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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 19, 2006
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
REGENCY CENTERS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Florida | 59-3191743 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
121 West Forsyth Street, Suite 200
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
(904) 598-7000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
J. Christian Leavitt
Senior Vice President
121 West Forsyth Street, Suite 200
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
(904) 598-7000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Linda Y. Kelso
Foley & Lardner LLP
One Independent Drive, Suite 1300
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box and list the Securities Act of 1933 registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box and list the Securities Act of 1933 registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. þ
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
Calculation of Registration Fee
| Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Amount to be registered/ Proposed maximum aggregate offering price/ | |
| Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value |
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| Depositary Shares |
(1) | |
| Common Stock (including Special Common Stock), $0.01 par value |
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| Warrants |
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| Purchase Contracts |
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| Units |
||
| (1) | An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee, except for $15,660.91 that has already been paid with respect to $123,606,250 aggregate initial offering price of securities that were previously registered pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-118910, filed by the Registrant on September 10, 2004, and were not sold thereunder. In accordance with Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act of 1933, the unused amount of the registration fee paid with respect to Registration Statement No. 333-118910 shall be applied to pay the first $15,660.91 of the registration fee that will be payable with respect to this Registration Statement. |
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PROSPECTUS
REGENCY CENTERS CORPORATION
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
We may from time to time offer and sell common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants and purchase contracts, as well as units that include any of these securities. The preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants and purchase contracts may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or other securities of ours.
We will offer our securities in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time we offer those securities. We will provide the specific terms of the securities and the terms of the offering in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities.
We may offer and sell these securities on a delayed or continuous basis to or through one or more agents, underwriters or dealers as designated from time to time, directly to one or more purchasers, through a combination of these methods or any other method as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, this prospectus may be used to offer any of these securities for the account of persons other than us as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any applicable commissions or discounts.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “REG.”
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before buying our securities, you should refer to the risk factors included in our periodic reports, in prospectus supplements relating to specific offerings and in other information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission or other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is May 19, 2006.
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| CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS |
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| Statutory Provisions and Provisions of Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws |
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| Relief from Other Failures of the REIT Qualification Provisions |
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| Employee Benefit Plans, Tax Qualified Retirement Plans and IRAs |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission or “SEC.” You may read and copy any document we file 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 SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. We also maintain a web site at www.regencycenters.com. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Commission File No. 1-12298) after the initial filing of the registration statement that contains this prospectus and prior to the time that we sell all the securities covered by this prospectus (other than information in documents that is deemed not to be filed):
| • | Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005; |
| • | Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006; |
| • | Our current reports on Form 8-K filed June 7, 2005, Form 8-K/A filed July 20, 2005 and Form 8-K/A filed May 17, 2006; |
| • | Our current reports on Form 8-K dated January 13, 2006, January 31, 2006, March 10, 2006 and April 24, 2006; and |
| • | The description of our common stock which is contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on August 30, 1993, and declared effective on October 29, 1993, including amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description. |
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Ms. Diane Ortolano
Shareholder Communications
Regency Centers Corporation
121 W. Forsyth Street, Suite 200
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 598-7727
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
When we say “we,” “our,” “us” or “Regency,” we mean Regency Centers Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where we make it clear that we mean only the parent company. When we say “you,” without any further specification, we mean any party to whom this prospectus is delivered, including a holder in street name.
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This prospectus includes and incorporates by reference forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 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. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described under the caption “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and in subsequent reports that we file with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Regency is a real estate investment trust or “REIT”. We invest in retail shopping centers through Regency Centers, L.P., the operating partnership in which we are the sole general partner and currently own approximately 98% of the outstanding common partnership units. Our acquisition, development, operations and financing activity, including the issuance of common or preferred partnership units, is generally executed by our operating partnership, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and its joint ventures with third parties.
Our executive offices are located at 121 West Forsyth Street, Suite 200, Jacksonville, Florida 32202 and our telephone number is (904) 598-7000.
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of our securities will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, the redemption of our preferred stock or of preferred units issued by our operating partnership, the acquisition of shopping centers as suitable opportunities arise, the expansion and improvement of properties in our portfolio and payment of development costs for new centers.
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
The following table shows our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods indicated:
| For the quarter ended March 31, |
For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
| 2006 | 2005 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | ||||||||
| Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends(1) |
2.3 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | |||||||
| (1) | Net earnings from discontinued operations have been restated for all periods presented. |
The ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is computed by dividing earnings by the sum of fixed charges and preferred stock dividends. The term “fixed charges” for our company includes the sum of the following: (a) interest expensed and capitalized, (b) amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness and (c) dividends paid on our preferred stock and preferred units of our operating partnership. The term “earnings” for our company is the amount resulting from adding (a) income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, (b) fixed charges, (c) cash distributed by equity investees, and (d) equity in loss of investments in real estate partnerships; then subtracting from the total of added items (a) capitalized interest, (b) dividends paid on preferred stock and preferred units, (c) minority interest in pre-tax income of subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges, and (d) equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES THAT WE MAY OFFER
We may offer and sell, at any time and from time to time:
| • | shares of our common stock, par value $.01 per share, |
| • | shares of our preferred stock, $.01 par value, |
| • | depositary shares representing shares of our preferred stock, |
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| • | warrants to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares, |
| • | purchase contracts, |
| • | units that include any of these securities, and |
| • | any combination of these securities. |
The terms of any securities we offer will be determined at the time of sale. We may issue preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants and purchase contracts that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or other securities of ours. When particular securities are offered, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed with the SEC, which will describe the terms of the offering and sale of the offered securities.
We are authorized to issue up to:
| • | 150,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, |
| • | 10,000,000 shares of special common stock, $.01 par value, and |
| • | 30,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value per share. |
As of March 31, 2006, we had 68,582,297 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. We also had depositary shares representing an aggregate of 300,000 shares of 7.45% Series 3 cumulative redeemable preferred stock, depositary shares representing an aggregate of 500,000 shares of 7.25% Series 4 cumulative redeemable preferred stock, and 3,000,000 shares of 6.70% Series 5 cumulative redeemable preferred stock issued and outstanding on that date. In addition, we have reserved for issuance, upon exchange of a corresponding series of preferred limited partnership interests of our operating partnership, an aggregate of 500,000 shares of cumulative redeemable preferred stock.
All of the outstanding capital stock is, and all of the shares offered by means of this prospectus will be, fully paid and non-assessable. This means that the shares we offer will be paid for in full at the time they are issued, and, once they are paid for in full, there will be no further liability for further assessments.
Statutory Provisions and Provisions of Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
The following provisions of the Florida Business Corporation Act and our articles of incorporation and bylaws could have the effect of preventing or delaying a person from acquiring or seeking to acquire a substantial equity interest in, or control of, our company.
Restrictions on Ownership
Restrictions Relating to REIT Qualification. In order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code:
| • | not more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year. |
| • | our stock must be beneficially owned (without reference to attribution rules) by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days in a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year, and |
| • | certain other requirements must be satisfied (see “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations-Requirements for Qualification”). |
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To assure that five or fewer individuals do not Beneficially Own (as defined in the our articles of incorporation to include ownership through the application of certain stock attribution provisions of the Code) more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock, our articles of incorporation provide that, subject to certain exceptions, no holder may own, or be deemed to own (by virtue of certain of the attribution provisions of the Code), more than 7% by value (the “Ownership Limit”) of our outstanding capital stock. Certain existing holders specified in our articles of incorporation and those to whom Beneficial Ownership of their capital stock is attributed, whose Beneficial Ownership of capital stock exceeds the Ownership Limit (“Existing Holders”), may continue to own such percentage by value of outstanding capital stock (the “Existing Holder Limit”) and may increase their respective Existing Holder Limits through our benefit plans, dividend reinvestment plans, additional asset sales or capital contributions to us or acquisitions from other Existing Holders, but may not acquire additional shares from these sources such that the five largest Beneficial Owners of capital stock hold more than 49.5% by value of our outstanding capital stock, and in any event may not increase their respective Existing Holder Limits through acquisition of capital stock from any other sources.
In addition, because rent from a related tenant (any tenant 10% of which is owned, directly or constructively, by the REIT) is not qualifying rent for purposes of the gross income tests under the Code (see “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations—Requirements for Qualification—Income Tests”), our articles of incorporation provide that no constructive owner of our stock who owns, directly or indirectly, a 10% interest in any tenant of ours (a “Related Tenant Owner”) may own, or constructively own by virtue of certain of the attribution provisions of the Code (which differ from the attribution provisions applied to determine Beneficial Ownership), more than 9.8% by value of our outstanding capital stock (the “Related Tenant Limit”).
Our board of directors may waive the Ownership Limit, the Existing Holder Limit and the Related Tenant Limit if evidence satisfactory to the board of directors is presented that such ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize our status as a REIT. As a condition of such waiver, our board of directors may require opinions of counsel satisfactory to it and/or an undertaking from the applicant with respect to preserving our REIT status.
Remedies. If shares of capital stock:
| • | in excess of the applicable Ownership Limit, Existing Holder Limit, or Related Tenant Limit, or |
| • | which (1) would cause the REIT to be beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (without application of the attribution rules), or (2) would result in Regency being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, |
are (a) issued or transferred to any person or (b) retained by any person after becoming a Related Tenant Owner, such issuance, transfer, or retention will be null and void to the intended holder, and the intended holder will have no rights to the stock. Capital stock transferred, proposed to be transferred, or retained in excess of the Ownership Limit, the Existing Holder Limit, or the Related Tenant Limit or which would otherwise jeopardize our status as a REIT (“excess shares”) will be deemed held in trust on behalf of us and for our benefit. Our board of directors will, within six months after receiving notice of such actual or proposed transfer, either:
| • | direct the holder of such shares to sell all shares held in trust for Regency for cash in such manner as our board of directors directs, or |
| • | redeem such shares for a price equal to the lesser of: |
| • | the price paid by the holder from whom shares are being redeemed, and |
| • | the average of the last reported sales prices on the New York Stock Exchange of the relevant class of capital stock on the 10 trading days immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption by our board of directors, or if such class of capital stock is not then traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the average of the last reported sales prices of such class of capital stock (or, if sales prices are not reported, the average of the closing bid and asked prices) on the 10 trading days immediately preceding the relevant date as reported on any exchange or quotation system over which such class of capital stock may be traded, or if such class of capital stock is not then traded |
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| over any exchange or quotation system, then the price determined in good faith by our board of directors as the fair market value of such class of capital stock on the relevant date. |
If our board of directors directs the intended holder to sell the shares, the holder must receive the proceeds from the sale as trustee for us and pay us out of the proceeds of the sale all expenses incurred by us in connection with the sale, plus any remaining amount of the proceeds that exceeds the amount originally paid by the intended holder for such shares. The intended holder will not be entitled to distributions, voting rights or any other benefits with respect to such excess shares except the amounts described above. Any dividend or distribution paid to an intended holder on excess shares must be repaid to us upon demand.
Miscellaneous. All certificates representing capital stock will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above. The transfer restrictions described above will not preclude the settlement of any transaction entered through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange.
Our articles of incorporation provide that every shareholder of record of more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock and every Actual Owner (as defined in our articles of incorporation) of more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock held by a nominee must give written notice to us of information specified in our articles of incorporation within 30 days after December 31 of each year. In addition, each Beneficial Owner of capital stock and each person who holds capital stock for a Beneficial Owner must provide to us such information as we may request, in good faith, in order to determine our status as a REIT.
The ownership limitations described above may have the effect of precluding acquisition of control of Regency by a third party even if our board of directors determines that maintenance of REIT status is no longer in our best interests. Our board of directors has the right under our articles of incorporation (subject to contractual restrictions, including covenants made to the lenders under our line of credit) to revoke our REIT status if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interest to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT. In the event of such revocation, the ownership limitations in our articles of incorporation will remain in effect. Any change in the ownership limitations would require an amendment to our articles.
Advance Notice Provisions For Shareholder Nominations and Shareholder Proposals
Our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for shareholders to make nominations of candidates for election as directors or to bring other business before any meeting of our shareholders. Any shareholder nomination or proposal for action at an upcoming shareholder meeting must be delivered to us no later than the deadline for submitting shareholder proposals pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. The presiding officer at any shareholder meeting is not required to recognize any proposal or nomination which did not comply with this deadline.
The purpose of requiring shareholders to give advance notice of nominations and other business is to afford our board a meaningful opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees or the advisability of the other proposed business and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by our board, to inform shareholders and make recommendations about such qualifications or business, as well as to provide a more orderly procedure for conducting meetings of shareholders. Although our bylaws do not give the board any power to disapprove timely shareholder nominations for the election of directors or proposals for action, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or the consideration of shareholder proposals if the proper procedures are not followed, and of discouraging or deterring the third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its own proposal.
Certain Provisions of Florida Law
We are subject to anti-takeover provisions that apply to public corporations organized under Florida law unless the corporation has elected to opt out of those provisions in its articles of incorporation or its bylaws. We have not elected to opt out of these provisions.
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Subject to certain exceptions, the Florida Business Corporation Act prohibits the voting of shares in a publicly held Florida corporation that are acquired in a “control share acquisition” unless:
| • | the board of directors approves the control share acquisition; or |
| • | the holders of a majority of the corporation’s voting shares (excluding shares held by the acquiring party or officers or inside directors of the corporation) approve the granting of voting rights to the acquiring party. |
A “control share acquisition” is defined as an acquisition that immediately thereafter entitles the acquiring party, directly or indirectly, to vote in the election of directors within any of the following ranges of voting power:
| • | 1/5 or more but less than 1/3; |
| • | 1/3 or more but less than a majority; and |
| • | a majority or more. |
The Florida Business Corporation Act also contains an “affiliated transaction” provision that prohibits a publicly held Florida corporation from engaging in a broad range of business combinations or other extraordinary corporate transactions with an “interested shareholder” unless:
| • | the transaction is approved by a majority of disinterested directors before the person becomes an interested shareholder; |
| • | the corporation has not had more than 300 shareholders of record during the three years preceding the “affiliated transaction”; |
| • | the interested shareholder has owned at least 80% of the corporation’s outstanding voting shares for at least five years; |
| • | the interested shareholder is the beneficial owner of at least 90% of the voting shares (excluding shares acquired directly from the corporation in a transaction not approved by a majority of the disinterested directors); |
| • | consideration is paid to the holders of the corporation’s shares equal to the highest amount per share paid by the interested shareholder for the acquisition of the corporation’s shares in the last two years or fair market value, and other specified conditions are met; or |
| • | the transaction is approved by the holders of two-thirds of the corporation’s voting shares other than those owned by the interested shareholder. |
An “interested shareholder” is defined as a person who, together with affiliates and associates, beneficially owns more than 10% of a company’s outstanding voting shares.
Indemnification and Limitation of Liability
The Florida Business Corporation Act authorizes Florida corporations to indemnify any person who was or is a party to any proceeding other than an action by, or in the right of, the corporation, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation. The indemnity also applies to any person who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or other entity. The indemnification applies against liability incurred in connection with such a proceeding, including any appeal, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation. To be eligible for indemnity with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the person must have had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
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In the case of an action by or on behalf of a corporation, indemnification may not be made if the person seeking indemnification is found liable, unless the court in which the action was brought determines that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.
The indemnification provisions of the Florida Business Corporation Act require indemnification if a director, officer, employee or agent has been successful in defending any action, suit or proceeding to which he or she was a party by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation. The indemnity covers expenses actually and reasonably incurred in defending the action.
The indemnification authorized under Florida law is not exclusive and is in addition to any other rights granted to officers and directors under the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation or any agreement between officers and directors and the corporation. Each of our directors and executive officers has signed an indemnification agreement. The indemnification agreements provide for full indemnification of our directors and executive officers under Florida law. The indemnification agreements also provide that we will indemnify the officer or director against liabilities and expenses incurred in a proceeding to which the officer or director is a party or is threatened to be made a party, or in which the officer or director is called upon to testify as a witness or deponent, in each case arising out of actions of the officer or director in his or her official capacity. The officer or director must repay such expenses if it is subsequently found that the officer or director is not entitled to indemnification. Exceptions to this additional indemnification include criminal violations by the officer or director, transactions involving an improper personal benefit to the officer or director, unlawful distributions of our assets under Florida law and willful misconduct or conscious disregard for our best interests.
Our bylaws provide for the indemnification of directors, former directors, executive officers and former executive officers to the maximum extent permitted by Florida law and for the advancement of expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding that the director or officer was a party to by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of our corporation, or at our request, a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation. Our bylaws also provide that we may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any director or executive officer against liability asserted against the director or executive officer in such capacity.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by a director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of this issue.
Under the Florida Business Corporation Act, a director is not personally liable for monetary damages to us or to any other person for acts or omissions in his or her capacity as a director except in certain limited circumstances. Those circumstances include violations of criminal law (unless the director had reasonable cause to believe that such conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful), transactions in which the director derived an improper personal benefit, transactions involving unlawful distributions, and conscious disregard for the best interest of the corporation or willful misconduct (only if the proceeding is by or in the right of the corporation). As a result, shareholders may be unable to recover monetary damages against directors for actions taken by them which constitute negligence or gross negligence or which are in violation of their fiduciary duties, although injunctive or other equitable relief may be available.
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Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share. All actions submitted to a vote of shareholders are voted on by holders of common stock voting together as a single class. Holders of common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends in cash or in property on an equal share-for-share basis, if and when dividends are declared on the common stock by our board of directors, subject to any preference in favor of outstanding shares of preferred stock.
In the event of the liquidation of our company, all holders of common stock will participate on an equal share-for-share basis with each other in our net assets available for distribution after payment of our liabilities and payment of any liquidation preferences in favor of outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Holders of common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights, and the common stock is not subject to redemption.
The rights of holders of common stock are subject to the rights of holders of any preferred stock that we have designated or may designate in the future. The rights of preferred shareholders may adversely affect the rights of the common shareholders.
Under our articles of incorporation, our board of directors is authorized, without further shareholder action, to provide for the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of special common stock from time to time in one or more classes or series. As of March 31, 2006, no shares of special common stock were outstanding.
The following is a description of the general terms and provisions of our special common stock. We will describe the particular terms of any class or series of special common stock we offer in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should review our articles of incorporation and the applicable amendment to our articles creating any special common stock we offer (which will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement).
The special common stock will bear dividends in such amounts as our board may determine with respect to each class or series. Dividends on any class or series of special common stock must be pari passu with dividends on our common stock. This means that we cannot pay dividends on the special common stock without also paying dividends on an equal basis on our common stock. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company, the special common stock will participate on an equal basis with the common stock in liquidating distributions.
Shares of special common stock will have one vote per share and vote together with the holders of common stock (and not separately as a class except where otherwise required by law), unless the board of directors creates classes or series with more limited voting rights or without voting rights. The board will have the right to determine whether shares of special common stock may be converted into shares of any other class or series or be redeemed, and, if so, the redemption price and the other terms and conditions of redemption, and to determine such other rights as may be allowed by law. Holders of special common stock will not be entitled, as a matter of right, to preemptive rights.
Because we expect special common stock to be closely held as a general rule, we anticipate that most classes or series would be convertible into common stock for liquidity purposes.
The special common stock offered hereby will be issued in one or more classes or series. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of the class or series of special stock offered thereby:
| (1) | the designation of the class or series and the number of shares offered; |
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| (2) | the initial public offering price at which the class or series will be issued; |
| (3) | the dividend rate (or method of calculation); |
| (4) | any redemption or sinking fund provisions; |
| (5) | any conversion or exchange rights; |
| (6) | any voting rights; |
| (7) | any listing of the special common stock on any securities exchange; |
| (8) | a discussion of federal income tax considerations applicable to the class or series; |
| (9) | any limitations on issuance of any class or series of stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the class or series as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; |
| (10) | any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve our status as a REIT for federal tax purposes; and |
| (11) | any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of the class or series. |
The transfer agent for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, New York, New York.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
The following is a description of the general terms and provisions of our preferred stock. We will describe the particular terms of any class or series of preferred stock we offer in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should review our articles of incorporation and the applicable amendment to our articles creating any preferred stock we offer (which will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement).
Our board of directors has the ability to issue from time to time up to 30,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series, without shareholder approval. The board of directors may, by adopting an amendment to our articles of incorporation, designate for the class or series:
| • | the number of shares and name of the class or series; |
| • | the dividend rights and preferences, if any; |
| • | liquidation preferences and the amounts payable on liquidation or dissolution; |
| • | redemption terms, if any; |
| • | the voting powers of the series, including the right to elect directors, if any; |
| • | the terms upon which the class or series may be converted into any other class or series of our stock, including our common stock; and |
| • | any other terms that are not prohibited by law. |
It is impossible for us to state the actual effect on existing shareholders if the board of directors designates any class or new series of preferred stock. The effects of such a designation will not be determinable until the rights accompanying the class or series have been designated. The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power, cash available for dividends, liquidation rights or other rights held by owners of common stock or other series of preferred stock. The board of directors’ authority to issue preferred stock without shareholder approval could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of our company, and could discourage any such attempt.
Preferred Stock Outstanding or Reserved for Issuance
As of March 31, 2006, we have three series of preferred stock outstanding, two of which are represented by depositary shares:
| • | 300,000 shares of 7.45% Series 3 cumulative redeemable preferred stock, represented in turn by 3,000,000 depositary shares; |
| • | 500,000 shares of 7.25% Series 4 cumulative redeemable preferred stock, represented in turn by 5,000,000 depositary shares; and |
| • | 3,000,000 shares of 6.70% Series 5 cumulative redeemable preferred stock. |
We have an additional series of preferred stock, totaling 500,000 shares, reserved for issuance upon exchange of a corresponding series of preferred limited partnership interests in our operating partnership, Regency Centers, L.P. The terms of these four series of preferred stock are summarized below.
All four series of our preferred stock outstanding or authorized for issuance:
| • | are entitled to a liquidation preference; |
| • | bear cumulative preferential quarterly dividends based on a specified percentage of the liquidation preference; |
| • | are not convertible into our common stock; |
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| • | have no stated maturity or mandatory redemption; and |
| • | will be callable from time to time at our election after a specified date without any premium. |
Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5 Preferred Stock
Our Series 3 and Series 4 preferred shares are represented by depositary shares that are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “REGPRC” and “REGPRD,” respectively. Each depositary share represents 1/10th of a share of preferred stock. Our Series 5 preferred stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “REGPRE.” The following table summarizes information about our outstanding series of preferred stock and, where applicable, the depositary shares that represent them:
| Series |
Preferred Shares Outstanding |
Depositary Shares |
Aggregate Liquidation Preference |
Annual Distribution Rate(1) |
Callable by Regency(2) | |||||||
| Series 3 |
300,000 | 3,000,000 | $ | 75,000,000 | 7.450 | % | 04/03/08 | |||||
| Series 4 |
500,000 | 5,000,000 | 125,000,000 | 7.250 | % | 08/31/09 | ||||||
| Series 5 |
3,000,000 | — | 75,000,000 | 6.700 | % | 08/02/10 | ||||||
| 3,800,000 | 8,000,000 | $ | 275,000,000 | |||||||||
| (1) | As a percentage of the liquidation preference. |
| (2) | The redemption price is the liquidation preference plus accrued but unpaid dividends. |
As to the limited matters on which the holders of Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5 preferred shares are entitled to vote, they generally will vote as a class with other preferred shares upon which like voting rights have been granted (together with the Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5 preferred stock, the “parity voting stock”), and each share will be entitled to one vote per $25 of liquidation preference (equivalent to one vote per depositary share). If we fail to declare or pay dividends on the Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5 preferred stock for at least six dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the holders of the Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5 preferred stock, along with the holders of other parity voting stock also having voting rights because of dividend arrearages on their shares, voting together as a single class without regard to class or series, will be entitled to elect two members of our board of directors by a plurality of votes (assuming the presence of a quorum). This voting right will vest and the additional directors so elected to our board will serve until all accrued and unpaid dividends on the parity voting securities have been paid or a sufficient sum has been set aside for their payment.
The affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power entitled to be cast by the holders of Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5 preferred stock and other parity voting stock, voting together as a single class, is also required to amend our articles of incorporation to increase the authorized amount of our preferred stock (unless junior to the parity voting stock). The Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5 preferred stock, along with other parity voting stock, also have the right to approve (by at least two-thirds of the voting power they are entitled to cast) certain other amendments to our articles of incorporation that are specifically deemed to materially and adversely affect these holders.
Series D Preferred Stock Reserved for Issuance
We have reserved Series D cumulative redeemable preferred stock for issuance upon exchange, on a one-share-for-one-unit basis, of a corresponding series of preferred limited partnership units in Regency Centers, L.P., our operating partnership.
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The following table describes the Series D preferred units outstanding as of March 31, 2006 and the related series of authorized but unissued preferred stock:
| Series |
Units Issued/ |
Aggregate Liquidation Preference |
Annual Rate(1) |
Date First Callable by Regency(2) |
Exchangeable by Unitholder | |||||||
| Series D |
500,000 | $ | 50,000,000 | 9.125 | % | 09/29/09 | 01/01/14 | |||||
| (1) | As a percentage of the liquidation preference. |
| (2) | The redemption price is the liquidation preference plus accrued but unpaid dividends. |
When issued, the preferred stock will not have voting rights except in limited circumstances generally similar to those of our Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5 preferred stock.
Preferred Stock Offered Hereby
The preferred stock offered hereby will be issued in one or more classes or series. The preferred stock will have the dividend, liquidation, redemption, voting and other rights described below. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of the class or series of preferred stock offered thereby:
| (1) | the designation of the class or series and the number of shares offered; |
| (2) | the liquidation preference of the class or series; |
| (3) | the initial public offering price at which the class or series will be issued; |
| (4) | the dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which dividends will be payable and the dates from which dividends will begin to accumulate, if any; |
| (5) | any redemption or sinking fund provisions; |
| (6) | any conversion or exchange rights; |
| (7) | any voting rights; |
| (8) | any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange; |
| (9) | a discussion of federal income tax considerations applicable to the class or series; |
| (10) | the relative ranking and preferences of the class or series as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; |
| (11) | any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the class or series as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and |
| (12) | any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve our status as a REIT for federal tax purposes. |
The preferred stock will, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution and winding up, rank prior to the common stock (including any special common stock) and all other classes and series of our equity securities hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding, other than any classes or series of our equity securities which by their terms specifically provide for a ranking on a parity with (the “parity stock”) or senior to (the “senior stock”) the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. We sometimes refer collectively to the common stock and the other classes and series of equity securities that are not senior stock or parity stock as the “junior stock.” The preferred stock will be on a parity
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with our Series 3, Series 4, Series 5 and Series D preferred stock if our board of directors specifically makes it on a parity with these series of preferred stock. Otherwise, the preferred stock will be junior to these series of preferred stock. The preferred stock will be junior to all our outstanding debt. The preferred stock will be subject to future creation of senior stock, parity stock and junior stock to the extent not expressly prohibited by the amendment to our articles of incorporation that designates the class or series of preferred stock.
Holders of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of our assets legally available therefor, dividends or distributions in cash, property or other assets of Regency or in securities of Regency or from any other source as our board of directors determines, in its discretion, and at such dates and at such rates per share per year as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The dividend rate may be fixed or variable, or both. Each declared dividend will be payable to holders of record as they appear at the close of business on our books on record dates determined by our board of directors.
Dividends on a class or series of preferred stock may be cumulative or non-cumulative. If dividends on a class or series of preferred stock are non-cumulative and if our board of directors fails to declare a dividend for a dividend period with respect to the class or series, then holders of the class or series will have no right to receive a dividend for that dividend period, and we will have no obligation to pay the dividend for that period, whether or not dividends are declared payable on any future dividend payment dates. If dividends on a class or series of preferred stock are cumulative, the dividends on the shares will accrue from and after the date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
No full dividends will be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any class or series of preferred stock ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the class or series of preferred stock offered by the applicable prospectus supplement for any period unless full dividends for the immediately preceding dividend period on such preferred stock (including any accumulation of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods, if dividends on such preferred stock are cumulative) have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid or are declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for such payment. When dividends are not so paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) on such preferred stock and any of our parity stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with such preferred stock, dividends on such preferred stock and dividends on such parity stock will be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on such preferred stock and such parity stock will in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the then-current dividend period per share on such preferred stock (including any accumulation of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods, if dividends on such preferred stock are cumulative) and accrued dividends, including required or permitted accumulations, if any, on shares of such parity stock, bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, will be payable with respect to any dividend payment(s) on preferred stock that may be in arrears.
Unless full dividends on the class or series of preferred stock offered by the applicable prospectus supplement have been declared and paid or set apart for payment for the immediately preceding dividend period (including any accumulation of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods, if dividends on such preferred stock are cumulative):
| • | we may not declare, set aside or pay any cash dividend or distribution (other than in shares of junior stock) on the junior stock; |
| • | we may not, directly or indirectly, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of our junior stock (or pay any amounts into a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of our junior stock) except by conversion into or exchange for junior stock; and |
| • | we may not, directly or indirectly, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any such preferred stock or any stock ranking on parity with such preferred stock (or pay any amounts into a sinking fund for the |
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| redemption of any shares of any such stock) otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase or a concurrent redemption of all, or a pro rata portion, of such preferred stock and such parity stock (except by conversion into or exchange for junior stock). |
The limitations described above will not apply to:
| • | payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with a merger, stock dividend or similar event; or |
| • | any redemption necessary in order to preserve our status as a REIT. |
Any dividend payment made on a class or series of preferred stock will first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to shares of the class or series.
In the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of Regency, the holders of a class or series of preferred stock will be entitled, subject to the rights of creditors, but before any distribution or payment to the holders of
| • | any preferred stock junior on our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or |
| • | our common stock (including any special common stock), |
to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of the liquidation preference per share as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, plus accrued and unpaid dividends for the then-current dividend period (including any accumulation of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods, if dividends on the class or series of preferred stock are cumulative). The liquidation preference is not indicative of the price at which the preferred stock will actually trade on or after the date of issuance.
If the amounts available for distribution with respect to a class or series of preferred stock and all other outstanding parity stock are not sufficient to satisfy the full liquidation rights of all such parity stock outstanding, then the holders of each class or series will share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts (which may include accumulated dividends) to which they are entitled. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, after payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution, the holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our assets.
The terms, if any, on which preferred stock of any class or series may be redeemed will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. These terms will include:
| • | whether the shares are redeemable at our election or the election of the holder or are mandatorily redeemable on a specified date or the occurrence of a specified event; |
| • | the redemption price (or the manner of calculating the redemption price), including any premium over the liquidation preference per share; |
| • | whether the redemption price will be payable in cash or other consideration; |
| • | the redemption date or dates; |
| • | redemption notice requirements; |
| • | other procedures for redemption, including the manner for selecting shares to be redeemed if fewer than all shares of the class or series are to be redeemed; and |
| • | when, where and how we must make a deposit of the redemption price in order for the shares called for redemption to be deemed no longer outstanding and the date as of which they will cease to be deemed outstanding if we comply with these provisions. |
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The terms and conditions, if any, upon which shares of any class or series of preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. These terms will include:
| • | the number of shares of common stock into which the preferred stock is convertible; |
| • | the conversion price (or manner of calculating the conversion price); |
| • | the conversion period; |
| • | provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holders of the preferred stock or at our option; |
| • | the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price; and |
| • | provisions affecting conversion in the event of the redemption of such preferred stock. |
The preferred stock of a class or series will not be entitled to vote, except (1) as described in the applicable prospectus supplement or (2) as required by Florida law.
If we apply to list a class or series of preferred stock on the New York Stock Exchange, the class or series will have the voting rights then required as a condition of listing. Voting rights required by the New York Stock Exchange as of the date of this prospectus include the following rights:
| • | The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power entitled to be cast by the holders of the listed class or series of preferred stock and all other preferred shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, voting together as a single class, will be necessary to effect either of the following: |
| (13) | designate, create or increase the authorized amount of any class or series of shares ranking senior to the listed class or series; but no such vote will be required if: |
| • | at or prior to the time of the action with respect to which such vote would be required, provision is made for the redemption of all outstanding shares of the listed class or series and no portion of the redemption price will be paid from the proceeds of such senior stock; or |
| • | the holders of the listed class or series have previously voted to grant authority to the board of directors to create such senior shares in accordance with Florida law; or |
| (14) | amend, alter or repeal the articles of incorporation, whether in connection with a merger, consolidation, transfer or lease of assets substantially as an entirety, or otherwise (an “Event”), that materially and adversely affects the powers, rights or preferences of the holders of the listed class or series; provided, however, that: |
| • | the amendment of articles of incorporation to authorize or create or increase the authorized amount of any shares ranking junior to or on a parity with the listed class or series; or |
| • | with respect to the occurrence of any Event, so long as the issuer is the surviving entity and the listed class or series of preferred stock remains outstanding or the surviving entity is a domestic corporation which substitutes for the listed class or series other preferred stock having substantially the same rights and terms as the listed class or series, will not in either case be deemed to materially and adversely affect the powers, rights or preferences of the holders of the listed class or series. |
| • | The affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power entitled to be cast by the holders of the listed class or series preferred stock and the parity voting securities, voting together as a |
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| single class, will be required to amend the articles of incorporation to increase the authorized amount of preferred stock (unless junior to the listed class or series). |
| • | If and when dividends on the listed class or series of preferred stock have not been declared or paid for at least six dividend payment periods, whether or not consecutive, all holders of the class or series, together with all holders of the other parity voting securities, voting together as a single class without regard to class or series, must be entitled to elect a total of two members of the board of directors. This voting right must vest and any directors so elected must have the right to serve until all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the outstanding shares of the listed class or series and other parity voting securities have been paid or a sufficient sum set aside for payment thereof. |
Under Florida law in effect on this date of this prospectus, holders of our preferred stock will be entitled to vote as a single class on any amendment to our articles of incorporation, whether or not our articles expressly give them voting rights, if the amendment would:
| • | effect an exchange or reclassification of all or part of the shares of the class into shares of another class; |
| • | effect an exchange or reclassification, or create a right of exchange, of all or part of the shares of another class into shares of the class; |
| • | change the designation, rights, preferences or limitations of all or part of the shares of the class; |
| • | change the shares of all or part of the class into a different number of shares of the same class; |
| • | create a new class of shares having rights or preferences with respect to distributions or to dissolution that are prior or superior to the shares of the class; |
| • | increase the rights, preferences, or number of authorized shares of any class that, after giving effect to the amendment, have rights or preferences with respect to distributions or to dissolution that are prior or superior to the shares of the class; |
| • | limit or deny an existing preemptive right of all or part of the shares of the class; or |
| • | cancel or otherwise affect rights to distributions or dividends that have accumulated but not yet been declared on all or part of the shares of the class. |
Any such amendment would require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of preferred stock with respect to the amendment. However, if the amendment would create dissenters’ rights of appraisal, adoption of the amendment would require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of preferred stock. If the amendment would affect a series of preferred stock in one or more of the ways described above in a substantially different way than any other series, the series so affected will be entitled to vote as a separate class on the amendment.
The shares of a class or series of preferred stock will not have any preferences, voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other special rights except as set forth above or described in the applicable prospectus supplement, set forth in the applicable amendment to our articles designating the class or series or as otherwise required by law.
The transfer agent for each class or series of preferred stock will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, rather than a full share of preferred stock. In that event, receipts (“depositary receipts”) will be issued for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction of a share of a particular class or series of preferred stock, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
As of March 31, 2006, we have outstanding the following depositary shares:
| • | 3,000,000 depositary shares issued under a deposit agreement with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as depositary, each representing a 1/10th fractional interest in a share of our 7.45% Series 3 cumulative redeemable preferred stock; and |
| • | 5,000,000 depositary shares issued under a deposit agreement with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as depositary, each representing a 1/10th fractional interest in a share of our 7.25% Series 3 cumulative redeemable preferred stock. |
The depositary shares underlying our Series 3 and Series 4 preferred stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “REGPRC” and “REGPRD,” respectively. For additional information about these depositary shares and the Series 3 and Series 4 preferred stock they represent, See “Description of Preferred Stock—Preferred Stock Outstanding or Reserved for Issuance.”
Any class or series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between Regency and the depositary. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of depositary shares will set forth the name and address of the depositary for the depositary shares and summarize the material provisions of the deposit agreement. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by such depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented thereby, including dividend and liquidation rights and any right to convert the preferred stock into shares of our capital stock of a different class or series.
We will describe the particular terms of any depositary shares we offer in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should review the documents pursuant to which the depositary shares will be issued, which will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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We may issue warrants, in one or more series, for the purchase of our common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares. Warrants may be issued independently or together with our common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities.
A prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus relating to a particular series of warrants to issue shares of stock will describe the terms of those warrants, including:
| • | the title and the aggregate number of warrants, |
| • | the stock for which each warrant is exercisable, |
| • | the date or dates on which the right to exercise such warrants commence and expire, |
| • | the price or prices at which such warrants are exercisable, |
| • | the currency or currencies in which such warrants are exercisable, |
| • | the periods during which and places at which such warrants are exercisable, |
| • | the terms of any mandatory or optional call provisions, |
| • | the price or prices, if any, at which the warrants may be redeemed at the option of the holder or will be redeemed upon expiration, |
| • | the identity of the warrant agent, and |
| • | the exchanges, if any, on which such warrants may be listed. |
You should read the particular terms of the documents pursuant to which the warrants will be issued, which will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue purchase contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, our securities at a future date or dates. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of purchase contracts. These payments may be unsecured or prefunded on a basis to be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to the purchase contracts.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any purchase contract. The purchase contracts will be issued pursuant to documents to be issued by us. You should read the particular terms of the documents, which will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may issue units consisting of one or more purchase contracts, warrants, shares of preferred stock, depositary shares, shares of common stock or any combination of such securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately. You should read the particular terms of the documents pursuant to which the units will be issued, which will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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Information about selling securityholders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which are incorporated by reference.
We may sell the offered securities on a delayed or continuous basis through one or more agents, underwriters or dealers, directly to one or more purchasers, through a combination of any of these methods of sale, or in any other manner, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus may also be used to offer any of these securities for the account of persons other than us as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in a prospectus supplement.
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CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain of the material federal income tax considerations regarding Regency and is based on current law, is for general information only and is not tax advice. This discussion does not purport to deal with all aspects of taxation that may be relevant to particular investors in light of their personal investment or tax circumstances, or to certain types of holders (including insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions or broker-dealers, foreign corporations, persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States, and persons who own shares as part of a conversion transaction, as part of a hedging transaction or as a position in a straddle for tax purposes) subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws. This summary deals only with shareholders of Regency that hold shares as “capital assets,” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. This summary does not discuss any state, local, or foreign tax considerations. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change (which change may apply retroactively).
As used in this section, the term “Company” refers to Regency Centers Corporation and all qualified REIT subsidiaries (a wholly-owned subsidiary which is not treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes) but excludes Regency Realty Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Management Company”) (which is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes, although its results are consolidated with those of the Company for financial reporting purposes).
EACH PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER IS ADVISED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO HIM OR HER OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND SALE OF SECURITIES IN AN ENTITY ELECTING TO BE TAXED AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN, AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, SALE AND ELECTION AND OF POTENTIAL CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAWS.
The Company made an election to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1993. The Company believes that it has been organized and operated in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code for such taxable year and all subsequent taxable years to date, and the Company intends to continue to operate in such a manner in the future. However, no assurance can be given that the Company will operate in a manner so as to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT.
The following sets forth only a summary of the material aspects of the Code sections that govern the federal income tax treatment of a REIT and its shareholders.
It is the opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP that the Company has been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT commencing with the Company’s taxable year that ended December 31, 1993 and for all subsequent taxable years to date, and its method of operation will enable it to continue to be taxed as a REIT. It must be emphasized that this opinion is based on various assumptions and is conditioned upon certain representations made by the Company as to factual matters including, but not limited to, those set forth below in this discussion of “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations,” those concerning its business and properties, and certain matters relating to the Company’s manner of operation. Foley & Lardner LLP is not aware of any facts or circumstances that are inconsistent with these representations and assumptions. The qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon the Company’s ability to meet, through actual annual (and in some cases quarterly) operating results, the various income, asset, distribution, stock ownership and other tests discussed below, the results of which will not be reviewed by nor be under the control of Foley & Lardner LLP. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operation for any
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particular taxable year will satisfy such requirements. For a discussion of the tax consequences of failure to qualify as a real estate investment trust, see “—Failure to Qualify.”
As a REIT, the Company generally is not subject to federal corporate income tax on its net income that is currently distributed to shareholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” (at the corporate and shareholder levels) that generally results from an investment in a corporation. However, the Company will be subject to federal income tax in the following circumstances.
First, the Company will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains.
Second, under certain circumstances, the Company may be subject to the “corporate alternative minimum tax” on its items of tax preference which it does not distribute or allocate to its shareholders.
Third, if the Company has (i) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” (which is, in general, property acquired by the Company by foreclosure or otherwise on default of a loan secured by the property) which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (ii) other non-qualifying net income from foreclosure property, it will be subject to tax on such income at the highest corporate rate.
Fourth, if the Company has net income from “prohibited transactions” (which are, in general, certain sales or other dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business other than foreclosure property), such income will be subject to a 100% tax.
Fifth, if the Company fails to satisfy either the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test discussed below, but still maintains its qualification as a REIT because other requirements are met, the Company will pay a 100% tax on (1) the gross income attributable to the greater of the amount by which the Company fails, respectively, the 75% or 95% gross income test, multiplied, in either case, by (2) a fraction intended to reflect the Company’s profitability.
Sixth, beginning with the Company’s 2005 taxable year, if the Company fails, in more than a de minimis fashion, to satisfy one or more of the asset tests for any quarter of a taxable year, but nonetheless continue to qualify as a REIT because the Company qualifies under certain relief provisions, the Company may be required to pay a tax of the greater of $50,000 or a tax computed at the highest corporate rate on the amount of net income generated by the assets causing the failure from the date of failure until the assets are disposed of or the Company otherwise returns to compliance with the asset test.
Seventh, beginning with the Company’s 2005 taxable year, if the Company fails to satisfy one or more of the requirements for REIT qualification (other than the income tests or the asset tests), the Company nevertheless may avoid termination of its REIT’s election in such year if the failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, but the Company would also be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each failure to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements.
Eighth, if the Company should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of its REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of its REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income from prior years, it will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed.
Ninth, the Company will be subject to a 100% penalty tax on some payments it receives (or on certain expenses deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary) if arrangements among the Company, its tenants, and the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties.
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Tenth, if the Company acquires any asset from a C corporation (that is, a corporation generally subject to full corporate level tax) in a transaction in which the basis of the asset in the Company’s hands is determined by reference to the basis of the asset (or any other property) in the hands of the C corporation, and the Company recognizes gain on the disposition of such asset during the 10-year period beginning on the date on which such asset was acquired by the Company, then, to the extent of such property’s “built-in gain” (the excess of the fair market value of such property at the time of acquisition by the Company over the adjusted basis in the property at such time), such gain will be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate applicable. The rule described above with respect to the recognition of “built-in gain” will apply assuming that an election is not made pursuant to Section 1.337(d)-7 of the Treasury Regulations to treat the asset as having been sold by the C corporation for fair market value immediately before the acquisition by the Company.
In addition, the Management Company is taxed on its income at regular corporate rates.
Requirements for Qualification
A REIT is defined in the Code as a corporation, trust or association:
| (1) | which is managed by one or more trustees or directors; |
| (2) | the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest; |
| (3) | which would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code; |
| (4) | which is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to certain provisions of the Code; |
| (5) | the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution); |
| (6) | not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned during the last half of each taxable year, directly or indirectly, by or for “five or fewer” individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities); |
| (7) | which meets certain income and asset tests described below and |
| (8) | which makes an election to be a REIT for the current taxable year or has made such an election for a previous taxable year which has not been terminated or revoked. |
Conditions (1) to (4), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year and condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. The Company has previously issued sufficient shares to allow it to satisfy conditions (5) and (6). The Company’s articles of incorporation provide restrictions regarding the transfer of its shares which are intended to assist the Company in continuing to satisfy the stock ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. Moreover, for the Company’s taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 1998, if the Company complies with regulatory rules pursuant to which it is required to send annual letters to certain of its shareholders requesting information regarding the actual ownership of its stock, but does not know, or exercising reasonable diligence would not have known, whether it failed to meet the requirement that it not be closely held, the Company will be treated as having met the “five or fewer” requirement. If the Company were to fail to comply with these regulatory rules for any year, it would be subject to a $25,000 penalty. If the Company’s failure to comply was due to intentional disregard of the requirements, the penalty would be increased to $50,000. However, if the Company’s failure to comply was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, no penalty would be imposed.
In addition, the Company must satisfy all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS that must be met to elect and maintain REIT status, use a calendar year for federal income tax purposes, and comply with the recordkeeping requirements of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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The Company owns, and intends to continue to own, its properties through its operating partnership, Regency Centers, L.P. (the “Partnership”), of which the Company is the general partner and a Company subsidiary is the principal limited partner. The former owners of certain Partnership properties and certain investment funds also are limited partners. The Partnership presently owns certain of its properties indirectly through other partnerships and limited liability companies (collectively with the Partnership, the “Property Partnerships”), of which the partners are the Partnership and certain third parties. In the case of a REIT which is a partner in a partnership either directly or indirectly through a qualified REIT subsidiary, Treasury Regulations provide that the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and will be deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to such 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 asset tests. Thus, the Company’s proportionate share of the assets, liabilities and items of income of the Property Partnerships (other than certain properties held by the Management Company), is treated as assets, liabilities and items of income of the Company for purposes of applying the requirements described below.
The Company believes that each of the Property Partnerships in which it owns an interest, directly or through another partnership or limited liability company, will be treated as partnerships or disregarded for federal income tax purposes and will not be taxable as corporations. If any of these entities were treated as a corporation, it would be subject to an entity level tax on its income and the Company could fail to meet the REIT income and asset tests. For a discussion of the tax consequences of failure to qualify as a real estate investment trust, see “—Failure to Qualify.”
If a REIT owns a corporate subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary,” the separate existence of that subsidiary will be disregarded for federal income tax purposes. Generally, a qualified REIT subsidiary is a corporation, other than a taxable REIT subsidiary (discussed below), all of the capital stock of which is owned by the REIT. All assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the qualified REIT subsidiary will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the REIT itself. A qualified REIT subsidiary of the Company will not be subject to federal corporate income taxation, although it may be subject to state and local taxation in some states. Although in the past the Company owned some of its properties indirectly through qualified REIT subsidiaries, at the present time, the Company does not utilize any qualified REIT subsidiaries.
A “taxable REIT subsidiary” of the Company is a corporation in which the Company directly or indirectly owns stock and that elects, together with the Company, to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary under Section 856(l) of the Code. In addition, if a taxable REIT subsidiary of the Company owns, directly or indirectly, securities representing 35% or more of the vote or value of a subsidiary corporation, that subsidiary will also be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary of the Company. A taxable REIT subsidiary is a corporation subject to federal income tax, and state and local income tax where applicable, as a regular “C” corporation.
Generally, a taxable REIT subsidiary can perform some impermissible tenant services without causing the Company to receive impermissible tenant services income under the REIT income tests. However, several provisions regarding the arrangements between a REIT and its taxable REIT subsidiaries are intended to ensure that a taxable REIT subsidiary will be subject to an appropriate level of federal income taxation. For example, a taxable REIT subsidiary is limited in its ability to deduct interest payments made to the Company. In addition, a REIT will be obligated to pay a 100% penalty tax on some payments that it receives or on certain expenses deducted by the taxable REIT subsidiary if the economic arrangements between the REIT, the REIT’s tenants and the taxable REIT subsidiary are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties.
The Management Company has made an election to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary of the Company.
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Income Tests
In order for the Company to maintain its qualification as a REIT, it must satisfy two gross income requirements annually. First, at least 75% of the Company’s gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including “rents from real property”, gains on the disposition of real estate, dividends paid by another REIT and interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property or from certain types of temporary investments.
Second, at least 95% of the Company’s gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain real estate liability hedges) for each taxable year must be derived from any combination of income qualifying under the 75% test, dividends, and from interest, some payments under hedging instruments, gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities and some hedging instruments.
Rents received by the Company qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if the following conditions are met.
First, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits derived by any person from such property, although an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “rents from real property” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. The Company does not anticipate charging rent for any portion of any property that is based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person (except by reason of being based on a percentage of receipts for sales, which is permitted by the Code).
Second, rents received from a “related party tenant” will not qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the gross income tests unless the tenant is a taxable REIT subsidiary and at least 90% of the property is leased to unrelated tenants and the rent paid by the taxable REIT subsidiary is substantially comparable to the rent paid by the unrelated tenants for comparable space. A tenant is a related party tenant if the REIT, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of the REIT, actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the tenant. The Company does not anticipate receiving rents from such a tenant. Additionally, pursuant to the articles of incorporation, Related Tenant Owners are prohibited from acquiring constructive ownership of more than 9.8% by value of the Company.
Third, rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property will not qualify if it is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease.
Fourth, for rents to qualify as rents from real property for the purpose of satisfying the gross income tests, the Company is generally only allowed directly to provide services that are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of real property and not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant.” Accordingly, the Company may not provide “impermissible services” to tenants (except through a taxable REIT subsidiary, or through an independent contractor that bears the expenses of providing the services and from whom the Company derives no revenue) without giving rise to “impermissible tenant service income,” which is nonqualifying income for purposes of the income tests. For this purpose, the amount that the Company would be deemed to have received for performing any “impermissible services” will be the greater of the actual amount so received or 150% of the direct cost to the Company of providing those services. If impermissible tenant service income exceeds 1% of the Company’s total income from a property, all of the income from that property will fail to qualify as rents from real property. If the total amount of impermissible tenant service income from a property does not exceed 1% of the Company’s total income from the property, the services will not “taint” the other income from the property (that is, they will not cause the rent paid by tenants of that property to fail to qualify itself as rents from real property), but the impermissible tenant service income will not qualify as rents from real property. The Company provides certain services with respect to the properties that the Company believes complies with the “usually or customarily rendered” requirement. The Company will hire independent
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contractors from whom the Company derives no income to perform such services or utilize the Management Company to perform such services, to the extent that the performance of such services by the Company would cause amounts received from its tenants to be excluded from rents from real property.
The term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued (directly or indirectly) if the determination of such amount depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “interest” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. The Company does not expect to derive significant amounts of interest that would fail to qualify under the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
The Company’s share of any dividends received from corporate subsidiaries (and from other corporations in which the Company owns an interest) will qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. The Company does not anticipate that it will receive sufficient dividends to cause the Company to exceed the limit on nonqualifying income under the 75% gross income test.
From time to time, the Company or the Partnership have entered, and in the future may enter, into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of its assets or liabilities. These hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase such items, and futures and forward contracts. During the Company’s taxable years ending before January 1, 2005, any periodic income or gain from the disposition of any financial instrument for these or similar transactions to hedge indebtedness incurred to acquire or carry “real estate assets” should be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not the 75% gross income test. Since the financial markets continually introduce new and innovative instruments related to risk-sharing or trading, it is not entirely clear which such instruments generated income that is considered qualifying income for purposes of the gross income tests during the Company’s taxable years ending before January 1, 2005. As a result of changes made by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, commencing with the Company’s taxable year starting January 1, 2005, income and gain from “hedging transactions” will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test (but not the 75% gross income test). For those taxable years, a “hedging transaction” will mean any transaction entered into in the normal course of the Company’s or the Partnership’s trade or business primarily to manage the risk of interest rate, price changes, or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets. The Company or the Partnership, as the case may be, will be required to clearly identify any such hedging transaction before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into. The Company and the Partnership intend to structure any hedging or similar transactions so as not to jeopardize the Company’s status as a REIT.
The Management Company receives fees in consideration of the performance of management and administrative services with respect to properties that are not owned by the Company and earns income from the acquisition, development and resale of real estate. Distributions received by the Company from the Management Company of its earnings do not qualify under the 75% gross income test. The Company believes that the aggregate amount of the distributions from the Management Company together with all other non-qualifying income in any taxable year will not cause the Company to exceed the limits on non-qualifying income under the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
The Company believes that it has satisfied the 75% and 95% gross income tests for taxable years ended prior to the date of this prospectus and intends to operate in such a manner so as to satisfy such tests in the future. If the Company fails to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, it may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for such year if it is entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if the Company’s failure to meet those tests is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect; and following the Company’s identification of such failure for any taxable year, a schedule of the sources of the Company’s income is filed in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances the Company would be entitled to the benefit of those relief provisions. Even if the relief provisions apply, the Company would pay a 100% tax
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on (1) the gross income attributable to the greater of the amount by which the Company fails, respectively, the 75% or 95% gross income test, multiplied, in either case, by (2) a fraction intended to reflect the Company’s profitability.
If the Company has net income from “prohibited transactions,” that income will be subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. The determination as to whether a particular sale is a prohibited transaction depends on the facts and circumstances related to that sale. While the Company has undertaken a significant number of asset sales in recent years, the Company does not believe that those sales should be considered prohibited transactions, but there can be no assurance that the IRS would not contend otherwise.
Asset Tests
The Company, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, must also satisfy four tests relating to the nature of its assets. First, at least 75% of the value of the Company’s total assets must be represented by real estate assets (including (i) its allocable share of real estate assets which are held by the Partnership or other Property Partnerships or which are held by “qualified REIT subsidiaries” of the Company and (ii) stock or debt instruments held for not more than one year purchased with the proceeds of a stock offering or long-term (at least five years) debt offering of the Company), cash, cash items and government securities. Second, not more than 25% of the value of the Company’s total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class. Third, except for equity investments in REITs, qualified REIT subsidiaries, or taxable REIT subsidiaries or other securities that qualify as “real estate assets” for purposes of the 75% test described above, (a) the value of any one issuer’s securities that the Company owns may not exceed 5% of the value of the Company’s total assets; (b) the Company may not own more than 10% of any one issuer’s outstanding voting securities; and (c) the Company may not own more than 10% of the value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. Fourth, no more than 20% of the Company’s total value may be comprised of securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries.
For purposes of the 10% value test, , the term “securities” does not include:
| • | “Straight debt” securities, which is defined as a written unconditional promise to pay on demand or on a specified date a sum certain in money if (i) the debt is not convertible, directly or indirectly, into stock, and (ii) the interest rate and interest payment dates are not contingent on profits, the borrower’s discretion, or similar factors. “Straight debt” securities do not include any securities issued by a partnership or a corporation in which the Company or any controlled taxable REIT subsidiary hold non-“straight debt” securities that have an aggregate value of more than 1% of the issuer’s outstanding securities. However, “straight debt” securities include debt subject to the following contingencies: |
| • | a contingency relating to the time of payment of interest or principal, as long as either (i) there is no change to the effective yield of the debt obligation, other than a change to the annual yield that does not exceed the greater of 0.25% or 5% of the annual yield, or (ii) neither the aggregate issue price nor the aggregate face amount of the issuer’s debt obligations held by us exceeds $1 million and no more than 12 months of unaccrued interest on the debt obligations can be required to be prepaid; and |
| • | a contingency relating to the time or amount of payment upon a default or prepayment of a debt obligation, as long as the contingency is consistent with customary commercial practice. |
| • | Any loan to an individual or an estate. |
| • | Any “section 467 rental agreement,” other than an agreement with a related party tenant. |
| • | Any obligation to pay “rents from real property.” |
| • | Certain securities issued by governmental entities. |
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| • | Any security issued by a REIT. |
| • | Any debt instrument issued by an entity treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes to the extent of the Company’s interest as a partner in the partnership. |
| • | Any debt instrument issued by an entity treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes not described in the preceding bullet points if at least 75% of the partnership’s gross income, excluding income from prohibited transactions, is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. |
The Partnership owns 100% of the outstanding capital stock of the Management Company. The Company believes that the aggregate value of the Management Company does not exceed 20% of the aggregate value of the Company’s gross assets. As of each relevant testing date prior to the election to treat the Management Company as a taxable REIT subsidiary, which election first became available as of January 1, 2001, the Company believes it did not own more than 10% of the voting securities of the Management Company. In addition, the Company believes that as of each relevant testing date prior to the election to treat the Management Company as a taxable REIT subsidiary of the Company, the Company’s pro rata share of the value of the securities, including debt, of the Management Company did not exceed 5% of the total value of the Company’s assets. No independent appraisals have been obtained to support the Company’s estimate of value, however, and Foley & Lardner LLP, in issuing its opinion on the Company’s qualification as a REIT, is relying on the Company’s representation as to the limited value of the stock interests in the Management Company.
After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, the Company will not lose its status as a REIT if it fails to satisfy the 25%, 20%, and 5% asset tests and the 10% value limitation at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in the relative values of the Company’s assets. If the failure to satisfy the 25%, 20%, or 5% asset tests or the 10% value limitation results from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, the failure can be cured by disposition of sufficient nonqualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. The Company intends to maintain adequate records of the value of its assets to maintain compliance with the asset tests and would attempt to take any available actions within 30 days after the close of any quarter in an effort to cure any noncompliance with the 25%, 20%, or 5% asset tests or 10% value limitation of which it becomes aware within that period. If the Company failed to cure noncompliance with the asset tests within this time period, it would cease to qualify as a REIT. See “—Failure to Qualify.”
Beginning with the Company’s 2005 taxable year, if the Company fails to satisfy one or more of the asset tests for any quarter of a taxable year, the Company nevertheless may qualify as a REIT for such year if the Company qualifies for relief under certain provisions of the Code. Those relief provisions generally are available for failures of the 5% asset test and the 10% asset test if (i) the failure is due to the ownership of assets that do not exceed the lesser of 1% of the Company’s total assets or $10 million, and the failure is corrected within six months following the quarter in which it was discovered, or (ii) the failure is due to ownership of assets that exceed the amount in (i) above, the failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, the Company files a schedule with a description of each asset causing the failure in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, the failure is corrected within six months following the quarter in which it was discovered, and the Company pays a tax consisting of the greater of $50,000 or a tax computed at the highest corporate rate on the amount of net income generated by the assets causing the failure from the date of failure until the assets are disposed of or the Company otherwise returns to compliance with the asset test. The Company may not qualify for the relief provisions in all circumstances.
Annual Distribution Requirements
The Company, in order to qualify as a REIT, is required to distribute dividends (other than capital gains dividends) to its shareholders in an amount at least equal to: (a) the sum of (i) 90% of the Company’s “REIT taxable income” (computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and the Company’s net capital gain) and (ii) 90% of the net income (after tax), if any, from foreclosure property; minus (b) the sum of certain items of non-cash income. Such distribution must be paid in the taxable year to which it relates, or in the following
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taxable year if declared before the Company timely files its tax return for such prior year and if paid on or before the first regular dividend payment date after such declaration. To the extent that the Company does not distribute (or is not treated as having distributed) all of its net capital gain or distributes (or is treated as having distributed) at least 90%, but less than 100%, of its “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, it will be subject to tax thereon at regular ordinary and capital gains corporate tax rates. The Company may elect to retain, rather than distribute as a capital gain dividend, its net long-term capital gains. If the Company makes this election, a “Capital Gains Designation,” the Company would pay tax on its retained net long-term capital gains. In addition, to the extent the Company makes a Capital Gains Designation, a U.S. Shareholder generally would: (i) include its proportionate share of the Company’s undistributed long-term capital gains in computing its long-term capital gains in its return for its taxable year in which the last day of the Company’s taxable year falls (subject to certain limitations as to the amount that is includable); (ii) be deemed to have paid the capital gains tax imposed on the Company on the designated amounts included in the U.S. Shareholder’s long-term capital gains; (iii) receive a credit or refund for the amount of tax deemed paid by it; (iv) increase the adjusted basis of its shares by the difference between the amount of includable gains and the tax deemed to have been paid by it; and (v) in the case of a U.S. Shareholder that is a corporation, appropriately adjust its earnings and profits for the retained capital gains in accordance with Treasury Regulations to be prescribed by the IRS. If the Company should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of its REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of its REIT capital gain income for such year (other than capital gain income that the Company elects to retain and pay tax on) and (iii) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods (other than capital gains from such years which the Company elected to retain and pay tax on), the Company will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed.
The Company intends to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy this annual distribution requirement in the future. It is possible that the Company, from time to time, may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet the 90% distribution requirement due to timing differences between the actual receipt of income and the actual payment of deductible expenses and the inclusion of such income and deduction of such expenses in arriving at the taxable income of the Company, or if the amount of nondeductible expenses such as principal amortization or capital expenditures exceeds the amount of noncash deductions. In the event that such timing differences occur, in order to meet the 90% distribution requirement, the Company may find it necessary to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings to permit the payment of required dividends or to pay dividends in the form of taxable stock dividends.
Under certain circumstances, the Company may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a certain year by paying “deficiency dividends” to shareholders in a later year, which may be included in the Company’s deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, the Company may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends; however, the Company will be required to pay to the IRS interest based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.
Relief from Other Failures of the REIT Qualification Provisions
Beginning with the Company’s 2005 taxable year, if the Company fails to satisfy one or more of the requirements for REIT qualification (other than the income tests or the asset tests), the Company nevertheless may avoid termination of its REIT election in such year if the failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and the Company pays a penalty of $50,000 for each failure to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements. The Company may not qualify for this relief provision in all circumstances.
If the Company fails to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions do not apply, the Company will be subject to tax (including any applicable corporate alternative minimum tax) on its taxable income at regular corporate rates. Such a failure could have an adverse effect on the market value and marketability of the common stock. Distributions to shareholders in any year in which the Company fails to
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qualify will not be deductible by the Company nor will they be required to be made. In such event, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to shareholders will be taxable to individual shareholders generally at preferential capital gain rates applicable to dividends through December 31, 2008, and otherwise, including to corporate distributees, as ordinary income. Subject to certain limitations of the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, the Company will also be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. It is not possible to state whether the Company would be entitled to such statutory relief.
Taxation of Taxable Domestic Shareholders
As used in this section, the term U.S. shareholder means a holder of shares who is (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity treated as a corporation or partnership for federal income tax purposes, (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or (iv) 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.
So long as the Company qualifies as a REIT, distributions to U.S. shareholders out of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits that are not designated as capital gain dividends generally will be taxable as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction generally available for corporations. However, dividends, other than capital gain dividends, that are (i) attributable to income on which the Company was subject to tax in the previous taxable year at the corporate level, either because it did not distribute such income or such income consists of gains from certain assets acquired from C corporations, including as a result of the conversion of a C corporation to a REIT, or (ii) attributable to dividends received by the Company from non-REIT corporations, such as taxable REIT subsidiaries, during the current taxable year will be taxable, to the extent designated by the Company, to individual stockholders as net capital gain at the maximum rate of 15%. Distributions in excess of the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a U.S. shareholder to the extent that the distributions do not exceed the adjusted tax basis of the shareholder’s shares. Rather, the distributions will reduce the adjusted tax basis of the shares. Distributions that exceed the U.S. shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Company’s shares will be taxable as capital gains. If the Company declares a dividend in October, November, or December of any year with a record date in one of these months and pays the dividend on or before January 31 of the following year, the Company will be treated as having paid the dividend, and the shareholder will be treated as having received the dividend, on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared. Shareholders may not include in their own income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.
The Company may elect to designate distributions of the Company’s net capital gain as “capital gain dividends.” Capital gain dividends are taxed to shareholders as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset held for more than one year, without regard to how long the U.S. shareholder has held the Company’s shares. Designations that the Company makes only will 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. If the Company designates any portion of a dividend as a capital gain dividend, a U.S. shareholder will receive an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099–DIV indicating the amount that will be taxable to the shareholder as capital gain. Corporate shareholders, however, may be required to treat up to 20% of capital gain dividends as ordinary income.
Instead of paying capital gain dividends, the Company may designate all or part of its net capital gain as “undistributed capital gain.” The Company will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on any undistributed capital gain. A U.S. shareholder (1) will include in its income as long-term capital gains its proportionate share of such undistributed capital gains; (2) will be deemed to have paid its proportionate share of the tax paid by the Company on such undistributed capital gains and receive a credit or refund to the extent that the tax the Company paid exceeds the U.S. shareholder’s tax liability on the undistributed capital gain; and (3) in the case of a U.S.
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shareholder that is a corporation, appropriately adjust its earnings and profits for the retained capital gains in accordance with Treasury Regulations to be prescribed by the IRS. A U.S. shareholder will increase the basis in its common shares by the difference between the amount of capital gain included in its income and the amount of tax it is deemed to have paid. The Company’s earnings and profits will be adjusted appropriately.
The Company will classify portions of any designated capital gain dividend or undistributed capital gain as either: (1) a 15% rate gain distribution, which would be taxable to non-corporate U.S. shareholders at a maximum rate of 15%; or (2) an “unrecaptured Section 1250 gain” distribution, which would be taxable to non-corporate U.S. shareholders at a maximum rate of 25%.
Distributions that the Company makes and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. shareholder of the Company’s shares will not be treated as passive activity income, and as a result, U.S. shareholders generally will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against this income or gain. In addition, taxable distributions from the Company generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitations. A U.S. shareholder may elect to treat capital gain dividends and capital gains from the disposition of shares as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitation, in which case the applicable capital gains will be taxed at ordinary income rates. The Company will notify shareholders regarding the portions of distributions for each year that constitute ordinary income, return of capital, capital gain or represent tax preference items to be taken into account for purposes of computing the alternative minimum tax liability of the shareholders. U.S. shareholders may not include in their individual income tax returns any of the Company’s net operating losses or capital losses. The Company’s operating or capital losses would be carried over by the Company for potential offset against future income, subject to applicable limitations.
Upon any taxable sale or other disposition of shares, a U.S. shareholder will recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between: (1) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received on the sale or other disposition and (2) the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares for tax purposes.
This gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss. The applicable tax rate will depend on the shareholder’s holding period for the asset (generally, if an asset has been held for more than one year it will produce long-term capital gain) and the shareholder’s tax bracket. The Internal Revenue Service has the authority to prescribe, but has not yet prescribed, regulations that would apply a capital gain tax rate of 25% (which is generally higher than the long-term capital gain tax rates for noncorporate shareholders) to a portion of capital gain realized by a noncorporate shareholder on the sale of REIT shares that would correspond to the REIT’s “unrecaptured Section 1250 gain.” Shareholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors with respect to their capital gain tax liability. A corporate U.S. shareholder will be subject to tax at a maximum rate of 35% on capital gain from the sale of the Company’s shares. In general, any loss recognized by a U.S. shareholder upon the sale or other disposition of shares that have been held for six months or less, after applying the holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss, to the extent of distributions received by the U.S. shareholder from the Company that were required to be treated as long-term capital gains.
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders
Provided that a tax-exempt shareholder has not held its common shares as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Code, distributions from the Company will not be unrelated business taxable income, referred to as UBTI, to a tax-exempt shareholder. Similarly, income from the sale of shares will not constitute UBTI unless the tax-exempt shareholder has held its shares as debt financed property within the meaning of the Code or has used the shares in a trade or business.
However, for tax-exempt shareholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts and qualified group legal services plans exempt from federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) and (c)(20) of the Code, respectively, or a single parent title-holding corporation exempt under Section 501(c)(2) the income of which is payable to any of the aforementioned
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tax-exempt organizations, income from an investment in the Company will constitute UBTI unless the organization properly sets aside or reserves such amounts for purposes specified in the Code. These tax-exempt shareholders should consult their tax advisors concerning these “set aside” and reserve requirements.
Notwithstanding the above, however, a portion of the dividends paid by a “pension held REIT” are treated as UBTI if received by any trust which is described in Section 401(a) of the Code, is tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, and holds more than 10%, by value, of the interests in the REIT. Tax-exempt pension funds that are described in Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code are referred to below as “pension trusts.”
A REIT is a pension held REIT if it meets the following two tests: (1) it qualified as a REIT only by reason of Section 856(h)(3) of the Code, which provides that stock owned by pension trusts will be treated, for purposes of determining if the REIT is closely held, as owned by the beneficiaries of the trust rather than by the trust itself; and (2) either (a) at least one pension trust holds more than 25% of the value of the REIT’s stock, or (b) a group of pension trusts each individually holding more than 10% of the value of the REIT’s shares, collectively owns more than 50% of the value of the REIT’s shares.
The percentage of any REIT dividend from a “pension held REIT” treated as UBTI is equal to the ratio of UBTI earned by the REIT, treating the REIT as if it were a pension trust and therefore subject to tax on UBTI, to the total gross income of the REIT. An exception applies where the percentage is less than 5% for any year. The provisions requiring pension trusts to treat a portion of REIT distributions as UBTI will not apply if the REIT is able to satisfy the “not closely held requirement” without relying upon the “look-through” exception for pension trusts. Based on both the Company’s current share ownership and the limitations on transfer and ownership of shares contained in the Company’s organizational documents, we do not expect to be classified as a pension held REIT.
U.S. Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders
As used in this section, the terms “non-U.S. shareholder” means a holder of shares that is not a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Company’s distributions to a non-U.S. shareholder that are neither attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by the Company of “U.S. real property interests” nor designated by the Company as capital gains dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. These distributions ordinarily will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax on a gross basis at a rate of 30%, or a lower rate as permitted under an applicable income tax treaty, unless the dividends are treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. shareholder of a U.S. trade or business. Under some treaties, however, lower withholding rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from REITs. Applicable certification and disclosure requirements must be satisfied to be exempt from withholding under the effectively connected income exemption. Dividends that are effectively connected with a trade or business will be subject to tax on a net basis, that is, after allowance for deductions, at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. shareholders are taxed with respect to these dividends, and are generally not subject to withholding. Any dividends received by a corporate non-U.S. shareholder that is engaged in a U.S. trade or business also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate, or lower applicable treaty rate.
Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits that exceed the non-U.S. shareholder’s basis in the Company’s shares will be taxable to a non-U.S. shareholder as gain from the sale of shares, which is discussed below. Distributions in excess of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Company that do not exceed the adjusted tax basis of the non-U.S. shareholder in the Company’s shares will reduce the non-U.S. shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares and will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, but will be subject to U.S. withholding tax as described below.
The Company expects to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on any dividend distributions (including distributions that later may be determined to have been in excess of current and accumulated earnings
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and profits) made to a non-U.S. shareholder unless: (1) a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. shareholder files an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN evidencing eligibility for that reduced treaty rate with the Company; or (2) the non-U.S. shareholder files an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI with the Company claiming that the distribution is effectively connected income.
The Company may be required to withhold at least 10% of any distribution in excess of the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, even if a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. shareholder is not liable for tax on the receipt of that distribution. However, a non-U.S. shareholder may seek a refund of these amounts from the Internal Revenue Service if the non-U.S. shareholder’s U.S. tax liability with respect to the distribution is less than the amount withheld.
Distributions to a non-U.S. shareholder that the Company designates at the time of the distribution as capital gain dividends, other than those arising from the disposition of a U.S. real property interest, generally should not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless: (1) the investment in the shares is effectively connected with the conduct of the non-U.S. shareholder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders on any gain, except that a shareholder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax, as discussed above, or (2) the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the U.S., in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gains.
Capital gain distributions to the holders of the Company’s common shares that are attributable to the Company’s sale of real property will be treated as ordinary dividends rather than as gain from the sale of a United States real property interest, as long as (i) the Company’s common shares continue to be regularly traded on an established securities market and (ii) the non-U.S. shareholder did not own more than 5% of the Company’s common shares during the taxable year. As a result, non-U.S. shareholders generally would be subject to withholding tax on such capital gain distributions in the same manner as they are subject to withholding tax on ordinary dividends.
If the Company’s common shares cease to be regularly traded on an established securities market or the non-U.S. shareholder owned more than 5% of the Company’s common shares during the taxable year, capital gain distributions that are attributable to the Company’s sale of real property would be subject to tax under the provisions of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”).
Under FIRPTA, a non-U.S. shareholder is taxed on distributions attributable to gain from sales of U.S. real property interests as if such gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business of the non-U.S. shareholder. A non-U.S. shareholder thus would be taxed on such a distribution at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. shareholders (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of a nonresident alien individual). A corporate non-U.S. shareholder not entitled to treaty relief or exemption also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax on distributions subject to FIRPTA. The Company must withhold and remit to the Internal Revenue Service 35% of any distributions to non-U.S. stockholders that are designated as capital gain dividends, or, if greater, 35% of a distribution that could have been designated as a capital gain dividend. A non-U.S. shareholder may receive a credit against its FIRPTA tax liability for the amount the Company withholds.
Although the law is not clear on the matter, it appears that amounts the Company designates as undistributed capital gains in respect of the common shares held by U.S. shareholders generally should be treated for non-U.S. shareholders in the same manner as actual distributions by the Company of capital gain dividends. Under that approach, the non-U.S. shareholders would be able to offset as a credit against their United States federal income tax liability resulting from reporting the capital gain their proportionate share of the tax paid by the Company on the undistributed capital gains, and to receive from the Internal Revenue Service a refund to the extent their proportionate share of this tax paid by the Company were to exceed their actual United States federal income tax liability.
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Gain recognized by a non-U.S. shareholder upon the sale or exchange of the Company’s shares generally would not be subject to United States taxation unless: (1) the investment in the Company’s shares is effectively connected with the conduct of the non-U.S. shareholder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as domestic shareholders as to any gain; (2) the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a tax home in the United States, in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s net capital gains for the taxable year; or (3) the Company’s shares constitute a U.S. real property interest within the meaning of FIRPTA, as described below.
The Company’s shares will not constitute a U.S. real property interest if the Company is a domestically controlled REIT. The Company will be a domestically-controlled REIT if, at all times during the 5 year period, preceding a sale or exchange of stock, less than 50% in value of the Company’s stock is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. shareholders. The Company believes that it currently is not a domestically controlled REIT because Security Capital U.S. Realty, a foreign company, beneficially owned in excess of 50% in value of the Company’s shares until May 14, 2002, when beneficial ownership of those shares was acquired by General Electric Company. Therefore, the sale of the Company’s shares may currently be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. The Company believes, however, that at the present time less than 50% in value of the Company’s stock is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. shareholders and hence, the Company may become domestically-controlled in the future. Because the Company’s shares are publicly traded, however, the Company cannot guarantee that the Company will become a domestically controlled REIT. Even if the Company does not qualify as a domestically controlled REIT at the time a non-U.S. shareholder sells the Company’s shares, gain arising from the sale still would not be subject to FIRPTA tax if: (1) the class or series of shares sold is considered regularly traded under applicable treasury regulations on an established securities market, such as the New York Stock Exchange; and (2) the selling non-U.S. shareholder owned, actually or constructively, 5% or less in value of the outstanding class or series of shares being sold throughout the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange.
If gain on the sale or exchange of the Company’s shares were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. shareholder would be subject to regular U.S. income tax as to any gain in the same manner as a taxable U.S. shareholder, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals.
The Company and its security holders may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which it or they transact business or reside. The state and local tax treatment of the Company and its security holders may not conform to the federal income tax consequences discussed above. Consequently, prospective security holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in the Company.
U.S. Shareholders
The Company will report to its domestic shareholders and to the IRS the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any. Under the backup withholding rules, a shareholder may be subject to backup withholding with respect to dividends paid unless such shareholder (a) is a corporation or another form of entity exempt from backup withholding and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or (b) provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A shareholder that does not provide the Company with a correct taxpayer identification number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against the shareholder’s income tax liability.
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In addition, the Company may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any shareholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to the Company.
Non-U.S. Shareholders
Generally, information reporting will apply to payments of distributions on the Company’s shares, and backup withholding may apply, unless the payee certifies that it is not a U.S. person or otherwise establishes an exemption.
The payment of the proceeds from the disposition of Company shares to or through the U.S. office of a U.S. or foreign broker will be subject to information reporting and, possibly, backup withholding unless the non-U.S. shareholder certifies as to its non-U.S. status or otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that the broker does not have actual knowledge that the shareholder is a U.S. person or that the conditions of any other exemption are not, in fact, satisfied. The proceeds of the disposition by a non-U.S. shareholder of Company shares to or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, if the broker is a U.S. person, a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. tax purposes, or a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income from all sources for specified periods is from activities that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, information reporting generally will apply unless the broker has documentary evidence as to the non-U.S. shareholder’s foreign status and has no actual knowledge to the contrary.
Applicable treasury regulations provide presumptions regarding the status of shareholders when payments to the shareholders cannot be reliably associated with appropriate documentation provided to the payer. Because the application of these treasury regulations varies depending on the shareholder’s particular circumstances, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the information reporting requirements applicable to you.
The following is a summary of material considerations arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the prohibited transactions provisions of Section 4975 of the Code that may be relevant to a prospective purchaser of our securities. This discussion does not purport to deal with all aspects of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code that may be relevant to particular shareholders (including plans subject to Title I of ERISA, other retirement plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRA’s”) subject to the prohibited transaction provisions of Section 4975 of the Code, and governmental plans or church plans that are exempt from ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code but that may be subject to the prohibited transaction provisions of Section 503 of the Code and to state law requirements) in light of their particular circumstances.
IF YOU ARE A FIDUCIARY MAKING THE DECISION TO INVEST IN SECURITIES ON BEHALF OF A PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER THAT IS AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN, A TAX QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLAN, OR AN IRA YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN LEGAL ADVISOR REGARDING THE SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS ARISING UNDER ERISA, SECTIONS 4975 AND 503 OF THE CODE, AND STATE LAW WITH RESPECT TO THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, OR SALE OF OUR SECURITIES BY SUCH PLAN OR IRA.
Employee Benefit Plans, Tax Qualified Retirement Plans and IRAs
Each fiduciary of a pension, profit sharing, or other employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA (an “ERISA plan”) should carefully consider whether an investment in our securities is consistent with its fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA. The fiduciary must make its own determination as to whether an investment in the common stock:
| • | is permissible under the documents governing the ERISA plan; |
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| • | is appropriate for the ERISA plan under the general fiduciary standards of investment prudence and diversification, taking into account the overall investment policy of the ERISA plan and the composition of the ERISA plan’s investment portfolio; and |
| • | would result in a nonexempt prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code. |
The fiduciary of an IRA or of a qualified retirement plan not subject to Title I of ERISA because it is a governmental or church plan or because it does not cover common law employees (a “non-ERISA plan”) should consider that such an IRA or non-ERISA plan may only make investments that are authorized by the appropriate governing documents and under applicable state law. The fiduciary should also consider the applicable prohibited transaction rules of Sections 4975 and 503 of the Code.
The following section discusses certain principles that apply in determining whether the fiduciary requirements of ERISA and the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the Code apply to an entity because one or more investors in the entity’s equity interests is an ERISA plan or is a non-ERISA plan or an IRA subject to Section 4975 of the Code. An ERISA plan fiduciary should also consider the relevance of these principles to ERISA’s prohibition on improper delegation of control over or responsibility for “plan assets” and ERISA’s imposition of co-fiduciary liability on a fiduciary who participates in, permits (by action or inaction) the occurrence of, or fails to remedy a known breach by another fiduciary.
Under the Department of Labor regulations as to what constitutes assets of an employee benefit plan (the “DOL regulations”), if an ERISA plan acquires an equity interest in an entity, which interest is neither a “publicly offered security” nor a security issued by an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the ERISA plan assets would include, for purposes of the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA, both the equity interest and an undivided interest in each of the entity’s underlying assets unless certain specified exceptions apply. The DOL regulations define a publicly offered security as a security that is “widely held,” “freely transferable,” and either part of a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (provided the securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the issuer during which the offering occurred). The equity securities offered hereby will be sold in an offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are or are expected to be registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The DOL regulations provide that a security is “widely held” only if it is part of a class of securities that is owned by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and of one another. A security will not fail to be “widely held” because the number of independent investors falls below 100 as a result of events beyond the issuer’s control. Our common stock is “widely held.”
The DOL regulations provide that whether a security is “freely transferable” is a factual question to be determined on the basis of all relevant facts and circumstances. The DOL regulations further provide that when a security is part of an offering in which the minimum investment is $10,000 or less, as is expected to be the case with this offering, certain restrictions ordinarily will not, alone or in combination, affect the finding that such securities are freely transferable. We believe that restrictions imposed under our articles of incorporation on the transfer of our capital stock are limited to the restrictions on transfers generally permitted under the DOL regulations and are not likely to result in the failure of our capital stock to be “freely transferable.” The DOL regulations only establish a presumption in favor of the finding of free transferability, and, therefore, no assurance can be given that the Department of Labor and the U.S. Treasury Department will not reach a contrary conclusion.
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The validity of the securities to which this prospectus relates and certain tax matters described under “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “ERISA Considerations” will be passed upon for Regency by Foley & Lardner LLP, Jacksonville, Florida. Attorneys with Foley & Lardner LLP representing Regency with respect to this offering beneficially owned approximately 6,900 shares of Regency’s common stock as of the date of this prospectus.
The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Regency Centers Corporation as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The audited Combined Historical Summary of Revenue and Certain Expenses of Macquarie CountryWide-Regency II, LLC Acquisition Properties included in Regency Centers Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated June 1, 2005 has been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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PART II
Information Not Required in Prospectus
| Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. |
Set forth below is an estimate of the approximate amount of fees and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered hereby.
| Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee |
$ | (1) | ||
| Exchange Listing Fee |
$ | 225,000 | * | |
| Printing and Delivery |
$ | 225,000 | * | |
| Legal Fees and Expenses |
$ | 150,000 | * | |
| Accounting Fees and Expenses |
$ | 150,000 | * | |
| Fees of Rating Agencies |
$ | 300,000 | * | |
| Miscellaneous |
$ | 50,000 | * | |
| Total |
$ | 1,100,000 | * | |
| * | Estimated |
| (1) | Deferred in accordance with Rule 456(b) and 457(r), except for $15,660.91 that has already been paid with respect to $123,606,250 aggregate initial offering price of securities that (i) were previously registered pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-118910, filed by the Registrant on September 10, 2004, and (ii) were not sold thereunder. |
| Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Regency Centers Corporation’s officers and directors are and will be indemnified under Florida law and, the articles of incorporation and by-laws of Regency Centers Corporation.
The Florida Business Corporation Act (the “Florida Act”), under which Regency is organized, permits a Florida corporation to indemnify a present or former director or officer of the corporation (and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities) for liabilities, including legal expenses, arising by reason of service in such capacity if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and in any criminal proceeding if such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. However, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification may be made with respect to any matter as to which such director or officer shall have been adjudged liable, except in certain limited circumstances.
Article X of Regency’s bylaws provides that Regency shall indemnify directors and executive officers to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the Florida Act. In addition, Regency has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers in which it has agreed to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the Florida Act.
| Item 16. | Exhibits |
The exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed in the Exhibit Index, which appears immediately after the signature page and is incorporated herein by this reference.
| Item 17. | Undertakings |
| (a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement
| (i) | to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
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| (ii) | to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and |
| (iii) | to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
| (i) | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
| (ii) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date. |
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the
II-2
Table of Contents
underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
| (b) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (c) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
II-3
Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Jacksonville, State of Florida, on May 19, 2006.
| REGENCY CENTERS CORPORATION | ||
| By: | /s/ MARTIN E. STEIN, JR. | |
| Martin E. Stein, Jr., Chairman of the | ||
| Board and Chief Executive Officer | ||
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears on the Signature Page to this Registration Statement constitutes and appoints Martin E. Stein, Jr., Mary Lou Fiala, Bruce M. Johnson and J. Christian Leavitt, and each or any of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, including any amendment or registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462, and to file the same, with all exhibits hereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and grants unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ MARTIN E. STEIN, JR. | |||
| Martin E. Stein, Jr., Chairman of the | ||||
| Board and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ MARY LOU FIALA | |||
| Mary Lou Fiala, President, Chief | ||||
| Operating Officer and Director | ||||
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ BRUCE M. JOHNSON | |||
| Bruce M. Johnson, Managing Director, | ||||
| Principal Financial Officer and Director | ||||
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ J. CHRISTIAN LEAVITT | |||
| J. Christian Leavitt, Senior Vice President, | ||||
| Secretary, Treasurer and Principal | ||||
| Accounting Officer | ||||
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ RAYMOND L. BANK | |||
| Raymond L. Bank, Director | ||||
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ C. RONALD BLANKENSHIP | |||
| C. Ronald Blankenship, Director | ||||
Table of Contents
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ A.R. CARPENTER | |||
| A.R. Carpenter, Director | ||||
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ J. DIX DRUCE, JR. | |||
| J. Dix Druce, Jr., Director | ||||
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ DOUGLAS S. LUKE | |||
| Douglas S. Luke, Director | ||||
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ JOHN C. SCHWEITZER | |||
| John C. Schweitzer, Director | ||||
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ THOMAS G. WATTLES | |||
| Thomas G. Wattles, Director | ||||
| Date: May 19, 2006 |
/s/ TERRY N. WORRELL | |||
| Terry N. Worrell, Director | ||||
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT INDEX
| *1.1 | Form of Underwriting Agreement (common stock) | |
| *1.2 | Form of Underwriting Agreement (preferred stock) | |
| *1.3 | Form of Underwriting Agreement (depositary shares) | |
| *4.1 | Form of Certificate of Designation (preferred stock) | |
| *4.2 | Form of Certificate of Designation (special common stock) | |
| 4.3 | Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to the Company’s Form 8-A filed July 29, 2005) | |
| *4.4 | Form of Deposit Agreement | |
| *4.5 | Form of Depositary Receipt | |
| *4.6 | Form of Warrant Agreement | |
| *4.7 | Form of Purchase Contract | |
| *4.8 | Form of Unit Agreement | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP as to the legality of the securities to be issued | |
| 8.1 | Opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP as to tax matters and REIT qualification | |
| 12.1 | Statement re Computation of Ratios | |
| *23.1 | Consent of Foley & Lardner LLP (included in Opinion filed as Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1) | |
| 23.2 | Consent of KPMG LLP | |
| 23.3 | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | |
| 24.1 | Powers of Attorney (included on signature page) | |
| * | If applicable, to be filed by post-effective amendment or by a current report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as appropriate, for the specified offering of securities. |
Exhibit 5.1
|
|
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP ATTORNEYS AT LAW
ONE INDEPENDENT DRIVE, SUITE 1300 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202-5017 P. O. BOX 240 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32201-0240 904.359.2000 TEL 904.359.8700 FAX www.foley.com
CLIENT/MATTER NUMBER 040521-0256 | |
| May 19, 2006 | ||
Regency Centers Corporation
121 West Forsyth Street, Suite 200
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is being furnished in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Regency Centers Corporation (“Regency” or the “Company”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the offering from time to time by the Company of the following securities of the Company: common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Shares”), one or more series of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Shares”), depositary shares representing whole or fractional parts of one or more series of Preferred Shares (the “Depositary Shares”) and Warrants, Purchase Contracts and Units that relate to or, in the case of Units are comprised of, any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Securities”).
In connection with the registration of the Securities, we have examined and are familiar with: (a) the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Regency, as presently in effect (the “Organizational Documents”), (b) the proceedings of and actions taken by the board of directors of Regency (the “Board”) in connection with the registration of the Securities, and (c) such other records, certificates and documents as we have considered necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.
Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
1. When (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action in conformity with Florida law and the Organizational Documents to approve the issuance of Common Shares, and (b) Common Shares have been issued and sold against payment of the consideration therefore as described in the Registration Statement, and if in an underwritten offering, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable underwriting agreement and any related terms agreement approved by the Board, and in a manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, including the prospectus supplement relating to those Common Shares, those Common Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
| BOSTON BRUSSELS CHICAGO DETROIT |
JACKSONVILLE LOS ANGELES MADISON MILWAUKEE |
NEW YORK ORLANDO SACRAMENTO SAN DIEGO |
SAN DIEGO/DEL MAR SAN FRANCISCO SILICON VALLEY TALLAHASSEE |
TAMPA TOKYO WASHINGTON, D.C. |
Regency Centers Corporation
May 19, 2006
Page 2
2. When (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action in conformity with Florida law and the Organizational Documents to designate a series of Preferred Shares and approve the issuance of Preferred Shares of such series, (b) the amendment to Regency’s articles of incorporation so designating such series has been filed with the Florida Department of State, and (c) Preferred Shares of such series have been issued and sold against payment of the consideration therefore as described in the Registration Statement, and if in an underwritten offering, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable underwriting agreement and any related terms agreement approved by the Board, and in a manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, including the prospectus supplement relating to those Preferred Shares, those Preferred Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3. When (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action in conformity with Florida law and the Organizational Documents to designate a series of Preferred Shares and approve the issuance of Preferred Shares of such series and the issuance of Depositary Shares representing such series of Preferred Shares, (b) the amendment to Regency’s articles of incorporation so designating such series has been filed with the Florida Department of State, and (c) Depositary Shares have been issued and sold against payment of the consideration therefore as described in the Registration Statement and the applicable deposit agreement, and if in an underwritten offering, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable underwriting agreement and any related terms agreement approved by the Board, and in a manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, including the prospectus supplement relating to those Depositary Shares, the underlying Preferred Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and those Depositary Shares will represent legal and valid contractual fractional interests in the underlying Preferred Shares.
4. When (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action in conformity with Florida law and the Organizational Documents to approve the issuance of Warrants and the Securities underlying such Warrants, and (b) the Warrants have been issued and sold against payment of the consideration therefore as described in the Registration Statement and the applicable warrant agreement, and if in an underwritten offering, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable underwriting agreement and any related terms agreement approved by the Board, and in a manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, including the prospectus supplement relating to those Warrants, those Warrants will be legally issued and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.
5. When (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action in conformity with Florida law and the Organizational Documents to approve the issuance of Purchase Contracts and the Securities underlying such Purchase Contracts, and (b) Purchase Contracts have been issued and sold against payment of the consideration therefore as described in the Registration Statement and the applicable Purchase Contract, and if in an underwritten offering, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable underwriting agreement and any related terms agreement approved by the Board, and in a manner contemplated in the Registration Statement,
Regency Centers Corporation
May 19, 2006
Page 3
including the prospectus supplement relating to those Purchase Contracts, those Purchase Contracts will be legally issued and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.
6. When (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action in conformity with Florida law and the Organizational Documents to approve the issuance of Units and the Securities comprising such Units, and (b) when Units have been issued and sold as described in the Registration Statement, and if in an underwritten offering, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable underwriting agreement and any related terms agreement approved by the Board, and in a manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, including the prospectus supplement relating to those Units, those Units will be legally issued and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.
In addition, our opinions hereinafter expressed are subject to the following qualifications and exceptions: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, including, without limitation, laws relating to fraudulent transfers or conveyances, preferences and equitable subordination; and (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the state of Florida. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion letter if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinions expressed herein after the date hereof.
This opinion is solely for your benefit and may not be relied upon by, nor may copies be delivered to, any other person without our prior written consent.
We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5 in said Registration Statement and the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus that is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.
| Sincerely, |
| /s/ FOLEY & LARDNER LLP |
Exhibit 8.1
 |
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP ATTORNEYS AT LAW
ONE INDEPENDENT DRIVE, SUITE 1300 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202-5017 P. O. BOX 240 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32201-0240 904.359.2000 TEL 904.359.8700 FAX www.foley.com
CLIENT/MATTER NUMBER 040521-0256 | |
| May 19, 2006 | ||
Regency Centers Corporation
121 West Forsyth Street, Suite 200
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinions as tax counsel to Regency Centers Corporation (the “Company”) concerning the federal income tax consequences in connection with the registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) and the qualification of the Company as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) for federal income tax purposes, with respect to the offering from time to time by the Company of the following securities of the Company: common stock, par value $0.01 per share, one or more series of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, depositary shares representing whole or fractional parts of one or more series of preferred stock and warrants, purchase contracts and units that relate to or, in the case of units are comprised of, any of the foregoing.
In connection with the opinions rendered below, we have reviewed the Registration Statement, the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company and such other documents that we deemed relevant. The opinions expressed in this letter are based upon certain factual representations set forth in the Registration Statement and in certificates of officers of the Company.
In connection with the opinions rendered below, we have assumed generally that:
1. each of the documents referred to above has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered; is authentic, if an original, or is accurate, if a copy; and has not been amended;
2. during its short taxable year ended December 31, 1993 and subsequent taxable years, the Company has operated and will continue to operate in such a manner that makes and will continue to make the factual representations contained in a certificate, dated as of the date hereof and executed by a duly appointed officer of the Company (the “Officer’s Certificate”), true for such years;
3. the Company will not make any amendments to its organizational documents or to the organizational documents of Regency Realty Group, Inc., a Florida corporation
| BOSTON BRUSSELS CHICAGO DETROIT |
JACKSONVILLE LOS ANGELES MADISON MILWAUKEE |
NEW YORK ORLANDO SACRAMENTO SAN DIEGO |
SAN DIEGO/DEL MAR SAN FRANCISCO SILICON VALLEY TALLAHASSEE |
TAMPA TOKYO WASHINGTON, D.C. |
Regency Centers Corporation
May 19, 2006
Page 2
(“Management Company”), after the date of this opinion that would affect its qualification as a REIT for any taxable year;
(d) no actions will be taken by the Company or Management Company after the date hereof that would have the effect of altering the facts upon which the opinion set forth below is based.
In connection with the opinions rendered below, we also have relied upon the correctness of the factual representations contained in the Officer’s Certificate.
Based solely on the documents and assumptions set forth above and the factual representations set forth in the Officer’s Certificate, and without further investigation, we are of the opinion that the opinions set forth in the Registration Statement under the caption “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations” are accurate in all material respects as to matters of law and legal conclusions.
The foregoing opinions are based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Treasury regulations thereunder (the “Regulations”), published administrative interpretations thereof, and published court decisions, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. The Internal Revenue Service has not issued Regulations or administrative interpretations with respect to various provisions of the Code relating to REIT qualification. No assurance can be given that the law will not change in a way that will prevent the Company from qualifying as a REIT or that may change the other legal conclusions stated herein.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the U.S. federal income tax matters addressed herein, and no other opinions are rendered with respect to other federal tax matters or to any issues arising under the tax laws of any other country, or any state or locality. We undertake no obligation to update the opinion expressed herein after the date of this letter.
This opinion is solely for your benefit and may not be relied upon by, nor may copies be delivered to, any other person without our prior written consent.
We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 8 in said Registration Statement and the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus that is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.
| Sincerely, |
| /s/ FOLEY & LARDNER LLP |
Exhibit 12.1
Regency Centers Corporation
Computation of Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | 2005 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues |
$ | 104,069 | 95,940 | 394,038 | 370,910 | 345,907 | 322,822 | 290,409 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses |
58,703 | 52,279 | 213,517 | 203,206 | 181,329 | 161,492 | 151,233 | |||||||||||||||
| Other expenses (income) |
3,784 | 13,846 | 69,004 | 41,164 | 33,545 | 60,802 | 38,436 | |||||||||||||||
| Minority interests |
2,100 | 2,795 | 10,451 | 22,123 | 32,644 | 35,609 | 35,830 | |||||||||||||||
| Income from continuing operations |
39,482 | 27,020 | 101,066 | 104,417 | 98,389 | 64,919 | 64,910 | |||||||||||||||
| Income from discontinued operations |
31,293 | 11,328 | 61,581 | 31,910 | 32,400 | 45,605 | 35,754 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income |
70,775 | 38,348 | 162,647 | 136,327 | 130,789 | 110,524 | 100,664 | |||||||||||||||
| Preferred stock dividends |
4,919 | 3,662 | 16,744 | 8,633 | 4,175 | 2,858 | 2,965 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income for common stockholders |
65,856 | 34,666 | 145,903 | 127,694 | 126,614 | 107,666 | 97,699 | |||||||||||||||
| Fixed Coverage Ratio: |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing Operations (before MI) |
41,582 | 29,815 | 111,517 | 126,540 | 131,033 | 100,528 | 100,740 | |||||||||||||||
| Add (deduct) tax expense (benefit) |
2,981 | 722 | 494 | 6,487 | 2,389 | (3,570 | ) | 1,731 | ||||||||||||||
| Less: MI (without own fixed charges) |
(485 | ) | (22 | ) | (83 | ) | (64 | ) | (284 | ) | (319 | ) | (323 | ) | ||||||||
| Subtract: equity in income of unconsolidated partnerships |
(755 | ) | (2,391 | ) | 2,908 | (10,194 | ) | (11,276 | ) | (5,764 | ) | (3,439 | ) | |||||||||
| Add: distributions from operations JV’s (CF) |
8,730 | 3,761 | 28,661 | 13,342 | 8,341 | 5,522 | 1,801 | |||||||||||||||
| Add: distributions from investment JV’s (CF) |
— | 9,814 | 30,918 | 47,369 | 26,902 | 11,784 | 15,011 | |||||||||||||||
| Add: fixed charges |
32,050 | 29,369 | 127,035 | 122,557 | 131,726 | 135,559 | 128,807 | |||||||||||||||
| Subtract: preferred unit and stock distributions |
(5,850 | ) | (5,774 | ) | (24,849 | ) | (28,462 | ) | (34,001 | ) | (36,333 | ) | (36,440 | ) | ||||||||
| Subtract: capitalized interest |
(5,145 | ) | (2,721 | ) | (12,400 | ) | (11,228 | ) | (13,106 | ) | (13,753 | ) | (21,195 | ) | ||||||||
| Earnings |
73,108 | 62,573 | 264,201 | 266,347 | 241,724 | 193,654 | 186,693 | |||||||||||||||
| Fixed Charge Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred unit distribution |
931 | 2,112 | 8,105 | 19,829 | 29,826 | 33,475 | 33,475 | |||||||||||||||
| Preferred stock dividend |
4,919 | 3,662 | 16,744 | 8,633 | 4,175 | 2,858 | 2,965 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense (per consolidation) |
21,055 | 20,874 | 89,786 | 82,867 | 84,619 | 85,473 | 71,172 | |||||||||||||||
| Capitalized interest (per consolidation or C/F) |
5,145 | 2,721 | 12,400 | 11,228 | 13,106 | 13,753 | 21,195 | |||||||||||||||
| Total fixed charges |
32,050 | 29,369 | 127,035 | 122,557 | 131,726 | 135,559 | 128,807 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of earnings to fixed charges |
2.28 | 2.13 | 2.08 | 2.17 | 1.84 | 1.43 | 1.45 | |||||||||||||||
Exhibit 23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors
Regency Centers Corporation:
We consent to the use of our reports with respect to the consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.
| /s/ KPMG LLP |
| Jacksonville, Florida |
| May 17, 2006 |
| Certified Public Accountants |
Exhibit 23.3
Consent of Independent Accountants
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated July 6, 2005 relating to the Combined Historical Summary of Revenue and Certain Expenses of Macquarie CountryWide-Regency II, LLC Acquisition Properties, which appears in Regency Centers Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated June 1, 2005. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
| /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
| McLean, Virginia |
| May 19, 2006 |