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, 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.” Any amounts we receive from a taxable REIT subsidiary with respect to the taxable REIT subsidiary’s provision of non-customary services will, however, be nonqualifying income under the 75% gross income test and, except to the extent received through the payment of dividends, the 95% gross income test. |
We generally do not intend, and as a general partner of our operating partnership, 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 conclude, based on the advice of our tax counsel, 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 have not obtained appraisals of the real property and personal property leased to tenants. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with our determinations of value.
Income we receive that is attributable to the rental of parking spaces at the properties will constitute rents from real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests if certain services provided with respect to the parking facilities are performed by independent contractors from whom we derive no income, either directly or indirectly, or by a taxable REIT subsidiary, and certain other conditions are met. We believe that the income we receive that is attributable to parking facilities meets these tests and, accordingly, will constitute rents from real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests.
From time to time, we enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. The term “hedging transaction” generally means 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) for hedging transactions entered into after July 30, 2008, currency fluctuations with respect to an item of qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income test. Our hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase these items, and futures and forward contracts. Income we derive from a hedging transaction, including gain from the sale or disposition thereof, that is clearly identified as a hedging transaction as specified in the Code will not constitute gross income and thus will be exempt from the 95% gross income test to the extent such a hedging transaction is entered into on or after January 1, 2005, and from the 75% gross income test to the extent such hedging transaction is entered into after July 30, 2008. Income and gain from a hedging transaction, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction will be treated as nonqualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test if entered into on or prior to July 30, 2008 and will be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test if entered into prior to January 1, 2005. To the extent that we do not properly identify such transactions as hedges, we hedge other risks or we hedge with other types of financial instruments, the income from those transactions is not likely to be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the gross income tests. We intend to structure our hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT.
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To the extent our taxable REIT subsidiary pays dividends, we generally will derive our allocable share of such dividend income through our interest in our operating partnership. Such dividend income will qualify under the 95%, but not the 75%, REIT gross income test. We will monitor the amount of the dividend and other income from our taxable REIT subsidiary and we will take actions intended to keep this income, and any other nonqualifying income, within the limitations of the REIT income tests. While we expect these actions will prevent a violation of the REIT income tests, we cannot guarantee that such actions will in all cases prevent such a violation.
We believe that the aggregate amount of our nonqualifying income, from all sources, in any taxable year will not exceed the limit on nonqualifying income under the gross income tests. If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for the year if we are entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. Commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 2005, 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 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 or was due to willful neglect. If these relief provisions do not apply to a particular set of circumstances, we will not qualify as a REIT. As discussed above in “— Taxation of Our Company — 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 our periodic monitoring of our income.
Prohibited Transaction Income. Any gain that we realize on the sale of 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 and limited liability companies, will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax, unless certain safe harbor exceptions apply. This prohibited transaction income may also adversely affect our ability to satisfy the income tests for qualification as a REIT. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction. Our operating partnership intends 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 operating partnership’s investment objectives. We and our operating partnership do not intend 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 or limited liability companies are prohibited transactions. We would be required to pay the 100% penalty tax on our allocable share of the gains resulting from any such sales.
Penalty Tax. Any redetermined rents, redetermined deductions or excess interest we generate will be subject to a 100% penalty tax. In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of services furnished by our taxable REIT subsidiary to any of our tenants, and redetermined deductions and excess interest represent amounts that are deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s-length negotiations. Rents we receive will not constitute redetermined rents if they qualify for certain safe harbor provisions contained in the Code.
From time to time, our taxable REIT subsidiary may provide services to our tenants. We intend to set the fees paid to our taxable REIT subsidiary for such services at arm’s length rates, although the fees paid may not satisfy the safe harbor provisions described above. These determinations are inherently factual, and the IRS has broad
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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 the excess of an arm’s length fee for tenant services over the amount actually paid.
Asset Tests. At the close of each calendar quarter of our taxable year, we must also satisfy four tests relating to the nature of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets, including our allocable share of the assets held by our operating partnership, either directly or through its subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies, must be represented by real estate assets, cash, cash items and 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) and shares (or transferable certificates of beneficial interest) in other REITs, as well as 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 we receive such proceeds.
Second, not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities, other than those securities includable in the 75% asset test.
Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class, and except for investments in other REITs, our qualified REIT subsidiaries and our 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. Solely for purposes of the 10% value test, however, certain securities including, but not limited to “straight debt” securities having specified characteristics, loans to an individual or an estate, obligations to pay rents from real property and securities issued by a REIT, are disregarded as securities. In addition, commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 2005, solely for purposes of the 10% value test, the determination of our interest in the assets of a partnership or limited liability company in which we own an interest will be based on our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership or limited liability company, excluding for this purpose certain securities described in the Code.
Fourth, not more than 25% (20% for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009) of the value of our total assets may be represented by the securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries. We believe that the value of our taxable REIT subsidiary has not exceeded, and believe that in the future it will not exceed, the limitations set forth above. So long as this subsidiary qualifies as our taxable REIT subsidiary, 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 this subsidiary. We may acquire securities in other taxable REIT subsidiaries in the future.
With respect to each issuer in which we currently own an interest that does not qualify as a REIT, a qualified REIT subsidiary or a taxable REIT subsidiary, we believe that our ownership of the securities of any such issuer has complied with the 25% value limitation, the 5% value limitation, the 10% voting securities limitation and the 10% value limitation. No independent appraisals have been obtained to support these conclusions. In addition, there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with our determinations of value.
The asset tests described above must be satisfied at the close of each calendar quarter of our taxable year. After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our status as a REIT for failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in asset values unless we (directly or through our operating partnership or through our subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies) acquire securities in the applicable issuer, increase our ownership of securities of such issuer (including as a result of increasing our interest in our operating partnership or other partnerships and limited liability companies which own such securities), or acquire other assets. 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 their redemption/exchange rights. 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 our operating 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 intend to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests. In addition, we intend to take such actions within the 30 days after the close of any calendar quarter as may be required to cure any noncompliance.
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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 (1) 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 (2) we dispose of the nonqualifying assets or otherwise satisfy such 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. 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 (1) the disposition of sufficient 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 and (2) disclosing certain information to the IRS. In such case, we will be required to pay a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 or (b) the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets.
Although we believe that we have satisfied the asset tests described above and plan to take steps to ensure that we satisfy such tests for any calendar quarter with respect to which retesting is to occur, there can be no assurance that we will always be successful, or a reduction in our operating partnership’s overall interest in an issuer will not be required. If we fail to timely cure any noncompliance with the asset tests in a timely manner, and the relief provisions described above are not available, we would cease to qualify as a REIT. See “— Failure to Qualify” below.
Annual Distribution Requirements. To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to the sum of:
| • | 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 means income attributable to leveled stepped rents, original issue discount on purchase money debt, cancellation of indebtedness or a like-kind exchange that is later determined to be taxable.
In addition, if we dispose of any asset we acquired from a corporation which is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which our basis in the asset is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of that C corporation, within the ten-year period following our acquisition of such asset, we would be required to distribute at least 90% of the after-tax gain, if any, we recognize on the disposition of the asset, to the extent that gain does not exceed the excess of (a) the fair market value of the asset, over (b) our adjusted basis in the asset, in each case, on the date we acquired the asset.
We generally must pay, or be treated as paying, the distributions described above in the taxable year to which they relate. At our election, a distribution will be treated as paid in a taxable year if it is declared before we timely file our tax return for such year and paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration, provided such payment is made during the twelve-month period following the close of such year. These distributions generally are taxable to our stockholders, other than tax-exempt entities, in the year in which paid. This is so even though these distributions relate to the prior year for purposes of the 90% distribution requirement. 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 the same as every other stockholder of that class, and no class of stock may be treated other than according to its dividend rights as a class. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain, or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be required to pay tax on the undistributed amount at regular corporate tax rates. We believe we have made, and intend to continue to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy these annual distribution requirements and to minimize our corporate tax obligations. In this regard, the partnership agreement of our operating partnership authorizes us, as general partner, to take such steps as may be necessary to cause our operating partnership to distribute an amount sufficient to permit us to meet these distribution requirements.
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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 will generally 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. If these timing differences occur, we may be required to borrow funds to pay cash dividends or to pay dividends in the form of taxable stock dividends in order to meet the distribution requirements, while preserving our cash. In addition, we may decide to retain our cash, rather than distribute it, in order to repay debt or for other reasons. The IRS has issued guidance that sets forth a safe harbor pursuant to which certain part-stock and part-cash dividends distributed by publicly traded REITs with respect to calendar years 2008 through 2011, and in some cases declared as late as December 31, 2012, will be treated as distributions for purposes of the REIT distribution requirements. Under the terms of this guidance, up to 90% of our distributions could be paid in shares of our common stock.
Under some circumstances, we may be able to rectify an inadvertent failure to meet the 90% distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, 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.
Furthermore, we will be required to pay a 4% excise tax to the extent we fail to distribute during each calendar year, or in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, by the end of January immediately following such year, at least the sum of 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year and any undistributed taxable income from prior periods. Any ordinary income and net capital gain on which this excise tax is imposed for any year is treated as an amount distributed during that year for purposes of calculating such tax.
For purposes of the distribution requirements and excise tax described above, distributions 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 properties 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 federal income tax purposes. The failure of any such transaction to qualify as a like-kind exchange could subject us to federal income tax, possibly including the 100% prohibited transaction tax, depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction.
Failure to Qualify
Specified cure provisions are available to us in the event that we discover a violation of a provision of the Code that would result in our failure to qualify as a REIT. Except with respect to violations of the REIT 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 qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions of the Code do not apply, we will be required to pay tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate tax rates. Distributions to stockholders in any year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT will not be deductible by us, and we will not be required to distribute any amounts to our stockholders. 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 REIT, all distributions to stockholders will be taxable as regular corporate dividends to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. In this event, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction and non-corporate distributees, including individuals, may be eligible for the preferential tax rates on the qualified dividend income (applicable through 2010,
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unless extended by Congress). Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we will also be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we lost 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 through our operating partnership. In addition, our operating partnership holds certain of its investments indirectly through subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies which we expect will be treated as partnerships (or disregarded entities) for federal income tax purposes. In general, entities that are classified as partnerships (or disregarded entities) for federal income tax purposes are treated as “pass-through” entities which are not required to pay federal income tax. Rather, partners or members of such entities are allocated their shares of the items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the entity, and are potentially required to pay tax thereon, without regard to whether the partners or members receive a distribution of cash from the entity. We include in our income our pro rata share of the foregoing items for purposes of the various REIT income tests and in the computation of our REIT taxable income. Moreover, for purposes of the REIT asset tests and subject to special rules relating to the 10% asset test described above, we will include our pro rata share of the assets held by our operating partnership, including its share of its subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies, based on our capital interest. See “— Taxation of Our Company.”
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 one or more of these entities as a partnership (or disregarded entity), as opposed to an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. If our operating partnership, or a subsidiary partnership or limited liability company, were treated as an association, it would be taxable as a corporation and 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 “— Failure to Qualify” for a discussion of the effect of our failure to meet these tests for a taxable year. In addition, a change in the tax status of our operating partnership’s or a subsidiary partnership’s or limited liability company’s status might be treated as a taxable event. In that case, we might incur a tax liability without any related cash distributions. We believe our operating partnership and each of our other partnerships and limited liability companies will be classified as a partnership or a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes.
Allocations of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction. The operating partnership agreement generally provides that items of operating income and loss will be allocated to the holders of units in proportion to the number of units held by each such unit holder. Certain limited partners have agreed to guarantee debt of our operating partnership, either directly or indirectly through an agreement to make capital contributions to our operating partnership under limited circumstances. As a result of these guarantees or contribution agreements, and notwithstanding the foregoing discussion of allocations of income and loss of our operating partnership to holders of units, such limited partners could under limited circumstances be allocated a disproportionate amount of net loss upon a liquidation of our operating partnership, which net loss would have otherwise been allocable to us.
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 would 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. Our operating partnership’s allocations of taxable income and loss are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.
Tax Allocations With Respect to the Properties. Under Section 704(c) of the Code, 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, as adjusted from time to time. These allocations are solely for federal income tax purposes and do not affect the book capital accounts or
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other economic or legal arrangements among the partners. Appreciated property was contributed to our operating partnership in exchange for interests in our operating partnership in connection with our formation. The partnership agreement requires that these allocations 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. We and our operating partnership have agreed to use the “traditional method” for accounting for book-tax differences for the properties initially contributed to our operating partnership. Under the traditional method, which is the least favorable method from our perspective, the carryover basis of contributed interests in the properties in the hands of our operating partnership (1) will or could cause us to be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes than would be allocated to us if all contributed properties were to have a tax basis equal to their 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 (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 Real Estate Investment Trust” and “— Annual Distribution Requirements.” To the extent our depreciation is reduced, or our gain on sale is increased, stockholders may recognize additional dividend income without an increase in distributions.
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 will not apply.
Taxation of Holders of Our Common Stock
The following summary describes certain of the federal income tax consequences to you of owning and disposing of our common stock. This summary assumes that you hold shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code). Your tax treatment will vary depending on your particular situation, and this discussion does not address all the tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances. This discussion does not address the tax consequences relevant to persons who receive special treatment under the United States federal income tax law, except to the extent discussed specifically herein. Holders receiving special treatment include, without limitation:
| • | financial institutions, banks and thrifts, |
| • | insurance companies, |
| • | tax-exempt organizations, |
| • | “S” corporations, |
| • | traders in securities that elect to mark to market, |
| • | partnerships, pass-through entities and persons holding our securities through a partnership or other pass-through entity, |
| • | holders subject to the alternative minimum tax, |
| • | regulated investment companies and REITs, |
| • | foreign corporations or partnerships, and persons who are not residents or citizens of the United States, |
| • | broker-dealers or dealers in securities or currencies, |
| • | United States expatriates, |
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| • | persons holding our securities as a hedge against currency risks or as a position in a straddle, |
| • | except to the extent discussed below, non-U.S. holders (as defined below), and |
| • | U.S. holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the United States dollar. |
When we use the term “U.S. holder,” we mean a beneficial holder of our securities who, for United States federal income tax purposes:
| • | is a citizen or resident of the United States, |
| • | is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity treated as a corporation or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof or in the District of Columbia unless, in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, Treasury Regulations provide otherwise, |
| • | is an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or |
| • | is a trust whose administration is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and which has one or more United States persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or a trust that has a valid election in place to be treated as a United States person. |
If you hold our common stock and are not a U.S. holder, you are a “non-U.S. holder.”
If you are considering exercising your exchange rights, you should consult your tax advisors concerning the application of United States federal income tax laws to your particular situation as well as any consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock arising under other federal laws and the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction.
Taxable U.S. Holders Generally
Distributions Generally. Distributions out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, other than capital gain dividends and certain amounts subject to corporate level taxation as discussed below, will constitute dividends 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 provided in “— Tax Rates” below, the preferential tax rates on qualified dividend income applicable to non-corporate taxpayers. For purposes of determining whether distributions to holders of our common stock are out of current or accumulated earnings and profits, our earnings and profits will be allocated first to distributions on our outstanding preferred stock, and then to distributions on our outstanding common stock.
To the extent that we make distributions on our common stock in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, these distributions will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to a U.S. holder. This treatment will reduce the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our common stock by the amount of the distribution, 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 gains. 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 stockholder of record on a specified date in any of these months will be treated as both paid by us and received by the stockholder 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 income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.
Certain stock dividends, including dividends partially paid in our common stock and partially paid in cash that comply with guidance issued by the IRS, will be taxable to recipient U.S. holders to the same extent as if paid in cash. See “Taxation of the Company — Annual Distribution Requirements” above. As a result, U.S. holders could recognize taxable income in excess of the cash received and may be required to pay tax with respect to such dividends in excess of the cash received.
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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, to the extent that such gain does not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year. 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 stock for the year to the holders of our common stock in proportion to the amount that our total dividends, as determined for United States federal income tax purposes, paid or made available to the holders of our common stock for the year bears to the total dividends, as determined for United States federal income tax purposes, paid or made available to holders of all classes of our stock for the year.
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, a U.S. holder generally would:
| • | include its pro rata share of our undistributed net capital gains in computing its long-term capital gains in its 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 the capital gains tax imposed on us on the designated amounts included in the U.S. holder’s long-term capital gains, |
| • | receive a credit or refund for the amount of tax deemed paid by it, |
| • | increase the adjusted basis of its 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 by a U.S. holder of our shares 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 may elect to treat capital gain dividends, capital gains from the disposition of stock and qualified dividend income as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation, but in such case, the stockholder will be taxed at ordinary 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 Common Stock. If a U.S. holder sells or disposes of shares of our common stock, it will recognize gain or loss for 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 basis in the shares for tax purposes. This gain or loss, except as provided below, will be long-term capital gain or loss if the holder has held the common stock for more than one year at the time of such sale or disposition. If, however, a U.S. holder recognizes loss upon the sale or other disposition of our common 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.
Tax Rates. The maximum tax rate for non-corporate taxpayers for (1) capital gains, including certain “capital gain dividends,” is generally 15% (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). 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.” The maximum tax rate for non-corporate taxpayers for income that the REIT
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properly designates as “qualified dividend income” is generally 15%. In general, dividends payable by a REIT are not eligible for the tax rate on qualified dividend income, except to the extent that certain holding requirements have been met with respect to the REIT’s stock 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 it distributed taxable income that it retained and paid tax on in the prior taxable year). For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, the 15% the capital gains tax rate is currently scheduled to increase to 20% and the rate applicable to dividends will increase to the tax rate then applicable to ordinary income. In addition, U.S. holders that are corporations may be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain dividends as ordinary income.
Medicare Tax on Unearned Income. certain U.S. holders that are individuals, estates or trusts must pay an additional 3.8% tax on, among other things, dividends, interest on and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or debt obligations for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of these rules on their ownership and disposition of our common stock or debt securities.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. We are required to report to our U.S. holders and the IRS the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year, and the amount of any tax withheld. Under the backup withholding rules, a holder may be subject to backup withholding with respect to dividends paid unless the holder comes within certain exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A U.S. holder that does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any stockholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status. See “— Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders.”
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders
Dividend income from us and gain arising upon a sale of our common stock generally should not be unrelated business taxable income to a tax-exempt stockholder, except as described below. This income or gain will be unrelated business taxable income, however, if a tax-exempt stockholder holds its shares as “debt-financed property” within the meaning of the Code or if the shares are used in a trade or business of the tax-exempt stockholder. Generally, “debt-financed property” is property, the acquisition or holding of which is financed through a borrowing by the tax-exempt stockholder.
For tax-exempt stockholders which are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, or qualified group legal services plans exempt from federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) or (c)(20) of the Code, respectively, income from an investment in our shares will constitute unrelated business taxable income 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, a portion of the dividends paid by a “pension-held REIT” may be treated as unrelated business taxable income 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 limitations on the transfer and ownership of 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 in this paragraph should be inapplicable to our stockholders. However, because our stock will be publicly traded, we cannot guarantee that this is or will always be the case.
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Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders
The following discussion addresses the rules governing United States federal income taxation of the ownership and disposition of our common 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 United States federal income taxation that may be relevant to a non-U.S. holder in light of its particular circumstances and does not address any state, local or foreign tax consequences. We urge non-U.S. holders to consult their tax advisors to determine the impact of federal, state, local and foreign income tax laws on the purchase, ownership, and disposition of shares of our common stock, including any reporting requirements.
Distributions Generally. Distributions (including certain stock dividends) that are neither attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of United States real property interests nor designated by us as capital gain dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions ordinarily will be subject to withholding of United States federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be 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 United States trade or business. 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 to be exempt from withholding under the effectively connected income exemption. Dividends that are treated as effectively connected with such a trade or business will be subject to tax on a net basis at graduated rates, in the same manner as dividends paid to U.S. holders are subject to tax, and are generally not subject to withholding. 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 or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
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 non-U.S. holder’s adjusted basis in our common stock, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such common stock. To the extent that these distributions exceed a non-U.S. holder’s adjusted basis in our common stock, they will give rise to gain from the sale or exchange of such stock. The tax treatment of this gain is described below.
For withholding purposes, we expect to treat all distributions as made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. As a result, except with respect to certain distributions attributable to the sale of United States real property interests as described below, we expect to withhold United States income tax at the rate of 30% on any distributions made to a non-U.S. holder unless:
| • | a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. holder files with us an IRS Form W-8BEN evidencing eligibility for that reduced treaty rate, or |
| • | the non-U.S. holder files an IRS Form W-8ECI with us claiming that the distribution is income effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s trade or business. |
However, amounts withheld should generally be refundable if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
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 United States real property interest, generally should not be subject to United States federal income taxation, unless:
(1) the investment in our common stock is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s United States trade or business, 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 foreign corporation may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax, 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 nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gains.
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Pursuant to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, or FIRPTA, distributions to a non-U.S. holder that are attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of United States real property interests (whether or not designated as capital gain dividends) will cause the non-U.S. holder to be treated as recognizing such gain as income effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Non-U.S. holders would generally be taxed at the same rates applicable to U.S. holders, subject to 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 35% (or 15% to the extent provided in Treasury regulations) of any distribution to non-U.S. holders that is designated as a capital gain dividend, or, if greater, 35% (or 15% to the extent provided in Treasury regulations) of a distribution to the non-U.S. holders that could have been designated as a capital gain dividend. The amount withheld is creditable against the non-U.S. holder’s United States federal income tax liability. However, any distribution with respect to any class of stock which is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States is not subject to FIRPTA, and therefore, not subject to the 35% U.S. withholding tax described above, if the non-U.S. holder did not own more than 5% 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 in the same manner as ordinary dividend distributions.
Retention of Net Capital Gains. Although the law is not clear on the matter, it appears that amounts designated by us as retained capital gains in respect of the common stock held by U.S. holders generally should be treated with respect to non-U.S. holders in the same manner as actual distributions by us of capital gain dividends. Under this approach, a non-U.S. holder would be able to offset as a credit against its United States federal income tax liability resulting from its proportionate share of the tax paid by us on such retained capital gains, and to receive from the IRS a refund to the extent of the non-U.S. stockholder’s proportionate share of such tax paid by us exceeds its actual United States federal income tax liability.
Sale of Our Common stock. Gain recognized by a non-U.S. holder upon the sale or exchange of our common stock generally will not be subject to United States federal income taxation unless such stock constitutes a “United States real property interest” within the meaning of FIRPTA. Our common stock will not constitute a “United States real property interest” so long as we are a “domestically-controlled qualified investment entity.” A domestically-controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT if at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of such REIT’s stock is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. holders. We believe, but cannot guarantee, that we have been a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity, and because our common stock is publicly traded, no assurance can be given that we will continue to be a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, gain from the sale or exchange of our common stock not otherwise subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a non-U.S. holder if either (1) the investment in our common stock is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s United States trade or business 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 addition, even if we qualify as a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, upon disposition of our common stock (subject to the 5% exception applicable to “regularly traded” stock described above), a non-U.S. holder may be treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of United States real property interest if the non-U.S. holder (1) disposes of our common 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 United States real property interest and (2) acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, other shares of our common stock during the 61-day period beginning with the first day of the 30-day period described in clause (1). Non-U.S. holders should contact their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of any sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of our common stock.
Even if we do not qualify as a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity at the time a non-U.S. holder sells or exchanges our common stock, gain arising from such a sale or exchange would not be subject to United States taxation under FIRPTA as a sale of a United States real property interest if:
(1) our common stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury regulations, on an established securities market such as the NYSE, and
(2) such non-U.S. holder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of our common stock throughout the applicable testing period.
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If gain on the sale or exchange of our common stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. holder would be subject to regular United States 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 or exchange of our common stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, and if shares of our common stock were not “regularly traded” on an established securities market, the purchaser of such common stock would be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 10% of the purchase price. If amounts withheld on a sale, redemption, repurchase, or exchange of our common stock exceed the non-U.S. holder’s substantive tax liability resulting from such disposition, such excess may be refunded or credited against such non-U.S. holder’s federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is provided to the IRS on a timely basis. Amounts withheld on any such sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock may not satisfy a non-U.S. holder’s entire tax liability under FIRPTA, and such non-U.S. holder remains liable for the timely payment of any remaining tax liability.
Backup Withholding Tax and Information Reporting. Generally, we must report annually to the IRS the amount of dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder, such holder’s name and address, and the amount of tax withheld, if any. A similar report is sent to the non-U.S. holder. Pursuant to tax treaties or other agreements, the IRS may make its reports available to tax authorities in the non-U.S. holder’s country of residence.
Payments of dividends or of proceeds from the disposition of stock made to a non-U.S. holder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless such holder establishes an exemption, for example, by properly certifying its non-United States status on an IRS Form W-8BEN or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding and information reporting may apply if either we or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that a non-U.S. holder is a United States person.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the United States income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund or credit may be obtained, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Accounts. Withholding taxes may be imposed on certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” and certain other non-United States entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax will be imposed on dividends on, and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, stock paid to a foreign financial institution or to a foreign non-financial entity, unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations or (ii) the foreign non-financial entity either certifies it does not have any substantial United States owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner. If the payee is a foreign financial institution, it must enter into an agreement with the United States Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain United States persons or United States-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to certain other account holders.
Although these rules currently apply to applicable payments made after December 31, 2012 (other than payments made on debt securities outstanding on March 18, 2012), in recent guidance, the IRS has indicated that Treasury Regulations will be issued pursuant to which the withholding provisions described above would apply to payments of dividends on our common stock made on or after January 1, 2014 and to payments of gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of such stock on or after January 1, 2015. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding these withholding provisions, including this recent IRS guidance.
Other Tax Consequences
State, local and foreign income tax laws may differ substantially from the corresponding federal income tax laws, and this discussion does not purport to describe any aspect of the tax laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction or any federal tax other than the income tax. You should consult your tax advisors regarding the effect of federal, state, local and foreign tax laws with respect to our tax treatment as a REIT and on an investment in our securities.
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Certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, San Diego, California. Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland, has issued an opinion to us regarding certain matters of Maryland law, including the validity of the common stock offered hereby.
The consolidated balance sheets of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the related consolidated statements of income, equity, comprehensive income/(loss) and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010, the related financial statement schedule III and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated balance sheets of BioMed Realty, L.P. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the related consolidated statements of income, capital, comprehensive income/(loss) and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010 and the related financial statement schedule III have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any document we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the public reference room of the Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information about the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of all or a portion of the registration statement can be obtained from the public reference room of the Securities and Exchange Commission upon payment of prescribed fees. Our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our registration statement, are also available to you on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-3, of which this prospectus is a part, including exhibits, schedules and amendments filed with, or incorporated by reference in, this registration statement, under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of our common stock registered hereby. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information with respect to our company and the shares of common stock registered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement, including the exhibits to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to in, or incorporated by reference in, this prospectus are not necessarily complete and, where that contract is an exhibit to the registration statement, each statement is qualified in all respects by the exhibit to which the reference relates. Copies of the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement, may be examined without charge at the public reference room of the Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information about the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of all or a portion of the registration statement can be obtained from the public reference room of the Securities and Exchange Commission upon payment of prescribed fees.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. The incorporated documents contain significant information about us, our business and our finances. Any information contained in this prospectus or in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to have been modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, in any other document we subsequently file with the Securities and Exchange Commission that also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes the original statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to be a part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the following documents we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, |
| • | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, |
| • | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, |
| • | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, |
| • | our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2011, |
| • | our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2011, |
| • | our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2011, |
| • | our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 19, 2011, |
| • | our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 31, 2011, |
| • | our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 2, 2011, |
| • | our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 17, 2011, |
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| • | the description of our common stock included in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2004, |
| • | the description of our Series A preferred stock included in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 17, 2007, and |
| • | all documents filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 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 underlying securities. |
To the extent that any information contained in any current report on Form 8-K, or any exhibit thereto, was furnished to, rather than filed with, the Securities and Exchange Commission, such information or exhibit is specifically not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, on written or oral request of that person, a copy of any or all of the documents we are incorporating by reference into this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless those exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. Such request should be addressed to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc., 17190 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego, California 92128, Attention: Secretary. Request may also be made by telephone at (858) 485-9840.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table itemizes the expenses incurred by us in connection with the issuance and registration of the securities being registered hereunder. All amounts shown are estimates except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.
| SEC Registration Fee |
$ | — | ||
| Printing and Engraving Expenses(1) |
$ | 5,000 | ||
| Legal Fees and Expenses (other than Blue Sky)(1) |
$ | 30,000 | ||
| Accounting Fees and Expenses(1) |
$ | 15,000 | ||
| Miscellaneous(1) |
$ | 10,000 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Total(1) |
$ | 60,000 | ||
|
|
|
| (1) | Estimated. Actual amounts to be determined from time to time. |
We will pay all of the costs identified above.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (1) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (2) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and which is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains such a provision which eliminates directors’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
Our charter authorizes us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to obligate ourselves to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (1) any present or former director or officer or (2) any individual who, while a director or officer of our company and at our request, serves or has served another REIT, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a trustee, director, officer or partner of such REIT, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such individual may become subject or which such individual may incur by reason of his or her service in such capacity. Our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (1) any present or former director or officer who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (2) any individual who, while a director or officer of our company and at our request, serves or has served another REIT, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a trustee, director, officer or partner and who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Our charter and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to any individual who served a predecessor of our company in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of our company or a predecessor of our company.
Maryland law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (1) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was a result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (2) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by
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or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of (1) 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 and (2) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by us if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors whereby we agree to indemnify such executive officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law against all expenses and liabilities, subject to limited exceptions. The indemnification agreements require us to indemnify the director or officer party thereto, the indemnitee, against all judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement and all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with a proceeding, unless it is established that one of the exceptions to indemnification under Maryland law set forth above exists. The indemnification agreements prohibit indemnification in connection with a proceeding that is brought by or in the right of our company if the director or officer is adjudged liable to us, unless a court orders indemnification, and then only for expenses.
In addition, the indemnification agreements require us to advance reasonable expenses incurred by the indemnitee within ten days of the receipt by us of a statement from the indemnitee requesting the advance, provided the statement evidences the expenses and is accompanied by:
| • | a written affirmation of the indemnitee’s good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification, and |
| • | an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met. |
The indemnification agreements also provide for procedures for the determination of entitlement to indemnification, including requiring such determination be made by independent counsel after a change of control of us.
In addition, our directors and officers are indemnified for specified liabilities and expenses pursuant to the partnership agreement of BioMed Realty, L.P., the partnership in which we serve as sole general partner.
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 Securities and Exchange Commission, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 16. Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this registration statement on Form S-3:
| Exhibit |
||
| 3.1 | Articles of Amendment and Restatement of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(1) | |
| 3.2 | Articles of Amendment of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(2) | |
| 3.3 | Articles of Amendment of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(3) | |
| 3.4 | Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(4) | |
| 3.5 | Articles Supplementary Classifying BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s 7.375% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.(5) | |
| 3.6 | Certificate of Limited Partnership of BioMed Realty, L.P.(6) | |
| 3.7 | Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Limited Partnership of BioMed Realty, L.P.(6) | |
| 4.1 | Form of Certificate for Common Stock of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(7) | |
| 4.2 | Form of Certificate for 7.375% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(5) | |
| 4.3 | Indenture, dated January 11, 2010, among BioMed Realty, L.P., BioMed Realty Trust, Inc., and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, including the form of 3.75% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2030.(8) | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Venable LLP with respect to the legality of the shares being registered. | |
| 8.1 | Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP with respect to tax matters. | |
| 10.1 | Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 13, 2004 among BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. and the persons named therein.(1) | |
| 10.2 | Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of BioMed Realty, L.P. dated as of January 18, 2007.(9) | |
| 10.3 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 11, 2010, among BioMed Realty Trust, Inc., BioMed Realty, L.P., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and UBS Securities LLC.(8) | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1). | |
| 23.3 | Consent of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on Signature Page). | |
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| (1) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 20, 2004. |
| (2) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2009. |
| (3) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 22, 2010. |
| (4) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 30, 2008. |
| (5) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 17, 2007. |
| (6) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. and BioMed Realty, L.P.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-168968), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 20, 2010. |
| (7) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Registration Statement of Form S-11, as amended (File No. 333-115204), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2004. |
| (8) | Incorporated by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 11, 2010. |
| (9) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2007. |
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the
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foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
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(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California, on this 22nd day of November, 2011.
| BIOMED REALTY TRUST, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ ALAN D. GOLD | |
| Alan D. Gold | ||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Alan D. Gold, Kent Griffin and Gary A. Kreitzer, and each of them, with full power to act without the other, such person’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement, and any and all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto as well as any related registration statements (or amendment thereto) filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with exhibits and schedules thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or desirable to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ ALAN D. GOLD |
Chairman of the Board and | November 22, 2011 | ||
| Alan D. Gold | Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
|||
| /s/ GREG N. LUBUSHKIN |
Chief Financial Officer | November 22, 2011 | ||
| Greg N. Lubushkin | (Principal Financial Officer) | |||
| /s/ GARY A. KREITZER |
Executive Vice President, | November 22, 2011 | ||
| Gary A. Kreitzer | General Counsel and Director | |||
| /s/ STEPHEN A. WILLEY |
Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer | November 22, 2011 | ||
| Stephen A. Willey | (Principal Accounting Officer) | |||
| /s/ BARBARA R. CAMBON |
Director | November 22, 2011 | ||
| Barbara R. Cambon | ||||
| /s/ EDWARD A. DENNIS |
Director | November 22, 2011 | ||
| Edward A. Dennis | ||||
| /s/ RICHARD I. GILCHRIST |
Director | November 22, 2011 | ||
| Richard I. Gilchrist | ||||
| /s/ THEODORE D. ROTH |
Director | November 22, 2011 | ||
| Theodore D. Roth | ||||
| /s/ M. FAYE WILSON |
Director | November 22, 2011 | ||
| M. Faye Wilson | ||||
II-6
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit |
||
| 3.1 | Articles of Amendment and Restatement of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(1) | |
| 3.2 | Articles of Amendment of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(2) | |
| 3.3 | Articles of Amendment of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(3) | |
| 3.4 | Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(4) | |
| 3.5 |
Articles Supplementary Classifying BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s 7.375% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.(5) | |
| 3.6 | Certificate of Limited Partnership of BioMed Realty, L.P.(6) | |
| 3.7 | Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Limited Partnership of BioMed Realty, L.P.(6) | |
| 4.1 | Form of Certificate for Common Stock of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(7) | |
| 4.2 | Form of Certificate for 7.375% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.(5) | |
| 4.3 | Indenture, dated January 11, 2010, among BioMed Realty, L.P., BioMed Realty Trust, Inc., and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, including the form of 3.75% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2030.(8) | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Venable LLP with respect to the legality of the shares being registered. | |
| 8.1 | Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP with respect to tax matters. | |
| 10.1 | Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 13, 2004 among BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. and the persons named therein.(1) | |
| 10.2 | Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of BioMed Realty, L.P. dated as of January 18, 2007.(9) | |
| 10.3 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 11, 2010, among BioMed Realty Trust, Inc., BioMed Realty, L.P., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and UBS Securities LLC.(8) | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1). | |
| 23.3 | Consent of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on Signature Page). | |
| (1) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 20, 2004. |
| (2) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2009. |
| (3) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 22, 2010. |
| (4) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 30, 2008. |
| (5) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 17, 2007. |
| (6) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. and BioMed Realty, L.P.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-168968), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 20, 2010. |
| (7) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Registration Statement of Form S-11, as amended (File No. 333-115204), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2004. |
| (8) | Incorporated by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 11, 2010. |
| (9) | Incorporated herein by reference to BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2007. |