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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2000
Registration No. 333-_____
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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AMRESCO CAPITAL TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
TEXAS 75-2744858
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or Identification No.)
organization)
700 N. PEARL STREET,
SUITE 1900, LB 324
DALLAS, TEXAS 75201-7424
(214) 953-7700
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant's principal executive offices)
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THOMAS R. LEWIS II
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
AMRESCO CAPITAL TRUST
700 N. PEARL STREET
SUITE 1900, LB 324
DALLAS, TEXAS 75201-7424
(214) 953-7700
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
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Copies to:
BRYAN L. GOOLSBY
LOCKE LIDDELL & SAPP LLP
2200 ROSS AVENUE, SUITE 2200
DALLAS, TEXAS 75201
(214) 740-8000
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: FROM TIME TO
TIME AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ]
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
----------------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------
Title of Each Class of Securities Amount to be Proposed Maximum Aggregate Proposed Maximum Aggregate Amount of
to be Registered Registered(1) Price Per Unit(2) Offering Price(2) Registration Fee
----------------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Shares of Beneficial 250,002 $10.375 $2,593,771 $685
Interest, par value $0.01
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(1) Represents the number of common shares issuable upon the exercise of
warrants.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(g) based on the higher of (a) the average high and low
sales prices of the common shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market's National
Market on August 4, 2000, which is equal to $10.375 per share, and (b) the
price at which the warrants are exercisable for common shares, which is
equal to $9.83 per share.
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
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THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SEC IS DECLARED EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN
OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
PROSPECTUS
(Subject to Completion, August 8, 2000)
AMRESCO CAPITAL TRUST
250,002 COMMON SHARES
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By this prospectus, our selling shareholder is offering and selling up to
250,002 common shares of beneficial interest. The selling shareholder may from
time to time acquire the common shares offered by this prospectus upon the
exercise of warrants.
The selling shareholder may offer the common shares through public or private
transactions, on the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market at the prevailing
market price, or at privately negotiated prices. We will pay all of the costs
and expenses incurred with the registration of the resale of the common shares
under the federal securities laws. The selling shareholder will pay all costs
associated with any sales of the common shares, including any discounts,
commissions and applicable transfer taxes.
Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "AMCT."
On _________, 2000, the closing sale price for our common shares, as quoted on
the Nasdaq Stock Market, was $____ per share.
YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISKS SET FORTH UNDER "RISK FACTORS" STARTING
ON PAGE 4 OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
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NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE SECURITIES DISCUSSED IN THE
PROSPECTUS, NOR HAVE THEY DETERMINED WHETHER THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR
ADEQUATE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this prospectus is ______________, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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Where You Can Find More Information...............................................................................2
Incorporation of Documents by Reference...........................................................................3
The Company ......................................................................................................3
Risk Factors......................................................................................................4
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements........................................................11
Use of Proceeds..................................................................................................11
Selling Shareholder..............................................................................................12
Plan of Distribution.............................................................................................12
Federal Income Tax Consequences..................................................................................13
Legal Matters....................................................................................................27
Experts..........................................................................................................27
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are a public company and file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy
statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any
document we file at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents by writing to
the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference
room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC's web site at
http://www.sec.gov. In addition, you may read and copy our SEC filings at the
offices of the Nasdaq Stock Market at 33 Whitehall Street, 8th Floor, New York,
New York 10004, 1735 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006, 2500 Sand Hill Road,
Suite 220, Menlo Park, California 94025 or Durrant House, 8113 Chiswell Street,
London, England EC1Y4XY. Our web site address is http://www.amrescoct.com.
This prospectus is only part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and therefore omits certain
information contained in the registration statement. We have also filed exhibits
and schedules to the registration statement that we have excluded from this
prospectus, and you should refer to the applicable exhibit or schedule for a
complete description of any statement referring to any contract or document. You
may inspect or obtain a copy of the registration statement, including exhibits
and schedules, as described in the previous paragraph.
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INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with it.
This 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 the information we file later with the SEC will
automatically update and supersede this information.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (File No. 1-14029) 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 until this offering is completed:
o Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, as
amended by Amendment No. 1;
o Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000;
o The description of our common shares of beneficial interest contained
in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on April 14, 1998;
o The description of our preferred share purchase rights contained in our
registration statement on Form 8-A filed on March 3, 1999; and
o Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 6, 2000, March 30, 2000
and July 6, 2000.
You may request a copy of these filings at no cost by writing or telephoning the
Investor Relations Department at the following address and telephone number:
AMRESCO Capital Trust
700 N. Pearl Street
Suite 1900, LB 324
Dallas, Texas 75201-7424
(214) 953-7700
THE COMPANY
We were organized in January 1998 as a real estate investment trust, or REIT,
under the laws of the State of Texas. We were formed to take advantage of
lending and investment opportunities in real estate related assets, including
various types of commercial mortgage loans, commercial mortgage-backed
securities, commercial real estate, equity investments in joint ventures and/or
partnerships and other real estate related assets. Our day-to-day operations
commenced on May 12, 1998, concurrent with the closing of our initial public
offering, and are managed by AMREIT Managers, L.P., an affiliate of AMRESCO,
INC.
In early 2000, our board of trust managers approved a course of action to market
and sell our non-core assets, including our commercial mortgage-backed
securities investments and our equity investments in real estate. On March 29,
2000, our board of trust managers unanimously approved a Plan of Liquidation and
Dissolution. Implementation of the Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution requires
the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of our outstanding common shares. We
have scheduled a shareholder meeting on September 26, 2000 to vote on the
liquidation and dissolution and several other matters. If the liquidation and
dissolution proposal is approved at the meeting, we will cease conducting normal
business operations, except as may be required to wind-up our business and
affairs. We intend to collect our outstanding mortgage loans as they become due
and sell our other assets, including our equity interests in real estate and
commercial mortgage-backed securities. We then intend to satisfy our obligations
and liabilities and distribute our remaining assets to shareholders in
proportion to their respective holdings.
Although we cannot be sure of the amounts or the timing, we currently expect
that shareholders will receive cash distributions in the total amount of
approximately $12.30 to $12.75 per share. This would result in total
distributions since our inception of about $14.95 to $15.40 per share, including
dividends paid to date.
Our executive offices are located at 700 N. Pearl Street, Suite 1900, LB 324,
Dallas, Texas 75201-7424, and our telephone number is (214) 953-7700.
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RISK FACTORS
The following information discusses the most significant factors that
makes an investment in our shares speculative or risky. You should carefully
consider the following information in conjunction with the other information
contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus before making a
decision to invest in our shares
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO THE LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION
There a number of risks relating to our proposed liquidation and dissolution.
The most significant ones are set forth below.
IF WE DO NOT REALIZE THE ESTIMATED NET PROCEEDS FROM LOAN PAY-OFFS AND ASSET
SALES, LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS MAY BE REDUCED OR DELAYED. We
cannot assure you that our planned loan pay-offs or asset sales will occur when
and for the proceeds we estimated. These estimates are subject to various and
significant uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. This may result
in the actual results being materially lower than our expectations. Examples of
these uncertainties are described below.
WE HAVE RECENTLY INCREASED OUR ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND WE MAY HAVE SIMILAR
EXPERIENCES WITH OTHER BORROWERS UNDER OUR MORTGAGE LOANS WHO DO NOT PAY-OFF
THEIR LOANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR TERMS. In May 2000, we served a default
notice to a borrower under one of our mezzanine loans with an outstanding
balance of $8,504,000 and a recorded investment of $7,228,000. As a result, for
the quarter ended March 31, 2000, we recorded an additional loan loss provision
of $1,788,000. The total allowance for loan losses related to this investment
totaled $5,978,000 at March 31, 2000, which represented management's estimate at
that time of the amount of the loss we expected could result upon our
disposition of this loan. Also, during the first quarter of 1999, we charged-off
$500,000 against our allowance for losses related to another mezzanine loan,
which had an outstanding balance of $6,839,000 and a recorded investment of
$6,659,000. This charge-off represented management's estimate at that time of
the amount of the loss we expected could result upon our disposition of this
second loan. Aside from these two loans, we currently expect to collect all
amounts owed to us by our other borrowers, which totaled approximately $132
million at March 31, 2000. If, however, we have similar experiences with other
borrowers who fail to pay-off their loans in the amounts and at the times
specified in their respective loan documents, we will not realize the full
amounts of the estimated proceeds of the liquidation. This could also increase
our expenses. In any of these cases, the dissolution could be delayed and
distributions to shareholders could be less than or paid later than estimated.
WE COULD EXPERIENCE UNANTICIPATED MORTGAGE LOAN DEFAULTS. As discussed above,
some of our borrowers have been served with default notices. If these or other
borrowers under our mortgage loans default in the payment of their debt, we will
suffer delays in the collection of the indebtedness and will incur additional
costs and expenses in the exercise of our remedies. Any of these events could
delay the dissolution or result in distributions to shareholders being less than
or paid later than estimated.
WE MAY DECIDE TO SELL OUR LOANS TO THIRD PARTIES. Our mortgage loan investments
have current maturity dates between June 2000 and August 2001. We currently
intend to hold these loans until their maturity dates, unless a borrower prepays
its loan. However, we may determine that obtaining cash proceeds from selling
one or more of these loans to third parties before these times could reduce our
overall administrative costs or our risk of continuing to hold the loans. In
these cases, we may decide that it is in the best interests of our shareholders
to sell one or more loans to third parties before these times. The consummation
of these sales may be subject to numerous conditions, including obtaining third
party consents. This may delay the dissolution, which could delay the payment of
distributions to shareholders.
WE MAY NOT CONSUMMATE THE EXPECTED ASSET SALES OR THEY COULD BE DELAYED. Since
January 2000, we have sold a number of our non-core assets. The closing of each
of these transactions was subject to numerous conditions, including the
satisfactory completion by the buyer of its due diligence investigation and the
receipt of consents from third parties. We expect that the sales of our
remaining commercial mortgage-backed securities and equity investments will be
subject to numerous and similar conditions. Accordingly, we cannot assure you
that, even if shareholders vote to approve the liquidation and dissolution, any
asset sales will be consummated. If we cannot sell our assets on the terms and
at the times we have targeted, the dissolution could be delayed and
distributions to shareholders could be less than or paid later than estimated.
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THE ACTUAL COSTS AND EXPENSES OF THE LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION COULD RISE. Our
estimate of net distributable cash resulting from the asset sales and loan
pay-offs and the subsequent dissolution is based on estimates of the costs and
expenses of the liquidation and dissolution, which we have currently estimated
to be between $8.8 million and $9.2 million during the period from April 2000
through the date of dissolution. We could incur additional expenses, including
additional interest expense on our credit facilities, if interest rates continue
to increase or borrowings under our credit facilities are outstanding longer
than we anticipate. We could also incur additional expenses if the consummation
of any of the asset sales, the receipt of any of the loan pay-offs or the
dissolution are delayed. If our actual costs and expenses exceed the estimated
amounts, distributions to shareholders as a result of the liquidation and
dissolution could be less than estimated or delayed.
WE COULD SELL ASSETS ON AN INSTALLMENT BASIS, WHICH COULD INCREASE OUR COSTS. If
we sell some or all of our assets on an installment basis and the purchaser
subsequently defaults in its payment on the related promissory note or
installment contract, our exercise of remedies, which may include foreclosure on
any property securing the promissory note, will likely result in our incurring
additional costs and expenses. This could in turn result in delays in effecting
the dissolution and reductions or delays in the payment of distributions to
shareholders.
EARLY ASSET SALES OR LOAN PAY-OFFS MAY DECREASE SHAREHOLDER DISTRIBUTIONS. In
estimating shareholder distributions, we made a number of assumptions regarding
the timing of asset sales and loan pay-offs. These included the assumption that
we would hold our mortgage loan investments to their respective currently
scheduled maturity dates or, in some cases, to their extended maturity dates in
anticipation of some borrowers exercising their extension options. However, we
may sell one or more of our assets prior to these times if, for example, the
sales price exceeds the present value of the expected proceeds. Also, a borrower
may elect to pay-off its loan prior to its scheduled maturity date. In these
instances, our proceeds from these investments will be less than our estimates.
This could reduce distributions to shareholders.
INTEREST RATE INCREASES MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT NET PROCEEDS. The federal funds
overnight bank lending rate was recently increased a half a percentage point to
6.5%, and many sources are predicting that there will be more increases in the
months to come. Further increases in interest rates would decrease the market
value of our commercial mortgage-backed securities. Further increases in
interest rates would also impact our borrowers' ability to achieve third party
financing or property sales to pay off their loans. Except for an existing
interest rate cap agreement designed to protect against rate increases that
would increase our financing costs, we have not entered into hedging
transactions to protect against the effect of interest rate increases on the
value of our assets. Accordingly, further increases in interest rates could
result in distributions to shareholders being less than estimated.
INCREASES IN INTEREST RATE SPREADS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT NET PROCEEDS. The fair
values of our investments in non-investment grade commercial mortgage-backed
securities are dependent upon, and are sensitive to changes in, comparable-term
U.S. treasury rates and spreads over U.S. treasury rates in effect from time to
time. Spreads are influenced by a number of factors. These include investor
expectations with respect to future economic conditions, interest rates and real
estate market factors. All of these are beyond our control and can impact the
ability of borrowers to perform under the terms of the mortgage loans underlying
commercial mortgage-backed securities. As a result, even if current U.S.
treasury rates and commercial mortgage default rates remain constant, the value
of our commercial mortgage-backed securities can be adversely impacted by
increasing spreads. Accordingly, increased spreads could result in distributions
to shareholders being less than estimated.
DECREASES IN REAL ESTATE VALUES MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT NET PROCEEDS. Any adverse
change in the underlying value of our real estate investments would make it more
difficult for our borrowers to sell or refinance their properties. This, in
turn, could adversely impact the market value of our assets or delay the pay-off
of our loans. Accordingly, any decrease in the underlying value of our real
estate investments could decrease or delay the payment of distributions to
shareholders.
WE COULD LOSE PERSONNEL AS A RESULT OF THE LIQUIDATION, WHICH MAY ADVERSELY
AFFECT NET PROCEEDS. Currently, AMRESCO, INC., through AMREIT Managers, employs
six people who are fully dedicated to us. If shareholders approve the
liquidation and dissolution, these persons may consider other employment because
of our limited future prospects. Because these employees have a great deal of
knowledge regarding our business and assets, the loss of the services of these
employees may make implementation of the plan of liquidation and dissolution
less efficient. This, in turn, may delay or increase the costs incurred by
AMREIT
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Managers, which may result in AMREIT Managers incurring operating deficits.
Under our management agreement, we are required to reimburse AMREIT Managers for
its quarterly operating deficits. Therefore, if we lose key personnel as a
result of the liquidation, it may be necessary for AMREIT Managers to pay a
higher cost for qualified replacement personnel, which, in turn, may require us
to make larger payments to AMREIT Managers. This may decrease or delay
distributions to shareholders.
THE LIQUIDITY AND THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR SHARES COULD DECREASE. As we sell our
assets and our loans are paid off and we distribute liquidating distributions to
shareholders, our market capitalization and "float" may diminish. Market
interest in our shares and in the investment community may also diminish. This
could reduce the market demand and liquidity for our shares, which may adversely
affect the market price of our shares. In addition, our shares may become
ineligible for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market before the dissolution is
finalized. This will further decrease the market demand and liquidity for and
price of our shares.
OUR PUBLIC ENTITY VALUE MAY BE JEOPARDIZED. Once shareholders approve the
liquidation and dissolution, we will be committed to winding-up our operations.
This jeopardizes any value that a potential acquirer might place on the ability
to acquire a publicly-held entity with an indefinite life. It may also preclude
other possible courses of action not yet identified by the board.
THE LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION MAY NOT RESULT IN GREATER RETURNS TO
SHAREHOLDERS THAN OUR CONTINUING AS A GOING CONCERN. If the liquidation and
dissolution proposal is not approved by shareholders, the board of trust
managers intends to continue managing us and our assets substantially as they
are currently being managed. The board may continue to entertain and consider
indications of interest from third parties to engage in a business combination
with us. We cannot assure you that the liquidation and dissolution will result
in greater returns to shareholders than our continuing as a going concern or
through a business combination with a third party.
THE BOARD OF TRUST MANAGERS MAY AMEND THE PLAN OR ABANDON THE LIQUIDATION AND
DISSOLUTION EVEN IF SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE THE LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION. Even
if shareholders vote to approve the liquidation and dissolution, the board of
trust managers may amend the plan of liquidation and dissolution without further
shareholder approval, except as required by Texas law. In addition, prior to the
filing of articles of dissolution, the board may abandon the liquidation and
dissolution without further shareholder action.
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY
INDEBTEDNESS MAY BE INCREASED AT ANY TIME WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. We have
financed our acquisitions of investments by borrowing against or "leveraging"
our investment portfolio. As of March 31, 2000, our debt-to-equity ratio,
excluding non-recourse debt on real estate, was 0.5 to 1. Including non-recourse
debt on real estate, our debt-to-equity ratio was 0.8 to 1 at March 31, 2000.
Our charter documents do not limit the amount of indebtedness that we may incur.
The board of trust managers may increase our indebtedness at any time without
consent from or notice to shareholders.
LEVERAGE INCREASES VOLATILITY IN INCOME AND THE VALUE OF OUR INVESTMENT
PORTFOLIO. We cannot assure you that our use of leverage will prove to be
beneficial or advantageous to us relative to the associated risks. We also
cannot assure you that we will be able to meet our debt service obligations. Our
ability to meet our debt service obligations will depend on our receipt of
sufficient income from our investment portfolio. A mismatch in interest rates
between our borrowings and the yield on our investment portfolio or other
reductions in cash flow may occur due to a number of reasons, including
reductions resulting from payment defaults on mortgage loans, mortgage-backed
securities or other assets. In this case, we may not have sufficient cash flow
to meet our debt service obligations.
PROVISIONS OF OUR FINANCING FACILITY MAY RESULT IN THE NEED TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL OR FUND MARGIN CALLS. Our principal source of liquidity to
execute our business strategy is a line of credit. Under the terms of the line
of credit, the lender retains the right to mark the underlying collateral to
market value. If the value of our pledged assets decreases, we may be required
to provide additional collateral or fund margin calls. If the line of credit is
not fully repaid prior to its scheduled maturity date and it is not renegotiated
or replaced by a more favorable arrangement, there may be a material adverse
effect on our operating results.
LOSSES ON MORTGAGE LOANS MAY HAVE AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON US
FORECLOSURE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT LOSSES. Mortgage loans subject us
to risks of borrower defaults and bankruptcies, fraud and special hazard losses
that are not covered by standard hazard insurance. If a
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default occurs under any of our mortgage loans, we will bear a risk of loss of
principal to the extent of the difference between the value of the collateral
and the principal amount of the mortgage loan. In this case, we may not receive
interest payments on these mortgage loans, which could have a material adverse
effect on our cash flow from operations. If a borrower under a mortgage loan
files for bankruptcy protection, the mortgage loan to that borrower will be
deemed to be secured only to the extent of the value of the underlying
collateral at the time of bankruptcy as determined by the bankruptcy court. Also
in this case, the lien securing the mortgage loan will be subject to the
avoidance powers of the bankruptcy trustee or debtor-in-possession to the extent
that the lien may be unenforceable under state law.
Foreclosure of a mortgage loan can be an expensive and lengthy process, which
could have a material adverse effect on our anticipated return on the foreclosed
mortgage loan. If we foreclose on a mortgage loan secured by real property that
is contaminated by hazardous substances, and if we assume ownership of the real
estate, we could be subject to environmental liabilities that could exceed the
value of the real estate. This would be the case regardless of whether we were
responsible for the contamination. Finally, we cannot assure you that any
reserves that we may set aside on our balance sheet for losses on mortgage loans
will be adequate to cover our actual losses on our investments in mortgage
loans.
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE LOANS MAY INVOLVE A GREATER RISK OF LOSS THAN SINGLE-FAMILY
MORTGAGE LOANS. Commercial mortgage loans are considered to involve a higher
degree of risk than single-family mortgages because of a variety of factors,
including the following:
o generally larger loan balances;
o dependency for repayment on the successful operation of the mortgaged
property and tenant businesses that operate on the mortgaged property;
and
o the fact that these loans are usually non-recourse to the borrower and
contain loan terms that include either no amortization of principal or
amortization schedules longer than the stated maturity and provide for
balloon payments at stated maturity rather than periodic principal
payment.
In addition, the value of commercial real estate can be significantly affected
by the supply and demand in the market for that type of property.
MEZZANINE LOANS, CONSTRUCTION LOANS, REHABILITATION LOANS AND BRIDGE LOANS
INVOLVE GREATER RISKS OF LOSS THAN SENIOR MORTGAGE LOANS. A mezzanine loan is a
commercial real estate loan the repayment of which is subordinated to a senior
mortgage loan and that is secured either by a second lien mortgage or a pledge
of the ownership interests of the borrower. Foreclosure by a mezzanine lender is
often prohibited while the senior debt is outstanding. Additionally, a
foreclosure by the holder of the senior mortgage loan could result in a
mezzanine loan becoming unsecured.
A construction loan is a mortgage loan the proceeds of which are used to finance
the costs of the initial construction of real property. A rehabilitation loan is
a mortgage loan the proceeds of which are used to finance the acquisition and
renovation or rehabilitation of existing real property. The repayment of
construction loans and rehabilitation loans is often dependent on successful
completion and operation of the project. These loans are also subject to
additional risks due to difficulties in estimating construction or
rehabilitation costs. In addition, these loans commonly have terms that often
require little or no amortization. Instead, these loans provide for additional
advances to be made and for a balloon payment at a stated maturity date.
A bridge loan is a mortgage loan used for temporary financing. Bridge loans are
considered to involve a high degree of risk for a number of reasons, including
because repayment is often dependent on a borrower obtaining a long-term senior
mortgage loan.
In addition, mezzanine loans, construction loans, rehabilitation loans and
bridge loans typically have higher loan-to-value ratios than conventional
mortgage loans. This means that the percentage of principal amount of the loan
divided by the appraised value of the mortgaged property when the loan is
originated is higher. This increases the risk of default as compared to
conventional mortgage loans.
LIMITED RECOURSE LOANS MAY LIMIT OUR RECOVERY TO THE VALUE OF THE MORTGAGED
PROPERTY. A substantial portion of the mortgage loans that we have acquired or
originated and of the mortgage loans underlying our mortgage-backed securities
contain limitations on the lender's recourse against the borrower. In other
cases, the lender's recourse against the borrower may be limited by applicable
provisions of the laws of the jurisdictions in which the mortgage properties are
located or by the lender's selection of remedies and the
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impact of those laws on that selection. In those cases, if the borrower is in
default, recourse may be limited to only the specific mortgaged property and
other assets, if any, pledged to secure the relevant mortgage loan. Even as to
those mortgage loans that provide for recourse against the borrower and our
assets, we cannot assure you that this recourse will provide a recovery in
respect of a defaulted mortgage loan greater than the liquidation value of the
property securing that mortgage loan.
VOLATILITY OF VALUES OF MORTGAGE PROPERTIES MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR MORTGAGE
LOANS. Commercial real estate values and net operating income derived from
commercial real estate are volatile and may be adversely affected by a number of
factors, including the following:
o national, regional and local economic conditions, which, in turn, may
be adversely affected by many factors, including plant closings,
industry slowdowns and corporate consolidations;
o local real estate conditions, such as an oversupply of housing, retail,
industrial, office or other commercial space;
o changes or continued weakness in specific industry segments;
o perceptions by prospective tenants, retailers and shoppers of the
safety, convenience, services and attractiveness of the property;
o the willingness and ability of the property's owner to provide capable
management and adequate maintenance, to make capital expenditures and
improvements and to provide leasing concessions;
o construction quality, age and design;
o demographic factors;
o retroactive changes to building or similar codes; and
o increases in operating expenses, such as energy costs.
If there is an economic downturn or recession in the markets in which the real
estate underlying our loans are located, or there is any other decrease in the
value of these properties, our returns on these investments could be
significantly reduced.
LAWS THAT PROHIBIT MORE THAN ONE ACTION TO ENFORCE A MORTGAGE LOAN MAY INCUR THE
COST OF FORECLOSING ON MORTGAGE LOANS. Several states have laws that prohibit
more than one judicial action to enforce a mortgage loan. Also, some courts have
construed the term "judicial action" broadly. In states where non-judicial
foreclosure is permitted, the servicers of mortgage loans may be required to
foreclose first on properties located in states which these "one action" rules
apply before foreclosing on properties located in states where judicial
foreclosure is the only permitted method of foreclosure. These rules may
increase our costs to foreclose on a mortgage loan, which could result in a
material adverse effect on us.
RISKS RELATED TO INVESTMENTS IN COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
CUMULATIVE UNREALIZED LOSSES MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR INCOME. As of March 31,
2000, we had cumulative unrealized losses of approximately $10.1 million. These
losses resulted from declines in the value of our commercial mortgage-backed
securities, which were due in part to increases in comparable term U.S. treasury
rates and increasing spreads in the commercial mortgage-backed securities
market. If these rates and spreads continue to increase, the unrealized losses
on our investments will also increase. These losses have had no effect on our
income, and would not ultimately result in any realized losses if the commercial
mortgage-backed securities are held to maturity and are paid in full. If these
rates and spreads do not decrease and we dispose of these investments prior to
their respective maturity dates, we will realize a loss upon the disposition of
these investments, which will adversely affect our income.
SUBORDINATED INTERESTS ARE SUBJECT TO GREATER CREDIT RISKS THAN MORE SENIOR
CLASSES. Our investment portfolio includes various classes of mortgage-backed
securities, including subordinated mortgage-backed securities. Subordinated
classes are subject to special risks, including a substantially greater risk of
loss of principal and non-payment of interest than more senior classes. The
market values of subordinated classes tend to be more sensitive to changes in
economic conditions than more senior classes. As a result of this and other
factors, subordinated interests generally are not actively traded and are more
difficult to pledge as collateral for borrowings.
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WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REALIZE OUR INITIAL INVESTMENT IN SUBORDINATED INTERESTS.
The yield to maturity on subordinated interests of the type we have acquired are
extremely sensitive to the default and loss experience of the underlying
mortgage pass-through securities or pools of whole loans securing or backing a
series of mortgage-backed securities and the timing of any defaults or losses.
The subordinated interests of the type we hold generally have limited credit
support. Accordingly, to the extent there are realized losses on mortgage
collateral for these classes, we may recover less than the full amount, if any,
of our initial investment in these subordinated interests.
COLLATERAL UNDERLYING SUBORDINATED INTERESTS MAY NOT BE SERVICED IN THE MOST
ADVANTAGEOUS METHOD. In some instances, we have not been able to obtain the
right to service the mortgage collateral underlying a subordinated interest.
Accordingly, the mortgage collateral may not be serviced in a manner that is
most advantageous to us.
SUBORDINATION OF SUBORDINATED INTERESTS TO MORE SENIOR CLASSES MAY ADVERSELY
AFFECT THE YIELD ON THE SUBORDINATED INTERESTS. Yield on subordinated interests
may be adversely affected even if realized losses are not ultimately allocated
to these classes. On any payment date, interest and principal are paid on the
more senior classes before interest and principal are paid with respect to the
unrated or non-investment grade credit support classes. Typically, interest
deferred on these credit support classes is payable on subsequent payment dates
to the extent funds are available. However, deferral may not itself bear
interest. This deferral of interest will adversely affect the yield on the
subordinated interests.
YIELDS ON SUBORDINATED INTERESTS MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY PREPAYMENTS AND
INTEREST RATE CHANGES. The yield on subordinated interests also will be affected
by the rate and timing of principal payments on the mortgage loans underlying a
series of mortgage-backed securities. The rate of principal payments may vary
significantly over time depending on a variety of factors, including the level
of prevailing mortgage loan interest rates and economic, demographic, tax, legal
and other factors. Prepayments on the mortgage loans underlying a series of
mortgage-backed securities are generally allocated to the more senior classes of
mortgage-backed securities until those classes are paid in full or until the end
of a lock-out period. Generally, subordinated interest holders do not receive
prepayments of principal from the mortgage loans for an extended period. As a
result, the weighted average lives of the subordinated interests may be longer
than would be the case if, for example, prepayments were allocated pro rata to
all classes of mortgage-backed securities. If the holder of a subordinated
interest is not paid compensating interest on interest shortfalls due to
prepayments, liquidations or other events, the yield on the subordinated
interests may be adversely affected.
RISKS RELATED TO INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE RELATED ASSETS
We have invested in commercial real estate related assets. The underlying value
of our real estate related investments and our income and ability to make
distributions to shareholders will depend on the ability of the real estate
owners to repay their loans on a timely basis. We are therefore subject to the
various business and economic risks that face all owners of real property. These
risks are described below.
TENANT DEFAULTS AND BANKRUPTCIES MAY CAUSE LOSSES. Our cash flow available for
distribution to shareholders will be adversely affected if a significant number
of tenants of real estate underlying our investments fail to meet their lease
obligations. At any time, a tenant could seek the protection of bankruptcy laws,
which could result in delays in rental payments or in the rejection and
termination of that tenant's lease. We cannot assure you that tenants will not
file for bankruptcy protection in the future or, if any tenant files for
bankruptcy protection, that it will affirm our lease and continue to make rental
payments in a timely manner. In addition, a commercial tenant may experience a
downturn in its business, which may weaken its financial condition and result in
its failure to make rental payments when due.
RELIANCE ON THIRD PARTY OPERATORS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT US. We rely on real
estate operators that are not affiliated with us to operate one real estate
investment owned by a partnership. If the operators fail to competently or
efficiently operate the real estate in accordance with our policies, including
our policy to maintain our REIT status, there could be a material adverse effect
us.
CONDITIONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE VALUE OF OUR REAL ESTATE.
The underlying value of our real estate investments and our income and ability
to make distributions to shareholders may be adversely affected by factors that
are beyond our control. These include the following:
o abilities of third party operators engaged by the owner to operate our
real estate in a manner sufficient to maintain or increase revenues in
excess of operating expenses and debt service;
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o in the case of real estate leased to a single lessee, the ability of
the lessee to make rent payments
o adverse changes in national or local economic conditions;
o competition from other properties offering the same or similar
services;
o changes in interest rates and in the availability, cost and terms of
mortgage funds;
o the impact of present or future environmental legislation and
compliance with environmental laws;
o the ongoing need for capital improvements, particularly in older
structures;
o changes in real estate tax rates and other operating expenses;
o adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies;
o civil unrest;
o acts of God, including earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural
disasters, which may result in uninsured losses;
o acts of war; and
o adverse changes in zoning laws.
REAL ESTATE IS ILLIQUID AND ITS VALUE MAY DECREASE. Real estate investments are
relatively illiquid. Owners of real estate investments are therefore limited in
their ability to vary their investment portfolio in response to changes in
economic and other conditions. We cannot assure you that the fair market value
of any of the real estate underlying our investments will not decrease in the
future.
INSURANCE MAY NOT COVER ALL LOSSES. There are some types of losses that may be
uninsurable or not economically insurable. These types of losses are generally
catastrophic in nature, and include earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and
tornadoes. An owner of the real estate underlying an investment may not find it
feasible to use insurance proceeds to replace a property if it is damaged or
destroyed because of inflation, changes in building codes and ordinances,
environmental considerations and other factors. In these situations, the
insurance proceeds that the owner receives, if any, might not be adequate to
restore its investment in the affected property. This, in turn, may adversely
affect the owner's ability to repay the loan on the affected property, which may
adversely affect us.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND OTHER CHANGES IN
GOVERNMENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS MAY BE COSTLY. Under the Americans with
Disabilities Act, all public properties are required to meet specified federal
requirements relating to access and use by disabled persons. Property underlying
an investment may not be in compliance with this law. If a property is not in
compliance, the owner will be required to make modifications to the property to
bring it into compliance, or will face possible fines or awards of damages to
private litigants. In addition, changes in governmental rules and regulations or
enforcement policies that affect the use and operation of real estate may occur.
These may include changes to building codes and fire and life-safety codes. If
the owner is required to make substantial modifications to its property to
comply with applicable laws or changes in existing laws, the owner's ability to
repay the loan on the affected property may be adversely affected. This may
adversely affect us.
REAL ESTATE WITH HIDDEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS MAY INCREASE COSTS. The operating
costs and value of real estate underlying our investments may be affected by the
obligation to pay for the costs of complying with existing environmental laws,
ordinances and regulations, as well as the costs of future legislation. Under
various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations,
a current or previous owner or operator of real estate may be liable for the
costs of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on, under or in
its real estate. These laws often impose liability whether or not the owner or
operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of hazardous or toxic
substances. Therefore, an environmental liability could have a material adverse
effect on the value of real estate underlying our investments. This, in turn,
may adversely affect the ability of the owner to repay its loan, which may
adversely affect us.
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN OUR REIT STATUS WOULD HAVE ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES
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To maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we must
continually satisfy a number of tests relating to the sources of our income, the
nature of our assets, the amount of our distributions to shareholders and the
ownership of our shares. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any tax year and
cannot obtain the benefits of relief provisions contained in the Internal
Revenue Code, we would be taxed at regular corporate rates, including
alternative minimum tax rates, on all of our taxable income. In this case,
distributions would no longer be required to be made to shareholders. In
addition, any corporate level taxes generally would reduce the amount of cash
available for distribution to shareholders. Also, because shareholders would
continue to be taxed on the distributions they receive, the net after-tax yield
to shareholders from their investment likely would be reduced substantially. As
a result, failure to qualify as a REIT during any taxable year could have a
material adverse effect on an investment in our common shares. Furthermore,
unless statutory relief provisions apply, if we fail to be treated as a REIT for
any one year, we would not be eligible to elect REIT status again until the
fifth taxable year that begins after the taxable year during which our election
was terminated.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
We make "forward-looking statements" in this prospectus within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are usually identified by the use of
words such as "believes," "will," "anticipates," "estimates," "expects,"
"projects," "plans," "intends," "should" or similar expressions. These
forward-looking statements reflect our current views about our plans, strategies
and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and
on assumptions we have made.
Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations as reflected in
or suggested by those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no
assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. We have
discussed elsewhere in this prospectus some important risks, uncertainties and
contingencies that could cause our actual results to be materially different
from the forward-looking statements we make in this prospectus.
Except for our ongoing obligation to disclose material information as required
by the federal securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to release
publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common shares offered by
this prospectus, although we will receive approximately $2,457,519 in proceeds
from the exercise of the underlying warrants. There are 250,002 warrants
outstanding with an exercise price at $9.83, subject to adjustment as set forth
in the warrant agreement. The selling shareholder will pay the exercise price of
the warrants to purchase the common shares offered by this prospectus in
connection with the exercise of the warrants. The selling shareholder has the
option to pay the exercise price in cash or by surrendering additional warrants
or common shares, valued as set forth in the warrant agreement, or any
combination of cash and securities. We will use any proceeds received from the
exercise of the warrants for working capital and general corporate purposes.
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SELLING SHAREHOLDER
We will issue the 250,002 common shares offered by this prospectus to Prudential
Securities Incorporated, the selling shareholder, upon the exercise of the
warrants which have been issued to it by us in a private placement. We believe
the selling shareholder will have sole voting and investment power with respect
to the 250,002 common shares it will beneficially own upon the exercise of the
warrants. At August 7, 2000, the selling shareholder did not beneficially own
any common shares, other than the 250,002 common shares that are issuable upon
the exercise of the currently exercisable warrants held by the selling
shareholder. Following the sale of the common shares offered by this prospectus,
the selling shareholder will not beneficially own any common shares. The common
shares offered by this prospectus may be offered from time to time by the
selling shareholder, or its pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in
interest.
The selling shareholder was our financial advisor in our proposed merger with
Impac Commercial Holdings, Inc. The merger agreement relating to this
transaction was terminated prior to the merger being consummated. Under an
engagement letter with the selling shareholder, we paid the selling shareholder
an advisory fee of $500,000 upon the delivery of a fairness opinion relating to
the proposed merger. In addition, the engagement letter provided that we would
reimburse the selling shareholder for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and
would indemnify the selling shareholder and some related persons against
specified liabilities, including liabilities under securities laws, arising out
of the merger or its engagement.
The selling shareholder also provided us with financial advisory services in
connection with analyzing our strategic alternatives in light of the termination
of the proposed merger with Impac Commercial Holdings. We paid the selling
shareholder $250,000 for these services.
The selling shareholder has provided various investment banking and other
financial advisory services to us and our affiliates from time to time in the
past and has received customary fees for the rendering of these services. Recent
services rendered by the selling shareholder include acting as lead managing
underwriter of our initial public offering of common shares. Prudential
Securities Credit Corp., LLC, an affiliate of the selling shareholder, currently
provides us with a $300 million warehouse financing arrangement.
Prudential-Bache International, Ltd., an affiliate of the selling shareholder,
was a party to a repurchase agreement under which it provided us with up to $100
million to finance the purchase of mortgage-backed securities. We fully repaid
this agreement in June 2000. The selling shareholder currently provides a
subsidiary of AMRESCO, INC., one of our affiliates, with warehouse financing
arrangements and from time to time in the past has provided warehouse financing
arrangements for other of its subsidiaries. The selling shareholder has acted as
a lender in a syndicate arrangement under a revolving credit facility for
AMRESCO, INC. The selling shareholder has also acted as a financial advisor in
connection with the sale of certain businesses and assets of AMRESCO, INC. and
has acted as an underwriter in a number of securitizations involving affiliates
of AMRESCO, INC. The selling shareholder and other investment banking firms also
acted as underwriters in the public offering by AMRESCO, INC. of 4,500,000
shares of its common stock.
In the ordinary course of business, the selling shareholder may actively trade
our common shares for its own account and for the accounts of customers, and
accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in these securities.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the shares on behalf of the selling shareholder. As used
herein, selling shareholder includes pledgees, donees, transferees or other
successors in interest selling shares received from the named selling
shareholder after the date of this prospectus. We will pay all costs, expenses
and fees in connection with the registration of the shares offered hereby. The
selling shareholder will pay all brokerage commissions and similar selling
expenses, if any, attributable to the sale of shares. The selling shareholder
may effect sales of shares from time to time in one or more types of
transactions, which may include block transactions, on the Nasdaq Stock Market's
National Market, in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions,
through put or call options transactions relating to the shares, through short
sales of shares, or a combination of such methods of sale, at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. Such transactions may
or may not involve brokers or dealers.
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The selling shareholder may effect such transactions by selling shares directly
to purchasers or to or through broker-dealers, which may act as agents or
principals. Such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling shareholder and/or the
purchasers of shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom
they sell as principal, or both. The compensation as to a particular
broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions.
The selling shareholder and any broker-dealer that acts in connection with the
sale of the shares might be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of
Section 2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933. Any commissions received by such
broker-dealers and any profit on the resale of the shares sold by them while
acting as principals might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions
under the Securities Act. We have agreed to indemnify each selling shareholder
against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933. The selling shareholder may agree to indemnify any agent, dealer or
broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving sales of the shares
against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities
Act.
Because the selling shareholder may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, the selling shareholder
will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act,
which may include delivery through the facilities of the Nasdaq Stock Market
pursuant to Rule 153 under the Securities Act. We have informed the selling
shareholder that the anti-manipulative provisions of Regulation M promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 may apply to its sales in the market.
The selling shareholder also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open
market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933,
provided it meets the criteria and conforms to the requirements of such rule.
Upon our being notified by a selling shareholder that any material arrangement
has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of shares through a
block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution
or a purchase by a broker or dealer, we will file a supplement to this
prospectus, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act,
disclosing the following:
o the name of each such selling shareholder and of the participating
broker-dealer(s);
o the number of shares involved;
o the price at which such shares were sold;
o the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such
broker-dealer(s), where applicable;
o that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify
the information set out or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus; and
o other facts material to the transaction.
In addition, upon our being notified by a selling shareholder that a pledgee,
donee, transferee or other successor in interest intends to sell more than 500
shares, we will file a supplement to this prospectus.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
GENERAL
The following summary of material federal income tax consequences that may be
relevant to a holder of common shares is based on current law, is for general
information only and is not intended as tax advice. The following discussion,
which is not exhaustive of all possible tax consequences, does not include a
detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax consequences. Nor does it
discuss all of the aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to a
prospective shareholder in light of his or her particular circumstances or to
certain types of shareholders (including insurance companies, tax-exempt
entities, financial institutions or broker-dealers, foreign corporations and
persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States and shareholders
holding securities as part of a conversion transaction, a hedging transaction or
as a position in a straddle for tax purposes) who are subject to special
treatment under the federal income tax laws.
The statements in this discussion are based on current provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code existing, temporary and currently proposed Treasury
Regulations under the Internal Revenue Code, the legislative history of the
Internal Revenue Code, existing administrative rulings and practices of the IRS
and judicial decisions. No assurance can be given that legislative, judicial or
administrative changes will not affect the accuracy of
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any statements in this discussion with respect to transactions entered into or
contemplated prior to the effective date of such changes. Any such change could
apply retroactively to transactions preceding the date of the change. We do not
plan to request any rulings from the IRS concerning our tax treatment and the
statements in this discussion are not binding on the IRS or any court. Thus, we
can provide no assurance that these statements will not be challenged by the IRS
or that such challenge will not be sustained by a court.
THIS DISCUSSION IS NOT INTENDED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CAREFUL TAX PLANNING. EACH
PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER OF COMMON STOCK IS ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH HIS OR HER OWN
TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO HIM OR HER OF THE
PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF COMMON STOCK IN AN ENTITY ELECTING TO BE
TAXED AS A REIT, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, DISPOSITION AND ELECTION, AND OF
POTENTIAL CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAWS.
We have elected to be treated as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the
Internal Revenue Code for federal income tax purposes commencing with our
taxable year ended December 31, 1998. We believe that we have been organized and
have operated in a manner that qualifies for taxation as a REIT under the
Internal Revenue Code. We also believe that we will continue to operate in a
manner that will preserve our status as a REIT. We cannot however, assure you
that such requirements will be met in the future.
We have received an opinion from Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, our legal counsel, to
the effect that we qualified as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code for the
taxable year ended December 31, 1998 and the taxable year ended December 31,
1999, we have been organized and our manner of operation has been in conformity
with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT as of the date of
the opinion and that our proposed manner of operation and diversity of equity
ownership should enable us to continue to satisfy the requirements for
qualification as a REIT in the future if we operate in accordance with the
methods of operation described herein, including our representations concerning
our intended method of operation. However, you should be aware that opinions of
counsel are not binding on the IRS or on the courts, and, if the IRS were to
challenge these conclusions, no assurance can be given that these conclusions
would be sustained in court. The opinion of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP is based on
various assumptions as well as on certain representations made by us as to
factual matters, including a factual representation letter provided by us.
The rules governing REITs are highly technical and require ongoing compliance
with a variety of tests that depend, among other things, on future operating
results, asset diversification, distribution levels and diversity of stock
ownership. Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP will not monitor our compliance with these
requirements. While we expect to satisfy these tests, and will use our best
efforts to do so, no assurance can be given that we will qualify as a REIT for
any particular year, or that the applicable law will not change and adversely
affect us and our shareholders. See "Failure to Qualify as a REIT." The
following is a summary of the material federal income tax considerations
affecting us as a REIT and our shareholders. This summary is qualified in its
entirety by the applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions, relevant rules and
regulations promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code, and administrative and
judicial interpretations of the Internal Revenue Code and these rules and
regulations.
REIT QUALIFICATION
We must be organized as an entity that would, if we do not maintain our REIT
status, be taxable as a regular corporation. We cannot be a financial
institution or an insurance company. We must be managed by one or more trust
managers. Our taxable year must be the calendar year. Our beneficial ownership
must be evidenced by transferable shares. Our capital shares must be held by at
least 100 persons 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. Not more
than 50% of the value of our capital shares may be held, directly or indirectly,
applying the applicable constructive ownership rules of the Internal Revenue
Code, by five or fewer individuals at any time during the last half of each of
our taxable years. In addition, we must elect to be taxed as a REIT. We must
also meet certain other tests, described below, regarding the nature of our
income and assets and the amount of our distributions.
Our outstanding common shares are owned by a sufficient number of investors and
in appropriate proportions to permit us to satisfy these share ownership
requirements. To protect against violations of these share ownership
requirements, our declaration of trust provides that no person is permitted to
own, applying constructive ownership tests set forth in the Internal Revenue
Code, more than 9.8% of our outstanding common shares, unless the trust managers
consent to an increase in this ownership limit after they are provided evidence
satisfactory to them in their sole discretion that our qualification as a REIT
will not be jeopardized. In addition, our declaration of trust contains
restrictions on transfers of capital shares, as
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well as provisions that automatically deem the shares to be transferred to a
charitable trust for the benefit of a charitable beneficiary to the extent that
the ownership otherwise might jeopardize our REIT status. These restrictions,
however may not ensure that we will, in all cases, be able to satisfy the share
ownership requirements. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership
requirements, except as provided in the next sentence, our status as a REIT will
terminate. However, if we comply with the rules contained in applicable Treasury
Regulations that require us to ascertain the actual ownership of our shares and
we do not know, or would not have known through the exercise of reasonable
diligence, that we failed to meet the 50% requirement described above, we will
be treated as having met this requirement. See the section below entitled
"Failure to Qualify as a REIT."
To monitor our compliance with the share ownership requirements, we are required
to and we do maintain records disclosing the actual ownership of our common
shares. To do so, we will demand written statements each year from the record
holders of certain percentages of shares in which the record holders are to
disclose the actual owners of the shares (i.e., the persons required to include
in gross income the REIT dividends). A list of those persons failing or refusing
to comply with this demand will be maintained as part of our records.
Shareholders who fail or refuse to comply with the demand must submit a
statement with their tax returns disclosing the actual ownership of the shares
and certain other information.
We currently satisfy, and expect to continue to satisfy, each of the
requirements discussed above. We also currently satisfy, and expect to continue
to satisfy, the requirements that are separately described below concerning the
nature and amounts of our income and assets and the levels of required annual
distributions.
SOURCES OF GROSS INCOME. In order to qualify as a REIT for a particular year, we
also must meet two tests governing the sources of our income - a 75% gross
income test and a 95% gross income test. These tests are designed to ensure that
a REIT derives its income principally from passive real estate investments. The
Internal Revenue Code allows a REIT to own and operate a number of its
properties through wholly-owned subsidiaries which are "qualified REIT
subsidiaries." We currently own four qualified REIT subsidiaries. The Internal
Revenue Code provides that a qualified REIT subsidiary is not treated as a
separate corporation, and all of its assets, liabilities and items of income,
deduction and credit are treated as assets, liabilities and items of income of
the REIT.
In the case of a REIT which is a partner in a partnership or any other entity
such as a limited liability company that is treated as a partnership for federal
income tax purposes, Treasury Regulations provide that the REIT will be deemed
to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership. In the past, we
have owned, directly and indirectly, an interest in numerous partnerships. A
REIT is deemed to be entitled to its proportionate share of the income of a
partnership. The character of the assets and gross income of a partnership
retains the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856
of the Internal Revenue Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and
the asset tests. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of income
of any partnership in which we have owned an interest were treated as our assets
and items of income for purposes of applying the requirements described in this
discussion, including the income and asset tests described below.
75% GROSS INCOME TEST. At least 75% of a REIT's gross income for each taxable
year must be derived from specified classes of income that principally are real
estate related. The permitted categories of principal importance to us are:
o rents from real property;
o interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property or on interests
in real property;
o gains from the sale of real property or loans secured by real property
(excluding gain from the sale of property held primarily for sale to
customers in the ordinary course of our business, referred to below as
"dealer property");
o income from the operation and gain from the sale of property acquired
in connection with the foreclosure of a mortgage securing that property
if we make an election to treat such property as foreclosure property
("foreclosure property");
o distributions on, or gain from the sale of, shares of other qualifying
REITs;
o abatements and refunds of real property taxes;
o amounts received as consideration for entering into agreements to make
loans secured by real property or to purchase or lease real property;
and
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o "qualified temporary investment income" (described below).
In evaluating our compliance with the 75% gross income test, as well as the 95%
gross income test described below, gross income does not include gross income
from "prohibited transactions." In general, a prohibited transaction is one
involving a sale of dealer property, not including foreclosure property and not
including certain dealer property we have held for at least four years.
We expect that substantially all of our operating gross income has been and will
be considered interest income and rent from real property. Interest on debt
secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property generally
is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. However, if the
highest principal amount of a loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the
fair market value of the real property securing the loan as of the date we
acquired the loan, a portion of the interest income from such loan will not be
qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test (but will be
qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test). The portion of the
interest income that will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross
income test will be equal to the portion of the principal amount of the loan
that is not secured by real property.
The term "interest," as defined for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income
tests, generally excludes any amount that is based in whole or in part on the
income or profits of any person. However, the term "interest" generally does not
exclude an amount solely because it is based on a fixed percentage or
percentages of receipts or sales. The term "interest" also generally does not
exclude an amount solely because it is based on the income or profits of a
debtor, as long as the debtor derives substantially all of its income from the
related property from leasing such property, to the extent that the amounts
received by the debtor would be characterized as "rents from real property" if
the REIT received such amounts. Furthermore, if a loan contains a provision that
entitles a REIT to a percentage of the borrower's gain upon the sale of the
secured property or a percentage of the appreciation in the property's value as
of a certain date (a "shared appreciation provision"), income attributable to
such provision will be treated as gain from the sale of the secured property,
which may or may not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross
income tests depending on the nature of the property. If the property is dealer
property, we would be subject to a 100% prohibited transaction tax on the shared
appreciation.
Rent from real property is qualifying income for purposes of the gross income
tests only if certain conditions are satisfied. Rent from real property includes
charges for services customarily rendered to tenants, and rent attributable to
personal property leased together with the real property so long as the personal
property rent is not more than 15% of the total rent received or accrued under
the lease for the taxable year. We do not expect to earn material amounts in
these categories. Rent from real property generally does not include rent based
on the income or profits derived from the property. However, rent based on a
percentage of gross receipts or sales is permitted as rent from real property
and we have had leases where rent is based on a percentage of gross receipts or
sales. We generally do not intend to lease property and receive rentals based on
the tenant's income or profit. Also excluded from "rents from real property" is
rent received from a person or corporation in which we (or any of our 10% or
greater owners) directly or indirectly through the constructive ownership rules
contained in Section 318 and Section 856(d)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code, own
a 10% or greater interest.
A third exclusion from qualifying rental income covers amounts received with
respect to real property if we furnish services to the tenants or manage or
operate the property, other than through an "independent contractor" from whom
we do not derive any income. The obligation to operate through an independent
contractor generally does not apply, however, if the services we provide are
"usually or customarily rendered" in connection with the rental of space for
occupancy only and are not considered rendered primarily for the convenience of
the tenant (applying standards that govern in evaluating whether rent from real
property would be unrelated business taxable income when received by a
tax-exempt owner of the property). Further, if the value of the non-customary
service income with respect to a property, valued at no less than 150% of our
direct cost of performing such services, is 1% or less of the total income
derived from the property, then the provision of such non-customary services
shall not prohibit the rental income (except the non-customary service income)
from qualifying as "rents from real property."
We believe that the only material services generally to be provided to tenants
will be those usually or customarily rendered in connection with the rental of
space for occupancy only. We do not intend to provide services that might be
considered rendered primarily for the convenience of the tenants, such as hotel,
health care or extensive recreational or social services. Consequently, we
believe that substantially all of our rental income will be qualifying income
under the gross
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income tests, and that our provision of services will not cause the rental
income to fail to be included under that test.
Upon the ultimate sale of our properties, any gains realized also are expected
to constitute qualifying income, as gain from the sale of real property (not
involving a prohibited transaction).
95% GROSS INCOME TEST. In addition to earning 75% of our gross income from the
sources listed above, 95% of our gross income for each taxable year must come
either from those sources, or from dividends, interest or gains from the sale or
other disposition of stock or other securities that do not constitute dealer
property. This test permits a REIT to earn a significant portion of its income
from traditional "passive" investment sources that are not necessarily real
estate related.
We own all of the nonvoting common and all of the preferred stock and 5% of the
voting common stock of AMREIT II, Inc. The income from this corporation does not
accrue to us, but we derive dividend income from this corporation. The dividends
qualify under the 95% gross income test, but not the 75% gross income test.
We believe that the interest and original issue discount income that we receive
from mortgage-backed securities and other mortgage-related assets generally is
qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. In some
cases, however, the loan amount of a mortgage loan we own may exceed the value
of the real property securing the loan. That scenario will cause a portion of
the income from the loan to be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross
income test, but not the 75% gross income test. It also is possible that, in
some instances, the interest income from a mortgage loan may be based in part on
the borrower's profits or net income. The scenario generally will cause the
income from the loan to be nonqualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and
the 95% gross income tests. We have represented that we will manage our loan
portfolio so that substantially all of the income from those assets will be
qualifying income for purposes of these tests. Furthermore, we have represented
that we will manage our real property so that the rent received from such
property qualifies as "rents from real property." In summary, we believe that we
will be able to satisfy the 75% and 95% gross income tests on a continuing
basis. However, we may receive income not described above that is not qualifying
income for purposes of the gross income tests. We will monitor the amount of
nonqualifying income that our assets produce and we will manage our portfolio to
comply at all times with the gross income tests.
FAILING THE 75% OR 95% TESTS; REASONABLE CAUSE. As a result of the 75% and 95%
tests, REITs generally are not permitted to earn more than 5% of their gross
income from active sources, including commissions or other fees for services
rendered. We may receive certain types of that income. This type of income will
not qualify for the 75% test or 95% test but is not expected to be significant
and that income, together with other nonqualifying income, is expected to be at
all times less than 5% of our annual gross income. While we do not anticipate
that we will earn substantial amounts of nonqualifying income, if nonqualifying
income exceeds 5% of our gross income, we could lose our status as a REIT. We
may establish subsidiaries of which we will hold less than 10% of the voting
stock to hold assets generating non-qualifying income. The gross income
generated by these subsidiaries would not be included in our gross income.
However, dividends we receive from these subsidiaries would be included in our
gross income and would qualify for the 95% income test but not the 75% income
test.
If we fail to meet either the 75% or 95% income tests during a taxable year, we
may still qualify as a REIT for that year if (1) we report the source and nature
of each item of our gross income in our federal income tax return for that year,
(2) the inclusion of any incorrect information in our return is not due to fraud
with intent to evade tax, and (3) the failure to meet the tests is due to
reasonable cause and not to willful neglect. It is not possible, however, to
state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of this
relief provision. For example, if we fail to satisfy the gross income tests
because nonqualifying income that we intentionally accrue or receive causes us
to exceed the limits on nonqualifying income, the IRS could conclude that our
failure to satisfy the tests was not due to reasonable cause. If these relief
provisions do not apply to a particular set of circumstances, we will not
qualify as a REIT. As discussed below, even if these relief provisions apply,
and we retain our status as a REIT, a tax would be imposed with respect to our
non-qualifying income. We would be subject to a 100% tax based on our profit
attributable to the greater of the amount by which we fail either the 75% or 95%
income tests for that year. See "-- Taxation as a REIT."
PROHIBITED TRANSACTION INCOME. Any gain that we realize on the sale of any
property held as inventory or other property held primarily for sale to
customers in the ordinary course of business (including our share of any such
gain realized by any subsidiary partnerships), will be treated as income from a
prohibited transaction
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that is subject to a 100% penalty tax. This prohibited transaction income may
also adversely affect our ability to satisfy the income tests for qualification
as a REIT. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or
primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business
depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular
transaction. Except to effect the sale of our non-core assets and the plan of
liquidation and dissolution, we intend to hold our and our former subsidiary
partnerships have held their assets for investment with a view to long-term
appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring, developing and owning
assets, and to make occasional sales of the assets as are consistent with their
investment objectives. The IRS may contend, however, that one or more of these
sales is subject to the 100% penalty tax.
We believe that none of our assets are held or have been held for sale to
customers and that a sale of any such asset would not be and has not been in the
ordinary course of our business. Whether a REIT holds an asset "primarily for
sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business" depends,
however, on the facts and circumstances in effect from time to time, including
those related to a particular asset. We cannot provide assurance, however, that
we will avoid owning property that may be characterized as property that we hold
"primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business."
CHARACTER OF ASSETS OWNED. At the close of each calendar quarter of our taxable
year, we also must meet two tests concerning the nature of our investments.
First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets generally must consist of
real estate assets, cash, cash items (including receivables) and government
securities. For this purpose, the term "real estate assets" includes interests
in real property, interests in loans secured by mortgages on real property or by
certain interests in real property, shares in other REITs and certain options,
but excluding mineral, oil or gas royalty interests. The term "real estate
assets" also includes regular or residual interests in a REMIC. However, if less
than 95% of the assets of a REMIC consist of "real estate assets" (determined as
if we held such assets), we will be treated as holding directly our
proportionate share of the assets of such REMIC. To the extent that the fair
market value of the real property securing a loan equals or exceeds the
outstanding principal balance of the loan, the loan will qualify as a real
estate asset. However, if the outstanding principal balance of a loan exceeds
the fair market value of the real property securing the loan, the portion of
such loan in excess of the value of the associated real property likely will not
be a qualifying "real estate asset." The temporary investment of new capital in
debt instruments also qualifies under this 75% asset test, but only for the
one-year period beginning on the date we receive the new capital.
Second, although the balance of our assets generally may be invested without
restriction, we will not be permitted to own (1) securities of any one
non-governmental issuer that represent more than 5% of the value of our total
assets or (2) more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any single
issuer. Excluded from the definition of a security for this purpose is an
instrument that qualifies as a real estate asset. A REIT, however, may own 100%
of the stock of a qualified REIT subsidiary, in which case the assets,
liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the subsidiary are
treated as those of the REIT. A REIT may also own an interest in another entity
that qualifies as a REIT. In evaluating a REIT's assets, if the REIT invests in
a partnership, it is deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the
partnership.
We believe that our mortgage assets are qualifying assets for purposes of the
75% asset test. However, if the outstanding principal balance of a mortgage loan
exceeds the fair market value of the real property securing the loan, a portion
of such loan will not be a qualifying "real estate asset." The nonqualifying
portion of the mortgage loan will be equal to the portion of the loan amount
that exceeds the value of the associated real property. We will monitor the
status of assets for purposes of the various asset tests and we will manage our
portfolio to comply at all times with such tests.
We own 100% of the nonvoting common stock and preferred stock and 5% of the
voting stock of AMREIT II, Inc. This stock is not a qualifying real estate
asset. We will not own more than 10% of the voting securities of AMREIT II, Inc.
In addition, we believe that the value of our stock and any other securities of
AMREIT II, Inc. does not exceed 5% of the total value of our assets, and will
not exceed that amount in the future. No independent appraisals have been
obtained to support this conclusion. We cannot assure our stockholders that the
Internal Revenue Service will not contend that the value of the securities of
AMREIT II, Inc. held by us exceeds the 5% value limitation. The 5% value test
must be satisfied not only on the date that we acquired securities in AMREIT II,
Inc., but also each time that we increase our ownership. Although we believe
that we presently satisfy the 5% value test and plan to take steps to ensure
that we satisfy this test for any quarter with respect to which retesting is to
occur, we cannot assure our stockholders that these tests will
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always be successful, or will not require a reduction in our ownership interest
in AMREIT II, Inc.
After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not
lose our status as a REIT for failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a
later quarter solely by reason of changes in asset values. If we fail to satisfy
the asset tests because we acquire securities or other property during a
quarter, we can cure this failure by disposing of sufficient nonqualifying
assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We intend to take such
action within the 30 days after the close of any quarter as may be required to
cure any noncompliance. If we fail to cure noncompliance with the asset tests
within this time period, we would cease to qualify as a REIT.
ANNUAL DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS. To maintain our REIT status, we generally
must distribute as a dividend to our shareholders in each taxable year at least
95% of our net ordinary income. Capital gain is not required to be distributed.
More precisely, we must distribute an amount equal to (1) 95% of the sum of (a)
our "REIT taxable income," computed before deduction of dividends paid and
excluding any net capital gain and (b) any net income from foreclosure property
less the tax on such income, minus (2) certain limited categories of "excess
noncash income," including, income attributable to leveled stepped rents,
cancellation of indebtedness income and original issue discount income. REIT
taxable income is defined to be the taxable income of the REIT, computed as if
it were an ordinary corporation, with certain modifications. For example, the
deduction for dividends paid is allowed, but neither net income from foreclosure
property, nor net income from prohibited transactions, is included. In addition,
the REIT may carry over, but not carry back, a net operating loss for 20 years
following the year in which it was incurred.
A REIT may satisfy the 95% distribution test with dividends paid during the
taxable year and with certain dividends paid after the end of the taxable year.
Dividends paid in January that were declared during the last calendar quarter of
the prior year and were payable to shareholders of record on a date during the
last calendar quarter of that prior year are treated as paid on December 31 of
the prior year. Other dividends declared before the due date of our tax return
for the taxable year, including extensions, also will be treated as paid in the
prior year if they are paid (1) within 12 months of the end of that taxable year
and (2) no later than our next regular distribution payment. Dividends that are
paid after the close of a taxable year that do not qualify under the rule
governing payments made in January (described above) will be taxable to the
shareholders in the year paid, even though we may take them into account for a
prior year. A nondeductible excise tax equal to 4% will be imposed for each
calendar year to the extent that dividends declared and distributed or deemed
distributed before December 31 are less than the sum of (a) 85% of our "ordinary
income" plus (b) 95% of our capital gain net income plus (c) any undistributed
income from prior periods.
To be entitled to a dividends paid deduction, the amount distributed by a REIT
must not be preferential. For example, every shareholder of the class of shares
to which a distribution is made must be treated the same as every other
shareholder of that class, and no class of shares may be treated otherwise than
in accordance with its dividend rights as a class.
We will be taxed at regular corporate rates to the extent that we retain any
portion of our taxable income. For example, if we distribute only the required
95% of our taxable income, we would be taxed on the retained 5%. Under certain
circumstances we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet the
distribution requirement. This could arise because of competing demands for our
funds, or due to timing differences between tax reporting and cash receipts and
disbursements (i.e., income may have to be reported before cash is received, or
expenses may have to be paid before a deduction is allowed). Although we do not
anticipate any difficulty in meeting this requirement, no assurance can be given
that necessary funds will be available. In the event these circumstances do
occur, then in order to meet the 95% distribution requirement, we may arrange
for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings to permit the payment of
required dividends.
If we fail to meet the 95% distribution requirement because of an adjustment to
our taxable income by the IRS, we may be able to cure the failure retroactively
by paying a "deficiency dividend," as well as applicable interest and penalties,
within a specified period.
From time to time, we may experience timing differences between (i) the actual
receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses and (ii) the
inclusion of that income and deduction of such expenses in arriving at our REIT
taxable income. For example, we may not deduct recognized capital losses from
our "REIT taxable income." In addition, we will recognize taxable income in
advance of our related cash flow if any of our subordinated commercial
mortgage-backed securities or mortgage loans are deemed to have OID. We
generally must accrue OID based on a constant yield method that takes into
account projected prepayments but that defers credit losses until they are
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actually incurred. We also may recognize taxable market discount income when we
receive the proceeds from the disposition of, or principal payments on, loans
that are "market discount bonds" (i.e., obligations with a stated redemption
price at maturity that is greater than our tax basis in such obligations),
although such proceeds often will be used to make nondeductible principal
payments on related borrowings. We also may recognize "excess inclusion" or
other "phantom" taxable income from REMIC residual interests and non-REMIC
retained ownership interests. Furthermore, we may recognize taxable income
without receiving a corresponding cash distribution if we foreclose on or make a
"significant modification" (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1001-3)
to a loan, to the extent that the fair market value of the underlying property
or the principal amount of the modified loan, as applicable, exceeds our basis
in the original loan. Finally, although certain types of noncash income are
excluded in determining the annual distribution requirement, we will incur
corporate income tax and the 4% excise tax with respect to those noncash income
items if we do not distribute those items on a current basis. As a result of the
foregoing, we may have less cash than is necessary to distribute all of our
taxable income and thereby avoid corporate income tax and the excise tax imposed
on certain undistributed income. In such a situation, we may need to borrow
funds or issue preferred stock or additional common stock.
TAXATION AS A REIT
As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to corporate income tax to the
extent we currently distribute our REIT taxable income to our shareholders. This
treatment effectively eliminates the "double taxation" imposed on investments in
most corporations. Double taxation refers to taxation that occurs once at the
corporate level when income is earned and once again at the shareholder level
when such income is distributed. We generally will be taxed only on the portion
of our taxable income that we retain, which will include any undistributed net
capital gain, because we will be entitled to a deduction for dividends paid to
shareholders during the taxable year. A dividends paid deduction is not
available for dividends that are considered preferential within any given class
of shares or as between classes except to the extent that class is entitled to a
preference. We do not anticipate that we will pay any of those preferential
dividends that will not also result in a corresponding dividends paid deduction.
Even as a REIT, we will be subject to tax in certain circumstances as follows:
o we would be subject to tax on any income or gain from foreclosure
property at the highest corporate rate (currently 35%). Foreclosure
property is generally defined as property acquired through foreclosure
or after a default on a loan secured by the property or a lease of the
property if we make an election to treat that property as foreclosure
property;
o a confiscatory tax of 100% applies to any 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;
o if we fail to meet either the 75% or 95% source of income tests
described above, but still qualify for REIT status under the reasonable
cause exception to those tests, a 100% tax would be imposed equal to
the amount obtained by multiplying (a) the greater of the amount, if
any, by which we failed either the 75% income test or the 95% income
test, times (b) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability;
o we will be subject to the alternative minimum tax on items of tax
preference, excluding items specifically allocable to our shareholders;
o if we should fail to distribute with respect to each calendar year at
least the sum of (a) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for that year, (b)
95% of our REIT capital gain net income for that year, and (c) any
undistributed taxable income from prior years, we would be subject to a
4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the
amounts actually distributed;
o under regulations that have been promulgated in temporary form, we also
may be taxed at the highest regular corporate tax rate on any built-in
gain attributable to assets that we acquire in certain tax-free
corporate transactions, to the extent the gain is recognized during the
first ten years after we acquire those assets. Built-in gain is the
excess of (a) the fair market value of the asset over (b) our adjusted
basis in the asset, in each case determined as of the beginning of the
ten-year recognition period. The results described in this paragraph
with respect to the recognition
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of built-in gain assume that we will make an election pursuant to the
temporary regulation;
o we will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT
taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains;
o we will pay a tax at the highest corporate rate on the portion of any
phantom taxable income that we derive from REMIC residual interests,
referred to as "excess inclusion," equal to the percentage of our stock
held by "disqualified organizations." A "disqualified organization"
includes the United States, any state or political subdivision thereof,
any foreign government, any international organization, any agency or
instrumentality of any of the foregoing, an other tax-exempt
organization (other than a farmer's cooperative described in Section
521 of the Code) that is exempt both from income taxation and from
taxation under the unrelated business taxable income provisions of the
Code, or any rural electrical or telephone cooperative; and
o we also may be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate on the
portion of our allocable share of any "excess inclusion" that a REIT in
which we own an equity interest derives from REMIC residual interests,
equal to the percentage of its stock that is held by the "disqualified
organization."
REITs generally will incur tax at the maximum corporate rate on any income from
foreclosure property (other than income that would be qualifying income for
purposes of the 75% gross income test), less expenses directly connected with
the production of such income. "Foreclosure property" is any real property
(including interests in real property) and any personal property incident to
such real property that meets the following requirements:
o a REIT acquires the property when the REIT bids on such property at
foreclosure, or otherwise reduces such property to ownership or
possession by agreement or process of law, after a default (or imminent
default) on a lease of such property or on a debt owed to the REIT that
such property secured;
o the REIT acquired the related loan when default was not imminent or
anticipated; and
o the REIT elects to treat the property as foreclosure property.
We do not anticipate that we will receive any income from foreclosure property
that is not qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, but if
we do receive any such income, we will make an election to treat the related
property as foreclosure property to the extent we are eligible to make such
election.
Property is not eligible for the election to be treated as foreclosure property
if a REIT acquires the related loan while default is imminent or anticipated.
Therefore, if we acquire a non-performing or under-performing loan and we later
acquire the collateral by foreclosure, the collateral will not qualify as
foreclosure property if default was imminent or anticipated when we acquired the
loan. If so, the income we receive with respect to such ineligible property will
not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income test (for
example, in the case of a foreclosure of a hotel) unless the income would
otherwise satisfy these qualifying income requirements. We anticipate that any
income we receive with respect to an ineligible property will be qualifying
income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
FAILURE TO QUALIFY AS A REIT
For any taxable year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT and cannot obtain the
benefits of the relief provisions contained in the Internal Revenue Code, we
would be taxed at regular corporate rates, including alternative minimum tax
rates on all of our taxable income. Distributions to our shareholders would not
be deductible in computing that taxable income, and distributions would no
longer be required to be made. Any corporate level taxes generally would reduce
the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders and, because
the shareholders would continue to be taxed on the distributions they receive,
the net after tax yield to the shareholders from their investment likely would
be reduced substantially. As a result, failure to qualify as a REIT during any
taxable year could have a material adverse effect on an investment in our common
shares. If we lose our REIT status, unless certain relief provisions apply, we
would not be eligible to elect REIT status again until the fifth taxable year
which begins after the taxable year during which our election was terminated. It
is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to
this statutory relief.
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TAXATION OF TAXABLE U.S. SHAREHOLDERS
Except as discussed below, distributions generally will be taxable to taxable
U.S. shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of our current or accumulated
earnings and profits. We may generate cash in excess of our net earnings. If we
distribute cash to shareholders in excess of our current and accumulated
earnings and profits (other than as a capital gain dividend), the excess cash
will be deemed to be a return of capital to each shareholder to the extent of
the adjusted tax basis of the shareholder's shares. Distributions in excess of
the adjusted tax basis will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of the
shares. A shareholder who has received a distribution in excess of our current
and accumulated earnings and profits may, upon the sale of the shares, realize a
higher taxable gain or a smaller loss because the basis of the shares as reduced
will be used for purposes of computing the amount of the gain or loss.
Distributions we make, whether characterized as ordinary income or as capital
gains, are not eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporations.
Dividends we declare in October, November, or December of any year and payable
to a shareholder of record on a specified date in any of these months shall be
treated as both paid by us and received by the shareholder on December 31 of
that year, provided we actually pay the dividend on or before January 31 of the
following calendar year. Shareholders may not include in their own income tax
returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.
Distributions that we properly designate as capital gain dividends will be
taxable to taxable U.S. shareholders as gains from the sale or disposition of a
capital asset to the extent that they do not exceed our actual net capital gain
for the taxable year. Depending on the period of time, on the tax
characteristics of the assets that produced these gains and on certain
designations, if any, that we may make, these gains may be taxable to
non-corporate U.S. shareholders at a 20% or 25% rate. U.S. shareholders that are
corporations may, however, be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital
gain dividends as ordinary income.
We may elect to retain, rather than distribute as a capital gain dividend, our
net long-term capital gains. If we make this election, we would pay tax on our
retained net long-term capital gains and a U.S. shareholder generally would:
o include its proportionate share of our 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 our taxable year falls;
o be deemed to have paid the capital gains tax imposed on us on the
designated amounts included in the U.S. shareholder's long-term capital
gains;
o receive a credit or refund for the amount of tax deemed paid by it;
o increase the adjusted basis of its common stock by the difference
between the amount of includable gains and the tax deemed to have been
paid by it; and
o 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.
Distributions we make and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S.
shareholder of our shares will not be treated as income from a passive activity,
within the meaning of Section 469 of the Internal Revenue Code, since income
from a passive activity generally does not include dividends and gain
attributable to the disposition of property that produces dividends. As a
result, U.S. shareholders subject to the passive activity rules will generally
be unable to apply any "passive losses" against this income or gain.
Distributions we make, to the extent they do not constitute a return of capital,
generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the
investment interest limitation. Gain arising from the sale or other disposition
of our shares, however, will be treated as investment income if a shareholder so
elects, in which case the capital gain is taxed at ordinary income rates.
Generally, gain or loss realized by a shareholder upon the sale of shares will
be reportable as capital gain or loss. If a shareholder receives a long-term
capital gain dividend from us and has held the shares for six months or less,
any loss incurred on the sale or exchange of the shares is treated as a
long-term capital loss to the extent of the corresponding long-term capital gain
dividend received.
In any year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT, shareholders generally will
continue to be treated in the same fashion described above, except that none of
our dividends will be eligible for treatment as capital gains dividends,
corporate shareholders will qualify for the dividends received deduction and
shareholders will not be required to report any share of our tax preference
items.
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Our investments may cause us under certain circumstances to recognize taxable
income in excess of our economic income ("phantom" income) and to experience an
offsetting excess of economic income over our taxable income in later years. As
a result, U.S. shareholders may from time to time be required to pay federal
income tax on distributions that economically represent a return of capital,
rather than a dividend. Such distributions would be offset in later years by
distributions representing economic income that would be treated as returns of
capital for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, if we receive "phantom"
income, our U.S. shareholders may incur federal income tax with respect to such
income on an accelerated basis (i.e., before the U.S. shareholders realize such
income in an economic sense). Taking into account the time value of money, such
an acceleration of federal income tax liabilities would cause shareholders to
receive an after-tax rate of return on an investment in the REIT that would be
less than the after-tax rate of return on an investment with an identical
before-tax rate of return that did not generate "phantom" income. We will
consider the potential effects of "phantom" income on our taxable U.S.
shareholders in managing our investments.
To the extent that we own REMIC residual interests, our U.S. shareholders likely
may not offset certain portions of the dividend income they receive from us with
their current deductions or net operating loss carryovers or carrybacks. This
limitation would apply to the portion of a U.S. shareholder's dividends equal to
its allocable share of any "excess inclusion" derived with respect to its REMIC
residual interests. Our "excess inclusion" for any calendar quarter will equal
the excess of our income from REMIC residual interests over our "daily accruals"
with respect to such interests for the calendar quarter. Daily accruals for a
calendar quarter are computed by allocating to each day on which a REMIC
residual interest is owned a ratable portion of the product of (i) the "adjusted
issue price" of the REMIC residual interest at the beginning of the quarter and
(ii) 120% of the long-term federal interest rate (adjusted for quarterly
compounding) on the date of issuance of the REMIC residual interest. To the
extent provided in future Treasury Regulations, if we own a REMIC residual
interest that does not have significant value, the "excess inclusion" that we
derive from such REMIC residual interest will be deemed to be equal to the
entire amount of income we derive from such REMIC residual interest.
Furthermore, if we own stock in other REITs that own REMIC residual interests, a
portion of the dividends that we receive from such REITs may be treated as
"excess inclusion." Those dividends may cause a portion of the dividends that we
pay to our shareholders also to be treated as "excess inclusion."
If we (or one of our qualified REIT subsidiaries) issue debt obligations secured
by our mortgage loans in non-REMIC transactions, we or such mortgage loans may
be treated as a "taxable mortgage pool" under the Code if the payments on the
debt obligations bear a relationship to the payments on the underlying mortgage
loans. In such a case, to the extent provided in future Treasury Regulations, a
portion or all of the taxable income generated by our retained ownership
interest in the mortgage loans constituting a taxable mortgage pool may be
characterized as "excess inclusion" and allocated pro rata among our U.S.
shareholders. U.S. shareholders would not be permitted to offset certain
portions of their dividend income that are attributable to the non-REMIC
transactions with their current deductions of net operating loss carryovers or
carrybacks. Although the U.S. Treasury Department has not yet issued applicable
Treasury Regulations, we cannot assure you that it will not issue such
regulations in the future. We also cannot assure you that, if issued, such
regulations will not be retroactive and will not prevent U.S. shareholders from
offsetting some portion of their dividend income with deductions or losses from
other sources.
RECENT LEGISLATION
The rules dealing with Federal income taxation are constantly under review by
Congress, the IRS and the Treasury Department. For example, on December 17,
1999, the President signed into law the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives
Improvement Act of 1999, which contains changes in federal income tax laws that,
beginning after December 31, 2000, will affect REITs. Under the new legislation,
REITs may own stock in "taxable REIT subsidiaries," corporations that may
provide services to tenants of the REIT and others without disqualifying the
rents that the REIT receives from its tenants. A taxable REIT subsidiary is a
corporation in which a REIT owns stock, directly or indirectly, and with respect
to which the corporation and the REIT have made a joint election to treat the
corporation as a taxable REIT subsidiary. Although a REIT may own up to 100% of
the stock of a taxable REIT subsidiary, (i) the value of all securities in
taxable REIT subsidiaries held by the REIT may not exceed 20% of the value of
the total assets of the REIT; and (ii) any dividends received by the REIT from
its taxable REIT subsidiaries will not constitute qualifying income under the
75% income test. In addition, the new legislation limits the deduction of
interest paid by a
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taxable REIT subsidiary to the REIT and limits the amount of rental
payments that may be made by a taxable REIT subsidiary to the REIT.
The new legislation imposes a tax on a REIT equal to 100% of redetermined rents,
redetermined deductions and excess interest with respect to a taxable REIT
subsidiary. Redetermined rents are generally rents from real property which
would otherwise be reduced on distribution, apportionment or allocation to
clearly reflect income as a result of services furnished or rendered by a
taxable REIT subsidiary to tenants of the REIT. There are a number of exceptions
with regard to redetermined rents, which are summarized below.
o Redetermined rents do not include amounts received directly or
indirectly by a REIT for customary services.
o Redetermined rents do not include de minimus payments received by the
REIT with respect to non-customary services rendered to the tenants of
a property owned by the REIT that do not exceed 1% of all amounts
received by the REIT with respect to the property.
o The redetermined rent provisions do not apply with respect to any
services rendered by a taxable REIT subsidiary to the tenants of the
REIT, as long as the taxable REIT subsidiary renders a significant
amount of similar services to persons other than the REIT and to
tenants who are unrelated to the REIT or the taxable REIT subsidiary or
the REIT tenants, and the charge for these services is substantially
comparable to the charge for similar services rendered to such
unrelated persons.
o The redetermined rent provisions do not apply to any services rendered
by a taxable REIT subsidiary to a tenant of a REIT if the rents paid by
tenants leasing at least 25% of the net leasable space in the REIT's
property who are not receiving such services are substantially
comparable to the rents paid by tenants leasing comparable space who
are receiving the services and the charge for the services is
separately stated.
o The redetermined rent provisions do not apply to any services rendered
by a taxable REIT subsidiary to tenants of a REIT if the gross income
of the taxable REIT subsidiary from these services is at least 150% of
the taxable REIT subsidiary's direct cost of rendering the services.
o The Secretary has the power to waive the tax that would otherwise be
imposed on redetermined rents if the REIT establishes to the
satisfaction of the Secretary that rents charged to tenants were
established on an arms' length basis even though a taxable REIT
subsidiary provided services to the tenants.
Redetermined deductions are deductions, other than redetermined rents, of a
taxable REIT subsidiary if the amount of these deductions would be decreased on
distribution, apportionment or allocation to clearly reflect income between the
taxable REIT subsidiary and the REIT. Excess interest means any deductions for
interest payments made by a taxable REIT subsidiary to the REIT to the extent
that the interest payments exceed a commercially reasonable rate of interest.
Under the new legislation, a REIT will be prohibited from owning more than 10%,
by vote or by value, of the securities, other than specified debt securities, of
a non-REIT C corporation. This does not, however, apply to taxable REIT
subsidiaries, qualified REIT subsidiaries and non-qualified corporate
subsidiaries in which the REIT does not own more than 10% of the voting
securities, provided the non-qualified subsidiary was established on or before
July 12, 1999, does not engage in a new line of business or acquire any
substantial asset (other than pursuant to a binding contract in effect as of
July 12, 1999, a tax-free exchange, an involuntary conversion or a
reorganization with another non-qualified corporate subsidiary) and the REIT
does not acquire any new securities in such subsidiary (other than pursuant to a
binding contract in effect as of July 12, 1999 or a reorganization with another
non-qualified corporate subsidiary). Under the new legislation, a REIT may
convert existing non-qualified corporate subsidiaries into taxable REIT
subsidiaries in a tax-free reorganization at any time prior to January 1, 2004.
Under the new legislation, the 95% distribution requirement discussed above is
reduced to 90% of REIT taxable income.
Under the new legislation, the basis for determining whether more than 15% of
the rents is received by a REIT from a property are attributable to personal
property is based upon a comparison of the fair market value of the personal
property leased by the tenant as compared to the fair market value of all of the
property leased by the tenant, rather than the adjusted basis of such personal
property compared to the adjusted basis of all such property.
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BACKUP WITHHOLDING
We will report to our shareholders and the IRS the amount of dividends paid
during each calendar year and the amount of tax withheld, if any. If a
shareholder is subject to backup withholding, we will be required to deduct and
withhold from any dividends payable to that shareholder an amount equal to 31%
of the dividend. These rules may apply (1) when a shareholder fails to supply a
correct taxpayer identification number, (2) when the IRS notifies us that the
shareholder is subject to the rules or has furnished an incorrect taxpayer
identification number, or (3) in the case of corporations or others within
certain exempt categories, when they fail to demonstrate that fact when
required. A shareholder that does not provide a correct taxpayer identification
number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Any amount withheld
as backup withholding may be credited against the shareholder's federal income
tax liability. We also may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain
distributions made to shareholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status.
The United States Treasury has recently issued final regulations regarding the
withholding and information reporting rules discussed above. In general, the
final regulations do not alter the substantive withholding and information
reporting requirements but unify current certification procedures and clarify
reliance standards. The final regulations are generally effective for payments
made on or after January 1, 2000, subject to certain transition rules.
Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning the
adoption of the final regulations and the potential effect on their ownership of
common shares.
TAXATION OF TAX-EXEMPT ENTITIES
In general, a tax-exempt entity that is a shareholder will not be subject to tax
on distributions or gain realized on the sale of shares. A tax-exempt entity may
be subject to unrelated business taxable income, commonly known as "UBTI,"
however, to the extent that it has financed the acquisition of its shares with
"acquisition indebtedness" within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code. In
determining the number of shareholders a REIT has for purposes of the "50% test"
described above under "REIT Qualification," any shares held by tax-exempt
employees' pension and profit sharing trusts that qualify under Section 401(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code and are exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code ("qualified trusts") will generally be treated as held
directly by its beneficiaries in proportion to their interests in the trust and
will not be treated as held by the trust.
A qualified trust owning more than 10% of a REIT may be required to treat a
percentage of dividends from the REIT as UBTI. The percentage is determined by
dividing the REIT's gross income (less direct expenses related thereto) derived
from an unrelated trade or business for the year (determined as if the REIT were
a qualified trust) by the gross income of the REIT for the year in which the
dividends are paid. However, if this percentage is less than 5%, dividends are
not treated as UBTI. These UBTI rules apply only if the REIT qualifies as a REIT
because of the "look-thru" rule with respect to the 50% test discussed above and
if the trust is "predominantly held" by qualified trusts. A REIT is
predominantly held by qualified trusts if at least one pension trust owns more
than 25% of the value of the REIT or a group of pension trusts each owning more
than 10% of the value of the REIT collectively own more than 50% of the value of
the REIT. We do not currently meet either of these requirements.
For 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 Internal Revenue Code, respectively, income from an investment in our
capital stock will constitute UBTI unless the organization is able to deduct an
amount properly set aside or placed in reserve for certain purposes so as to
offset the UBTI generated by the investment in our capital stock. These
prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning the "set
aside" and reserve requirements.
TAXATION OF FOREIGN INVESTORS
The rules governing federal income taxation of nonresident alien individuals,
foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and other foreign shareholders are
complex and no attempt will be made herein to provide more than a summary of
such rules. Prospective non-U.S. shareholders should consult with their own tax
advisors to determine the impact of federal, state and local income tax laws
with regard to an investment in common shares, including any reporting
requirements, as well as the tax treatment of such an investment under the laws
of their home country.
Dividends that are not attributable to gain from any sales or exchanges we make
of United States real property interests and which we do not designate as
capital gain dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the
extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and
profits. Those dividends ordinarily will be subject to a withholding tax
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equal to 30% of the gross amount of the dividend unless an applicable tax treaty
reduces or eliminates that tax. However, if income from the investment in the
common shares is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S.
shareholder's conduct of a United States trade or business, the non-U.S.
shareholder generally will be subject to a tax at graduated rates, in the same
manner as U.S. shareholders are taxed with respect to those dividends, and may
also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a shareholder that
is a foreign corporation. For withholding tax purposes, we are currently
required to treat all distributions as if made out of our current and
accumulated earnings and profits and thus we intend to withhold at the rate of
30%, or a reduced treaty rate if applicable, on the amount of any distribution
(other than distributions designated as capital gain dividends) made to a
non-U.S. shareholder unless (1) the non-U.S. shareholder files on IRS Form 1001
claiming that a lower treaty rate applies or (2) the non-U.S. shareholder files
an IRS Form 4224 claiming that the dividend is effectively connected income.
Under the final regulations, generally effective for distributions on or after
January 1, 2000, we would not be required to withhold at the 30% rate on
distributions we reasonably estimate to be in excess of our current and
accumulated earnings and profits. Dividends in excess of our current and
accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a shareholder to the
extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the shareholder's shares,
but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of those shares. To the extent that
those dividends exceed the adjusted basis of a non-U.S. shareholder's shares,
they will give rise to tax liability if the non-U.S. shareholder would otherwise
be subject to tax on any gain from the sale or disposition of his shares, as
described below. If it cannot be determined at the time a dividend is paid
whether or not a dividend will be in excess of current and accumulated earnings
and profits, the dividend will be subject to such withholding. We do not intend
to make quarterly estimates of that portion of dividends that are in excess of
earnings and profits, and, as a result, all dividends will be subject to such
withholding. However, the non-U.S. shareholder may seek a refund of those
amounts from the IRS.
For any year in which we qualify as a REIT, distributions that are attributable
to gain from our sales or exchanges of United States real property interests
will be taxed to a non-U.S. shareholder under the provisions of the Foreign
Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, commonly known as "FIRPTA." Under
FIRPTA, those dividends are taxed to a non-U.S. shareholder as if the gain were
effectively connected with a United States business. Non-U.S. shareholders would
thus be taxed 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 nonresident alien individuals. Also, dividends subject to
FIRPTA may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a corporate
non-U.S. shareholder not entitled to treaty exemption. We are required by the
Code and applicable Treasury Regulations to withhold 35% of any dividend that
could be designated as a capital gain dividend. This amount is creditable
against the non-U.S. shareholder's FIRPTA tax liability.
Gain recognized by a non-U.S. shareholder upon a sale of shares generally will
not be taxed under FIRPTA if we are a "domestically controlled REIT," defined
generally as a REIT in which at all times during a specified testing period less
than 50% in value of the shares was held directly or indirectly by foreign
persons. It is currently anticipated that we will be a "domestically controlled
REIT," and therefore the sale of shares will not be subject to taxation under
FIRPTA. Because the common shares will be publicly traded, however, no assurance
can be given that we will remain a "domestically controlled REIT." However, gain
not subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a non-U.S. shareholder if (1)
investment in the common shares is effectively connected with the non-U.S.
shareholder's United States trade or business, in which case the non-U.S.
shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with
respect to that gain, and may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in
the case of a corporate non-U.S. shareholder, or (2) the non-U.S. shareholder is
a nonresident alien individual who was 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% withholding
tax on the individual's capital gains. If we were not a domestically controlled
REIT, whether or not a non-U.S. shareholder's sale of shares would be subject to
tax under FIRPTA would depend on whether or not the common shares were regularly
traded on an established securities market (such as the NYSE) and on the size of
selling non-U.S. shareholder's interest in our capital shares. If the gain on
the sale of shares were to be subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S.
shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with
respect to that gain (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a
special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals and
the possible application of the 30% branch profits tax in the case of foreign
corporations) and the purchaser of our common shares may be required to withhold
10% of the gross purchase price.
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STATE AND LOCAL TAXES
We, and our shareholders, 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. Consequently, prospective shareholders should consult their
own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an
investment in our capital shares.
LEGAL MATTERS
Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, Dallas, Texas, has delivered its opinion that the
common shares offered through this prospectus have been validly issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by
reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1999, as amended, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference,
and has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon
their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection
with the offering contemplated by this Registration Statement:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
SEC Registration Fee........................................ $ 685
Accounting Fees and Expenses................................ 5,000
Legal Fees and Expenses..................................... 10,000
Miscellaneous............................................... 4,315
---------
Total.............................................. $ 20,000
=========
</TABLE>
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Our Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust provides for the
indemnification of our directors and officers and AMREIT Managers L.P., its
employees, officers, directors and controlling persons to the fullest extent
permitted by the Texas Real Estate Investment Trust Act, as amended (the "Act").
Subsection (B) of Section 9.20 of the Act, empowers a real estate investment
trust to indemnify any person who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named
defendant or respondent in any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit,
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, or
investigative, any appeal in such an action, suit, or proceeding, or any inquiry
or investigation that can lead to such an action, suit or proceeding because the
person is or was a trust manager, officer, employee or agent of the real estate
investment trust or is or was serving at the request of the real estate
investment trust as a trust manager, director, officer, partner, venturer,
proprietor, trustee, employee, agent, or similar functionary of another real
estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole
proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise against
expenses (including court costs and attorney fees), judgments, penalties, fines
and settlements if he conducted himself in good faith and reasonably believed
his conduct was in or not opposed to the best interests of the real estate
investment trust and, in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable
cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
The Act further provides that, except to the extent otherwise permitted
by the Act, a person may not be indemnified in respect of a proceeding in which
the person is found liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly
received by him or in which the person is found liable to the real estate
investment trust. Indemnification pursuant to Subsection (B) of Section 9.20 of
the Act is limited to reasonable expenses actually incurred and may not be made
in respect of any proceeding in which the person has been found liable for
willful or intentional misconduct in the performance of his duty to the real
estate investment trust.
Subsection (C) of Section 15.10 of the Act provides that a trust
manager shall not be liable for any claims or damages that may result from his
acts in the discharge of any duty imposed or power conferred upon him by the
real estate investment trust, if, in the exercise of ordinary care, he acted in
good faith and in reliance upon information, opinions, reports, or statements,
including financial statements and other financial data, concerning the real
estate investment trust, that were prepared or presented by officers or
employees of the real estate investment trust, legal counsel, public
accountants, investment bankers, or certain other professionals, or a committee
of trust manager of which the trust manager is not a member. In addition, no
trust manager shall be liable to the real estate investment trust for any act,
omission, loss, damage, or expense arising from the performance of his duty to a
real estate investment trust, save only for his own willful misfeasance, willful
malfeasance or gross negligence.
We have obtained directors' and officers' liability insurance coverage
in the aggregate amount of approximately $20 million. Directors' and officers'
insurance insures (i) our officers and trust managers from any claim arising out
of an alleged wrongful act by our trust managers and officers in their
respective capacities as our trust managers and officers, and (ii) us, to the
extent that we have indemnified our trust managers and officers for such loss.
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ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
3.1 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Registrant (filed
as Exhibit 3.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-11
(Registration No. 333-45543), which exhibit is incorporated herein
by reference).
3.2 First Amendment to Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of
the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form
8-K dated May 12, 1998, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference).
3.3 Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of
the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Current Report on Form
8-K dated May 12, 1998, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference).
3.4 Form of Bylaws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our
Registration Statement on Form S-11 (Registration No. 333-45543),
which exhibit is incorporated herein by reference).
*5.1 Opinion of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP as to the legality of the
securities being registered.
*8.1 Opinion of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP as to certain tax matters.
10.1 Amended and Restated Interim Warehouse and Security Agreement
dated as of May 4, 1999 by and among Prudential Securities Credit
Corporation and AMRESCO Capital Trust, AMREIT I, Inc., AMREIT II,
Inc., ACT Equities, Inc. and ACT Holdings, Inc. (filed as Exhibit
10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1999, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference).
10.2 Warrant Agreement dated as of May 4, 1999 between AMRESCO Capital
Trust and Prudential Securities Incorporated (filed as Exhibit
10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1999, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference).
10.3 Master Repurchase Agreement dated as of July 1, 1998 between
Prudential-Bache International, Ltd. and AMRESCO Capital Trust,
AMREIT CMBS I, Inc., AMREIT RMBS I, Inc. and AMREIT II, Inc.
(filed as Exhibit 10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended September 30, 1998, which exhibit is
incorporated herein by reference).
*23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2 Consent of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1
hereto).
23.3 Consent of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1
hereto).
24.1 Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
----------
* Filed herewith.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows:
(1) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales
are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act");
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
events arising after the effective date of
the registration statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof)
which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the Registration
Statement;
(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;
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<PAGE> 31
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(a)(i)
and (1)(a)(ii) do not apply if information
required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained
in periodic reports filed by the registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), that are incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement.
(b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act, each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(c) 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.
(2) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) 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.
(3) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 15 of this
Registration Statement or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than in payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a trust manager, director, officer or controlling person in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the
registrant by such trust manager, director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered hereby, 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
<PAGE> 32
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 Dallas, State of Texas, on the 7th day of August
2000.
AMRESCO CAPITAL TRUST
By: /s/ Robert L. Adair III
---------------------------------------
Robert L. Adair III, Chairman of
the Board of Trust
Managers and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Robert L. Adair III and Jonathan
S. Pettee, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him, and on his behalf
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute
and file this Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and any or all amendments (including, without limitation,
post-effective amendments), with all exhibits and any and all documents required
to be filed with respect thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or
any regulatory authority, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and
each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to
effectuate the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as he himself might or
could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.
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.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Robert L. Adair III Chairman of the Board of Trust Managers and August 7, 2000
------------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer
Robert L. Adair III (Principal Executive Officer)
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and
/s/ Thomas R. Lewis II Accounting Officer and
------------------------------------- Controller (Principal Financial August 7, 2000
Thomas R. Lewis II and Accounting Officer)
/s/ John C. Deterding Independent Trust Manager August 7, 2000
-------------------------------------
John C. Deterding
Independent Trust Manager August 7, 2000
-------------------------------------
Bruce W. Duncan
/s/ Christopher B. Leinberger Independent Trust Manager August 7, 2000
-------------------------------------
Christopher B. Leinberger
Independent Trust Manager August 7, 2000
-------------------------------------
James C. Leslie
/s/ Robert H. Lutz, Jr. Trust Manager August 7, 2000
-------------------------------------
Robert H. Lutz, Jr.
</TABLE>
II-4
<PAGE> 33
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
---------- -----------
<S> <C>
3.1 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Registrant (filed
as Exhibit 3.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-11
(Registration No. 333-45543), which exhibit is incorporated herein
by reference).
3.2 First Amendment to Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of
the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form
8-K dated May 12, 1998, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference).
3.3 Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of
the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Current Report on Form
8-K dated May 12, 1998, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference).
3.4 Form of Bylaws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our
Registration Statement on Form S-11 (Registration No. 333-45543),
which exhibit is incorporated herein by reference).
*5.1 Opinion of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP as to the legality of the
securities being registered.
*8.1 Opinion of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP as to certain tax matters.
10.1 Amended and Restated Interim Warehouse and Security Agreement
dated as of May 4, 1999 by and among Prudential Securities Credit
Corporation and AMRESCO Capital Trust, AMREIT I, Inc., AMREIT II,
Inc., ACT Equities, Inc. and ACT Holdings, Inc. (filed as Exhibit
10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1999, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference).
10.2 Warrant Agreement dated as of May 4, 1999 between AMRESCO Capital
Trust and Prudential Securities Incorporated (filed as Exhibit
10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1999, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference).
10.3 Master Repurchase Agreement dated as of July 1, 1998 between
Prudential-Bache International, Ltd. and AMRESCO Capital Trust,
AMREIT CMBS I, Inc., AMREIT RMBS I, Inc. and AMREIT II, Inc.
(filed as Exhibit 10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended September 30, 1998, which exhibit is
incorporated herein by reference).
*23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2 Consent of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1
hereto).
23.3 Consent of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1
hereto).
24.1 Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
</TABLE>
----------
* Filed herewith.
