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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-177646

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and they are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated February 1, 2012

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To prospectus dated November 23, 2011)

                 Shares

% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

(Liquidation Preference $25.00 per share)

 

 

We are offering              shares of our     % Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”).

We will pay cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock from the date of original issue at a rate of     % per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share (equivalent to the fixed annual rate of $         per share). Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will be payable quarterly in arrears on or about the 15th day of January, April, July and October of each year, beginning on April 16, 2012. The Series A Preferred Stock will rank senior to our common stock with respect to dividend rights and rights upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs.

Generally, we may not redeem the Series A Preferred Stock prior to February     , 2017, except in limited circumstances relating to our ability to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”). On or after February     , 2017, 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 to, but not including, the date of redemption. In addition, upon the occurrence of a change of control, as a result of which neither our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, nor the common securities of the acquiring or surviving entity (or American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) representing such securities) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), the NYSE Amex (the “NYSE Amex”), or the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), or listed or quoted on a successor exchange or quotation system, we may, at our option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part within 120 days after the first date on which such change of control occurred, by paying $25.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the date of redemption. If, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date (as defined herein), we have provided or provide notice of redemption with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will not have the conversion right described below. The Series A Preferred Stock has no maturity date and is not subject to mandatory redemption or any sinking fund. Holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock will 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.

Upon the occurrence of a change of control, as a result of which neither our common stock nor the common securities of the acquiring or surviving entity (or ADRs representing such securities) are listed on the NYSE, the NYSE Amex or NASDAQ or listed or quoted on a successor exchange or quotation system, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock will have the right (unless, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, we have provided or provide notice of our election to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock) to convert some or all of the Series A Preferred Stock held by it into a number of shares of our common stock per share of Series A Preferred Stock which is equal to the lesser of:

 

Ÿ

the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the $25.00 liquidation preference plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Change of Control Conversion Date is after a record date for a Series A Preferred Stock dividend payment and prior to the corresponding Series A Preferred Stock dividend payment date, in which case no additional amount for such accrued and unpaid dividend will be included in this sum) by (ii) the Common Stock Price (as defined herein); and

 

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(the “Share Cap”), subject to certain adjustments;

subject, in each case, to provisions for the receipt of alternative consideration as described in this prospectus supplement.

To assist us in complying with certain federal income tax requirements applicable to REITs, our charter contains certain restrictions relating to the ownership and transfer of our capital stock, including an ownership limit of 9.8% of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock.

No market currently exists for the Series A Preferred Stock. We will file an application to list the Series A Preferred Stock on the NYSE under the symbol “CCGPrA.” If listing is approved, we expect trading to commence within 30 days after the date of initial delivery of the Series A Preferred Stock.

Investing in the Series A Preferred Stock involves risks. Before buying the Series A Preferred Stock, you should carefully read the discussion of material risks of investing in the Series A Preferred Stock under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and beginning on page 9 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

 

 

		Per Share				Total
Public offering price		$				$
Underwriting discount		$				$
Proceeds, before expenses, to us		$				$

 

 

We granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to                 additional shares of the Series A Preferred Stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount, within 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement to cover overallotments, if any.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the Series A Preferred Stock on or about February     , 2012.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Raymond James
		RBC Capital Markets
				Barclays Capital
						Citigroup
								Stifel Nicolaus Weisel

 

 

Co-Managers

 

Baird				Janney Montgomery Scott

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is February     , 2012.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

About this Prospectus Supplement			S-ii
Summary			S-1
Risk Factors			S-8
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			S-11
Use of Proceeds			S-13
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges			S-14
Description of Series A Preferred Stock			S-15
Underwriting			S-29
Legal Matters			S-34
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference			S-34

Prospectus

 

About this Prospectus			1
Where You Can Find More Information			1
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference			1
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			2
Our Company			4
Risk Factors			4
Use of Proceeds			4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			5
Description of Capital Stock			6
Description of Preferred Stock			11
Description of Debt Securities			17
Description of Depositary Shares			25
Description of Warrants			28
Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws			29
Material Federal Income Tax Considerations			36
Plan of Distribution			56
Legal Matters			59
Experts			59

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any applicable free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate only as of their respective dates or on the date or dates which are specified in these documents. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the offering of Series A Preferred Stock and also adds to, and updates information contained in, the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information. To the extent the information contained in this prospectus supplement differs or varies from the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or documents incorporated by reference therein, the information in this prospectus supplement will supersede such information.

This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should read the accompanying prospectus as well as the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.” When used in this prospectus supplement, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Campus Crest Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, including our operating partnership, Campus Crest Communities Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, through which we conduct substantially all of our business.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in shares of the Series A Preferred Stock involves risk. Please see the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. These risks are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially adversely affect us. The risks described could affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations or prospects. In such a case, we may be unable to make or sustain dividend payments on the Series A Preferred Stock and you may lose all or part of your investment.

In addition to the risks identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, we are also subject to the risks described below:

Risks Related to this Offering

The Series A Preferred Stock has not been rated.

We have not sought to obtain a rating for the Series A Preferred Stock. No assurance can be given, however, that one or more rating agencies might not independently determine to issue such a rating or that such a rating, if issued, would not adversely affect the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock. In addition, we may elect in the future to obtain a rating for the Series A Preferred Stock, which could adversely impact the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock. Ratings only reflect the views of the rating agency or agencies issuing the rating(s) and such rating(s) could be revised downward or withdrawn entirely at the discretion of the issuing rating agency if in its judgment circumstances so warrant. Any such downward revision or withdrawal of a rating could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock.

The Series A Preferred Stock is a new issue with no mandatory redemption date and does not have an established trading market, which may negatively affect its market value and your ability to transfer or sell your shares.

The shares of Series A Preferred Stock are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. In addition, since the securities have no mandatory redemption date, investors seeking liquidity will be limited to selling their shares in the secondary market. We will apply to list the Series A Preferred Stock on the NYSE, but there can be no assurance that the NYSE will accept the Series A Preferred Stock for listing. Even if the Series A Preferred Stock is approved for listing by the NYSE, an active trading market on the NYSE for the shares may not develop or, even if it develops, may not last, in which case the trading price of the shares could be adversely affected and your ability to transfer your shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be limited. If an active trading market does develop on the NYSE, the Series A Preferred Stock may trade at prices lower than the initial public offering price. The trading price of the Series A Preferred Stock will depend on many factors, including:

 

•

prevailing interest rates;

 

•

the market for similar securities;

 

•

general economic and financial market conditions;

 

•

our issuance of debt or preferred equity securities; and

 

•

our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects.

The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the Series A Preferred Stock before commencement of any trading on the NYSE, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice.

 

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The Series A Preferred Stock is subordinate to our existing and future debt, and your interests could be diluted by the issuance of additional shares of preferred stock, including additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and by other transactions.

The Series A Preferred Stock is subordinate to all of our existing and future debt and will be structurally subordinate to the debt obligations of, and any preferred equity issued by, our subsidiaries, including our operating partnership. Our existing debt restricts, and our future debt may include restrictions on, our ability to pay dividends to preferred stockholders in the event of a default under the debt facilities. Our charter currently authorizes the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series. The issuance of additional preferred stock on parity with or senior to the Series A Preferred Stock would dilute the interests of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, and any issuance of preferred stock senior to the Series A Preferred Stock or of additional indebtedness could affect our ability to pay dividends on, redeem or pay the liquidation preference on the Series A Preferred Stock. Other than the conversion right afforded to holders of Series A Preferred Stock upon the occurrence of a Change of Control as described under “Description of Series A Preferred Stock—Conversion Rights” and other than the limited voting rights as described under “Description of Series A Preferred Stock—Limited Voting Rights” below, none of the provisions relating to the Series A Preferred Stock relate to or limit our indebtedness or afford the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other transaction, including a merger or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all our assets or business, that might adversely affect the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock.

Market interest rates may have an effect on the value of the Series A Preferred Stock.

One of the factors that will influence the price of the Series A Preferred Stock will be the dividend yield on the Series A Preferred Stock (as a percentage of the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock) relative to market interest rates. An increase in market interest rates, which are currently at low levels relative to historical rates, may lead prospective purchasers of the 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 dividend payments). Thus, higher market interest rates could cause the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock to decrease.

As a holder of the Series A Preferred Stock you have extremely limited voting rights.

Your voting rights as a holder of Series A Preferred Stock will be extremely limited. Our common stock is the only class or series of our stock carrying full voting rights. Voting rights for holders of Series A Preferred Stock exist primarily with respect to the ability to elect additional directors in the event that dividends for six quarterly dividend periods (whether or not consecutive) payable on the Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears, and with respect to voting on amendments to our charter that materially and adversely affect the rights of the Series A Preferred Stock or create additional classes or series of preferred stock that are senior to the Series A Preferred Stock. See “Description of Series A Preferred Stock—Limited Voting Rights” below. Other than the limited circumstances described in this prospectus supplement, holders of Series A Preferred Stock will not have voting rights.

The Change of Control conversion feature may not adequately compensate you and may make it more difficult for a party to take over our company or discourage a party from taking over our company.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will have the right (unless, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, we have provided or provide notice of our election to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock) to convert some or all of their Series A Preferred Stock into shares of our common stock (or equivalent value of alternative consideration). See “Description of Series A Preferred Stock—Conversion Rights” below. Upon such a conversion, the holders will be limited to a maximum number of shares of our common stock equal to the Share Cap multiplied by the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock

 

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converted. If the Common Stock Price is less than $         (which is     % of the per-share closing sale price of our common stock reported on the NYSE on February     , 2012), subject to adjustment, the holders will receive a maximum of                  shares of our common stock per share of Series A Preferred Stock, which may result in a holder receiving a value that is less than the liquidation preference of the Series A Preferred Stock. In addition, the Change of Control conversion feature of the Series A Preferred Stock may have the effect of discouraging a third party from making an acquisition proposal for our company or of delaying, deferring or preventing certain change of control transactions of our company under circumstances that stockholders may otherwise believe is in their best interests.

Our ability to pay dividends is limited by the requirements of Maryland law.

Our ability to pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock is limited by the laws of Maryland. Under applicable Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally may not make a distribution if, after giving effect to the distribution, the corporation would not be able to pay its debts as the debts become due in the usual course of business, or the corporation’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus, unless the corporation’s charter provides otherwise, the amount that would be needed, if the corporation were dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose preferential rights are superior to those receiving the distribution. Accordingly, we generally may not make a distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock if, after giving effect to the distribution, we would not be able to pay our debts as they become due in the usual course of business or our total assets would be less than the sum of our total liabilities plus, unless the terms of such class or series provide otherwise, the amount that would be needed to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of the holders of shares of any class or series of preferred stock then outstanding, if any, with preferences senior to those of the Series A Preferred Stock.

If our common stock is delisted, your ability to transfer or sell your shares of the Series A Preferred Stock may be limited and the market value of the Series A Preferred Stock will be materially adversely affected.

Other than in connection with certain change of control transactions, the Series A Preferred Stock does not contain provisions that protect you if our common stock is delisted. Since the Series A Preferred Stock has no mandatory redemption date, you may be forced to hold your shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and receive stated dividends on the stock when, as and if authorized by our board of directors and declared by us with no assurance as to ever receiving the liquidation preference. In addition, if our common stock is delisted, it is likely that the Series A Preferred Stock will be delisted as well. Accordingly, if our common stock is delisted, your ability to transfer or sell your shares of the Series A Preferred Stock may be limited and the market value of the Series A Preferred Stock will be materially adversely affected.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the documents that are incorporated by reference, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “intend,” “expect,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “approximately,” “believe,” “could,” “project,” “predict,” “continue,” “plan” or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, discuss future expectations, describe future plans and strategies, contain financial and operating projections or state other forward-looking information. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future events, actions, plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that could materially and adversely affect us include but are not limited to:

 

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the performance of the student housing industry in general;

 

•

decreased occupancy or rental rates at our properties resulting from competition or other factors;

 

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the operating performance of our properties;

 

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the success of our development and construction activities;

 

•

changes in the admissions or housing policies of the colleges and universities from which we draw student-tenants;

 

•

changes in our business and growth strategies and in our ability to consummate additional joint venture transactions;

 

•

our capitalization and leverage level;

 

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our capital expenditures;

 

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the degree and nature of our competition, in terms of developing properties, consummating acquisitions and in obtaining student-tenants to fill our properties;

 

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volatility in the real estate industry, interest rates and spreads, the debt or equity markets, the economy generally or the local markets in which our properties are located, whether the result of market events or otherwise;

 

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events or circumstances which undermine confidence in the financial markets or otherwise have a broad impact on financial markets, such as the sudden instability or collapse of large financial institutions or other significant corporations, terrorist attacks, natural or man-made disasters or threatened or actual armed conflicts;

 

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the availability and terms of short-term and long-term financing, including financing for development and construction activities;

 

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the availability of attractive development and/or acquisition opportunities for properties that satisfy our investment criteria, including our ability to identify and consummate successful property developments and property acquisitions;

 

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the credit quality of our student-tenants and parental guarantors;

 

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changes in personnel, including the departure of key members of our senior management, and lack of availability of, or our inability to attract, qualified personnel;

 

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unanticipated increases in financing and other costs, including a rise in interest rates;

 

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estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to our stockholders in the future and our expectations as to the form of any such distributions;

 

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environmental costs, uncertainties and risks, especially those related to natural disasters;

 

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changes in governmental regulations, accounting treatment, tax rates and similar matters;

 

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legislative and regulatory changes (including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs); and

 

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limitations imposed on our business and our ability to satisfy complex rules in order for us to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to qualify as taxable REIT subsidiaries for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to operate effectively within the limitations imposed by these rules.

This list of risks and uncertainties, however, is only a summary of some of the more important factors and is not intended to be exhaustive. You should carefully review the risks and information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including, without limitation, the “Risk Factors” sections of this prospectus supplement and our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. You are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we are under no duty to, and we do not intend to, update any of our forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus supplement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds we will receive from the sale of the Series A Preferred Stock in this offering will be approximately $         million (or approximately $         million if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full), after deducting the underwriting discount and other estimated offering expenses payable by us. We will contribute the net proceeds we receive from this offering to our operating partnership in exchange for Series A Preferred Units that will have rights as to distributions and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up that are substantially similar to those of the Series A Preferred Stock.

Our operating partnership intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay indebtedness outstanding under two construction loans and, to the extent any proceeds remain, to reduce a portion of the borrowings outstanding under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility or for other general corporate and working capital purposes.

As of January 31, 2012, borrowings under our construction loan secured by The Grove at Ames, The Grove at Clarksville and The Grove at Fort Wayne bore interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 4.75% and totaled $33.5 million. This construction loan matures on November 19, 2013. As of January 31, 2012, borrowings under our construction loan secured by The Grove at Columbia bore interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 3.00% and totaled $15.4 million. This construction loan matures on March 4, 2014. The proceeds from the borrowings under these construction loans were used to fund the development of our four wholly-owned projects delivered in August 2011. As of January 31, 2012, borrowings under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility bore interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.50% and totaled $84.5 million. Our credit facility matures on August 17, 2014, with an option to extend the maturity date for one additional year, subject to certain terms and conditions. The proceeds from the borrowings under our credit facility were used for development, acquisition financings and other corporate purposes.

Pending application of the net proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds temporarily in interest-bearing, short-term investment-grade securities, money-market accounts or checking accounts, which are consistent with our intention to qualify for taxation as a REIT. Such investments may include, for example, government and government agency certificates, certificates of deposit, interest-bearing bank deposits and mortgage loan participations. These initial investments are expected to provide a lower net return than we will seek to achieve from investments in our properties.

Affiliates of Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are lenders under our credit facility. To the extent that we use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to reduce borrowings outstanding under our credit facility, these affiliates will receive their proportionate shares of such portion of the net proceeds used to reduce amounts outstanding under our credit facility. See “Underwriting.”

 

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RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Our consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the period from October 19, 2010 through December 31, 2010, the period from January 1, 2010 through October 18, 2010 and the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are set forth below. Information presented for periods prior to October 19, 2010, the date of our initial public offering, relate to Campus Crest Communities Predecessor, our predecessor. For purposes of calculating the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of net income (loss), plus fixed charges and amortization of capitalized interest less capitalized interest. Fixed charges include interest expense, capitalized interest, and amortization of premiums, discounts, and deferred financing costs related to debt. There were no shares of preferred stock outstanding for the periods presented.

 

		Campus Crest Communities, Inc.								Campus Crest Communities Predecessor
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011				Period October 19, 2010 through December 31, 2010 (1)				Period January 1, 2010 through October 18, 2010 (1)				Year Ended December 31,
														2009				2008				2007				2006
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2)			0.70x				0.35x				0.01x				—	(3)			—	(3)			—	(3)			—	(3)

 

(1)	Our initial public offering was completed on October 19, 2010.

(2)

The shortfall of earnings to fixed charges for Campus Crest Communities, Inc. for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and for the period from October 19, 2010 through December 31, 2010 was approximately $1.7 million and $1.8 million, respectively, and for our predecessor for the period from January 1, 2010 through October 18, 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was approximately $20.6 million, $17.5 million, $28.6 million, $11.1 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

(3)	Earnings for the period were less than zero.

After giving effect to this offering and the application of the net proceeds as described in “Use of Proceeds,” the ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends on a pro forma basis would have been              for the nine months ended September 30, 2011,              for the period from October 19, 2010 through December 31, 2010,              and for the period from January 1, 2010 through October 18, 2010.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

This description of the Series A Preferred Stock supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of our preferred stock contained in the accompanying prospectus. You should consult that general description for further information.

General

Prior to the closing of this offering, our board of directors will classify                  shares of our authorized but unissued preferred stock as, and will approve articles supplementary setting forth the terms of, a series of our preferred stock, designated as the     % Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share. When issued in accordance with this prospectus supplement, the Series A Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance and sale of additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock from time to time without the approval of holders of Series A Preferred Stock.

In connection with this offering, we, in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement of our operating partnership, will contribute or otherwise transfer the net proceeds from the sale of the Series A Preferred Stock to our operating partnership, and our operating partnership will issue to us     % Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units. Our operating partnership will be required to make all required distributions on the Series A Preferred Units after any distribution of cash or assets to the holders of preferred units ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Units as to distributions and liquidations that we may issue and prior to any distribution of cash or assets to the holders of common units or to the holders of any other equity interest of our operating partnership, except for any other series of preferred units ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Units as to distributions and liquidation, in which case distributions will be made pro rata with the Series A Preferred Units; provided however, that our operating partnership may make such distributions as are necessary to enable us to qualify or maintain our qualification as a REIT.

Listing

We will apply to list the Series A Preferred Stock on the NYSE under the symbol “CCGPrA.” If listing is approved, we expect trading to commence within 30 days after the date of initial delivery of the Series A Preferred Stock.

Ranking

The Series A Preferred Stock will rank, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs:

 

•

senior to all classes or series of our common stock, and to any other class or series of our capital stock expressly designated as ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock;

 

•

on parity with any class or series of our capital stock expressly designated as ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock; and

 

•

junior to any other class or series of our capital stock expressly designated as ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock, none of which exists on the date hereof.

The term “capital stock” does not include convertible or exchangeable debt securities, none of which is outstanding as of the date hereof, which, prior to conversion or exchange, will rank senior in right of payment to the Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock will also rank junior in right of payment to our other existing and future debt obligations and will be structurally subordinate to the debt obligations of, and any preferred equity issued by, our subsidiaries, including our operating partnership.

 

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Dividends

Subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividend rights, holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized by our board of directors and declared by us out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends at the rate of     % per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share of the Series A Preferred Stock (equivalent to the fixed annual amount of $         per share of the Series A Preferred Stock).

Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will accrue and be cumulative from and including the date of original issue and will be payable to holders quarterly in arrears on or about the 15th day of January, April, July and October of each year or, if such day is not a business day, on the next succeeding business day, except that, if such business day is in the next succeeding year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding business day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. The term “business day” means each day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday, which is not a day on which banks in New York are required to close.

The amount of any dividend payable on the Series A Preferred Stock for any dividend period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. A dividend period is the respective period commencing on and including the 16th day of January, April, July and October of each year and ending on and including the day preceding the first day of the next succeeding dividend period (other than the initial dividend period and the dividend period during which any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed). Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in our stock records at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the date designated by our board of directors as the record date for the payment of dividends that is not more than 35 and not fewer than 10 days prior to the scheduled dividend payment date.

The first dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock is scheduled to be paid on April 16, 2012 and will be a pro rata dividend from and including the original date of issue.

Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will accrue whether or not:

 

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we have earnings;

 

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there are funds legally available for the payment of those dividends; or

 

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those dividends are authorized or declared.

Except as described in the next two paragraphs, unless full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods that have ended shall have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid in cash or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof in cash is set apart for payment, we will not:

 

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declare and pay or declare and set aside for payment of dividends, and we will not declare and make any distribution of cash or other property, directly or indirectly, on or with respect to any shares of our common stock or shares of any other class or series of our capital stock ranking, as to dividends, on parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock, for any period; or

 

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redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for any consideration, or make any other distribution of cash or other property, directly or indirectly, on or with respect to, or pay or make available any monies for a sinking fund for the redemption of, any common stock or shares of any other class or series of our capital stock ranking, as to dividends and upon liquidation, on parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock.

The foregoing sentence, however, will not prohibit:

 

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dividends payable solely in capital stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock;

 

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the conversion into or exchange for other shares of any class or series of capital stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock;

 

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our purchase of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, preferred stock ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends and upon liquidation or capital stock or equity securities ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to our charter to the extent necessary to preserve our status as a REIT as discussed under “—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” below;

 

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our redemption or other acquisition of shares under incentive, benefit or share purchase plans for officers, directors or employees or others performing or providing similar services; and

 

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our purchase of preferred stock ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends and upon liquidation pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

When we do not pay dividends in full (or set apart a sum sufficient to pay them in full) on the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of any other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to dividends, on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, we will declare any dividends upon the Series A Preferred Stock and each such other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to dividends, on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock pro rata, so that the amount of dividends declared per share of Series A Preferred Stock and such other class or series of capital stock will in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the Series A Preferred Stock and such other class or series of capital stock (which will not include any accrual in respect of unpaid dividends on such other class or series of capital stock for prior dividend periods if such other class or series of capital stock does not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Series A Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.

Holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock are not entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or shares of capital stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock as described above. Any dividend payment made on the Series A Preferred Stock will first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividends due with respect to those shares which remain payable. Accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will accumulate as of the dividend payment date on which they first become payable.

We do not intend to declare dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock, or pay or set apart for payment dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock, if the terms of any of our agreements, including any agreements relating to our indebtedness, prohibit such a declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provide that such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach of or default under such an agreement. Likewise, no dividends will be authorized by our board of directors and declared by us or paid or set apart for payment if such authorization, declaration or payment is restricted or prohibited by law.

If a default or event of default occurs and is continuing, our senior unsecured revolving credit facility will limit, among other things, our ability to make certain distributions (other than those required to allow us to qualify and maintain our status as a REIT). In addition, our credit facility limits, even in the absence of default, our ability to pay dividends. For example, one covenant restricts us from paying any distributions that exceed the greater of (i) 95% of our funds from operations (as defined in our credit facility) and (ii) the minimum amount required for us to qualify and maintain our status as a REIT. Other indebtedness that we may incur in the future may contain financial or other covenants more restrictive than those applicable to our existing credit facility.

Liquidation Preference

Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, before any distribution or payment shall be made to holders of shares of our common stock or any other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to rights upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our

 

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affairs, junior to the Series A Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to be paid out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, after payment of or provision for our debts and other liabilities, a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not authorized or declared) to, but not including, the date of payment. If, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our available assets are insufficient to pay the full amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of each other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to liquidation rights, on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets, then holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each such other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to rights upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock will share ratably in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

Holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to written notice of any distribution in connection with any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the distribution payment date. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Our consolidation or merger with or into any other corporation, trust or other entity, or the voluntary sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of our property or business, will not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs.

In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation), by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares of our capital stock or otherwise, is permitted under Maryland law, amounts that would be needed, if we were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will not be added to our total liabilities.

Optional Redemption

Except with respect to the special optional redemption described below and in certain limited circumstances relating to our ability to qualify as a REIT as described in “—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer,” we cannot redeem the Series A Preferred Stock prior to February     , 2017. On and after February     , 2017, we may, at our option, upon not fewer than 30 and not more than 60 days’ written notice, 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 (whether or not authorized or declared) to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption, without interest, to the extent we have funds legally available for that purpose.

If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, we will select the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) by lot, or by any other equitable method that we determine will not violate the 9.8% Series A Preferred Stock ownership limit. If such redemption is to be by lot and, as a result of such redemption, any holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, other than a holder of Series A Preferred Stock that has received an exemption from the ownership limit, would have actual or constructive ownership of more than 9.8% of the issued and outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, because such holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock were not redeemed, or were only redeemed in part, then, except as otherwise provided in the charter, we will redeem the requisite number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock of such holder such that no holder will own in excess of the 9.8% Series A Preferred Stock ownership limit subsequent to such redemption. See “—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” below. In order for their shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed, holders must surrender their shares at the place, or in accordance with the book-entry procedures, designated in the notice of redemption. Holders will then be entitled to the redemption price and any accrued and unpaid dividends payable upon redemption following surrender of the shares as detailed below. If a notice of redemption has been given (in the case of a redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock other than to preserve our status as a REIT), if the funds necessary for the

 

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redemption have been set aside by us in trust for the benefit of the holders of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock called for redemption and if irrevocable instructions have been given to pay the redemption price and all accrued and unpaid dividends, then from and after the redemption date, dividends will cease to accrue on such shares of Series A Preferred Stock and such shares of Series A Preferred Stock will no longer be deemed outstanding. At such time, all rights of the holders of such shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price plus any accrued and unpaid dividends payable upon redemption, without interest. So long as no dividends are in arrears and subject to the provisions of applicable law, we may from time to time repurchase all or any part of the Series A Preferred Stock, including the repurchase of shares of Series A Preferred Stock in open-market transactions and individual purchases at such prices as we negotiate, in each case as duly authorized by our board of directors.

Unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are authorized, declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past dividend periods that have ended, no shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed and we will not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of Series A Preferred Stock or any class or series of our capital stock ranking, as to dividends or upon liquidation, on parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock (except by conversion into or exchange for our capital stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation); provided, however, that whether or not the requirements set forth above have been met, we may purchase shares of Series A Preferred Stock, preferred stock ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends and upon liquidation or capital stock or equity securities ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to our charter to the extent necessary to ensure that we meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we may redeem or acquire shares under incentive, benefit or share purchase plans for officers, directors or employees or others performing or providing similar services, and may purchase or acquire shares of Series A Preferred Stock or preferred stock ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends and upon liquidation pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock. See “—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” below.

Notice of redemption will be mailed, postage prepaid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on our stock transfer records as maintained by the transfer agent named in “—Transfer Agent and Registrar” below. No failure to give such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof will affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given. In addition to any information required by law or by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which the Series A Preferred Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, each notice will state:

 

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the redemption date;

 

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the redemption price;

 

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the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed;

 

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the place or places where the certificates, if any, representing shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price;

 

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procedures for surrendering noncertificated shares of Series A Preferred Stock for payment of the redemption price;

 

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that dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on such redemption date; and

 

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that payment of the redemption price and any accumulated and unpaid dividends will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Series A Preferred Stock.

 

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If fewer than all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to such holder will also specify the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed.

We are not required to provide such notice in the event we redeem Series A Preferred Stock in order to qualify or maintain our status as a REIT.

Any such redemption may be made conditional on such factors as may be determined by our board of directors and as set forth in the notice of redemption.

If a redemption date falls after a dividend record date and on or prior to the corresponding dividend payment date, each holder of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business of such dividend record date will be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding dividend payment date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares on or prior to such dividend payment date and each holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock that surrenders such shares on such redemption date will be entitled to the dividends accruing after the end of the applicable dividend period, to, but not including, the date of redemption. Except as described above, we will make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on Series A Preferred Stock for which a notice of redemption has been given.

All shares of Series A Preferred Stock that we redeem or repurchase will be retired and restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock, without designation as to series or class.

Subject to applicable law and the limitation on purchases when dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears, we may, at any time and from time to time, purchase Series A Preferred Stock in the open market, by tender or by private agreement.

Future debt instruments may prohibit us from redeeming or otherwise repurchasing any shares of our capital stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock, except in limited circumstances.

Special Optional Redemption

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, we may, at our option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, by paying $25.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the date of redemption. If, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, we have provided or provide notice of redemption with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock (whether pursuant to our optional redemption right or our special optional redemption right), the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will not have the conversion right described below under “—Conversion Rights.”

We will mail to you, if you are a record holder of the Series A Preferred Stock, a notice of redemption no fewer than 30 days nor more than 60 days before the redemption date. We will send the notice to your address shown on our stock transfer books. A failure to give notice of redemption or any defect in the notice or in its mailing will not affect the validity of the redemption of any Series A Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective. Each notice will state the following:

 

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the redemption date;

 

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the redemption price;

 

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the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed;

 

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the place or places where the certificates, if any, representing shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price;

 

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procedures for surrendering noncertificated shares of Series A Preferred Stock for payment of the redemption price;

 

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that dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on such redemption date;

 

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that payment of the redemption price and any accumulated and unpaid dividends will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Series A Preferred Stock;

 

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that the Series A Preferred Stock is being redeemed pursuant to our special optional redemption right in connection with the occurrence of a Change of Control and a brief description of the transaction or transactions constituting such Change of Control; and

 

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that the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to which the notice relates will not be able to tender such Series A Preferred Stock for conversion in connection with the Change of Control and each share of Series A Preferred Stock tendered for conversion that is selected, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, for redemption will be redeemed on the related date of redemption instead of converted on the Change of Control Conversion Date.

If we redeem fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the notice of redemption mailed to each stockholder will also specify the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock that we will redeem from each stockholder. In this case, we will determine the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed as described above in “—Optional Redemption.”

If we have given a notice of redemption and have set aside sufficient funds for the redemption in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock called for redemption, then from and after the redemption date, those shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be treated as no longer being outstanding, no further dividends will accrue and all other rights of the holders of those shares of Series A Preferred Stock will terminate. The holders of those shares of Series A Preferred Stock will retain their right to receive the redemption price for their shares and any accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the date of redemption, without interest.

The holders of Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on a dividend record date will be entitled to receive the dividend payable with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock on the corresponding payment date notwithstanding the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock between such record date and the corresponding payment date or our default in the payment of the dividend due. Except as provided above, we will make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed.

A “Change of Control” is when, after the original issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, the following have occurred and are continuing:

 

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the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of stock of our company entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all stock of our company entitled to vote generally in the election of our directors (except that such person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and

 

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following the closing of any transaction referred to in the bullet point above, neither we nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or ADRs representing such securities) listed on the NYSE, the NYSE Amex or NASDAQ or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE Amex or NASDAQ.

 

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Conversion Rights

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock will have the right, unless, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, we have provided or provide notice of our election to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock as described above under “—Optional Redemption” or “—Special Optional Redemption,” to convert some or all of the Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder (the “Change of Control Conversion Right”) on the Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of shares of our common stock per share of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Common Stock Conversion Consideration”), which is equal to the lesser of:

 

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the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the $25.00 liquidation preference plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Change of Control Conversion Date is after a record date for a Series A Preferred Stock dividend payment and prior to the corresponding Series A Preferred Stock dividend payment date, in which case no additional amount for such accrued and unpaid dividend will be included in this sum) by (ii) the Common Stock Price; and

 

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(i.e., the Share Cap).

The Share Cap is subject to pro rata adjustments for any stock splits (including those effected pursuant to a distribution of our common stock), subdivisions or combinations (in each case, a “Stock Split”) with respect to our common stock as follows: the adjusted Share Cap as the result of a Stock Split will be the number of shares of our common stock that is equivalent to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Share Cap in effect immediately prior to such Stock Split by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of our common stock outstanding after giving effect to such Stock Split and the denominator of which is the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to such Stock Split.

In the case of a Change of Control pursuant to which our common stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof) (the “Alternative Form Consideration”), a holder of Series A Preferred Stock will receive upon conversion of such Series A Preferred Stock the kind and amount of Alternative Form Consideration which such holder would have owned or been entitled to receive upon the Change of Control had such holder held a number of shares of our common stock equal to the Common Stock Conversion Consideration immediately prior to the effective time of the Change of Control (the “Alternative Conversion Consideration”). The Common Stock Conversion Consideration or the Alternative Conversion Consideration, as may be applicable to a Change of Control, is referred to in this prospectus supplement as the “Conversion Consideration.”

If the holders of our common stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in the Change of Control, the Conversion Consideration will be deemed to be the kind and amount of consideration actually received by holders of a majority of our common stock that voted for such an election (if electing between two types of consideration) or holders of a plurality of our common stock that voted for such an election (if electing between more than two types of consideration), as the case may be, and will be subject to any limitations to which all holders of our common stock are subject, including, without limitation, pro rata reductions applicable to any portion of the consideration payable in the Change of Control.

We will not issue fractional shares of common stock upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock. Instead, we will pay the cash value of such fractional shares.

Within 15 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control, we will mail to the record holders of Series A Preferred Stock a notice of occurrence of the Change of Control that describes the resulting Change of Control Conversion Right. We will send the notice to the address shown on our stock transfer books, and the notice will state the following:

 

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the events constituting the Change of Control;

 

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the date of the Change of Control;

 

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the last date on which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock may exercise their Change of Control Conversion Right;

 

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the method and period for calculating the Common Stock Price;

 

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the Change of Control Conversion Date;

 

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that if, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, we have provided or provide notice of our election to redeem all or any portion of the Series A Preferred Stock, holders of Series A Preferred Stock will not be able to convert the Series A Preferred Stock designated for redemption and such shares will be redeemed on the related redemption date, even if such shares have already been tendered for conversion pursuant to the Change of Control Conversion Right;

 

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if applicable, the type and amount of Alternative Conversion Consideration entitled to be received per share of Series A Preferred Stock;

 

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the name and address of the paying agent and the conversion agent; and

 

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the procedures that the holders of Series A Preferred Stock must follow to exercise the Change of Control Conversion Right.

We will issue a press release for publication on the Dow Jones & Company, Inc., Business Wire, PR Newswire or Bloomberg Business News (or, if these organizations are not in existence at the time of issuance of the press release, such other news or press organization as is reasonably calculated to broadly disseminate the relevant information to the public), or post a notice on our website, in any event prior to the opening of business on the first business day following any date on which we provide the notice described above to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock.

To exercise the Change of Control Conversion Right, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be required to deliver, on or before the close of business on the Change of Control Conversion Date, the certificates (if any) representing Series A Preferred Stock to be converted, duly endorsed for transfer, together with a written conversion notice completed, to our transfer agent. The conversion notice must state:

 

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the relevant Change of Control Conversion Date;

 

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the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted; and

 

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that the Series A Preferred Stock is to be converted pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Series A Preferred Stock.

The “Change of Control Conversion Date” is the date the Series A Preferred Stock is to be converted, which will be a business day that is no fewer than 20 days nor more than 35 days after the date on which we mail the notice described above to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock.

The “Common Stock Price” will be (i) if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by the holders of our common stock is solely cash, the amount of cash consideration per share of our common stock or (ii) if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by holders of our common stock is other than solely cash (x) the average of the closing sale prices per share of our common stock (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average closing bid and the average closing ask prices) for the 10 consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the effective date of the Change of Control as reported on the principal U.S. securities exchange on which our common stock is then traded, or (y) the average of the last quoted bid prices for our common stock in the over-the-counter market as reported by OTC Markets Group, Inc. or similar organization for the 10 consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the effective date of the Change of Control, if our common stock is not then listed for trading on a U.S. securities exchange.

 

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Holders of Series A Preferred Stock may withdraw any notice of exercise of a Change of Control Conversion Right (in whole or in part) by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to our transfer agent prior to the close of business on the business day prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date. The notice of withdrawal must state:

 

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the number of withdrawn shares of Series A Preferred Stock; and

 

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if certificated Series A Preferred Stock has been issued, the certificate numbers of the withdrawn shares of Series A Preferred Stock; and

 

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the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, if any, which remain subject to the conversion notice.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series A Preferred Stock is held in global form, the conversion notice and/or the notice of withdrawal, as applicable, must comply with applicable procedures of The Depository Trust Company.

Series A Preferred Stock as to which the Change of Control Conversion Right has been properly exercised and for which the conversion notice has not been properly withdrawn will be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration in accordance with the Change of Control Conversion Right on the Change of Control Conversion Date, unless prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date we have provided or provide notice of our election to redeem such Series A Preferred Stock, whether pursuant to our optional redemption right or our special optional redemption right. If we elect to redeem Series A Preferred Stock that would otherwise be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration on a Change of Control Conversion Date, such Series A Preferred Stock will not be so converted and the holders of such shares will be entitled to receive on the applicable redemption date $25.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption, in accordance with our optional redemption right or special optional redemption right. See “—Optional Redemption” and “—Special Optional Redemption” above.

We will deliver amounts owing upon conversion no later than the third business day following the Change of Control Conversion Date.

In connection with the exercise of any Change of Control Conversion Right, we will comply with all federal and state securities laws and stock exchange rules in connection with any conversion of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of our common stock. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Series A Preferred Stock, no holder of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to convert such Series A Preferred Stock into shares of our common stock to the extent that receipt of such common stock would cause such holder (or any other person) to exceed the stock ownership limits contained in our charter, including the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, unless we provide an exemption from the applicable limits for such holder. See “—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” below.

The Change of Control conversion feature may make it more difficult for a party to take over our company or discourage a party from taking over our company. See “Risk Factors—The Change of Control conversion feature may not adequately compensate you and may make it more difficult for a party to take over our company or discourage a party from taking over our company” above.

Except as provided above in connection with a Change of Control, the Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property.

No Maturity, Sinking Fund or Mandatory Redemption

The Series A Preferred Stock has no maturity date and we are not required to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock at any time. Accordingly, the Series A Preferred Stock will remain outstanding indefinitely, unless we

 

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decide, at our option, to exercise our redemption right or, under circumstances where the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock have a conversion right, such holders convert the Series A Preferred Stock into our common stock. The Series A Preferred Stock is not subject to any sinking fund.

Limited Voting Rights

Holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock generally do not have any voting rights, except as set forth below.

If dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more quarterly periods, whether or not consecutive (which we refer to as a preferred dividend default), holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of all other classes or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors to serve on our board of directors (which we refer to as preferred stock directors), until all unpaid dividends for past dividend periods that have ended with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock and any other class or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for payment is set aside for such payment. In such a case, the number of directors serving on our board of directors will be increased by two. The preferred stock directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election for a one-year term and each preferred stock director will serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until the director’s right to hold the office terminates, whichever occurs earlier. The election will take place at:

 

•

a special meeting called upon the written request of holders of at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock together with any other class or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, if this request is received more than 90 days before the date fixed for our next annual or special meeting of stockholders or, if we receive the request for a special meeting within 90 days before the date fixed for our next annual or special meeting of stockholders, at our annual or special meeting of stockholders; and

 

•

each subsequent annual meeting (or special meeting held in its place) until all dividends accumulated on the Series A Preferred Stock and on any other class or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable have been paid in full for all past dividend periods that have ended.

If and when all accumulated dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock and all other classes or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable shall have been paid in full or a sum sufficient for such payment in full is set aside for payment, holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be divested of the voting rights set forth above (subject to re-vesting in the event of each and every preferred dividend default) and the term and office of such preferred stock directors so elected will terminate and the entire board of directors will be reduced accordingly.

Any preferred stock director elected by holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and other holders of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable may be removed at any time with or without cause by the vote of, and may not be removed otherwise than by the vote of, the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and other parity preferred stock entitled to vote thereon when they have the voting rights described above (voting as a single class). So long as a preferred dividend default continues, any vacancy in the office of a preferred stock director may be filled by written consent of the preferred stock director remaining in office, or if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock when they have the voting rights described above (voting as a single class with all other classes or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable).

In addition, so long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the consent or the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Series A

 

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Preferred Stock together with the holders of all other shares of any class or series of preferred stock ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up (voting as a single class):

 

•

authorize, create or issue, or increase the number of authorized or issued shares of, any class or series of stock ranking senior to such Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends, or the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or reclassify any of our authorized capital stock into any such shares, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or

 

•

amend, alter or repeal the provisions of our charter, including the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, whether by merger, consolidation, transfer or conveyance of substantially all of our company’s assets or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Series A Preferred Stock,

except that with respect to the occurrence of any of the events described in the second bullet point immediately above, so long as (1) the Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding with the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock materially unchanged, or (2) the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock receive equity securities with rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers substantially the same as those of the Series A Preferred Stock, then the occurrence of such event will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting power of the Series A Preferred Stock, and in such case such holders shall not have any voting rights with respect to the events described in the second bullet point immediately above. Furthermore, if holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock receive the greater of the full trading price of the Series A Preferred Stock on the date of an event described in the second bullet point immediately above or the $25.00 per share liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the date of redemption pursuant to the occurrence of any of the events described in the second bullet point immediately above, then such holders shall not have any voting rights with respect to the events described in the second bullet point immediately above.

Notwithstanding the above, if the occurrence of any such event would materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock disproportionately relative to other classes or series of preferred stock ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, then the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be required.

Holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will not be entitled to vote with respect to any increase in the total number of authorized shares of our common stock or preferred stock, any increase in the number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock or the creation or issuance of any other class or series of capital stock, or any increase in the number of authorized shares of any other class or series of capital stock, in each case ranking on parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights with respect to, and the consent of the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock is not required for, the taking of any corporate action, including any merger or consolidation involving us or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, regardless of the effect that such merger, consolidation or sale may have upon the powers, preferences, voting power or other rights or privileges of the Series A Preferred Stock, except as set forth above.

In addition, the voting provisions above will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which the vote would otherwise be required would occur, we have redeemed or called for redemption upon proper procedures all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

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In any matter in which Series A Preferred Stock may vote (as expressly provided in the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock), each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote per $25.00 of liquidation preference. As a result, each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote.

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

In order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, our shares of stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, no more than 50% of the value of our outstanding shares of capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined by the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of any taxable year.

To help us to qualify as a REIT, our charter, subject to certain exceptions, contains, and the Series A Preferred Stock articles supplementary will contain, restrictions on the number of shares of our common stock, the Series A Preferred Stock and our capital stock that a person may own. Our charter provides that generally no person may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, either more than 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our outstanding shares of capital stock, or more than 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our outstanding common stock. In addition, the Series A Preferred Stock articles supplementary will provide that generally no person may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, either more than 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock.

The consequences of attempting to own or transfer shares of our common stock or our capital stock in violation of the ownership restrictions are described in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Capital Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.” Those consequences also apply to any person who attempts to own, or would be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock. Although our board of directors is required under certain circumstances to exempt a person from the common stock and capital stock ownership restrictions if the board determines that the exemption will not result in our company failing to qualify as a REIT, no such requirement applies to the Series A Preferred Stock ownership limit.

The beneficial ownership and/or constructive ownership rules under the Code are complex and may cause shares of stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be owned constructively by one individual or entity. See “Description of Capital Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” in the accompanying prospectus.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for the Series A Preferred Stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

Book-Entry Procedures

The Series A Preferred Stock will only be issued in the form of global securities held in book-entry form. The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee will be the sole registered holder of the Series A Preferred Stock. Owners of beneficial interests in the Series A Preferred Stock represented by the global securities will hold their interests pursuant to the procedures and practices of DTC. As a result, beneficial interests in any such securities will be shown on, and transfers will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its direct and indirect participants and any such interest may not be exchanged for certificated securities, except in limited circumstances. Owners of beneficial interests must exercise any rights in respect of

 

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other interests, including any right to convert their Series A Preferred Stock, in accordance with the procedures and practices of DTC. Beneficial owners will not be holders and will not be entitled to any rights provided to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock under the global securities or the articles supplementary. We and any of our agents may treat DTC as the sole holder and registered owner of the global securities.

DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC facilitates the settlement of transactions amongst participants through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including the underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations, some of whom and/or their representatives own DTC. Access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly.

The Series A Preferred Stock, represented by one or more global securities, will be exchangeable for certificated securities with the same terms only if:

 

•

DTC is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days; or

 

•

we decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or any successor depositary).

 

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UNDERWRITING

Subject to the terms and conditions contained in an underwriting agreement among us, our operating partnership, and the underwriters named below, for whom Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is acting as representative, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the respective number of Series A Preferred Stock shown opposite their names below:

 

Underwriter		Number of Shares
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Total

The underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock sold under the underwriting agreement if any of those shares of Series A Preferred Stock are purchased, other than those shares of Series A Preferred Stock covered by the overallotment option described below.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and the directors, officers, employees and agents of each underwriter and each person who controls any underwriter against specified liabilities in connection with this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the Series A Preferred Stock, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and other conditions such as the receipt by the underwriters of officers’ certificates, comfort letters and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Commissions and Discounts

The representative has advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the Series A Preferred Stock to the public at the public offering price appearing on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $         per share. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of $         per share to other dealers. After the initial offering, the public offering price and other selling terms may be changed.

The following table shows the per share and total public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds before expenses to us. This information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their overallotment option described below.

 

Total

Per Share

No Exercise

Full Exercise

Public offering price

$

$

$

Underwriting discount

$

$

$

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

$

$

$

The expenses of the offering, exclusive of the underwriting discount, are estimated at approximately $275,000 and are payable by us.

 

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Settlement

We expect that delivery of the Series A Preferred Stock will be made to investors on or about February     , 2012, which will be the fifth business day following the date of this prospectus supplement (such settlement being referred to as “T+5”). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade Series A Preferred Stock prior to February     , 2012 will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Series A Preferred Stock initially will settle in T+5, to specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the Series A Preferred Stock who wish to trade the Series A Preferred Stock prior to their date of delivery hereunder should consult their advisors.

Overallotment Option

We have granted an option to the underwriters to purchase up to          additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the public offering price appearing on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, less the underwriting discount, solely to cover overallotments. To the extent this option is exercised, each underwriter will become obligated, subject to conditions, to purchase a number of additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock approximately proportionate to its initial purchase commitment. The underwriters may exercise this option for 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement.

No Sales of Series A Preferred Stock

We have agreed that, for a period of 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement, we will not, without the prior written consent of the representative, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock or any equity securities similar to or ranking on par with or senior to the Series A Preferred Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for the Series A Preferred Stock or similar, parity or senior equity securities, including without limitation the Series A Preferred Units; or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) during the last 17 days of the restricted period we issue an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to us occurs, or (y) prior to the expiration of the restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the restricted period, the restrictions described above shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

New York Stock Exchange Listing

No market currently exists for the Series A Preferred Stock. We will file an application to list the Series A Preferred Stock on the NYSE under the symbol “CCGPrA.” If listing is approved, we expect trading to commence within 30 days after the initial delivery of the Series A Preferred Stock. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the Series A Preferred Stock before commencement of trading on the NYSE. They will have no obligation to make a market in the Series A Preferred Stock, however, and may cease market making activities, if commenced, at any time.

Price Stabilization and Short Positions

Until the distribution of the Series A Preferred Stock is completed, SEC rules may limit the ability of the underwriters to bid for or purchase the Series A Preferred Stock. However, the underwriters may engage in transactions that have the effect of stabilizing the price of the Series A Preferred Stock, such as purchases that peg, fix or maintain that price.

If the underwriters create a short position in the Series A Preferred Stock in connection with this offering, i.e., if they sell more shares of Series A Preferred Stock than are listed on the cover page of this prospectus

 

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supplement, the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing Series A Preferred Stock in the open market. The underwriters may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of the overallotment option described above. Purchases of Series A Preferred Stock that stabilize the per share price or reduce a short position may cause the price of the Series A Preferred Stock to be higher than it might be in the absence of those purchases.

Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Series A Preferred Stock. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in those transactions or that those transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their respective affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking, commercial banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us and our affiliates, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions.

Affiliates of Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are lenders under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility. Under this facility, an affiliate of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. also acts as administrative agent, affiliates of Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc. also act as co-syndication agents and an affiliate of RBC Capital Markets, LLC also acts as documentation agent. In addition, affiliates of Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as joint lead arrangers and joint book running managers for this facility. In connection with their participation in our credit facility, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or their affiliates receive customary fees. To the extent that we use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to reduce borrowings outstanding under our credit facility, these affiliates will receive their proportionate shares of such portion of the net proceeds used to reduce amounts outstanding under our credit facility.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the Series A Preferred Stock offered hereby. Any such short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the Series A Preferred Stock offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), an offer to the public of any of the Series A Preferred Stock may not be made in that Relevant Member State, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of any of the Series A Preferred Stock may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they have been implemented in that Relevant Member State:

 

•

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

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•

to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or

 

•

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of the Series A Preferred Stock shall result in a requirement for the publication by us or the underwriters of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any of the Series A Preferred Stock in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any of the Series A Preferred Stock to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe any of the Series A Preferred Stock, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State, and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

The underwriters are deemed to have represented and agreed that:

 

•

they have only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) received by them in connection with the issue or sale of the Series A Preferred Stock in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us; and

 

•

they have complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by them in relation to the Series A Preferred Stock in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The Series A Preferred Stock offered in this prospectus supplement have not been registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan. The Series A Preferred Stock has not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan or to others for re-offering or re-sale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except (i) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and (ii) in compliance with any other applicable requirements of Japanese law.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus has been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Series A Preferred Stock may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Series A Preferred Stock be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.

 

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Where the Series A Preferred Stock is subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (however described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or (3) where the transfer is by operation of law.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by DLA Piper LLP (US). Saul Ewing LLP will issue an opinion to us regarding certain matters of Maryland law, including the validity of the Series A Preferred Stock offered by this prospectus supplement. Sidley Austin LLP, New York, New York, will act as counsel to the underwriters.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

We incorporate information into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, except to the extent superseded by information contained herein or by information contained in documents filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

The documents listed below have been filed by us under the Exchange Act with the SEC and are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus:

 

•

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, including amendments;

 

•

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2011, June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011;

 

•

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 26, 2011, April 25, 2011, August 23, 2011, November 29, 2011, and January 5, 2012, and the Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on July 26, 2011;

 

•

Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on March 16, 2011; and

 

•

the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 15, 2010, including any amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents that we file (but not those that we furnish) pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the Series A Preferred Stock covered under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any previously filed documents. You may read and copy any documents filed by us at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC’s Internet website www.sec.gov and through the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which we expect the Series A Preferred Stock to be listed.

Copies of all documents which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (not including the exhibits to such information, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference) will be provided without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, to whom this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request. Requests should be directed to our Secretary, 2100 Rexford Road, Suite 414, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211 (telephone number: (704) 496-2500). You may also obtain copies of these filings, at no cost, by accessing our website at www.campuscrest.com; however, the information found on our website is not considered part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

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$750,000,000

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Depositary Shares

Warrants

 

 

Campus Crest Communities, Inc. intends to offer and sell from time to time the securities described in this prospectus. The total offering price of the securities described in this prospectus will not exceed $750,000,000 in the aggregate.

We will provide specific terms of any securities we may offer in supplements to this prospectus. The securities may be offered separately or together in any combination and as separate series. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “CCG.” On November 22, 2011, the last reported sales price of our common stock on the NYSE was $9.47 per share. We will make applications to list on the NYSE any shares of common stock sold pursuant to a supplement to this prospectus. We have not determined whether we will list any other securities we may offer on any exchange or over-the-counter market. If we decide to seek listing of any securities, the supplement to this prospectus will disclose the exchange or market.

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

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

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

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4.

 

 

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

The date of this prospectus is November 23, 2011.

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1
WHERE CAN YOU FIND MORE INFORMATION			1
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE			1
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			2
OUR COMPANY			4
RISK FACTORS			4
USE OF PROCEEDS			4
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES			5
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK			6
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK			11
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES			17
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES			25
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS			28
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS			29
MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS			36
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			56
LEGAL MATTERS			59
EXPERTS			59

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a “shelf” registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell, at any time and from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. The exhibits to our registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents we have summarized in this prospectus. Since these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we offer, you should review the full text of these documents. The registration statement and the exhibits can be obtained from the SEC as indicated under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of those securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document.

When used in this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Campus Crest Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, including our operating partnership, Campus Crest Communities Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, through which we conduct substantially all of our business.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MORE INFORMATION

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

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

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

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

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

 

•

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, including amendments;

 

•

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2011, June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011;

 

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•

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 26, 2011, April 25, 2011, and August 23, 2011, and the Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on July 26, 2011; and

 

•

the description of our common stock in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on September 15, 2010, including any amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

We are also incorporating by reference into this prospectus all documents that we have filed or will file with the SEC as prescribed by Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement.

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

Copies of all documents which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement (not including the exhibits to such information, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference) will be provided without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner of the securities offered by this prospectus, to whom this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement is delivered, upon written or oral request. Requests should be directed to our Secretary, 2100 Rexford Road, Suite 414, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211 (telephone number: (704) 496-2500). You may also obtain copies of these filings, at no cost, by accessing our website at www.campuscrest.com; however, the information found on our website is not considered part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “intend,” “expect,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “approximately,” “believe,” “could,” “project,” “predict,” “continue,” “plan” or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, discuss future expectations, describe future plans and strategies, contain financial and operating projections or state other forward-looking information. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future events, actions, plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that could materially and adversely affect us include but are not limited to:

 

•

the performance of the student housing industry in general;

 

•

decreased occupancy or rental rates at our properties resulting from competition or otherwise;

 

•

the operating performance of our properties;

 

•

the success of our development and construction activities;

 

•

changes on the admissions or housing policies of the colleges and universities from which we draw student-tenants;

 

•

the availability of and our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;

 

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•

changes in our business and growth strategies and in our ability to consummate additional joint venture transactions;

 

•

our capitalization and leverage level;

 

•

our capital expenditures;

 

•

the degree and nature of our competition, in terms of developing properties, consummating acquisitions and in obtaining student-tenants to fill our properties;

 

•

volatility in the real estate industry, interest rates and spreads, the debt or equity markets, the economy generally or the local markets in which our properties are located, whether the result of market events or otherwise;

 

•

events or circumstances which undermine confidence in the financial markets or otherwise have a broad impact on financial markets, such as the sudden instability or collapse of large financial institutions or other significant corporations, terrorist attacks, natural or man-made disasters or threatened or actual armed conflicts;

 

•

the availability and terms of short-term and long-term financing, including financing for development and construction activities;

 

•

the availability of attractive development and/or acquisition opportunities in properties that satisfy our investment criteria, including our ability to identify and consummate successful property developments and property acquisitions;

 

•

the credit quality of our student-tenants and parental guarantors;

 

•

changes in personnel, including the departure of key members of our senior management, and lack of availability of qualified personnel;

 

•

unanticipated increases in financing and other costs, including a rise in interest rates;

 

•

estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to our stockholders in the future and our expectations as to the form of any such distributions;

 

•

environmental costs, uncertainties and risks, especially those related to natural disasters;

 

•

changes in governmental regulations, accounting treatment, tax rates and similar matters;

 

•

legislative and regulatory changes (including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs); and

 

•

limitations imposed on our business and our ability to satisfy complex rules in order for us to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to qualify as taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to operate effectively within the limitations imposed by these rules.

This list of risks and uncertainties, however, is only a summary of some of the mort important factors and is not intended to be exhaustive. You should carefully review the risks and information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the “Risk Factors” incorporated by reference herein from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports and information that we file with the SEC. You are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we are under no duty to, and we do not intend to, update any of our forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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OUR COMPANY

We are a self-managed, self-administered and vertically-integrated developer, builder, owner and manager of high-quality, purpose-built student housing properties in the United States. As of September 30, 2011, we owned interests in 33 operating student housing properties containing approximately 6,324 apartment units and 17,064 beds. All of our properties are recently built, with an average age of approximately 2.7 years as of September 30, 2011. As of September 30, 2011, 25 of our properties, containing approximately 4,764 apartment units and 12,844 beds, are wholly owned, and eight of our properties, containing approximately 1,560 apartment units and 4,220 beds, are owned through joint ventures with Harrison Street Real Estate, in which we own interests ranging from 20.0% to 49.9%. Our properties are primarily located in medium-sized college and university markets, which we define as markets located outside of major U.S. cities that have nearby schools generally with overall enrollment of approximately 8,000 to 20,000 students. We believe such markets are underserved and are generally experiencing enrollment growth.

We were incorporated in the State of Maryland on March 1, 2010 and commenced operations upon completion of our initial public offering of our common stock on October 19, 2010. Substantially all of our assets are held by, and we conduct substantially all of our activities through, our operating partnership, Campus Crest Communities Operating Partnership, LP, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. We are the sole general partner of our operating partnership, and, as a result, our board of directors effectively directs all of our operating partnership’s affairs. As of September 30, 2011, we owned 98.5% of the outstanding limited partnership units of our operating partnership.

We are organized and conduct our operations to qualify as a REIT under Sections 856 through 859 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our income to the extent we currently distribute our income to our stockholders and maintain our qualification as a REIT.

Our principal executive offices are located at 2100 Rexford Road, Suite 414, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211, and our telephone number is (704) 496-2500. Our website is www.campuscrest.com. However, the information located on, or accessible from, our website is not, and should not be deemed to be, part of this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus or incorporated into any other filing that we make with the SEC.

RISK FACTORS

Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves substantial risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated into this prospectus by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the other information contained in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in any accompanying prospectus supplement before acquiring any of such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. Please also refer to the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we specify otherwise in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities by us to provide additional funds for general corporate purposes. Those purposes include the repayment or refinancing of debt, property acquisitions and development in the ordinary course of business, working capital, investment in financing transactions and capital expenditures. Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities will be determined at the time of such offering and will be described in the accompanying supplement to this prospectus.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the period from October 19, 2010 to December 31, 2010, the period from January 1, 2010 to October 18, 2010 and the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are set forth below. Information presented for periods prior to October 19, 2010, the date of our initial public offering, relate to Campus Crest Communities Group, our predecessor. For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income before taxes, noncontrolling interest and equity in losses of equity investees, plus fixed charges less capitalized interest. Fixed charges include interest expense, capitalized interest, amortization of premiums, discounts, and deferred financing costs related to debt and an estimate of the interest component of rent expense. There were no shares of preferred stock outstanding for the periods presented.

 

		Campus Crest Communities, Inc.								Campus Crest Communities Predecessor
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011				Period October 19, 2010 through December 31, 2010 (1)				Period January 1, 2010 through October 18, 2010 (1)				Year Ended December 31,
														2009				2008				2007				2006
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2)			0.70x				0.35x				0.01x				—	(3)			—	(3)			—	(3)			—	(3)

 

(1)	Our initial public offering was completed on October 19, 2010.

(2)

The shortfall of earnings to fixed charges for Campus Crest Communities, Inc. for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and for the period from October 19, 2010 to December 31, 2010 was approximately $1.7 million and $1.8 million, respectively, and for Campus Crest Communities Predecessor for the period from January 1, 2010 to October 18, 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was approximately $20.6 million, $17.5 million, $28.6 million, $11.1 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

(3)	Earnings for the period were less than zero.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

We are a Maryland corporation. Your rights as a stockholder are governed by Maryland law, including the Maryland General Corporation Law (“MGCL”), and our charter and bylaws. The following is a summary of the material terms of our capital stock. You should read our charter and bylaws, copies of which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for complete information. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

Authorized Shares. Our charter provides that we may issue up to 90,000,000 shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. As of October 31, 2011, there were 30,718,115 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

Authority of Our Board of Directors Relating to Authorized Shares. Our charter authorizes our board of directors to amend our charter to increase or decrease the total number of our authorized shares, or the number of shares of any class or series of capital stock that we have authority to issue, without stockholder approval. Our board of directors also has the authority, under our charter and without stockholder approval, to classify any unissued shares of common or preferred stock into one or more classes or series of stock and to reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of any series of our common or preferred stock. If, however, there are any laws or stock exchange rules that require us to obtain stockholder approval in order for us to take these actions, we will contact our stockholders to solicit that approval.

We believe that the power to issue additional shares of common stock or preferred stock and to classify or reclassify unissued shares of common or preferred stock and then issue the classified or reclassified shares provides us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that may arise in the future. The additional classes or series, as well as the additional shares of stock, will be available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless stockholder approval 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.

Terms and Conditions of Authorized Shares. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, our board of directors is required by Maryland law and our charter to set, subject to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on transfer of stock, the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. As a result, our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of common stock or preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control that would involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be favorable to them.

Stockholder Liability. Applicable Maryland law provides that our stockholders are not personally liable for our acts and obligations and that our funds and property are the only recourse for our acts and obligations.

Common Stock

Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock and to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on transfer of stock, holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive distributions on such stock if, as and when authorized by our board of directors out of assets legally available for the payment of distributions, and declared by us, and to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after payment of or adequate provision for all of our known debts and liabilities.

 

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Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock and except as may otherwise be specified in the terms of any class or series of common stock, each outstanding share of our common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors and, except as provided with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of our common stock 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. Under Maryland law, the holders of a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting at which directors are to be elected is sufficient to elect a director unless a corporation’s charter or bylaws provide otherwise. Our bylaws provide for such plurality voting in the election of directors.

Holders of shares of our common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal rights and have no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for any of our securities. Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock, shares of our common stock have equal dividend, liquidation and other rights.

Our charter authorizes our board of directors to reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock into other classes or series of classes of stock and to establish the number of shares in each class or series and to set the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption for each such class or series.

Preferred Stock

Under our charter, our board of directors may from time to time establish and issue one or more series of preferred stock without stockholder approval. Prior to issuance of shares of each series, our board of directors is required by Maryland law and our charter to set, subject to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on transfer of stock, the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each series. Thus, our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock that have priority over our common stock with respect to dividends or rights upon liquidation or with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control of us that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interests. As of the date hereof, no shares of preferred stock are outstanding. See “Description of Preferred Stock.”

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

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 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities such as qualified pension plans). during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made). To qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy other requirements as well. See “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations—Requirements for Qualification.”

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

 

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person or entity would have been a record owner and beneficial owner or solely a beneficial owner of our stock, or is referred to as a “purported record transferee” if, had the violative transfer been effective, the person or entity would have been solely a record owner of our stock.

The constructive ownership rules under the Code are complex and may cause stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be owned constructively by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.8% by vote or value, whichever is more restrictive, of either our outstanding common stock or our outstanding capital stock in the aggregate (or the acquisition of an interest in an entity that owns, actually or constructively, our stock) by an individual or entity, could, nevertheless cause that individual or entity, or another individual or entity, to own constructively in excess of 9.8% by vote or value, whichever is more restrictive, of either our outstanding common stock or our outstanding capital stock in the aggregate and thereby violate the applicable ownership limit.

Our board of directors must waive the ownership limit with respect to a particular stockholder if it:

 

•

determines that such ownership will not cause any individual’s beneficial ownership of shares of our stock to violate the ownership limit and 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 whose operations are attributed in whole or in part to us) that would cause us to own, actually or constructively, more than a 9.8% 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 the applicant to submit such information as the board of directors may reasonably need to make the determinations regarding our REIT status and additionally may require an opinion of counsel or the United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) ruling satisfactory to our board of directors, and/or representations or undertakings from the applicant with respect to preserving our REIT status.

In connection with the waiver of the ownership limit or at any other time, our board of directors may increase the ownership limitation for some persons and decrease the ownership limit for all other persons and entities; provided, however, that the decreased ownership limit will not be effective for any person or entity whose percentage ownership in our stock is in excess of such decreased ownership limit until such time as such person or entity’s percentage of our stock equals or falls below the decreased ownership limit, but any further acquisition of our stock in excess of such percentage ownership of our common stock will be in violation of the ownership limit. Additionally, the new ownership limit may not allow five or fewer stockholders to beneficially or constructively own more than 49.9% in value of our outstanding stock.

Our charter provisions further prohibit:

 

•

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

 

•

any person from transferring shares of our stock if such transfer would result in shares of our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution).

Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our stock that will or may violate any of the foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will be required to give notice immediately to us and provide us with such other information as we may request in order

 

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to determine the effect of such transfer on our status as a REIT. The foregoing provisions on transferability and ownership will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT.

Pursuant to our charter, any attempted transfer of our stock which, if effective, would result in our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons will be void ab initio. Any attempted transfer of our stock or any other event which, if effective, would result in any person violating the ownership limits or such other limit as permitted by our board of directors, will be void and of no force or effect as to that number of shares in excess of the ownership limit (rounded up to the nearest whole share). That number of shares in excess of the ownership limit will be automatically transferred to, and held by, a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable organizations selected by us. The automatic transfer will be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported transfer or other event that results in a transfer to the trust. Any dividend or other distribution paid to the purported record transferee, prior to our discovery that the shares had been automatically transferred to a trust as described above, must be repaid to the trustee upon demand for distribution to the beneficiary of the trust. If the transfer to the trust as described above is not automatically effective, for any reason, to prevent violation of the applicable ownership limit or as otherwise permitted by our board of directors, then our charter provides that the transfer of the excess shares will be void ab initio.

Shares of our stock transferred to the trustee are deemed offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of: (i) the price paid by the purported record transferee for the shares (or, if the event which resulted in the transfer to the trust did not involve a purchase of such shares of our stock at market price, the last reported sales price reported on the NYSE on the trading day immediately preceding the day of the event which resulted in the transfer of such shares of our stock to the trust); and (ii) the market price on the date we, or our designee, accepts such offer. We have the right to accept such offer until the trustee has sold the shares of our stock held in the trust pursuant to the clauses discussed below. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold terminates and the trustee must distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the purported record transferee and any dividends or other distributions held by the trustee with respect to such stock will be paid to the charitable beneficiary.

If we do not buy the shares, the trustee must, within 20 days of receiving notice from us of the transfer of shares to the trust, sell the shares to a person or entity designated by the trustee who could own the shares without violating the ownership limits and the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock contained in our charter. After that, the trustee must distribute to the purported record transferee an amount equal to the lesser of: (i) the price paid by the purported record transferee or owner for the shares (or, if the event which resulted in the transfer to the trust did not involve a purchase of such shares at market price, the last reported sales price reported on the NYSE on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date); and (ii) the sales proceeds (net of commissions and other expenses of sale) received by the trust for the shares. The purported beneficial transferee or purported record transferee has no rights in the shares held by the trustee.

The trustee shall be designated by us and shall be unaffiliated with us and with any purported record transferee or purported beneficial transferee. Prior to the sale of any excess shares by the trust, the trustee will receive, in trust for the beneficiary, all dividends and other distributions paid by us with respect to the excess shares, and may also exercise all voting rights with respect to the excess shares.

Subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares have been transferred to the trust, the trustee shall have the authority, at the trustee’s sole discretion:

 

•

to rescind as void any vote cast by a purported record transferee prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust; and

 

•

to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the beneficiary of the trust.

 

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However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee may not rescind and recast the vote.

Every owner of 5% or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or regulations promulgated thereunder) of our stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, must give us written notice, stating the person’s name and address, the number of shares of each class and series of our stock that the person beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each such owner also must provide us with any additional information we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of the person’s beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limit. In addition, any person or entity that is a beneficial owner or constructive owner of shares of our stock and any person or entity (including the stockholder of record) who is holding shares of our stock for a beneficial owner or constructive owner must, on request, disclose to us in writing such information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such stockholder’s actual and constructive ownership of shares of our stock on our status as a REIT and to comply, or determine our compliance with, the requirements of any governmental or taxing authority.

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

These restrictions on ownership and transfer could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of us that might involve a premium price for our stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

Our charter provides that we may issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. The following description of our preferred stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of our preferred stock to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The statements below describing the preferred stock are in all respects subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the applicable provisions of our charter (including the applicable articles supplementary) and bylaws.

General

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

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

 

(1)

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

 

(2)

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

 

(3)

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

 

(4)

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

 

(5)

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

 

(6)

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

 

(7)

Provisions for redemption, if applicable, of that preferred stock;

 

(8)

Any listing of that preferred stock on any securities exchange;

 

(9)

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

 

(10)

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

 

(11)

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

 

(12)

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

 

(13)

A discussion of any material federal income tax considerations applicable to that preferred stock;

 

(14)

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

 

(15)

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

 

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Rank

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

 

(1)

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

 

(2)

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

 

(3)

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

Dividends

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

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

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

 

(1)

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

 

(2)

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

When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for their full payment is not so set apart) upon the shares of preferred stock of any class or series and the shares of any other class or series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the preferred stock of that class or series, all dividends declared upon shares of preferred stock of that class or series and any other class or series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with that preferred stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on the preferred stock of that class or series and that other class or series of preferred stock shall in all cases

 

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bear to each other the same ratio that accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of preferred stock of that class or series (which shall not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if that preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend) and that other class or series of preferred stock bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on preferred stock of that series that may be in arrears.

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

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

Redemption

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

The prospectus supplement relating to a class or series of preferred stock that is subject to mandatory redemption will specify the number of shares of that preferred stock that shall be redeemed by us in each year commencing after a date to be specified, at a redemption price per share to be specified, together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (which shall not, if that preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods) to the date of redemption. The redemption price may be payable in cash or other property, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the redemption price for preferred stock of any series is payable only from the net proceeds of the issuance of our stock, the terms of that preferred stock may provide that, if no such stock shall have been issued or to the extent the net proceeds from any issuance are insufficient to pay in full the aggregate redemption price then due, that preferred stock shall automatically and mandatorily be converted into shares of our applicable stock pursuant to conversion provisions specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless:

 

(1)

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

 

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(2)

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

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

In addition, unless:

 

(1)

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

 

(2)

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

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

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

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

 

(1)

the redemption date;

 

(2)

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

 

(3)

the redemption price;

 

(4)

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

 

(5)

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

 

(6)

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

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

 

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Liquidation Preference

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

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

Voting Rights

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

Whenever dividends on any shares of that class or series of preferred stock shall be in arrears for six or more quarterly periods, regardless of whether those quarterly periods are consecutive, the holders of those shares of that class or series of preferred stock (voting separately as a class with all other classes or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors to our board of directors (and our entire board of directors will be increased by two directors) at a special meeting called by one of our officers at the request of a holder of that class or series of preferred stock or, if that special meeting is not called by that officer within 30 days, at a special meeting called by a holder of that class or series of preferred stock designated by the holders of record of at least 10% of the shares of any of those classes or series of preferred stock (unless that request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the stockholders), or at the next annual meeting of stockholders, and at each subsequent annual meeting until:

 

(1)

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

 

(2)

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

 

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

 

(1)

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

 

(2)

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

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

Conversion Rights

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

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

See “Description of Capital Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer,” for a discussion of the restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of capital stock necessary for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for the preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

This prospectus describes the general terms and provisions of our debt securities. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We also will indicate in the prospectus supplement whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee. We have summarized select portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement and you should read the indenture carefully for provisions that may be important to you. Capitalized terms used in the summary and not defined in this prospectus have the meaning specified in the indenture.

General

The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in an officer’s certificate or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series, including any pricing supplement.

Each indenture will provide that we may, but need not, designate more than one trustee for the indenture, each with respect to one or more series of our debt securities. Any trustee under an indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of our debt securities, and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to that series. If two or more persons are acting as trustee to different series of our debt securities, each trustee shall be a trustee of a trust under the applicable indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee and, except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus, any action taken by a trustee may be taken by that trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of debt securities for which it is trustee under the applicable indenture.

Unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any pricing supplement, relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, to the extent applicable:

 

•

the title of the debt securities;

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

the date or dates on which we will pay the principal on the debt securities;

 

•

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

 

•

the place or places where principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be payable, where debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer and exchange and where notices or demands to or upon us relating to debt securities and the indenture may be served;

 

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•

the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities;

 

•

any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities;

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

the currency of denomination of the debt securities;

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

any addition to or change in the events of default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

 

•

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

 

•

any other terms of the debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series;

 

•

a discussion of any material federal income tax consequences applicable to an investment in such debt securities;

 

•

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

 

•

any provisions relating to conversion of any debt securities, including if applicable, the conversion price, the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be mandatory, at the option of the holders thereof or at our option, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion if such debt securities are redeemed;

 

•

whether the debt securities will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and, if applicable, a description of the subordination terms thereof; and

 

•

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

 

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In addition, the indenture does not limit our ability to issue convertible or subordinated debt securities. Any conversion or subordination provisions of a particular series of debt securities will be set forth in the officer’s certificate or supplemental indenture related to that series of debt securities and will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion, either mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, in which case the number of shares of common stock or other securities or the amount of cash to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated as of a time and in the manner stated in the prospectus supplement.

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

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

Transfer and Exchange

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

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

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

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

We will require the depositary to agree to follow the following procedures with respect to book-entry debt securities.

Ownership of beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities will be limited to persons who have accounts with the depositary for the related global debt security, which we refer to as participants, or persons who may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a global debt security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the book-entry debt securities represented by such global debt security beneficially owned by such participants. The accounts to be credited will be designated by any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the

 

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distribution of the book-entry debt securities. Ownership of book-entry debt securities will be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the related global debt security (with respect to interests of participants) and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons holding through participants). The laws of some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities.

So long as the depositary for a global debt security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of that global debt security, the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the book-entry debt securities represented by such global debt security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as described below, beneficial owners of book-entry debt securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of a certificate in definitive form representing securities and will not be considered the owners or holders of those securities under the indenture. Accordingly, each person beneficially owning book-entry debt securities must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the related global debt security and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.

We understand, however, that under existing industry practice, the depositary will authorize the persons on whose behalf it holds a global debt security to exercise certain rights of holders of debt securities, and the indenture provides that we, the trustee and our respective agents will treat as the holder of a debt security the persons specified in a written statement of the depositary with respect to that global debt security for purposes of obtaining any consents or directions required to be given by holders of the debt securities pursuant to the indenture.

We will make payments of principal of, and premium and interest on, book-entry debt securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of the related global debt security. We, the trustee and any other agent of ours or agent of the trustee will not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal of, and premium or interest on, a global debt security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to the respective amounts of book-entry debt securities held by each participant as shown on the records of such depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities held through those participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.

We will issue certificated debt securities in exchange for each global debt security if the depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have the book-entry debt securities of any series represented by one or more global debt securities and, in that event, will issue certificated debt securities in exchange for the global debt securities of that series. Any certificated debt securities issued in exchange for a global debt security will be registered in such name or names as the depositary shall instruct the trustee. We expect that such instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of book-entry debt securities relating to such global debt security.

We have obtained the foregoing information concerning the depositary and the depositary’s book-entry system from sources we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

 

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No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control

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

Covenants

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

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person, which we refer to as a successor person, unless:

 

•

we are the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than us) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture;

 

•

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

 

•

certain other conditions are met.

Events of Default

Event of default means, with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:

 

•

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

 

•

default in the payment of principal of or premium on any debt security of that series when due and payable;

 

•

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

 

•

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our company; and

 

•

any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus.

No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of an event of default may constitute an event of default under our bank credit agreements in existence from time to time. In addition, the occurrence of certain events of default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain of our other indebtedness outstanding from time to time.

 

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

The indenture provides that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any holder of outstanding debt securities, unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

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

 

•

that holder previously has given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to debt securities of that series; and

 

•

the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days.

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

The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any default or event of default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.

 

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Modification and Waiver

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security.

Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium or any interest on, any debt security of that series or in respect of a covenant or provision, which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the series affected; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.

Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances

Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of such series, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of such series, and to maintain paying agencies and certain provisions relating to the treatment of funds held by paying agents). We will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, foreign government obligations, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.

 

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

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

The conditions include:

 

•

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

 

•

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

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

“Foreign Government Obligations” means, with respect to debt securities of any series that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars:

 

•

direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof; or

 

•

obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of that government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by that government which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

Governing Law

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

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

General

We may issue depositary shares, each of which would represent a fractional interest of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. We will deposit shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares under a separate deposit agreement among us, a preferred stock depositary and the holders of the depositary shares. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will possess, in proportion to the fractional interest of a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary shares.

Depositary receipts will evidence the depositary shares issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Immediately after we issue and deliver preferred stock to a preferred stock depositary, the preferred stock depositary will issue the depositary receipts.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends on the preferred stock to the record holders of the depositary shares. Holders of depositary shares generally must file proofs, certificates and other information and pay charges and expenses of the depositary in connection with distributions.

If a distribution on the preferred stock is other than in cash and it is feasible for the depositary to distribute the property it receives, the depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. If such a distribution is not feasible and we approve, the depositary may sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders of the depositary shares.

Withdrawal of Stock

Unless we have previously called the underlying preferred stock for redemption or the holder of the depositary shares has converted such shares, a holder of depositary shares may surrender them at the corporate trust office of the depositary in exchange for whole or fractional shares of the underlying preferred stock together with any money or other property represented by the depositary shares. Once a holder has exchanged the depositary shares, the holder may not redeposit the preferred stock and receive depositary shares again. If a depositary receipt presented for exchange into preferred stock represents more shares of preferred stock than the number to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver a new depositary receipt for the excess number of depositary shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by a depositary, the depositary will redeem the corresponding amount of depositary shares. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price and any other amounts payable with respect to the preferred stock. If we intend to redeem less than all of the underlying preferred stock, our company and the depositary will select the depositary shares to be redeemed as nearly pro rata as practicable without creating fractional depositary shares or by any other equitable method determined by us that preserves our REIT status.

On the redemption date:

 

•

all dividends relating to the shares of preferred stock called for redemption will cease to accrue;

 

•

our company and the depositary will no longer deem the depositary shares called for redemption to be outstanding; and

 

•

all rights of the holders of the depositary shares called for redemption will cease, except the right to receive any money payable upon the redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of the depositary shares are entitled upon redemption.

 

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Voting of the Preferred Stock

When a depositary receives notice regarding a meeting at which the holders of the underlying preferred stock have the right to vote, it will mail that information to the holders of the depositary shares. Each record holder of depositary shares on the record date may then instruct the depositary to exercise its voting rights for the amount of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will vote in accordance with these instructions. The depositary will abstain from voting to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares. A depositary will not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote, or for the manner or effect of any vote, as long as any action or non-action is in good faith and does not result from negligence or willful misconduct of the depositary.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, a holder of depositary shares will receive the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of underlying preferred stock represented by the depositary share.

Conversion of Preferred Stock

Depositary shares will not themselves be convertible into our common stock or any other securities or property of our company. However, if the underlying preferred stock is convertible, holders of depositary shares may surrender them to the depositary with written instructions to convert the preferred stock represented by their depositary shares into whole shares of common stock, other shares of our preferred stock or other shares of stock, as applicable. Upon receipt of these instructions and any amounts payable in connection with a conversion, we will convert the preferred stock using the same procedures as those provided for delivery of preferred stock. If a holder of depositary shares converts only part of its depositary shares, the depositary will issue a new depositary receipt for any depositary shares not converted. We will not issue fractional shares of common stock upon conversion. If a conversion will result in the issuance of a fractional share, we will pay an amount in cash equal to the value of the fractional interest based upon the closing price of the common stock on the last business day prior to the conversion.

Amendment and Termination of a Deposit Agreement

Our company and the depositary may amend any form of depositary receipt evidencing depositary shares and any provision of a deposit agreement. However, unless the existing holders of at least two-thirds of the applicable depositary shares then outstanding have approved the amendment, we may not make any amendment that:

 

•

would materially and adversely alter the rights of the holders of depositary shares; or

 

•

would be materially and adversely inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the underlying preferred stock.

Subject to exceptions in the deposit agreement and except in order to comply with the law, no amendment may impair the right of any holders of depositary shares to surrender their depositary shares with instructions to deliver the underlying preferred stock and all money and other property represented by the depositary shares. Every holder of outstanding depositary shares at the time any amendment becomes effective who continues to hold the depositary shares will be deemed to consent and agree to the amendment and to be bound by the amended deposit agreement.

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

 

•

the termination is necessary to preserve our REIT status; or

 

•

a majority of each series of preferred stock affected by the termination consents to the termination.

Upon a termination of a deposit agreement, holders of the depositary shares may surrender their depositary shares and receive in exchange the number of whole or fractional shares of preferred stock and any other property represented by the depositary shares. If we terminate a deposit agreement to preserve our status as a

 

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REIT, then we will use our best efforts to list the preferred stock issued upon surrender of the related depositary shares on a national securities exchange.

In addition, a deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

 

•

we have redeemed all underlying preferred stock subject to the agreement;

 

•

a final distribution of the underlying preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up has occurred, and the depositary has distributed the distribution to the holders of the depositary shares; or

 

•

each share of the underlying preferred stock has been converted into other capital stock of our company not represented by depositary shares.

Charges of a Preferred Stock Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising in connection with a deposit agreement. In addition, we will generally pay the fees and expenses of a depositary in connection with the performance of its duties. However, holders of depositary shares will pay the fees and expenses of a depositary for any duties requested by the holders that the deposit agreement does not expressly require the depositary to perform.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

A depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to resign. We may also remove a depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary. We will appoint a successor depositary within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal. The successor must be a bank or trust company with its principal office in the United States and have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

Miscellaneous

The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares any reports and communications from us with respect to the underlying preferred stock.

Neither the depositary nor our company will be liable if any law or any circumstances beyond their control prevent or delay them from performing their obligations under a deposit agreement. The obligations of our company and a depositary under a deposit agreement will be limited to performing our duties in good faith and without negligence in regard to voting of preferred stock, gross negligence or willful misconduct. Neither us nor a depositary must prosecute or defend any legal proceeding with respect to any depositary shares or the underlying preferred stock unless they are furnished with satisfactory indemnity.

Our company and any depositary may rely on the written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting shares of preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary shares or other persons they believe in good faith to be competent, and on documents they believe in good faith to be genuine and signed by a proper party.

In the event a depositary receives conflicting claims, requests or instructions from our company and any holders of depositary shares, the depositary will be entitled to act on the claims, requests or instructions received from us.

Depositary

The prospectus supplement will identify the depositary for the depositary shares.

Listing of the Depositary Shares

The prospectus supplement will specify whether or not the depositary shares will be listed on any securities exchange.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

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

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

 

(1)

the title of the warrants;

 

(2)

the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

(3)

the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

 

(4)

the designation, number and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

(5)

the designation and terms of the other securities offered by this prospectus with which the warrants are issued and the number of the warrants issued with each security offered by this prospectus;

 

(6)

the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

(7)

the price or prices at which the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

 

(8)

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which that right shall expire;

 

(9)

the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

(10)

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

 

(11)

a discussion of any material federal income tax considerations; and

 

(12)

any other material terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

 

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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

The following description summarizes the material terms of certain provisions of Maryland law, including the MGCL, and our charter and bylaws. You should review the MGCL, our charter and our bylaws for complete information. We have filed our charter and bylaws as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Our Board of Directors, Vacancies on Our Board of Directors and Removal of Directors

Number and Election of Directors. Our bylaws provide that the number of our directors will be fixed by a majority of our entire board of directors, but may not be fewer than the minimum number permitted under Maryland law or more than fifteen. In establishing the number of directors, the board of directors may not alter the term of office of any director in office at that time.

Pursuant to our charter, each of our directors is elected to serve until the next annual meeting of our stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Holders of shares of our common stock will have no right to cumulative voting in the election of directors. Our bylaws provide that at each annual meeting of stockholders, a plurality of votes cast will be able to elect the directors standing for election.

Vacancies on Our Board of Directors. In our charter, we have elected to be subject to Section 3-804(c) of the MGCL, and subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock, any vacancy may be filled only by an affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the full term of the directorship in which such vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

Removal of Directors. Our charter provides that, except for any directors elected by holders of a class or series of shares other than common stock, a director may be removed by the stockholders only with the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors and only for “cause.” In our charter, “cause” means, with respect to any particular director, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such director caused demonstrable, material harm to us through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty. This provision, when coupled with the exclusive power of our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, may preclude stockholders from removing incumbent directors and filling the vacancies created by such removal with their own nominees.

Amendment of Our Charter

Our charter generally provides that charter amendments requiring stockholder approval must be declared advisable by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, our charter’s provisions regarding removal of directors, restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock and the number of votes required to amend either of these sections may be amended only if such amendment is declared advisable by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast not less than two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Bylaw Amendments

Our board of directors has the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws.

Transactions Outside the Ordinary Course of Business

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not merge with or into another entity, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of its business unless the transaction or transactions are recommended by a majority of the entire board of

 

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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. However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage of the shares entitled to vote on the matter, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter provides for approval of these matters by at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast. However, because operating assets may be held by a corporation’s subsidiaries, as in our situation, this may mean that one of our subsidiaries could transfer all of its assets without any vote of our stockholders.

Dissolution

A proposal that we dissolve must be recommended by a majority of the entire board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

Our bylaws provide for advance notice by a stockholder or stockholders wishing to have certain matters considered and voted upon at a meeting of stockholders.

With respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of persons 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 entitled to vote at the meeting and has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws.

These procedures generally require the stockholder to deliver notice to our secretary not earlier than the 150th day nor later than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice for the preceding year’s annual meeting. If the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days from the date of the preceding year’s meeting or if we did not hold an annual meeting the preceding year, notice must be delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the 10th day following the day on which disclosure of the date of the meeting is made.

With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of meeting may be brought before the meeting of stockholders. Nominations of persons 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 our board of directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in our bylaws.

Notice must be delivered not earlier than the 120th day prior to the date of the special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of the special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which disclosure of the date of the special meeting is made.

The postponement or adjournment of an annual or special meeting to a later date or time will not commence any new time periods for the giving of the notice described above. Our bylaws contain detailed requirements for the contents of stockholder notices of director nominations and new business proposals.

 

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Business Combinations

The Maryland Business Combination Act establishes special requirements for “business combinations” (including a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in certain circumstances, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between a Maryland corporation and any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s shares or an affiliate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question and after the date on which the corporation had 100 or more beneficial owners of its stock, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the corporation or an “Interested Stockholder.” A corporation may not engage in any business combinations with an Interested Stockholder, or an affiliate of such an Interested Stockholder for a period of five years after the most recent date on which the Interested Stockholder becomes an Interested Stockholder. Thereafter, any such business combination must be recommended by the board of directors of such corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least (i) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation and (ii) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the Interested Stockholder with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to be effected, unless, among other conditions, the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price (as defined in Maryland law) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the Interested Stockholder for its shares. Under the MGCL, a person is not considered an Interested Stockholder under the statute if our board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an Interested Stockholder.

These provisions of Maryland law do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by resolution of our board of directors provided that the exemption would not apply to a business combination with a particular Interested Stockholder unless the resolution is adopted prior to the time that the Interested Stockholder becomes an Interested Stockholder. Pursuant to the MGCL, our board of directors has by resolution exempted business combinations between us and any person, provided that such business combination is first approved by our board of directors (including a majority of our directors who are not affiliates or associates of such person). Consequently, the five year prohibition and the supermajority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations between us and any person described above. As a result, any person described above may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interests of our stockholders without compliance by us with the supermajority vote requirements and other provisions of the statute. Should our board of directors opt back into the statute or otherwise fail to 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.

Our charter provides that any business combinations must be approved by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of our voting stock.

Control Share Acquisitions

The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act provides that “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights except to the extent approved at a special meeting by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares of stock in a corporation in respect of which any of the following persons is entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power of shares of stock of the corporation in the election of directors: (i) a person who makes or proposes to make a control share acquisition; (ii) an officer of the corporation; or (iii) an employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation. “Control shares” are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other such shares of stock previously acquired by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power: (i) one-tenth or more but less than one-third; (ii) one-third or more but less than a majority; or (iii) a majority or more of all voting power. Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a

 

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result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of ownership of, or the power to direct the exercise of voting power with respect to, 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 acquirer 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 acquirer 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 acquirer in the control share acquisition.

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

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act any and all acquisitions by any person of our common stock. There can be no assurance that our board of directors will not amend or eliminate this provision of our bylaws in the future.

Maryland Unsolicited Takeovers Act

The Maryland Unsolicited Takeover Act permits Maryland corporations that have classes of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and have at least three independent directors to elect by resolution of the board of directors or by provision in their charter or bylaws to be subject to certain corporate governance provisions, even if such provisions may be inconsistent with the corporation’s charter and bylaws. Under the Maryland Unsolicited Takeover Act, a board of directors may create classes of directors without the vote of stockholders. Further, the board of directors may, by electing into applicable statutory provisions and notwithstanding any contrary provisions in the charter or bylaws:

 

•

provide that a special meeting of the stockholders will be called at the request of stockholders only if requested by stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting;

 

•

reserve for itself the right to fix the number of directors;

 

•

provide that a director may be removed only by the vote of the holders of two-thirds of the stock entitled to vote; and

 

•

provide that any vacancies on the board of directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualified.

A board of directors may implement all or any of these provisions without amending the charter or bylaws and without stockholder approval. Our charter provides that pursuant to an election under Section 3-804(c) of the Maryland Unsolicited Takeover Act, vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office for the full term of the class of directors in which the

 

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vacancy occurred. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to the Maryland Unsolicited Takeover Act, we already (i) allow the removal of any director from our board of directors but only for cause and then only with the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of our outstanding common stock, (ii) vest in our board the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships and (iii) require, unless called by one of our co-chairmen, our president, our chief executive officer or our board of directors, the request of holders of a majority of outstanding shares to call a special meeting.

Anti-Takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws

The provisions of our charter on removal of directors, provisions that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by the remaining directors for the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred, and the advance notice provisions of our bylaws could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of us that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. Likewise, if our board of directors were to repeal the applicable resolution opting out of the business combination provisions of Maryland law or if the provision in our bylaws opting out of the control share acquisition provisions of Maryland law were rescinded, these provisions of Maryland law could have similar anti-takeover effects.

Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability

Our charter and bylaws provide for indemnification of our officers and directors against liabilities to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law.

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 (i) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (ii) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. Our charter contains such a provision that limits such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

The MGCL requires a Maryland corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that: (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 the 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, under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify a director or officer in a suit by or in the right of the corporation in which the director or officer was adjudged liable to the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct, was adjudged liable to the corporation or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. However, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by us or in our right, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.

In addition, the MGCL permits a 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 by the corporation; and (2) a written

 

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undertaking by the director or officer or on the director’s or officer’s behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer did not meet the standard of conduct.

Our charter authorizes us to obligate ourselves and our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to: (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 us and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of another corporation, REIT, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise 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, with approval of our board of directors, indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of ours in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of us or a predecessor of us.

In addition, we entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors that indemnify them to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. The indemnification agreements provide that:

If a director or executive officer is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, other than a derivative proceeding by or in the right of us, by reason of the director’s or executive officer’s status as a director, officer or employee of us (or, if applicable, such other enterprise at which such director or executive officer is or was serving at our request), we must indemnify the director or executive officer against all judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement and all expenses incurred by the director or executive officer or on behalf of the director or executive officer, in connection with such proceeding, unless it is established that:

 

•

the act or omission of the director or executive officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

•

the director or executive officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

•

with respect to any criminal proceeding, the director or executive officer had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

If a director or executive officer is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed derivative proceeding by or in the right of us to procure a judgment in our favor by reason of the director’s or executive officer’s status as a director or executive officer of us (or, if applicable, such other enterprise at which such director or executive officer is or was serving at our request), we must indemnify the director or executive officer for all amounts paid in settlement and all expenses incurred by him or her, or on his or her behalf, in connection with such proceeding, unless it is established that:

 

•

the act or omission of the director or executive officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; or

 

•

the director or executive officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services.

Notwithstanding, and without limiting, any other provisions of the agreements, if a director or executive officer is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of the director’s or executive officer’s status as a director, officer or employee of us, and the director or executive officer is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such proceeding, we must

 

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indemnify the director or executive officer for all expenses incurred by him or her, or on his or her behalf, in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter, allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis, including any claim, issue or matter in such a proceeding that is terminated by dismissal, with or without prejudice.

We must pay or reimburse all indemnifiable expenses in advance of the final disposition of any proceeding if the director or executive officer furnishes us with a written affirmation of the director’s or executive officer’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by us has been met and a written undertaking to reimburse us if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the director or executive officer is not entitled to indemnification. We must pay all indemnifiable expenses to the director or executive officer within 20 days following the date the director or executive officer submits such affirmations and evidence of the expenses to us.

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

 

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MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following discussion summarizes our taxation and the material federal income tax consequences to stockholders of their ownership of common stock. The tax treatment of stockholders will vary depending upon the stockholder’s particular situation, and this discussion addresses only stockholders that hold our stock as a capital asset and does not deal with all aspects of taxation that may be relevant to particular stockholders in light of their personal investment or tax circumstances. This section also does not deal with all aspects of taxation that may be relevant to certain types of stockholders to which special provisions of the federal income tax laws apply, including:

 

•

dealers in securities or currencies;

 

•

traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings;

 

•

banks and other financial institutions;

 

•

regulated investment companies or REITs;

 

•

tax-exempt organizations (except to the limited extent discussed in “—Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders”);

 

•

certain insurance companies;

 

•

persons liable for the alternative minimum tax;

 

•

holders who received stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation;

 

•

persons that hold stock as a hedge against interest rate or currency risks or as part of a straddle or conversion transaction;

 

•

persons that hold stock as nominees on behalf of other persons;

 

•

persons that hold stock indirectly through other vehicles, such as partnerships, trusts or other entities;

 

•

non-U.S. individuals and foreign corporations (except to the limited extent discussed in “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders”); and

 

•

stockholders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

This summary assumes that you will hold our stock as a capital asset. The statements in this section are based on the Code, its legislative history, current and proposed regulations under the Code, published rulings and court decisions. This summary describes the provisions of these sources of law only as they are currently in effect. All of these sources of law may change at any time, and any change in the law may apply retroactively. We cannot assure you that new laws, interpretations of law or court decisions, any of which may take effect retroactively, will not cause any statement in this section to be inaccurate.

This section is not a substitute for careful tax planning. We urge you to consult your tax advisor regarding the specific tax consequences to you of ownership of our stock and of our election to be taxed as a REIT. Specifically, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the federal, state, local, foreign, and other tax consequences to you regarding the purchase, ownership and sale of our stock. You should also consult with your tax advisor regarding the impact of potential changes in the applicable tax laws.

Taxation of Our Company

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2010.

DLA Piper LLP (US) has provided us an opinion that commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2010, we have been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and our current and proposed method of operation will enable us to

 

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continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. You should be aware, however, that opinions of counsel are not binding upon the IRS or any court. In providing its opinion, DLA Piper LLP (US) is relying, as to certain factual matters, upon the statements and representations contained in certificates provided to DLA Piper LLP (US) by us.

Our qualification as a REIT will depend upon our continuing satisfaction of the requirements of the Code relating to qualification for REIT status. Some of these requirements depend upon actual operating results, distribution levels, diversity of stock ownership, asset composition, source of income and record keeping. Accordingly, while we intend to continue to qualify to be taxed as a REIT, the actual results of our operations for any particular year might not satisfy these requirements. DLA Piper LLP (US) will not monitor our compliance with the requirements for REIT qualification on an ongoing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operation for any particular taxable year will satisfy such requirements. For a discussion of the tax consequences of our failure to qualify as a REIT, see “—Failure to Qualify as a REIT” below.

The sections of the Code relating to qualification and operation as a REIT, and the federal income taxation of a REIT and its stockholders, are highly technical and complex. The following discussion sets forth only the material aspects of those sections. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions and the related rules and regulations.

As a REIT, we generally will be entitled to a federal income tax deduction for dividends that we pay and therefore will not be subject to federal income tax on the taxable income that we distribute to our stockholders. The benefit of this tax treatment is that it avoids the “double taxation,” or taxation at both the corporate and stockholder levels, that generally results from owning shares in a corporation. Our distributions, however, will generally not be eligible for (i) the lower rates of tax applicable under current law to dividends received by individuals or (ii) the corporate dividends received deduction. Further, we will be subject to federal tax in the following circumstances:

 

•

First, we will have to pay tax at regular corporate rates on any REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains.

 

•

Second, under certain circumstances, we may have to pay the alternative minimum tax on items of tax preference.

 

•

Third, if we have (a) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property,” as defined in the Code, which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (b) other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property, we will have to pay tax at the highest corporate rate on that income.

 

•

Fourth, if we have net income from “prohibited transactions,” as defined in the Code, we will have to pay a 100% tax on that income. Prohibited transactions are, in general, certain sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business that do not qualify for a “safe harbor” from such treatment. We do not currently intend to dispose of any of our properties and do not intend to engage in prohibited transactions. We cannot assure you, however, that we will only make sales that satisfy the requirements of the prohibited transaction safe harbor or that the IRS will not successfully assert that one or more of such sales are prohibited transactions.

 

•

Fifth, if we should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, as discussed below under “—Requirements for Qualification,” but we have nonetheless maintained our qualification as a REIT because we have satisfied other requirements necessary to maintain REIT qualification, we will have to pay a 100% tax on an amount equal to the greater of the amount of gross income by which we fail either the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, multiplied by a fraction that is intended to reflect our profitability.

 

•

Sixth, if we should fail to satisfy any of the asset tests other than a de minimis failure of the 5% and 10% asset tests, as discussed below under “—Requirements for Qualification,” but we have

 

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nonetheless maintained our qualification as a REIT because we have satisfied other requirements necessary to maintain REIT qualification and our failure to satisfy a test or tests is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, we will be subject to an excise tax equal to the greater of (i) $50,000 for each taxable year in which we fail to satisfy any of the asset tests or (ii) the amount of net income generated by the assets that caused the failure (for the period from the start of such failure until the failure is resolved or the assets that caused the failure are disposed of), multiplied by the highest corporate tax rate.

 

•

Seventh, if we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (1) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for that year, (2) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for that year and (3) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we would have to pay a 4% excise tax on the excess of that required dividend over the amounts actually distributed.

 

•

Eighth, if we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and asset tests, we will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.

 

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Ninth, if we acquire any appreciated asset from a C corporation in certain transactions in which we must adopt the basis of the asset or any other property in the hands of the C corporation as our basis of the asset in our hands, and we recognize gain on the disposition of that asset during the 10-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired that asset, then we will have to pay tax on the built-in gain at the highest regular corporate rate. In general, a C corporation means a corporation that has to pay full corporate-level tax.

 

•

Tenth, if we receive non-arm’s length income from one of our TRSs (as defined under “—Requirements for Qualification”), we will be subject to a 100% tax on the amount of our non-arm’s length income.

Requirements for Qualification

To qualify as a REIT, we must elect to be treated as a REIT, and we must meet various (a) organizational requirements, (b) gross income tests, (c) asset tests, and (d) annual dividend requirements.

Organizational Requirements

The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

 

•

that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

 

•

the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;

 

•

that would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for the special Code provisions applicable to REITs;

 

•

that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company to which certain provisions of the Code apply;

 

•

the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons;

 

•

during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or constructively, by five or fewer “individuals” (as defined in the Code to also include certain entities); and

 

•

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

The Code provides that the conditions described in the first through fourth bullet points above must be met during the entire taxable year and that the condition described in the fifth bullet point above must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. The conditions described in the fifth and sixth bullet points do not apply until after the first taxable year for which a REIT election is made.

 

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We expect that we have satisfied and will continue to satisfy the conditions described in the first through sixth bullet points of the preceding paragraph. In addition, our charter provides for restrictions regarding the ownership and transfer of our stock. These restrictions are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in the fifth and sixth bullet points of the preceding paragraph. The ownership and transfer restrictions pertaining to our stock are described earlier in this prospectus under the heading “Description of Capital Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”

For purposes of determining share ownership under the sixth bullet point, an “individual” generally includes a supplemental unemployment compensation benefits plan, a private foundation, or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes. An “individual,” however, generally does not include a trust that is a qualified employee pension or profit sharing trust under the federal income tax laws, and beneficiaries of such a trust will be treated as holding our shares in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for purposes of the sixth bullet point.

A corporation that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” is not treated as a corporation separate from its parent REIT. All assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of a “qualified REIT subsidiary” are treated as assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of the REIT. A “qualified REIT subsidiary” is a corporation, all of the capital stock of which is owned by the REIT. Thus, in applying the requirements described herein, any “qualified REIT subsidiary” that we own will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of such subsidiary will be treated as our assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit.

An unincorporated domestic entity, such as a limited liability company, that has a single owner, generally is not treated as an entity separate from its owner for federal income tax purposes. An unincorporated domestic entity with two or more owners is generally treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership, the REIT is treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and as earning its allocable share of the gross income of the partnership for purposes of the applicable REIT qualification tests.

If, as in our case, a REIT is a partner in a partnership, Treasury Regulations provide that the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate capital share of the assets of the partnership and will be deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to that capital share. In addition, the character of the assets and gross income of the partnership will retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and the asset tests. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets, liabilities and items of income of our operating partnership, which will be our principal asset, will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income for purposes of applying the requirements described in this section. In addition, actions taken by our operating partnership or any other entity that is either a disregarded entity (including a qualified REIT subsidiary) or partnership in which we own an interest, either directly or through one or more tiers of disregarded entities (including qualified REIT subsidiaries) or partnerships such as our operating partnership, can affect our ability to satisfy the REIT income and assets tests and the determination of whether we have net income from prohibited transactions. Accordingly, for purposes of this discussion, when we discuss our actions, income or assets we intend that to include the actions, income or assets of our operating partnership or any entity that is either a disregarded entity (including a qualified REIT subsidiary) or partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which we maintain an interest through multiple tiers of disregarded entities (including qualified REIT subsidiaries) or partnerships. It is our intention to exercise our authority as the sole general partner of our operating partnership, and to cause our operating partnership to exercise its authority as general partner of those partnerships in which it owns an interest, so that all such partnerships operate in a manner that will allow us to maintain our status as a REIT.

 

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Gross Income Tests

We must satisfy two gross income tests annually to maintain our qualification as a REIT.

First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year must consist of defined types of income that we derive, directly or indirectly, from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property or qualified temporary investment income. Qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test generally includes:

 

•

rents from real property;

 

•

interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property, or on interests in real property;

 

•

dividends or other distributions on, and gain from the sale of, shares in other REITs;

 

•

gain from the sale of real estate assets; and

 

•

income derived from the temporary investment of new capital that is attributable to the issuance of our shares of beneficial interest or a public offering of our debt with a maturity date of at least five years and that we receive during the one year period beginning on the date on which we received such new capital.

Second, in general, at least 95% of our gross income for each taxable year must consist of income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, other types of interest and dividends, gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, or any combination of these.

We may directly or indirectly receive distributions from TRSs or other corporations that are not REITs or qualified REIT subsidiaries. These distributions will be classified as dividend income to the extent of the earnings and profits of the distributing corporation. Such distributions will generally constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not under the 75% gross income test. Any dividends received by us from a REIT, however, will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 95% and 75% income tests.

Gross income from our sale of property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business is excluded from both the numerator and the denominator in both income tests. The following paragraphs discuss in greater detail the manner in which the gross income tests will apply to us.

Rents from Real Property. Rent that we receive from our real property will qualify as “rents from real property,” which is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests, only if the following conditions are met:

 

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First, the rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. Participating rent, however, will qualify as “rents from real property” if it is based on percentages of receipts or sales and the percentages: (a) are fixed at the time the leases are entered into, (b) are not renegotiated during the term of the leases in a manner that has the effect of basing rent on income or profits, and (c) conform with normal business practice.

More generally, rent will not qualify as “rents from real property” if, considering the relevant lease and all of the surrounding circumstances, the arrangement does not conform with normal business practice, but in reality is used as a means of basing the rent on income or profits. We intend to set and accept rents which are fixed dollar amounts, and not to any extent by reference to any person’s income or profits, in compliance with the rules described above.

 

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Second, we must not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the stock or the assets or net profits of any lessee, referred to as a related party tenant, other than a TRS. The constructive ownership rules generally provide that, if 10% or more in value of our shares is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for any person, we are considered as owning the stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for such person.

 

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We do not own any stock or any assets or net profits of any lessee directly, except that we may lease office or other space to our Services Company (as defined below) or another TRS. We believe that each of the leases will conform with normal business practice, contain arm’s-length terms and that the rent payable under those leases will be treated as rents from real property for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. However, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not successfully assert a contrary position or that a change in circumstances will not cause a portion of the rent payable under the leases to fail to qualify as “rents from real property.” If such failures were in sufficient amounts, we might not be able to satisfy either of the 75% or 95% gross income tests and could lose our REIT status. In addition, if the IRS successfully reapportions or reallocates items of income, deduction, and credit among and between us and a TRS in which we directly or indirectly own an interest with respect to a lease or any intercompany transaction because it determines that doing so is necessary to prevent the evasion of taxes or to clearly reflect income, we could be subject to a 100% excise tax on those amounts. As described above, we may own one or more TRSs. Under an exception to the related-party tenant rule described in the preceding paragraph, rent that we receive from a TRS will qualify as “rents from real property” as long as (1) at least 90% of the leased space in the property is leased to persons other than TRSs and related party tenants, and (2) the amount paid by the TRS to rent space at the property is substantially comparable to rents paid by other tenants of the property for comparable space. If we receive rent from a TRS, we will seek to comply with this exception.

 

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Third, rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property must not be greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease.

The rent attributable to personal property under a lease is the amount that bears the same ratio to total rent under the lease for the taxable year as the average of the fair market values of the leased personal property at the beginning and at the end of the taxable year bears to the average of the aggregate fair market values of both the real and personal property covered by the lease at the beginning and at the end of such taxable year (the “personal property ratio”). With respect to each of our leases, we believe that the personal property ratio generally is less than 15%. Where that is not, or may in the future not be, the case, we believe that any income attributable to personal property will not jeopardize our ability to qualify as a REIT.

 

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Fourth, we cannot furnish or render noncustomary services to the tenants of our properties, or manage or operate our properties, other than through an independent contractor who is adequately compensated and from whom we do not derive or receive any income. However, we need not provide services through an “independent contractor,” but instead may provide services directly to our tenants, if the services are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not considered to be provided for the tenants’ convenience. In addition, we may provide a minimal amount of “noncustomary” services to the tenants of a property, other than through an independent contractor, as long as our income from the services does not exceed 1% of our income from the related property. Finally, we may own up to 100% of the stock of one or more TRSs, which may provide noncustomary services to our tenants without tainting our rents from the related properties.

We do not intend to perform any services other than customary ones for our lessees, other than services provided through independent contractors or TRSs. If a portion of the rent we receive from a property does not qualify as “rents from real property” because the rent attributable to personal property exceeds 15% of the total rent for a taxable year, the portion of the rent attributable to personal property will not be qualifying income for purposes of either the 75% or 95% gross income test. If rent attributable to personal property, plus any other income that is nonqualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, during a taxable year exceeds 5% of our gross income during the year, we would lose our REIT status.

By contrast, in the following circumstances, none of the rent from a lease of property would qualify as “rents from real property”: (1) the rent is considered based on the income or profits of the lessee; (2) the lessee is a related party tenant or fails to qualify for the exception to the related-party tenant rule for qualifying TRSs; or (3) we furnish noncustomary services to the tenants of the property, or manage or operate the property, other than

 

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through a qualifying independent contractor or a TRS, and our income from the services exceeds 1% of our gross income from the related property (for purposes of this test, the income received from such noncustomary services is deemed to be at least 150% of the direct cost of providing the services).

Tenants may be required to pay, in addition to base rent, reimbursements for certain amounts we are obligated to pay to third parties (such as utility and telephone companies), penalties for nonpayment or late payment of rent, lease application or administrative fees. These and other similar payments should qualify as “rents from real property.”

Interest. The term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, if the determination of the amount depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “interest” solely because it is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Furthermore, in the case of a shared appreciation mortgage, any additional interest received on a sale of the secured property will be treated as gain from the sale of the secured property.

Prohibited Transactions. A REIT will incur a 100% tax on the net income derived from any sale or other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that the REIT holds primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. We do not have any current intention to sell any of our properties. Even if we do sell any of our properties, we believe that none of our assets will be held primarily for sale to customers and that a sale of any of our assets will not be in the ordinary course of our business. Whether a REIT holds an asset “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business” depends, however, on the facts and circumstances in effect from time to time, including those related to a particular asset. Nevertheless, we will attempt to comply with the terms of a safe harbor provision in the federal income tax laws prescribing when an asset sale will not be characterized as a prohibited transaction.

Foreclosure Property. We will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate on certain income from foreclosure property. We do not own any foreclosure properties and do not expect to own any foreclosure properties in the future. This situation could only change in the future if we were to make loans to third parties secured by real property.

Hedging Transactions. From time to time, we may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Our hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to enter into any such arrangements, and futures and forward contracts. Any periodic income or gain from the disposition of any financial instrument for these or similar transactions to hedge indebtedness we incur to acquire or carry “real estate assets” should not count as gross income for purposes of the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, provided that certain requirements are met, including that the instrument is properly identified within specified time periods as a hedge along with the risk that it hedges. Otherwise, the income and gain from hedging transactions will generally constitute non-qualifying income both for purposes of the 75% gross income test and the 95% gross income test. We intend to structure any hedging or similar transactions so as to avoid jeopardizing our status as a REIT.

Failure to Satisfy Gross Income Tests

If we fail to satisfy one or both of the gross income tests for any taxable year, we nevertheless may qualify as a REIT for that year if we qualify for relief under certain provisions of the federal income tax laws. Those relief provisions generally will be available if:

 

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our failure to meet the income tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect;

 

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we attach a schedule of the sources of our income to our tax return; and

 

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any incorrect information on the schedule is not due to fraud with intent to evade tax.

 

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We cannot with certainty predict whether any failure to meet these tests will qualify for relief. As discussed above in “—Taxation of Our Company,” even if the relief provisions apply, we would incur a 100% tax on the gross income attributable to the greater of the amounts by which we fail the 75% and 95% gross income tests, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

Asset Tests

To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we also must satisfy the following asset tests at the end of each quarter of each taxable year:

 

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First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must consist of: (a) cash or cash items, including certain receivables, (b) government securities, (c) interests in real property, including leaseholds and options to acquire real property and leaseholds, (d) interests in mortgages on real property, (e) stock in other REITs, and (f) investments in stock or debt instruments during the one year period following our receipt of new capital;

 

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Second, of our investments not included in the 75% asset class other than TRSs, the value of our interest in any one issuer’s securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets;

 

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Third, of our investments not included in the 75% asset class other than TRSs, we may not own more than 10% of the voting power of any one issuer’s outstanding securities;

 

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Fourth, of our investments not included in the 75% asset class other than TRSs, we may not own more than 10% of the value of any one issuer’s outstanding securities; and

 

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Fifth, no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of one or more TRSs.

For purposes of the fourth asset test above, the term “securities” does not include any of the following: (a) equity interests in a partnership; (b) any loan made to an individual or an estate; (c) certain rental agreements in which one or more payments are to be made in subsequent years (other than agreements between a REIT and certain persons related to the REIT); (d) any obligation to pay rents from real property; (e) securities issued by governmental entities that are not dependent in whole or in part on the profits of (or payments made by) a non-governmental entity; (f) any security issued by another REIT; (g) any debt instrument issued by a partnership if the partnership’s income is of a nature that it would satisfy the 75% gross income test described above; and (h) “straight debt securities.” Straight debt generally is defined as a promise to pay a sum certain with interest that is not contingent on profits and which is not convertible. A security will not qualify as “straight debt” where a REIT (or a controlled TRS of the REIT) owns other securities of the issuer of that security that do not qualify as straight debt, unless the value of those other securities constitute, in the aggregate, 1% or less of the total value of that issuer’s outstanding securities. In applying the 10% value test described above, a debt security issued by a partnership to a REIT is not taken into account to the extent, if any, of the REIT’s proportionate equity interest in the partnership.

Certain relief provisions are available to a REIT that does not satisfy the asset requirements. One such provision allows a REIT which fails one or more of the asset requirements for a particular quarter (other than de minimis violations of the 5% and 10% asset tests as described below) to nevertheless maintain its REIT qualifications if (a) it provides the IRS with a description of each asset causing the failure for such quarter, (b) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (c) the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater of (i) $50,000 per failure, and (ii) the product of the net income generated by the assets that caused the failure multiplied by the highest applicable corporate tax rate (currently 35%), and (d) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or otherwise satisfies the relevant asset tests within that time frame.

In the case of the de minimis violations of the 10% and 5% asset tests, a REIT may maintain its qualifications if (a) the value of the assets causing the violation does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the REIT’s

 

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total assets or $10 million and (b) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or the relevant tests are otherwise satisfied within that time frame.

We will monitor the status of our assets for purposes of the various asset tests and will manage our portfolio in order to comply at all times with such tests. If we fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, we will not lose our REIT status if:

 

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we satisfied the asset tests at the end of the preceding calendar quarter; and

 

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the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the asset test requirements arose from changes in the market values of our assets and was not wholly or partly caused by the acquisition of one or more non-qualifying assets.

If we did not satisfy the condition described in the second item, above, we still could avoid disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which it arose.

Distribution Requirements

Each taxable year, we must distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends and deemed distributions of retained capital gains, to our stockholders in an aggregate amount not less than: the sum of (a) 90% of our “REIT taxable income,” computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction or our net capital gain or loss, and (b) 90% of our after-tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property, minus the sum of certain items of non-cash income.

We must pay such dividends in the taxable year to which they relate, or can pay such dividends in the year subsequent to the year to which they relate in the following two situations: (1) we declare the dividend before we timely file our federal income tax return for the year and pay the dividend on or before the first regular dividend payment date after such declaration; or (2) we declare the dividend during, and set the record date in, the last three months of a calendar year while paying the dividend in January of the following year.

To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gains or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, we will have to pay tax on those amounts at regular ordinary and capital gains corporate tax rates. Furthermore, if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (a) 85% of our ordinary income for that year, (b) 95% of our capital gain net income for that year, and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we would have to pay a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the required dividend over the amounts actually distributed.

We may elect to retain and pay income tax on the net long-term capital gains we receive in a taxable year. See “—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders.” If we so elect, we will be treated as having distributed any such retained amount for purposes of the 4% excise tax described above. We intend to make timely dividends sufficient to satisfy the annual dividend requirements and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% excise tax.

It is possible that, from time to time, we may experience timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses and the inclusion of that income and deduction of such expenses in arriving at our REIT taxable income. As a result of the foregoing, we may have less cash than is necessary to distribute all of our taxable income and thereby avoid corporate income tax and the excise tax imposed on certain undistributed income. In such a situation, we may need to borrow funds or issue additional shares of common or preferred stock or pay dividends in the form of taxable stock dividends.

Under certain circumstances, we may be able to correct a failure to meet the distribution requirements for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our stockholders in a later year. We may include such deficiency dividends in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Although we may be able to avoid income tax on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, we will be required to pay interest and a penalty based upon the amount of any deduction we take for deficiency dividends.

 

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Recordkeeping Requirements

We must maintain certain stockholders records in order to avoid paying a penalty, and we must request on an annual basis information from our stockholders designed to disclose the actual ownership of our outstanding stock. We have complied and intend to continue to comply with these requirements.

Accounting Period

In order to elect to be taxed as a REIT, we must use a calendar year accounting period. We use the calendar year as our accounting period for federal income tax purposes.

Failure to Qualify as a REIT

If we failed to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and no relief provision applied, we would have the following consequences. We would be subject to federal income tax and any applicable alternative minimum tax at rates applicable to regular C corporations on our taxable income, determined without reduction for amounts distributed to stockholders. We would not be required to make any distributions to stockholders, and any dividends to stockholders would be taxable as ordinary income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits (which may be subject to tax at preferential rates to individual stockholders). Corporate stockholders could be eligible for a dividends-received deduction if certain conditions are satisfied. Unless we qualified for relief under specific statutory provisions, we would not be permitted to elect taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we ceased to qualify as a REIT.

Taxable REIT Subsidiaries

A TRS is any corporation in which a REIT directly or indirectly owns stock, provided that the REIT and that corporation make a joint election to treat that corporation as a TRS. The election can be revoked at any time as long as the REIT and the TRS revoke such election jointly. In addition, if a TRS holds directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the securities of any other corporation (by vote or by value), then that other corporation is also treated as a TRS. A corporation can be a TRS with respect to more than one REIT. We have made TRS elections for Campus Crest TRS Holdings Inc., The Grove Student Properties, Inc., Campus Crest Construction, Inc. and Campus Crest Development, Inc., which we refer to collectively as the “Services Companies” and each individually as a “Services Company.” We will conduct our development, construction and management services for third parties through our Services Companies. We also will conduct certain management services for own properties through our Services Companies as necessary to satisfy the gross income tests described above. The income earned by each Services Company will be subject to regular federal corporate income or franchise tax as well as state and local income tax where applicable and will therefore be subject to an additional level of tax as compared to the rental income earned from our properties.

A TRS is subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates, and may also be subject to state and local taxation. Any dividends paid by any one of our TRSs or deemed received by us from any one of our TRSs will also be subject to tax, either (i) to us if we do not pay the dividends received to our stockholders as dividends, or (ii) to our stockholders if we do pay out the dividends received to our stockholders. Further, the rules impose a 100% excise tax on transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT or the REIT’s tenants that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. We may hold more than 10% of the stock of a TRS without jeopardizing our qualification as a REIT notwithstanding the rule described above under “—Requirements for Qualification—Asset Tests” that generally precludes ownership of more than 10% (by vote or value) of any issuer’s securities. However, as noted above, in order for us to qualify as a REIT, the securities of all of the TRSs in which we have invested either directly or indirectly may not represent more than 25% of the total value of our assets. We expect that the aggregate value of all of our interests in TRSs will represent less than 25% of the total value of our assets, and will, to the extent necessary, limit the activities of the Services Companies or take other actions necessary to satisfy the 25% value limit. We cannot, however, assure that we will always satisfy the 25% value limit or that the IRS will agree with the value we assign to the Services Companies and any other TRS in which we own an interest.

 

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A TRS is not permitted to directly or indirectly operate or manage a “lodging facility.” A “lodging facility” is defined as a “hotel, motel or other establishment more than one-half of the dwelling units in which are used on a transient basis.” We have been advised by counsel that our Services Companies will not be considered to operate or manage a lodging facility. Although the Services Companies are expected to lease certain of our student housing properties on a short term basis during the summer months and occasionally during other times of the year, we have been advised that such limited short term leasing will not cause the Services Companies to be considered to directly or indirectly operate or manage a lodging facility. This position is based in part on Treasury Regulations interpreting similar language applicable to other provisions of the Code. Treasury Regulations or other guidance specifically adopted for purposes of the TRS provisions might take a different approach, and, even absent such guidance, the IRS might take a contrary view. In such an event, we might be forced to change our method of operating the Services Companies, which could adversely affect us, or could cause the Services Companies to fail to qualify as TRSs, in which event we could fail to qualify as a REIT.

We may engage in activities indirectly though a TRS as necessary or convenient to avoid receiving the benefit of income or services that would jeopardize our REIT status if we engaged in the activities directly. In particular, we would likely engage in activities through a TRS for providing services that are non-customary and services to unrelated parties (such as our third-party construction, development and management services) that might produce income that does not qualify under the gross income tests described below. We might also hold certain properties in the Services Companies, such as our interest in certain of the leasehold properties if we determine that the ownership structure of such properties may produce income that would not qualify for purposes of the REIT income tests described below.

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders

As used in this section, the term “U.S. stockholder” means a holder of our stock who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:

 

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a citizen or resident of the U.S.;

 

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a domestic corporation;

 

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an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

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a trust if a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

As long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions made by us out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, and not designated as capital gain dividends, will constitute dividends taxable to our taxable U.S. stockholders as ordinary income. In determining the extent to which a distribution with respect to our shares of preferred stock constitutes a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our earnings and profits will be allocated first to distributions with respect to our shares of preferred stock and then to our shares of common stock. Under current law, individuals receiving “qualified dividends,” dividends from domestic and certain qualifying foreign subchapter C corporations, may be entitled to the new lower rates on dividends (at rates applicable to long-term capital gains, currently at a maximum rate of 15% through 2012) provided certain holding period requirements are met. However, individuals receiving dividend distributions from us, a REIT, will generally not be eligible for the lower rates on dividends except with respect to the portion of any distribution which (a) represents dividends being passed through to us from a corporation in which we own shares (but only if such dividends would be eligible for the lower rates on dividends if paid by the corporation to its individual stockholders), including dividends from our TRS, (b) which is equal to our REIT taxable income (taking into account the dividends paid deduction available to us) less any taxes paid by us on these items during our previous taxable year, or (c) are attributable to built-in gains realized and recognized by us from disposition of properties acquired by us in non-recognition transaction, less any taxes paid by us on these items during our previous taxable year. Dividends of this kind will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction in the case of taxable U.S. stockholders that are corporations.

 

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Dividends made by us that we properly designate as capital gain dividends will be taxable to taxable U.S. stockholders as gain from the sale of a capital asset held for more than one year, to the extent that they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which a taxable U.S. stockholder has held his stock. Designations made by us will only be effective to the extent that they comply with Revenue Ruling 89-81, which requires that distributions made to different classes of shares be composed proportionately of dividends of a particular type. Thus, with certain limitations, capital gain dividends received by an individual taxable U.S. stockholder may be eligible for preferential rates of taxation. Taxable U.S. stockholders that are corporations may, however, be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.

To the extent that we make distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, these distributions will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital to each taxable U.S. stockholder. Thus, these distributions will reduce the basis which the taxable U.S. stockholder has in his stock for tax purposes by the amount of the distribution, but not below zero. Such distributions in excess of a taxable U.S. stockholder’s basis in his or her stock will be taxable as capital gains, provided that the stock has been held as a capital asset.

Dividends authorized by us in October, November, or December of any year and 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 that we actually pay the dividend in January of the following calendar year. Stockholders may not include in their own income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.

We may elect to retain, rather than distribute, all or a portion of our net long-term capital gains and pay the tax on such gains. If we make such an election, we will designate amounts as undistributed capital gains in respect of your shares or beneficial interests by written notice to you which we will mail out to you with our annual report or at any time within 60 days after December 31 of any year. When we make such an election, taxable U.S. stockholders holding our stock at the close of our taxable year will be required to include, in computing their long-term capital gains for the taxable year in which the last day of our taxable year falls, the amount that we designate in a written notice mailed to our stockholders. We may not designate amounts in excess of our undistributed net capital gain for the taxable year. Each taxable U.S. stockholder required to include the designated amount in determining the stockholder’s long-term capital gains will be deemed to have paid, in the taxable year of the inclusion, the tax paid by us in respect of the undistributed net capital gains. Taxable U.S. stockholders to whom these rules apply will be allowed a credit or a refund, as the case may be, for the tax they are deemed to have paid. Taxable U.S. stockholders will increase their basis in their stock by the difference between the amount of the includible gains and the tax deemed paid by the stockholder in respect of these gains.

Dividends made by us and gain arising from a taxable U.S. stockholder’s sale or exchange of his stock will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, taxable U.S. stockholders generally will not be able to apply any passive losses against that income or gain.

When a taxable U.S. stockholder sells or otherwise disposes of his stock, the stockholder will recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between (a) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received on the sale or other disposition, and (b) the holder’s adjusted basis in his stock for tax purposes. This gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if the U.S. stockholder has held our stock as a capital asset. The gain or loss will be long-term gain or loss if the U.S. stockholder has held the stock for more than one year. Long-term capital gains of an individual taxable U.S. stockholder is generally taxed at preferential rates. The highest marginal individual income tax rate is currently 35% (through 2012). The current maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains applicable to individuals is 15% (through 2012) for sales and exchanges of assets held for more than one year. The maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains from the sale or exchange of “section 1250 property” (i.e., generally, depreciable real property) is 25% to the extent the gain would have been treated as ordinary income if the property were “section 1245 property” (i.e., generally, depreciable personal property). We generally may designate whether a distribution we designate as capital gain

 

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dividends (and any retained capital gain that we are deemed to distribute) is taxable to non-corporate stockholders at a 15% or 25% rate. The characterization of income as capital gain or ordinary income may affect the deductibility of a stockholders capital losses. A non-corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses not offset by capital gains against its ordinary income only up to a maximum of $3,000 annually and may carry unused capital losses forward indefinitely. A corporate taxpayer must pay tax on its net capital gains at corporate ordinary-income rates. A corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses only to the extent of capital gains, with unused losses carried back three years and forward five years. In general, any loss recognized by a taxable U.S. stockholder when the stockholder sells or otherwise disposes of his stock that the stockholder has held for six months or less, after applying certain holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss, to the extent of dividends received by the stockholder from us which were required to be treated as long-term capital gains.

Redemptions of Our Preferred Stock

If we issue shares of preferred stock which are redeemable, the treatment accorded to any redemption by us for cash (as distinguished from a sale, exchange or other disposition) of our shares of preferred stock to a holder of such preferred stock can only be determined on the basis of the particular facts as to each holder at the time of redemption. In general, a holder of our preferred stock will recognize capital gain or loss measured by the difference between the amount received by the holder of such shares upon the redemption and such holder’s adjusted tax basis in the preferred stock redeemed (provided the shares of preferred stock are held as a capital asset) if such redemption (i) results in a “complete termination” of the holder’s interest in all classes of our shares under Section 302(b)(3) of the Code, or (ii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the holder of the preferred stock under Section 302(b)(1) of the Code. In applying these tests, there must be taken into account not only the preferred stock being redeemed, but also such holder’s ownership of other classes and series of our shares and any options (including stock purchase rights) to acquire any of the foregoing. The holder of our preferred stock also must take into account any such securities (including options) which are considered to be owned by such holder by reason of the constructive ownership rules set forth in Sections 318 and 302(c) of the Code.

If the holder of preferred stock owns (actually or constructively) none of our voting shares, or owns an insubstantial amount of our voting shares, based upon current law, it is probable that the redemption of preferred stock from such a holder would be considered to be “not essentially equivalent to a dividend.” However, whether a distribution is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” depends on all of the facts and circumstances, and a holder of our preferred stock intending to rely on any of these tests at the time of redemption should consult its tax advisor to determine their application to its particular situation. If the redemption does not meet any of the tests under Section 302 of the Code, then the redemption proceeds received from our preferred stock will be treated as a distribution on our shares. If the redemption of a holder’s preferred stock is taxed as a dividend, the adjusted basis of such holder’s redeemed preferred stock will be transferred to any other shares held by the holder. If the holder owns no other shares, under certain circumstances, such basis may be transferred to a related person, or it may be lost entirely.

With respect to a redemption of our preferred stock that is treated as a distribution with respect to our shares, which is not otherwise taxable as a dividend, the IRS has proposed Treasury regulations that would require any basis reduction associated with such a redemption to be applied on a share-by-share basis which could result in taxable gain with respect to some shares, even though the holder’s aggregate basis for the shares would be sufficient to absorb the entire amount of the redemption distribution (in excess of any amount of such distribution treated as a dividend). Additionally, these proposed Treasury regulations would not permit the transfer of basis in the redeemed shares of the preferred stock to the remaining shares held (directly or indirectly) by the redeemed holder. Instead, the unrecovered basis in our preferred stock would be treated as a deferred loss to be recognized when certain conditions are satisfied. These proposed Treasury regulations would be effective for transactions that occur after the date the regulations are published as final Treasury regulations. There can, however, be no assurance as to whether, when, and in what particular form such proposed Treasury regulations will ultimately be finalized.

 

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Conversion of Our Preferred Stock into Common Stock

Except as provided below, if we issue shares of preferred stock which are convertible, a U.S. stockholder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the conversion of our preferred stock into our common stock. Except as provided below, a U.S. stockholder’s basis and holding period in the common stock received upon conversion generally will be the same as those of the converted shares of preferred stock (but the basis will be reduced by the portion of adjusted tax basis allocated to any fractional common share exchanged for cash). Any shares of common stock received in a conversion that is attributable to accumulated and unpaid dividends on the converted shares of preferred stock will be treated as a distribution on our shares. Cash received upon conversion in lieu of a fractional share of common stock generally will be treated as a payment in a taxable exchange for such fractional share of common stock, and gain or loss will be recognized on the receipt of cash in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the adjusted tax basis allocable to the fractional share of common stock deemed exchanged. This gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. stockholder has held the preferred stock for more than one year. U.S. stockholders should consult with their tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of any transaction by which such holder exchanges common stock received on a conversion of preferred stock for cash or other property.

Tax Rates

The maximum tax rate for non-corporate taxpayers for (1) capital gains, including certain “capital gain dividends,” is generally 15% through 2012 (although depending on the characteristics of the assets which produced these gains and on designations which we may make, certain capital gain dividends may be taxed at a 25% rate) and (2) “qualified dividend income” is generally 15% through 2012. In general, dividends payable by REITs are not eligible for the reduced tax rate on qualified dividend income, except to the extent that certain holding requirements have been met and the REIT’s dividends are attributable to dividends received from taxable corporations (such as its TRSs) 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) or are properly designated by the REIT as “capital gain dividends.” The currently applicable provisions of the United States federal income tax laws relating to the 15% tax rate are currently scheduled to “sunset” or revert to the provisions of prior law effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, at which time the 15% capital gains tax rate will be increased to 20% and the rate applicable to dividends will be increased to the tax rate then applicable to ordinary income. United States stockholders that are corporations may, however, be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain dividends as ordinary income.

On March 30, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, which requires certain domestic stockholders who are individuals, estates or trusts to pay an additional 3.8% tax on, among other things, dividends on and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stock for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. Domestic stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this legislation on their ownership and disposition of our stock.

New Legislation Relating to 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 and interest on, and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, capital stock or debt securities 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.

 

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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 stock or interest on our debt securities (excluding those debt securities outstanding on March 18, 2012) made on or after January 1, 2014 and to payments of gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of such stock or debt securities on or after January 1, 2015. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding these withholding provisions, including this recent IRS guidance.

Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding

We will report to our stockholders and to the IRS the amount of dividends we pay during each calendar year and the amount of tax we withhold, if any. A stockholder may be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% with respect to dividends unless the holder:

 

•

is a corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact; or

 

•

provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

A stockholder who does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification number also may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against the stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain dividends to any stockholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to us. For a discussion of the backup withholding rules as applied to non-U.S. stockholders, see “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders.”

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders

Amounts distributed as dividends by a REIT generally should not constitute unrelated business taxable income when received by a tax-exempt entity. Provided that a tax-exempt stockholder is not one of the types of entity described in the next paragraph and has not held our stock as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Code, and our stock is not otherwise used in a trade or business, the dividend income from our stock should not be unrelated business taxable income to a tax-exempt stockholder. Similarly, income from the sale of our stock should not constitute unrelated business taxable income unless the tax-exempt stockholder has held the stock as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Code or has used the stock in a trade or business.

Income from an investment in our stock will constitute unrelated business taxable income for tax-exempt stockholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans exempt from federal income taxation under the applicable subsections of Section 501(c) of the Code, unless the organization is able to properly deduct amounts set aside or placed in reserve for certain purposes so as to offset the income generated by its stock. Prospective investors of the types described in the preceding sentence should consult their own tax advisors concerning these “set aside” and reserve requirements.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, a portion of the dividends paid by a “pension-held REIT” will be treated as unrelated business taxable income to any trust which:

 

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is described in Section 401(a) of the Code;

 

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is tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code; and

 

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holds more than 10% (by value) of the equity interests in the REIT.

 

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Tax-exempt pension, profit-sharing and stock bonus funds that are described in Section 401(a) of the Code are referred to below as “qualified trusts.” A REIT is a “pension-held REIT” if:

 

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it would not have qualified as a REIT but for the fact that Section 856(h)(3) of the Code provides that stock owned by qualified trusts will be treated, for purposes of the “not closely held” requirement, as owned by the beneficiaries of the trust (rather than by the trust itself); and

 

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either (a) at least one qualified trust holds more than 25% by value of the interests in the REIT or (b) one or more qualified trusts, each of which owns more than 10% by value of the interests in the REIT, hold in the aggregate more than 50% by value of the interests in the REIT.

The percentage of any REIT dividend treated as unrelated business taxable income to a qualifying trust is equal to the ratio of (a) the gross income of the REIT from unrelated trades or businesses, determined as though the REIT were a qualified trust, less direct expenses related to this gross income, to (b) the total gross income of the REIT, less direct expenses related to the total gross income. An exception applies for years in which the percentage is less than 5%. We do not expect to be classified as a pension-held REIT, but this cannot be guaranteed.

The rules described above in “—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders” concerning the inclusion of our designated undistributed net capital gains in the income of our stockholders will apply to tax-exempt entities. Thus, tax-exempt entities will be allowed a credit or refund of the tax deemed paid by these entities in respect of the includible gains.

Tax Shelter Reporting

If a holder of our shares recognizes a loss as a result of a transaction with respect to our shares of preferred stock of at least (i) $2 million or more in a single taxable year or $4 million or more in a combination of taxable years, for a stockholder that is an individual, S corporation, trust, or a partnership with at least one non-corporate partner, or (ii) $10 million or more in a single taxable year or $20 million or more in a combination of taxable years, for a stockholder that is either a corporation or a partnership with only corporate partners, such stockholder may be required to file a disclosure statement with the IRS on Form 8886.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders

The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships, and other foreign stockholders are complex. This section is only a summary of such rules. We urge non-U.S. stockholders to consult their own tax advisors to determine the impact of federal, state, and local income tax laws on ownership of our stock, including any reporting requirements.

Ordinary Dividends. Dividends paid to non-U.S. stockholders, other than dividends that are distributions treated as attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests (“USRPI”) as discussed below, generally will be, to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, subject to a withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the dividend, unless an applicable tax treaty reduces that tax. However, if income from the investment in our stock is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business or is attributable to a permanent establishment that the non-U.S. stockholder maintains in the United States, if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting the non-U.S. stockholder to U.S. taxation on a net income basis, tax at graduated rates will generally apply to the non-U.S. stockholder in the same manner as U.S. stockholders are taxed with respect to dividends, and the 30% (or lower treaty rate) branch profits tax may also apply if the stockholder is a foreign corporation. We expect to withhold U.S. tax at the rate of 30% on the gross amount of any dividends, other than dividends treated as attributable to gain from sales or exchanges of USRPIs, paid to a non-U.S. stockholder, unless (a) a lower treaty rate applies and the required form evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate (ordinarily, IRS Form W-8 BEN) is filed with us or the appropriate withholding agent (b) the

 

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recipient is a foreign sovereign, or an agency or instrumentality of a foreign sovereign and the requested form (IRS Form W-8BEN) is filed with us to claim exemption from withholding, or (c) the non-U.S. stockholder files an IRS Form W-8 ECI or a successor form with us or the appropriate withholding agent claiming that the dividends are effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business. Dividends to a non-U.S. stockholder that are designated by us at the time of dividend as capital gain dividends which are not attributable to or treated as attributable to the disposition by us of a USRPI interest generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation, except as described below.

Non-Dividend Distributions. If our stock does not constitute a USRPI (as described under “—Sale of Our Stock”), distributions by us which are not dividends out of our earnings and profits will not be subject to U.S. income tax. If it cannot be determined at the time at which a distribution is made whether or not the distribution will exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to dividends. A non-U.S. stockholder may apply to the IRS for a refund of the amounts withheld if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

If our stock constitutes a USRPI, as described below under “—Sale of Our Stock” distributions in excess of our earnings and profits, to the extent they exceed a non-U.S. stockholder’s basis in his stock, will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such stock and be taxed under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, as amended (“FIRPTA”), as a gain from the sale of his stock. We do not believe our stock will be a USRPI.

Distributions Attributable to USRPIs. For any year in which we qualify as a REIT, dividends that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of USRPIs will be taxed to a non-U.S. stockholder under FIRPTA. These dividends are generally taxed to a non-U.S. stockholder as if the gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business, thereby taxing non-U.S. stockholders on these dividends at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. stockholders. We are required to withhold at the maximum tax rate applicable to corporations (currently 35%) of any such distribution attributable to gains from sales or exchanges of USRPIs. The non-U.S. stockholder may credit the amount withheld against its U.S. tax liability and apply for a refund to the extent the amount withheld exceeds the non-U.S. stockholder’s U.S. tax liability.

A distribution that otherwise would have been subject to withholding under the rules described in the preceding paragraph, is not treated as gain from the sale of a U.S. real property interest taxed at normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. stockholders, and will instead by treated the same as an ordinary dividend, provided that (1) the capital gain dividend is received with respect to a class of stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States, and (2) the recipient non-U.S. stockholder does not own more than 5% of that class of stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date on which the capital gain dividend is received.

Sale of Our Stock. Gain recognized by a non-U.S. stockholder on the sale of stock in a U.S. corporation may be subject to tax under FIRPTA if the stock constitutes a USRPI. Stock in a U.S. corporation generally constitutes a USRPI if 50% or more of the corporation’s assets consists of interests in real property. Gain recognized by a non-U.S. stockholder upon a sale or exchange of our stock generally will not be taxed under the FIRPTA if we are a “domestically controlled REIT,” defined generally as a REIT, less than 50% in value of whose stock is and was held directly or indirectly by foreign persons at all times during a specified testing period. We believe that we are a domestically controlled REIT, and, therefore, the sale of stock by a non-U.S. stockholder will not be subject to U.S. tax. Because our stock is publicly traded, however, no assurance can be given that we will qualify as a domestically controlled REIT at any time in the future. Gain resulting from the sale of our stock by a non-U.S. person that is not subject to FIRPTA is not taxable to a non-U.S. stockholder unless its investment in our stock is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s U.S. trade or business or is attributable to a permanent establishment that the non-U.S. stockholder maintains in the United States, if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting the

 

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non-U.S. stockholder to U.S. taxation on a net income basis, in which cases, the same treatment will apply to the non-U.S. stockholder as to U.S. stockholders with respect to the gain. In addition, gain to which the FIRPTA does not apply will be taxable to a non-U.S. stockholder if the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year to which the gain is attributable.

Even if we were not a domestically controlled REIT, FIRPTA would not apply to a non-U.S. stockholder’s sale of his stock if the selling non-U.S. stockholder owned 5% or less of the class of stock sold at any time during a specified period. This period is generally the shorter of the period that the non-U.S. stockholder owned the stock sold or the five-year period ending on the date when the non-U.S. stockholder disposed of the stock. If FIRPTA applies to a non-U.S. stockholders sale of our stock, the non-U.S. stockholder would be subject to the same treatment as applicable to U.S. stockholders with respect to the gain, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals.

Conversion of our preferred stock into common stock. Except as provided below, if we issue shares of preferred stock which are convertible, a non-U.S. stockholder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the conversion of our preferred stock into our common stock, provided our shares of preferred stock do not constitute a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”). Even if our shares of preferred stock constitute a USRPI, provided our shares of common stock also constitute a USRPI, a non-U.S. stockholder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon a conversion of our preferred stock into our common stock provided certain reporting requirements are satisfied. Except as provided below, a non-U.S, stockholder’s basis and holding period in the shares of common stock received upon conversion will be the same as those of the converted shares of preferred stock (but the basis will be reduced by the portion of adjusted tax basis allocated to any fractional share of common stock exchanged for cash). Any shares of common stock received in a conversion that are attributable to accumulated and unpaid dividends on the converted shares of preferred stock will be treated as a distribution on our shares. Cash received upon conversion in lieu of a fractional share of common stock generally will be treated as a payment in a taxable exchange for such fractional share of common stock. Non-U.S. stockholders should consult with their tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of any transaction by which such holder exchanges common stock received on a conversion of preferred stock for cash or other property.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting. The sale of our stock by a non-U.S. stockholder through a non-U.S. office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. The sale generally is subject to the same information reporting applicable to sales through a U.S. office of a U.S. or foreign broker if the sale of his stock is effected at a foreign office of a broker that is:

 

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a U.S. person;

 

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a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. tax purposes;

 

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a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business for a specified three-year period; or

 

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a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year: (a) one or more of its partners are “U.S. persons,” as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations, who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership, or (b) such foreign partnership is engaged in the conduct of a U.S. trade or business,

Backup withholding generally does not apply if the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the applicable documentation requirements are satisfied. Generally, a non-U.S. stockholder satisfies the information reporting requirements by providing IRS form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute. The application of information reporting and backup withholding varies depending on the stockholders particular circumstances, and therefore a non-U.S. stockholder is advised to consult its tax advisor regarding the applicable information reporting and backup withholding.

 

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Tax Aspects of Our Investments in Our Operating Partnership

The following discussion summarizes material federal income tax considerations applicable to our direct or indirect investment in our operating partnership and any subsidiary partnerships or limited liability companies we form or acquire, each individually referred to as a partnership and, collectively, as partnerships. The following discussion does not address state or local tax laws or any federal tax laws other than income tax laws.

Classification as Partnerships

We are entitled to include in our income our distributive share of each partnership’s income and to deduct our distributive share of each partnership’s losses only if such partnership is classified for federal income tax purposes as a partnership, rather than as a corporation or an association taxable as a corporation. An organization with at least two owners or partners will be classified as a partnership, rather than as a corporation, for federal income tax purposes if it: is treated as a partnership under the Treasury Regulations relating to entity classification (the “check-the-box regulations”); and is not a “publicly traded” partnership.

Under the check-the-box regulations, an unincorporated entity with at least two owners or partners may elect to be classified either as an association taxable as a corporation or as a partnership. If such an entity does not make an election, it generally will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

We intend that each partnership in which we own an interest will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (or as a disregarded entity where there are not at least two separate beneficial owners).

A publicly traded partnership is a partnership whose interests are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market (or a substantial equivalent). A publicly traded partnership is generally treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, but will not be so treated for any taxable year for which at least 90% of the partnership’s gross income consists of specified passive income, including real property rents, gains from the sale or other disposition of real property, interest, and dividends (the “90% passive income exception”). Treasury regulations provide limited safe harbors from treatment as a publicly traded partnership. Pursuant to one of those safe harbors, or private placement exclusion, interests in a partnership will not be treated as readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof if (1) all interests in the partnership were issued in a transaction or transactions that were not required to be registered under the Securities Act, and (2) the partnership does not have more than 100 partners at any time during the partnership’s taxable year. We expect that each partnership we own an interest in will qualify for the private placement exclusion, one of the other safe harbors from treatment as a publicly traded partnership, and/or will satisfy the 90% passive income exception.

Income Taxation of the Partnerships and their Partners

We own interests in our operating partnership and certain subsidiary partnerships. Entities in which we own 100% of the interests (directly or through other disregarded entities) that do not properly elect to be TRSs will be disregarded for federal income tax purposes and will be treated as a division of our business. In addition we may hold interests in partnerships or limited liability companies that are not disregarded entities, or “partnership” or “partnerships.”

Partners, Not the Partnerships, Subject to Tax. A partnership is not a taxable entity for federal income tax purposes. We will therefore take into account our allocable share of each partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits for each taxable year of the partnership ending with or within our taxable year, even if we receive no distribution from the partnership for that year or a distribution less than our share of taxable income. Similarly, even if we receive a distribution, it may not be taxable if the distribution does not exceed our adjusted tax basis in our interest in the partnership.

 

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Partnership Allocations. Although a partnership agreement generally will determine the allocation of income and losses among partners, allocations will be disregarded for tax purposes if they do not comply with the provisions of the federal income tax laws governing partnership allocations. If an allocation is not recognized for federal income tax purposes, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partners’ interests in the partnership, which will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item. Each partnership’s allocations of taxable income, gain, and loss are intended to comply with the requirements of the federal income tax laws governing partnership allocations.

Sale of a Partnership’s Property. Generally, any gain realized by a partnership on the sale of property held for more than one year will be long-term capital gain, except for any portion of the gain treated as depreciation or cost recovery recapture. Conversely, our share of any partnership gain from the sale of inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the partnership’s trade or business will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction subject to a 100% tax. Income from a prohibited transaction may have an adverse effect on our ability to satisfy the gross income tests for REIT status. See “—Requirements for Qualification.” We do not presently intend to acquire or hold, or to allow any partnership to acquire or hold, any property that is likely to be treated as inventory or property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of our, or the Partnership’s, trade or business.

State and Local Taxes

We and/or our stockholders may be subject to taxation by various states and localities, including those in which we or a stockholder transacts business, owns property or resides. The state and local tax treatment may differ from the federal income tax treatment described above. Consequently, stockholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws upon an investment in our stock.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including without limitation:

 

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through underwriters or dealers;

 

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directly to purchasers;

 

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in a rights offering;

 

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in “at the market” offerings, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;

 

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through agents;

 

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through a combination of any of these methods; or

 

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through any other method permitted by applicable law and described in a prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement with respect to any offering of securities will include the following information:

 

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the terms of the offering;

 

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the names of any underwriters or agents;

 

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the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;

 

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the purchase price or initial public offering price of the securities;

 

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the net proceeds from the sale of the securities;

 

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any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

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any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;

 

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any commissions paid to agents; and

 

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any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed.

Sale through Underwriters or Dealers

If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

We will describe the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and the purchase price of the securities in a prospectus supplement relating to the securities.

In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and these dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions

 

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from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents, which is not expected to exceed that customary in the types of transactions involved. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us, and any profit on the resale of the securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act. The prospectus supplement will identify any underwriter or agent and will describe any compensation they receive from us.

Underwriters could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering, sales made directly on the NYSE, the existing trading market for our shares of common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange. The name of any such underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of our securities, the amounts underwritten, and the nature of its obligations to take our securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each series of the securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our shares of common stock, which are currently listed on the NYSE. We currently intend to list any shares of common stock sold pursuant to this prospectus on the NYSE. We may elect to list any series of preferred stock on an exchange, but are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a series of the securities, but underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Therefore, we can give no assurance about the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

Under agreements we may enter into, we may indemnify underwriters, dealers, and agents who participate in the distribution of the securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission, agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of the gross offering proceeds from any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

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

From time to time, we may engage in transactions with these underwriters, dealers, and agents in the ordinary course of business.

If indicated in the prospectus supplement, we may authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which we may make these delayed delivery contracts include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others. The obligations of any purchaser under any such delayed delivery contract will

 

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be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility with regard to the validity or performance of these delayed delivery contracts.

Direct Sales and Sales through Agents

We may sell the securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may also sell the securities through agents designated by us from time to time. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any sales of these securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Remarketing Arrangements

Securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

General Information

We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be required to make. Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus and certain matters of Maryland law will be passed upon for us by Saul Ewing LLP. The summary of legal matters contained in the section of this prospectus under “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” is based on the legal opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US). Any underwriters, dealers or agents will be advised about the other issues relating to any offering by their own legal counsel.

EXPERTS

The consolidated balance sheet of Campus Crest Communities, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010, the combined balance sheet of Campus Crest Communities Predecessor as of December 31, 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations and changes in equity (deficit) and comprehensive loss of Campus Crest Communities, Inc. and subsidiaries for the period from October 19, 2010 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2010, the related combined statements of operations and changes in equity (deficit) of Campus Crest Communities Predecessor for the period from January 1, 2010 through October 18, 2010 and the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, the related combined statement of cash flows of Campus Crest Communities, Inc. and subsidiaries and Campus Crest Communities Predecessor for the year ended December 31, 2010, and the related combined statements of cash flows of Campus Crest Communities Predecessor for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related financial statement Schedule III of Campus Crest Communities, Inc. as of December 31, 2010 have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus 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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                 Shares

 

    % Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

(Liquidation Preference $25.00 per share)

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

 

Raymond James

RBC Capital Markets

Barclays Capital

Citigroup

Stifel Nicolaus Weisel

Baird

Janney Montgomery Scott

February     , 2012