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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 18, 2000
Registration No. 333-______
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
------------------------
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
-----------------------
STORAGE USA, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
TENNESSEE 62-1251239
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
165 Madison Avenue
Suite 1300
Memphis, Tennessee 38103
(901) 252-2000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
John W. McConomy
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Storage USA, Inc.
165 Madison Avenue,
Suite 1300
Memphis, Tennessee 38103
(901) 252-2000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Mr. Randall S. Parks
Hunton & Williams
Riverfront Plaza, East Tower
951 East Byrd Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-4074
(804) 788-8200
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement in light of market
conditions and other factors.
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 under
the Securities Act, please check the following box: [ ]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================
Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum
Title of Each Class of Aggregate Amount Offering Price Per Aggregate Offering Amount of
Securities to be Registered to be Registered Unit(1) Price(1) Registration Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Common Stock, $.01 par value, per 37,071 $30.84375 $1,143,408.66 $302
share
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</TABLE>
(1) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, based upon the prices of the Common Stock on the New York Stock
Exchange on September 13, 2000.
--------------------
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, as amended, or until this registration statement shall
become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting
pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
<PAGE>
The information is this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may
not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer
to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these
securities, in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 18, 2000
Prospectus
37,071 Shares
Storage USA, Inc.
Common Stock
------------
Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"SUS."
We may issue up to 37,071 shares of common stock to certain individuals
and entities (the "Unitholders") who sold self-storage facilities to SUSA
Partnership, L.P. on September 25, 1999. As partial consideration for their
properties, the Unitholders received a total of 37,071 units of limited
partnership interest in SUSA Partnership.
We will issue shares of common stock if:
1. the Unitholders choose to redeem their partnership units, and
2. Storage USA elects to exchange the units for shares of common stock.
The Unitholders will receive one share of common stock for each unit
exchanged. The Unitholders will not pay, and we will not receive, any cash for
the shares of common stock.
In part so that we can continue to qualify as a "real estate investment
trust" under the Internal Revenue Code, our Charter does not permit anyone to
own more than 9.8% of our outstanding common stock. This limitation and other
limits on who can own our common stock are described in this prospectus under
"Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer."
------------
================================================================================
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other state securities
commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful and complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
crime.
------------
The date of this Prospectus is September __, 2000
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION....................................1
A WARNING ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.............................1
STORAGE USA, INC.......................................................2
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK...........................................2
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER.................................3
REDEMPTION OF UNITS....................................................4
COMPARISON OF OWNERSHIP OF UNITS AND SHARES............................8
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF
STORAGE USA'S STATUS AS A REIT........................................17
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION..................................................38
LEGAL OPINIONS........................................................39
EXPERTS...............................................................39
<PAGE>
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We 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 rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, New York and
Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information
on the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available on the SEC's
Website at "http://www.sec.gov."
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information from other
documents that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important
information by referring to those documents. The information incorporated by
reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we
file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this
information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any
future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the sale of all the shares covered
by this prospectus:
o Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999;
o Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2000
and June 30, 2000;
o Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 2, 2000; and
o The description of the common stock contained in our
Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on
March 15, 1994.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or
telephoning:
Storage USA, Inc.
165 Madison Avenue
Suite 1300
Memphis, Tennessee 38101
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Telephone: 901/252-2000
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus or any supplement. We have not authorized anyone
else to provide you with different information. The Sellers will not make an
offer of these shares in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should
not assume that the information in this prospectus or any supplement is accurate
as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
A WARNING ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference, may
contain "forward-looking" statements. These forward-looking statements usually
include words like "believes," "anticipates" and "expects" and describe our
expectations for the future. Of course, these expectations may not be met in
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important ways for a variety of reasons. We have described these reasons in our
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading "Risk Factors" and the
other reports we file with the SEC, and you should review them before you decide
to buy our stock. We are not required to update any forward-looking statements
we make and we may not.
STORAGE USA, INC.
Storage USA, Inc. is a self-managed, self-advised real estate
investment trust ("REIT"). We manage, acquire, develop and franchise
self-storage facilities. We do business through SUSA Partnership, L.P. ("SUSA
Partnership"), of which we are the sole general partner and in which we owned an
88.8% partnership interest as of June 30, 2000. Our self-storage facilities
operate under the Storage USA name and offer low-cost, easily accessible and
enclosed storage space for personal and business use, primarily on a
month-to-month basis. All of our facilities are fenced, have locked gates, are
lighted at night and have computer-controlled gates that permit certain tenants
to access their storage units 24 hours a day or are being upgraded to those
standards.
We are a Tennessee corporation. Our executive offices are located at
165 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38103, and our telephone number is (901)
252-2000.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
We are authorized to issue 150,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par
value, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value. As of September
1, 2000, there were 27,026,396 shares of common stock outstanding. No shares of
preferred stock were outstanding. The following is only a summary of some of the
rights of stockholders that might be important to you. You should refer to our
Charter and By-laws for a complete statement of your rights as a shareholder.
Both the Charter and the By-laws are filed with the SEC as exhibits to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Common Stock
As a holder of common stock you will have one vote per share on all
matters voted on by stockholders, including elections of directors. Except as
otherwise required by law or provided in any resolution adopted by the Board of
Directors with respect to any series of preferred stock, only holders of common
stock have voting rights. The Charter does not provide for cumulative voting in
the election of directors or for preemptive rights to acquire new shares issued
by Storage USA. Holders of common stock will receive dividends if the Board
declares them out of available funds.
The Transfer Agent for the common stock is First Union National Bank of
North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina. The common stock is traded on the
NYSE under the symbol "SUS."
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Preferred Stock
Under the Charter, the Board of Directors is authorized, without
further stockholder action, to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock.
The Board may issue preferred stock in series, with different preferences,
conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to
dividends, qualifications or other provisions.
The Board has designated 650,000 shares of preferred stock as 8 7/8%
Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred Stock").
Series A Preferred Stock is issuable in certain circumstances in exchange for
units of 8 7/8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred partnership interest in
SUSA Partnership, which have terms essentially identical to those of the Series
A Preferred Stock. If issued, the Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to
receive cumulative preferential dividends at the rate of $8.78 per share per
year and will have a liquidation preference of $100 per share. Series A
Preferred Stock will be redeemable at the option of Storage USA beginning
November 1, 2003 at a redemption price of $100 per share, plus accrued but
unpaid dividends. The Series A Preferred Stock has voting rights only with
respect to certain matters that would adversely affect its rights.
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER
The Charter provides that, subject to certain exceptions specified in
the Charter, no stockholder may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the
attribution provisions of the federal income tax laws, more than 9.8% of the
outstanding shares of common stock or 9.8% of the outstanding shares of any
series of preferred stock (the "Ownership Limitation"). Pursuant to a Strategic
Alliance Agreement, dated as of March 19, 1996, as amended, among Storage USA,
Security Capital U.S. Realty and Security Capital Holdings S.A. (together with
Security Capital U.S. Realty, "Security Capital"), Security Capital and its
affiliates may beneficially own, in the aggregate, up to 42.5% of the common
stock outstanding (the "Special Stockholder Limit"). At January 20, 2000,
Security Capital held 11,765,654 shares, or approximately 42.20% of the
then-outstanding common stock outstanding. The Ownership Limitation prevents any
non-U.S. holder (other than Security Capital and its affiliates) from acquiring
additional shares of Storage USA's capital stock if, as a result of such
acquisition, non-U.S. persons would own 50% or more of Storage USA's capital
stock (determined assuming that Security Capital owns the maximum percentage of
Storage USA's capital stock that it is permitted to own under the Special
Stockholder Limit).
The Charter provides that if any holder of capital stock of Storage USA
purports to transfer shares to a person or there is a change in the capital
structure of Storage USA, and either the purported transfer or the change in
capital structure would result in Storage USA failing to qualify as a REIT, or
such transfer or change in capital structure would cause the transferee to hold
shares in excess of the applicable ownership limit, then the capital stock being
transferred (or in the case of an event other than a transfer, the capital stock
beneficially owned) that would cause one or more of the restrictions on
ownership or transfer to be violated shall be automatically transferred to a
trust for the benefit of a designated charitable beneficiary. The purported
transferee of such shares shall have no right to receive dividends or other
distributions with respect to such shares and shall have no right to vote such
shares. Any dividends or other distributions paid to such purported transferee
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prior to the discovery by Storage USA that the shares have been transferred to a
trust shall be paid upon demand to the trustee of the trust for the benefit of
the charitable beneficiary. The trustee of the trust will have all rights to
dividends with respect to shares of capital stock held in trust, which rights
will be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary. Any
dividends or distributions paid over to the trustee will be held in trust for
the charitable beneficiary. The trustee shall designate a transferee of such
stock so long as the ownership of such shares of stock by the transferee would
not violate the restrictions on ownership or transfer. Upon the sale of such
shares, the purported transferee shall receive the lesser of (A)(i) the price
per share such purported transferee paid for the capital stock in the purported
transfer that resulted in the transfer of shares of capital stock to the trust,
or (ii) if the transfer or other event that resulted in the transfer of shares
of capital stock to the trust was not a transaction in which the purported
record transferee gave full value for such shares, a price per share equal to
the market price on the date of the purported transfer or other event that
resulted in the transfer of the shares to the trust, and (B) the price per share
received by the trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in
the trust.
The Board of Directors may grant an exemption from the Ownership
Limitation to any person so requesting, so long as (A) the Board has determined
that such exemption will not result in Storage USA being "closely held" within
the meaning of the federal income tax laws, and (B) such person provides to the
Board such representations and undertakings as the Board may require.
In addition, the Charter restricts certain transfers of common stock to
persons who are not U.S. citizens, partnerships or corporations. Any transfer to
any of these non-U.S. persons is void if it would result in non-U.S. persons
holding 50% or more of the fair market value of Storage USA's capital stock.
Security Capital is treated as a non-U.S. person for purposes of this
restriction.
REDEMPTION OF UNITS
Under the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
for SUSA Partnership (the "Partnership Agreement"), the limited partners of SUSA
Partnership generally have the right to redeem their units of partnership
interest (the "Units"). Each limited partner may, subject to certain
limitations, require that SUSA Partnership redeem all or a portion of his Units
at any time after one year from the date he acquired the Units by delivering a
redemption notice to Storage USA. The form of the notice is an exhibit to the
Partnership Agreement.
A Limited Partner must request the redemption of at least 500 Units. If
the limited partner owns less than 500 Units, he must request the redemption of
all of his Units.
When a limited partner redeems his Units, SUSA Partnership can choose
to exchange the Units for either:
(1) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Units
redeemed (subject to certain adjustments), or
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(2) cash in an amount equal to the market value of the number of shares
of Common Stock he would have received pursuant to clause (1) above.
To determine the amount of cash that SUSA Partnership will pay under
clause (2), SUSA Partnership will assume that the market value of the Common
Stock is equal to the average of the closing trading prices of the Common Stock
for the ten consecutive trading days before the day on which the redemption
notice was received by Storage USA.
The limited partner shall not receive Common Stock for his Units if the
issuance of Common Stock to him would:
o result in any person owning, directly or indirectly, Common Stock in
excess of the Ownership Limitation,
o result in Common Stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined
without reference to any rules of attribution),
o result in Storage USA being "closely held" within the meaning of the
federal income tax laws,
o cause Storage USA to own, actually or constructively, 10% or
more of the ownership interests in a tenant of Storage USA's
or SUSA Partnership's real property, within the meaning of
federal income tax laws, or
o cause the acquisition of Common Stock by the redeeming limited
partner to be "integrated" with any other distribution of
Common Stock for purposes of complying with the registration
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Instead of SUSA Partnership redeeming the Units, Storage USA may, in
its sole discretion, elect to purchase the Units directly from the limited
partner for either shares of Common Stock or cash, as described above. Storage
USA anticipates that it generally will elect to exchange the Units for the
shares of Common Stock being offered by this prospectus. This transaction will
be treated as a sale of the Units to Storage USA for federal income tax
purposes. After a limited partner redeems Units, he will no longer have a right
to receive distributions with respect to those Units.
Tax Consequences of Redemption
The following discussion summarizes certain federal income tax
considerations that may be relevant to a Limited Partner who exercises his right
to require the redemption of his Units.
Tax Treatment of Redemption of Units. If the Company assumes and
performs the redemption obligation, the Partnership Agreement provides that the
redemption will be treated by the Company, SUSA Partnership, and the redeeming
Limited Partner as a sale of Units by such Limited Partner to the Company at the
time of such redemption. In that event, such sale will be fully taxable to the
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redeeming Limited Partner and such redeeming Limited Partner will be treated as
realizing for tax purposes an amount equal to the sum of the cash or the value
of the Common Stock received in connection with the redemption plus the amount
of SUSA Partnership liabilities allocable to the redeemed Units at the time of
the redemption. If the Company does not elect to assume the obligation to redeem
a Limited Partner's Units and SUSA Partnership redeems such Units for cash or
shares of Common Stock that the Company contributes to SUSA Partnership to
effect such redemption, the redemption likely would be treated for tax purposes
as a sale of such Units in a fully taxable transaction, although the matter is
not free from doubt. In that event, the redeeming Limited Partner would be
treated as realizing an amount equal to the sum of the cash or the value of the
shares of Common Stock received in connection with the redemption plus the
amount of any SUSA Partnership liabilities allocable to the redeemed Units at
the time of the redemption. The determination of the amount of gain or loss in
the event of sale treatment is discussed more fully below.
If SUSA Partnership chooses to redeem a Limited Partner's Units for
cash that is not contributed by the Company to effect the redemption, the tax
consequences would be the same as described in the previous paragraph, except
that if SUSA Partnership redeems less than all of the Units held by a Limited
Partner, the Limited Partner would not be permitted to recognize any loss
occurring on the transaction and would recognize taxable gain only to the extent
that the cash, plus the amount of SUSA Partnership liabilities allocable to the
redeemed Units, exceeded the Limited Partner's adjusted basis in all of such
Limited Partner's Units immediately before the redemption.
Tax Treatment of Disposition of Units by Limited Partner Generally. If
a Unit is redeemed in a manner that is treated as a sale of the Unit, or a
Limited Partner otherwise disposes of a Unit (other than in a transaction that
is treated as a redemption for tax purposes), the determination of gain or loss
from such sale or other disposition will be based on the difference between the
amount considered realized for tax purposes and the tax basis in such Unit. See
"-- Basis of Units." Upon the sale of a Unit, the "amount realized" will be
measured by the sum of the cash and fair market value of other property received
plus the amount of any Partnership liabilities allocable to the Unit sold. To
the extent that the amount realized exceeds the Limited Partner's basis in the
Unit disposed of, such Limited Partner will recognize gain. It is possible that
the amount of gain recognized or even the tax liability resulting from such gain
could exceed the amount of cash and the value of any other property received
upon such disposition.
Except as described below, any gain recognized upon a sale or other
disposition of Units will be treated as gain attributable to the sale or
disposition of a capital asset. To the extent, however, that the amount realized
upon the sale of a Unit that is attributable to a Limited Partner's share of
"unrealized receivables" of SUSA Partnership (as defined in Section 751 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) exceeds the basis
attributable to those assets, such excess will be treated as ordinary income.
Unrealized receivables include, to the extent not previously included in SUSA
Partnership income, any rights to payment for services rendered or to be
rendered. Unrealized receivables also include amounts that would be subject to
recapture as ordinary income if SUSA Partnership had sold its assets at their
fair market value at the time of the transfer of a Unit.
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Basis of Units. In general, a Limited Partner who was deemed at the
time of the transactions resulting in the issuance of the Units to have received
his Units upon liquidation of a partnership will have an initial tax basis in
his Units ("Initial Basis") equal to his basis in his partnership interest at
the time of such liquidation. Similarly, in general, a Limited Partner who at
the time of the transactions resulting in the issuance of the Units contributed
a partnership interest or other property to SUSA Partnership in exchange for
Units will have an Initial Basis in the Units equal to his basis in the
contributed partnership interest or other property. A Limited Partner's Initial
Basis in his Units generally is increased by (i) such Limited Partner's share of
SUSA Partnership taxable income and (ii) increases in his share of liabilities
of SUSA Partnership (including any increase in his share of liabilities
occurring in connection with the transactions resulting in the issuance of the
Units). Generally, such Limited Partner's basis in his Units is decreased (but
not below zero) by (A) his share of SUSA Partnership distributions, (B)
decreases in his share of liabilities of SUSA Partnership (including any
decrease in his share of liabilities of SUSA Partnership occurring in connection
with the transactions resulting in the issuance of the Units), (C) his share of
losses of SUSA Partnership and (D) his share of nondeductible expenditures of
SUSA Partnership that are not chargeable to capital.
Potential Application of Disguised Sale Regulations to a Redemption of
Units. There is a risk that a redemption of Units may cause the original
transfer of property to SUSA Partnership in exchange for Units to be treated as
a "disguised sale" of property. The Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder
(the "Disguised Sale Regulations") generally provide that, unless one of the
prescribed exceptions is applicable, a partner's contribution of property to a
partnership and a simultaneous or subsequent transfer of money or other
consideration (including the assumption of or taking subject to a liability)
from the partnership to the partner will be presumed to be a sale, in whole or
in part, of such property by the partner to the partnership. Further, the
Disguised Sale Regulations provide generally that, in the absence of an
applicable exception, if money or other consideration is transferred by a
partnership to a partner within two years of the partner's contribution of
property to the partnership, the transactions will be, when viewed together,
presumed to be a sale of the contributed property unless the facts and
circumstances clearly establish that the transfers do not constitute a sale. The
Disguised Sale Regulations also provide that if two years have passed between
the transfer of money or other consideration from a partnership to a partner and
the contribution of property, the transactions will be presumed not to be a sale
unless the facts and circumstances clearly establish that the transfers
constitute a sale.
Accordingly, if a Unit is redeemed by SUSA Partnership, the Internal
Revenue Service could contend that the Disguised Sale Regulations apply because
the redeeming Limited Partner will receive cash or shares of Common Stock
subsequent to his previous contribution of property to SUSA Partnership. If the
Service were to make successfully such an assertion, the transactions in
connection with the issuance of the Units themselves could be taxable as a
disguised sale under the Disguised Sale Regulations. Any gain recognized thereby
may be eligible for installment reporting under Section 453 of the Code, subject
to certain limitations.
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COMPARISON OF OWNERSHIP OF UNITS AND SHARES
Generally, an investment in shares of Common Stock of Storage USA is
substantially equivalent economically to an investment in Units in SUSA
Partnership. Since SUSA Partnership makes distributions to its partners on a per
Unit basis and Storage USA owns one Unit for each outstanding share of Common
Stock, a holder of a share of Common Stock generally receives the same
distribution that a holder of a Unit receives. Shareholders and SUSA
Partnership's limited partners generally share in the risks and rewards of
ownership in the enterprise being conducted by Storage USA (through SUSA
Partnership). However, there are some differences between ownership of Units and
ownership of shares of Common Stock, some of which may be important to you.
The information below highlights a number of the significant
differences between SUSA Partnership and Storage USA and compares certain legal
rights associated with the ownership of Units and Common Stock, respectively.
These comparisons are intended to help SUSA Partnership's limited partners
understand how their investment will be changed if they redeem their Units for
Common Stock.
This discussion is summary in nature and does not constitute a complete
discussion of these matters. If you own Units, you should carefully review all
of this Prospectus and the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a
part for additional important information about Storage USA.
Form of Organization and Assets Owned. SUSA Partnership is organized as
a Tennessee limited partnership, and Storage USA is its General Partner. Storage
USA is a Tennessee corporation. Storage USA elected to be taxed as a REIT under
the Code effective for its taxable year ended December 31, 1994 and intends to
maintain its qualification as a REIT.
Length of Investment. SUSA Partnership has a stated termination date of
December 31, 2054, although it may be terminated earlier under certain
circumstances. Storage USA has a perpetual term and intends to continue its
operations indefinitely.
Additional Equity. SUSA Partnership is authorized to issue Units and
other partnership interests to the partners or to other persons for such
consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner, Storage
USA, in its sole discretion, may deem appropriate. In addition, if Storage USA
offers securities and contributes the proceeds from the sale of those securities
to SUSA Partnership, the General Partner may cause SUSA Partnership to issue
additional Units, or another class or series of partnership interest having
substantially similar rights as the new securities, to the General Partner.
Consideration for additional partnership interests may be cash or other property
or other assets permitted by Tennessee law.
Under the Charter, Storage USA has the authority to issue up to
150,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock. As
long as SUSA Partnership is in existence, all equity capital raised by Storage
USA will be contributed to SUSA Partnership in exchange for Units or other
interests in SUSA Partnership.
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Management and Control. The General Partner of SUSA Partnership has the
exclusive power to manage and control all of SUSA Partnership's business. No
limited partner has any right to participate in or exercise management or
control over the SUSA Partnership's business. Upon the occurrence of an event of
bankruptcy or the dissolution of the General Partner, the General Partner will
be deemed to be removed automatically; otherwise, the limited partners may not
remove the General Partner with or without cause.
The Board of Directors has exclusive control over Storage USA's
business and affairs, subject to the restrictions in the Charter and Bylaws. The
Board of Directors has adopted certain policies with respect to acquisition,
development, investing, financing and conflicts of interest, but these policies
may be altered or eliminated without a vote of the shareholders. Accordingly,
except for their vote in the elections of directors, shareholders have no
control over the ordinary business policies of Storage USA.
Fiduciary Duties. Under Tennessee law, the General Partner of SUSA
Partnership is accountable to SUSA Partnership as a fiduciary and, consequently,
must exercise good faith in all of its dealings with respect to partnership
affairs. However, under the Partnership Agreement, the General Partner is not
required to consider the tax consequences to any limited partner of any action
taken by it. So long as it acts in good faith, the General Partner is not liable
to a limited partner if the limited partner suffers damages or does not receive
certain benefits as a result of action or inaction of the General Partner.
Under Tennessee law, Storage USA's directors must perform their duties
in good faith, in a manner that they believe to be in the best interests of the
company and with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like situation would
exercise under similar circumstances. Directors of Storage USA who act in such a
manner generally will not be liable to Storage USA or its shareholders for
monetary damages arising from their activities.
Management Limitation of Liability and Indemnification. The Partnership
Agreement generally provides that the General Partner will not be liable for
monetary damages to SUSA Partnership or any limited partner for losses sustained
or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission if the General
Partner acted in good faith. In addition, the General Partner is not responsible
for any misconduct or negligence on the part of its agents, provided the General
Partner appointed such agents in good faith. The General Partner may consult
with legal counsel, accountants, consultants, real estate brokers and such other
persons. Any action it takes or omits to take while relying on the opinion of
such persons, as to matters which the General Partner reasonably believes to be
within their professional or expert competence, are conclusively presumed to
have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
The Partnership Agreement also provides for indemnification of the
General Partner, the directors and officers of the General Partner, and such
other persons as the General Partner may from time to time designate, against
any and all liabilities (joint or several and including reasonable legal fees
and expenses) arising from claims that relate to the operations of SUSA
Partnership. However, SUSA Partnership may not indemnify any such person (1) for
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an act or omission that was material to the matter giving rise to the claim and
either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate
dishonesty, (2) if such person actually received an improper benefit in money,
property or services or (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, if such
person had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.
Any indemnification will be made only out of the assets of SUSA Partnership.
Storage USA's Charter obligates it to indemnify and advance expenses to
present and former directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by
Tennessee law. The Tennessee Business Corporation Act ("TBCA") permits a
corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among
others, against judgments, settlements, penalties, fines or reasonable expenses
incurred with respect to a proceeding to which they may be made a party by
reason of their service in those or other capacities if (1) such persons
conducted themselves in good faith, (2) they reasonably believed, in the case of
conduct in their official capacities with the corporation, that their conduct
was in its best interests and, in all other cases, that their conduct was at
least not opposed to its best interests, and (3) in the case of any criminal
proceeding, they had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was
unlawful. Any indemnification by Storage USA pursuant to the provisions of the
Charter described above will be paid out of the assets of Storage USA and will
not be recoverable from the shareholders.
The TCBA permits the charter of a Tennessee corporation to include a
provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of its directors to the
corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director. However, a corporation cannot eliminate or limit the
liability of a director (1) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to
the corporation or its shareholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith
or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, or
(3) for unlawful distributions that exceed what could have been distributed
without violating the TBCA or the corporation's charter. Storage USA's Charter
contains a provision eliminating the personal liability of its directors or
officers to Storage USA or its shareholders for money damages to the maximum
extent permitted by Tennessee law from time to time.
Anti-Takeover Provisions. Except in limited circumstances, SUSA
Partnership's General Partner has exclusive management power over the
partnership's business and affairs. The limited partners may not remove the
General Partner with or without cause. Under the Partnership Agreement, the
General Partner may, in its sole discretion, prevent a limited partner from
transferring his interest or any rights as a limited partner except in certain
limited circumstances. The General Partner may exercise this right of approval
to deter, delay or hamper attempts by persons to acquire a controlling interest
in SUSA Partnership.
As described above under "Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer," the
Charter contains provisions restricting the acquisition of shares of Common
Stock.
In addition, Tennessee has adopted a series of statutes which may delay
or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider
in its best interest.
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Under the Tennessee Investor Protection Act, unless a Tennessee
corporation's board of directors has recommended a takeover offer to
shareholders which was made on substantially equal terms to all shareholders, no
offeror beneficially owning 5% or more of any class of equity securities of the
offeree company, any of which was purchased within one year prior to the
proposed takeover offer, may offer to acquire any class of equity security of an
offeree company pursuant to a tender offer, if after the acquisition thereof the
offeror would be directly or indirectly a beneficial owner of more than 10% of
any class of outstanding equity securities of the company (a "Takeover Offer").
However, this prohibition does not apply if the offeror, before making such
purchase, has made a public announcement of his intention with respect to
changing or influencing the management or control of the offeree company, has
made a full, fair and effective disclosure of such intention to the person from
whom he intends to acquire such securities and has filed with the Tennessee
Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance (the "Commissioner") and the offeree
company a statement signifying such intentions and containing such additional
information as the Commissioner by rule prescribes.
Such an offeror must provide that any equity securities of an offeree
company deposited or tendered pursuant to a Takeover Offer may be withdrawn by
an offeree at any time within seven days from the date the offer has become
effective following filing with the Commissioner and the offeree company a
public announcement of the terms or after 60 days from the date the offer has
become effective. If an offeror makes a Takeover Offer for less than all of the
outstanding equity securities of any class, and if the number of securities
tendered is greater than the number the offeror has offered to accept and pay
for, the securities shall be accepted pro rata. If an offeror varies the terms
of a Takeover Offer before its expiration date by increasing the consideration
offered to offerees, the offeror shall pay the increased consideration for all
equity securities accepted, whether accepted before or after the variation in
the terms of the offer.
Under the Tennessee Business Combination Act, subject to certain
exceptions, no Tennessee corporation may engage in any "business combination"
with an "interested shareholder" for a period of five years following the date
that such shareholder became an interested shareholder unless prior to such date
the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business
combination or the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming an
interested shareholder.
"Business combination" is defined by the statute as any (1) merger or
consolidation; (2) share exchange; (3) sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge
or other transfer of assets representing 10% or more of (A) the aggregate market
value of the corporation's consolidated assets, (B) the aggregate market value
of the corporation's shares, or (C) the corporation's consolidated net income;
(4) issuance or transfer of shares from the corporation to the interested
shareholder; (5) plan of liquidation or dissolution proposed by the interested
shareholder; (6) transaction or recapitalization which increases the
proportionate share of any outstanding voting securities owned or controlled by
the interested shareholder; or (7) financing arrangement whereby any interested
shareholder receives, directly or indirectly, a benefit, except proportionately
as a shareholder.
"Interested shareholder" is defined as (1) any person that is the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of
any class or series of outstanding voting stock of the corporation or (2) an
affiliate or associate of the corporation who at any time within the five-year
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period immediately prior to the date in question was the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of any class or
series of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation.
Consummation of a business combination that is subject to the five-year
moratorium is permitted after such period when the transaction complies with all
applicable charter and bylaw requirements and either (A) is approved by the
holders of two-thirds of the voting stock not beneficially owned by the
interested shareholder, or (B) meets certain fair price criteria.
The Tennessee Greenmail Act prohibits a Tennessee corporation from
purchasing, directly or indirectly, any of its shares at a price above the
market value of such shares (defined as the average of the highest and lowest
closing market price for such shares during the 30 trading days preceding the
purchase and sale of the shares or preceding the commencement of announcement or
a tender offer if the seller of such shares has commenced a tender offer or
announced an intention to seek control of the corporation) from any person who
holds more than 3% of the class of securities to be purchased, if such person
has held such shares for less than two years, unless the purchase has been
approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of each
class of voting stock issued by the corporation or the corporation makes an
offer, of at least equal value per share, to all holders of shares of such
class.
The Tennessee Control Share Acquisition Act provides that "control
shares" of a Tennessee corporation acquired in a "control share acquisition"
have the same voting rights as all other shares of the same class or series only
if approved at an annual or special meeting by the holders of a majority of all
shares entitled to vote generally with respect to the election of directors, but
excluding shares of stock owned by an acquiring person, officers and employees
of the corporation who are also directors.
"Control shares" are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with
all of the other shares of stock previously acquired by the person, would
entitle the acquiror to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power in
electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power: (A)
one-fifth (1/5) or more but less than one-third (1/3) of all voting power; (B)
one-third (1/3) or more but less than a majority of all voting power; or (C) a
majority or more of all voting power. Control shares do not include shares that
the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously
obtained shareholder approval. A "control share acquisition" means the
acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person of ownership of, or the power
to direct the exercise of voting power with respect to, issued and outstanding
control shares.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition,
upon the satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay
expenses and deliver a control share acquisition statement to the corporation),
may compel the board of directors to call a special meeting of shareholders to
be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights to be accorded
the control shares acquired or to be acquired in the control share acquisition.
If no request for a special meeting of shareholders is made, consideration of
the voting rights to be accorded the control shares acquired or to be acquired
in the control share acquisition shall be presented at the next annual or
special meeting of shareholders.
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If voting rights are not approved at the shareholders' meeting, or if
the acquiring person does not deliver a control share acquisition statement as
permitted by the act, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the
corporation may redeem all but not less than all of the control shares acquired
in a control share acquisition, at any time during the period ending 60 days
after the last acquisition of control shares by an acquiring person, from the
acquiring person for the fair value of such shares. If a control share
acquisition statement is filed, fair value is determined as of the effective
date of the vote of the shareholders denying voting rights to the acquiring
person or, if no such statement is filed, as of the date of the last acquisition
of control shares by the acquiring person without regard to the effect of the
denial of voting rights.
If voting rights for control shares are approved at a shareholders
meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares
entitled to vote, all shareholders who have not voted in favor of granting such
voting rights to the acquiring person may exercise appraisal rights. The fair
value of the shares as determined for purposes of such appraisal rights includes
consideration of the valuations, future events or transactions bearing upon the
corporation's value to the acquiring shareholder as described in any valuations,
projections or estimates made by or on behalf of the acquiring person or his
associates.
The Tennessee Control Share Acquisition Act does not apply to shares
acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a
party to the transaction.
Storage USA's Bylaws contain a provision exempting from the Tennessee
Control Share Acquisition Act any and all such acquisitions by any person of
Storage USA's shares of capital stock. There can be no assurance that such
provision will not be amended or eliminated at any point in the future.
Voting Rights. Under the Partnership Agreement, limited partners have
voting rights only as to the continuation of SUSA Partnership in certain
circumstances and certain amendments of the Partnership Agreement, as described
more fully below. Otherwise, all decisions relating to the operation and
management of SUSA Partnership are made by the General Partner. As of June 30,
2000, Storage USA held 88.8% of the outstanding interests in SUSA Partnership.
As limited partners redeem their Units, Storage USA's percentage ownership of
SUSA Partnership will increase. If additional Units are issued to third parties,
Storage USA's percentage ownership of SUSA Partnership will decrease.
Shareholders of Storage USA have the right to vote on, among other
things, a merger or sale of substantially all of the assets of Storage USA,
certain amendments to the Charter and dissolution of the company. All shares of
Common Stock have one vote, and the Charter permits the Board of Directors to
classify and issue Preferred Stock in one or more series having voting power
which may differ from that of the Common Stock. See "Description of Capital
Stock."
Amendment of the Partnership Agreement or the Charter. The Partnership
Agreement may be amended by the General Partner without the consent of the
limited partners, except that certain amendments affecting the fundamental
rights of a limited partner must be approved by consent of limited partners
holding more than 51% of the Units. Such consent is required for any amendment
that would (1) affect the redemption rights, (2) adversely affect the rights of
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limited partners to receive distributions payable to them under The Partnership
Agreement, (3) alter SUSA Partnership's profit and loss allocations, or (4)
impose any obligation upon the limited partners to make additional capital
contributions to SUSA Partnership.
The Charter may be amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock, with the shareholders
voting as a class with one vote per share (or by the written consent of such
majority if such a vote becomes permissible under Tennessee law). Storage USA's
Bylaws may be amended by the Board of Directors or by vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares, provided that certain provisions cannot be
amended without the affirmative vote of 80% of the members of the entire Board
of Directors or the holders of 75% of the outstanding shares of capital stock
entitled to vote generally in the election of the directors.
Vote Required to Dissolve SUSA Partnership or Storage USA. At any time
prior to December 31, 2054 (upon which date SUSA Partnership will terminate),
the General Partner may elect to dissolve SUSA Partnership in its sole
discretion. Such dissolution shall also occur upon (1) the bankruptcy,
dissolution or withdrawal of the General Partner (unless the limited partners
unanimously elect to continue SUSA Partnership), (2) 90 days after the sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of SUSA Partnership or
(3) the redemption of all of the outstanding Units (other than those held by the
General Partner, if any).
Under Tennessee law, the Board of Directors generally must recommend
and the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Stock entitled to vote
must approve any proposal in order to dissolve Storage USA.
Vote Required to Sell Assets or Merge. Under The Partnership Agreement,
the sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of
SUSA Partnership's assets or merger or consolidation of the partnership requires
only the consent of the General Partner.
Under Tennessee law, any merger or share exchange of Storage USA
requires the separate approval of the Board of Directors and each group of
shareholders entitled to vote on such matter by a majority of all votes entitled
to be cast by such group. Under Tennessee law, the sale of all or substantially
all of the Storage USA's assets other than in the normal course of business
requires the approval of the Board of Directors and holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock. No approval of the shareholders is required
for the sale of Storage USA's assets in the usual and regular course of
business.
Compensation, Fees and Distributions. Storage USA does not receive any
compensation for its services as General Partner of SUSA Partnership. As a
partner in SUSA Partnership, however, the General Partner has the same right to
allocations and distributions as other partners. In addition, SUSA Partnership
will reimburse the General Partner for all of its expenses related to the
ongoing operation of SUSA Partnership and any offering of partnership interests
in SUSA Partnership or capital stock of Storage USA.
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Liability of Investors. Under The Partnership Agreement and applicable
state law, the liability of the limited partners for SUSA Partnership's debts
and obligations is generally limited to the amount of their investment in the
partnership, and limited partners are generally not liable for any debts,
liabilities, contracts or obligations of SUSA Partnership.
Under Tennessee law, Storage USA's shareholders are not personally
liable for the debts or obligations of the company.
Nature of Investments. The Units constitute equity interests entitling
each limited partner to his pro rata share of cash distributions made to the
limited partners of SUSA Partnership. SUSA Partnership generally intends to
retain and reinvest in its business proceeds of the sale of property or excess
refinancing proceeds.
The shares of Common Stock constitute equity interests in Storage USA.
Storage USA is entitled to receive its pro rata share of distributions made by
SUSA Partnership with respect to the Units owned by Storage USA, and each
shareholder will be entitled to his pro rata share of any dividends or
distributions paid with respect to the Common Stock. The dividends payable to
the shareholders are not fixed in amount and are only paid if, when and as
declared by the Board of Directors. In order to qualify as a REIT, Storage USA
must distribute at least 95% of its annual taxable income (excluding capital
gains), and any taxable income (including capital gains) not distributed will be
subject to corporate income tax.
Potential Dilution of Rights. The General Partner of SUSA Partnership
is authorized, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the limited
partners, to cause the partnership to issue additional limited partnership
interests and other equity securities for any purpose at any time on terms and
conditions established by the General Partner.
Storage USA's Board of Directors may issue, in its discretion,
additional shares of Common Stock and a variety of other equity securities with
such powers, preferences and rights as the Board of Directors may designate. The
issuance of additional shares of either Common Stock or other similar or senior
equity securities may result in the dilution of the interests of the
shareholders.
Liquidity. Subject to certain exceptions, a limited partner may not
transfer any of his Units without (1) obtaining the prior written consent of the
General Partner, which consent may be withheld in its sole and absolute
discretion, and (2) meeting certain other requirements set forth in the
Partnership Agreement. However, subject to certain restrictions, a limited
partner may transfer Units (A) as a gift to a member of a his immediate family
or a trust for the benefit of a member of a his immediate family or (B) if the
limited partner is a corporation or other business entity, to any of its
affiliates or subsidiaries or to any successor in interest.
Limited partners should expect to hold their Units until they redeem
them for cash or shares of Common Stock, or until SUSA Partnership terminates.
The right of a transferee to become a substituted limited partner also is
subject to the consent of the General Partner, and the General Partner may
withhold its consent in its sole and absolute discretion. If the General Partner
does not consent to the admission of a transferee, the transferee will succeed
to all economic rights and benefits attributable to such Units (including the
right of redemption) but will not become a limited partner or possess any other
rights of limited partners (including the right to vote on or consent to actions
of the partnership). The General Partner may require, as a condition of any
transfer, that the transferring limited partner assume all costs incurred by
SUSA Partnership in connection with such transfer.
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Federal Income Taxation. SUSA Partnership is not subject to federal
income taxes. Instead, each holder of an interest in SUSA Partnership takes into
account its allocable share of the partnership's taxable income or loss in
determining its federal income tax liability.
Income and loss from SUSA Partnership generally is subject to the
"passive activity" limitations. Under the "passive activity" rules, income and
loss from SUSA Partnership that is considered "passive" income or loss generally
can be offset against income and loss, including passive loss carry-forwards
from prior years, from other investments that constitute "passive activities."
However, if SUSA Partnership is considered a "publicly traded partnership," then
income and loss from SUSA Partnership can only be offset against other income
and loss from SUSA Partnership. Income of the partnership, however, that is
attributable to dividends or interest does not qualify as passive income and
cannot be offset with losses and deductions from a "passive activity."
Cash distributions from SUSA Partnership are not taxable to a holder of
Units except to the extent they exceed such holder's basis in its Units, which
will include such holder's allocable share of SUSA Partnership's debt. Each
year, holders of Units will receive a Schedule K-1 tax form containing detailed
tax information for inclusion in preparing their federal income tax returns.
Holders of Units are required in some cases to file state income tax returns
and/or pay state income taxes in the states where SUSA Partnership owns
property, even if they are not residents of those states, and in some such
states SUSA Partnership is required to remit a withholding tax with respect to
distributions to such nonresidents.
Storage USA elected to be taxed as a REIT effective for its taxable
year ended December 31, 1994. So long as it qualifies as a REIT, Storage USA
generally will be permitted to deduct distributions paid to its shareholders,
which effectively will reduce or eliminate the "double taxation" that typically
results when a corporation earns income and distributes that income to its
shareholders in the form of dividends. A REIT, however, is subject to federal
income tax on income that is not distributed and also may be subject to federal
income and excise taxes in certain circumstances. The maximum federal income tax
rate for corporations currently is 35% and for individuals is 39.6%.
Dividends paid by Storage USA will be treated as "portfolio" income to
its shareholders and cannot be offset with losses from "passive activities."
Distributions made by Storage USA to its taxable domestic shareholders out of
current or accumulated earnings and profits will be taken into account by them
as ordinary income. Distributions that are designated as capital gain dividends
generally will be taxed as long-term capital gain, subject to certain
limitations. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and
profits will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of a
shareholder's adjusted basis in its Common Stock, and the excess over a
shareholder's adjusted basis will be taxed as capital gain. Each year, Storage
USA shareholders, other than certain types of institutional investors, will
receive IRS Form 1099, which is used by corporations to report dividends paid to
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their shareholders. Shareholders who are individuals generally should not be
required to file state income tax returns and/or pay state income taxes outside
of their state of residence with respect to Storage USA's operations and
distributions. Storage USA may be required to pay state income and/or franchise
taxes in some states.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF
STORAGE USA'S STATUS AS A REIT
This section summarizes the federal income tax issues that you, as a
stockholder, may consider relevant. Because this section is a summary, it does
not address all of the tax issues that may be important to you. In addition,
this section does not address the tax issues that may be important to certain
types of stockholders that are subject to special treatment under the federal
income tax laws, such as insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations (except
to the extent discussed in "--Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders" below),
financial institutions or broker-dealers, and non-U.S. individuals and foreign
corporations (except to the extent discussed in "--Taxation of Non-U.S.
Stockholders" below).
The statements in this section are based on the current federal income
tax laws governing qualification as a REIT. We cannot assure you that new laws,
interpretations thereof, or court decisions, any of which may take effect
retroactively, will not cause any statement in this section to be inaccurate.
================================================================================
We urge you to consult your own tax advisor regarding the specific tax
consequences to you of investing in the common stock and of Storage USA's
election to be taxed as a REIT. Specifically, you should consult your own tax
advisor regarding the federal, state, local, foreign, and other tax consequences
of such investment and election, and regarding potential changes in applicable
tax laws.
================================================================================
Taxation of Storage USA
Storage USA elected to be taxed as a REIT under the federal income tax
laws commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1994. Storage USA
believes that it has operated in a manner intended to qualify as a REIT since
its election to be a REIT and it intends to continue to so operate. This section
discusses the laws governing the federal income tax treatment of a REIT and its
stockholders. These laws are highly technical and complex.
Storage USA's qualification as a REIT depends on its ability to meet on
a continuing basis qualification tests set forth in the federal tax laws. Those
qualification tests involve the percentage of income that Storage USA earns from
specified sources, the percentage of its assets that fall within specified
categories, the diversity of its share ownership, and the percentage of its
earnings that it distributes. We describe the REIT qualification tests in more
detail below. For a discussion of the tax treatment of Storage USA and its
stockholders if Storage USA fails to qualify as a REIT, see "--Failure to
Qualify."
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If Storage USA qualifies as a REIT, it generally will not be subject to
federal income tax on the taxable income that it distributes to its
stockholders. The benefit of that tax treatment is that it avoids the "double
taxation," or taxation at both the corporate and stockholder levels, that
generally results from owning stock in a corporation. However, Storage USA will
be subject to federal tax in the following circumstances:
o Storage USA will pay federal income tax on taxable income, including net
capital gain, that it does not distribute to its stockholders during, or
within a specified time period after, the calendar year in which the
income is earned.
o Storage USA may be subject to the "alternative minimum tax" on any items
of tax preference that it does not distribute or allocate to its
stockholders.
o Storage USA will pay income tax at the highest corporate rate on (1) net
income from the sale or other disposition of property acquired through
foreclosure ("foreclosure property") that it holds primarily for sale to
customers in the ordinary course of business and (2) other non-qualifying
income from foreclosure property.
o Storage USA will pay a 100% tax on net income from sales or other
dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, that it holds
primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.
o If Storage USA fails to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95%
gross income test, as described below under "--Requirements for
Qualification--Income Tests," and nonetheless continues to qualify as a
REIT because it meets other requirements, it will pay a 100% tax on (1)
the gross income attributable to the greater of the amounts by which it
fails the 75% and 95% gross income tests, multiplied by (2) a fraction
intended to reflect its profitability.
o If Storage USA fails to distribute during a calendar year at least the
sum of (1) 85% of its REIT ordinary income for such year, (2) 95% of its
REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (3) any undistributed
taxable income from prior periods, it will pay a 4% excise tax on the
excess of such required distribution over the amount it actually
distributed.
o Storage USA may elect to retain and pay income tax on its net long-term
capital gain.
o If Storage USA acquires any asset from a C corporation, or a corporation
generally subject to full corporate-level tax, in a merger or other
transaction in which it acquires a basis in the asset that is determined
by reference to the C corporation's basis in the asset, or another asset,
it will pay tax at the highest regular corporate rate applicable if it
recognizes gain on the sale or disposition of such asset during the
10-year period after it acquires such asset. The amount of gain on which
it will pay tax is the lesser of (1) the amount of gain that it
recognizes at the time of the sale or disposition and (2) the amount of
gain that it would have recognized if it had sold the asset at the time
it acquired the asset. The rule described in this paragraph will
apply assuming that Storage USA makes an election under the Treasury
regulations on its tax return for the year in which it acquires assets
from a C corporation.
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Requirements for Qualification
A REIT is a corporation, trust, or association that meets the following
requirements:
1. it is managed by one or more trustees or directors;
2. its beneficial ownership is evidenced by transferable shares, or by
transferable certificates of beneficial interest;
3. it would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for the REIT
provisions of the federal income tax laws;
4. it is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject
to special provisions of the federal income tax laws;
5. at least 100 persons are beneficial owners of its shares or ownership
certificates;
6. not more than 50% in value of its outstanding shares or ownership
certificates is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer
individuals, as defined in the federal income tax laws to include
certain entities, during the last half of any taxable year;
7. it elects to be a REIT, or has made such election for a previous taxable
year, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative
requirements established by the Internal Revenue Service that must be
met to elect and maintain REIT status;
8. it uses a calendar year for federal income tax purposes and complies
with the recordkeeping requirements of the federal income tax laws; and
9. it meets certain other qualification tests, described below, regarding
the nature of its income and assets.
Storage USA must meet requirements 1 through 4 during its entire
taxable year and must meet requirement 5 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. If Storage USA complies with all the requirements for ascertaining
the ownership of its outstanding shares in a taxable year and has no reason to
know that it violated requirement 6, it will be deemed to have satisfied
requirement 6 for such taxable year. For purposes of determining share ownership
under requirement 6, an "individual" generally includes a supplemental
unemployment compensation benefits plan, a private foundation, or a portion of a
trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes. An
"individual," however, generally does not include a trust that is a qualified
employee pension or profit sharing trust under the federal income tax laws, and
beneficiaries of such a trust will be treated as holding shares of Storage USA
in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for purposes of
requirement 6.
Storage USA believes that it has issued sufficient common stock with
sufficient diversity of ownership to satisfy requirements 5 and 6 set forth
above. In addition, Storage USA's Charter restricts the ownership and transfer
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of the common stock so that Storage USA should continue to satisfy requirements
5 and 6. The provisions of the Charter restricting the ownership and transfer of
the common stock are described in "Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer."
Storage USA currently has two direct corporate subsidiaries, Storage
USA Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the "Trust"), and Storage
USA Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Finance"), and may have
additional corporate subsidiaries in the future. A corporation that is a
"qualified REIT subsidiary" is not treated as a corporation separate from its
parent REIT. All assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit
of a "qualified REIT subsidiary" are treated as assets, liabilities, and items
of income, deduction, and credit of the REIT. A "qualified REIT subsidiary" is a
corporation, all of the capital stock of which is owned by the REIT. Thus, in
applying the requirements described herein, any "qualified REIT subsidiary" of
Storage USA will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income,
deduction, and credit of such subsidiary will be treated as assets, liabilities,
and items of income, deduction, and credit of Storage USA. The Trust and Finance
are qualified REIT subsidiaries. Accordingly, they are not subject to federal
corporate income taxation, though they may be subject to state and local
taxation.
In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership, the REIT is
treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and
as earning its allocable share of the gross income of the partnership for
purposes of the applicable REIT qualification tests. Thus, Storage USA's
proportionate share of the assets, liabilities, and items of income of SUSA
Partnership and of any other partnership (or limited liability company that is
treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes) in which Storage USA
has acquired or will acquire an interest, directly or indirectly (a "Subsidiary
Partnership"), are treated as assets and gross income of Storage USA for
purposes of applying the various REIT qualification requirements.
Income Tests
Storage USA must satisfy two gross income tests annually to maintain
its qualification as a REIT. First, at least 75% of its gross income for each
taxable year must consist of defined types of income that it derives, directly
or indirectly, from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real
property or temporary investment income. Qualifying income for purposes of that
75% gross income test generally includes:
o rents from real property;
o interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real
property; and
o dividends or other distributions on and gain from the sale of shares in other
REITs.
Second, in general, at least 95% of its gross income for each taxable
year must consist of income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75%
gross income test, dividends, other types of interest, gain from the sale or
disposition of stock or securities, income from certain interest rate hedging
contracts, or any combination of the foregoing. Gross income from Storage USA's
sale of property that it holds primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary
course of business is excluded from both income tests. The following paragraphs
discuss the specific application of the gross income tests to Storage USA.
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Rent that Storage USA receives from real property that it owns and
leases to tenants will qualify as "rents from real property," which is
qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests, only if
the following conditions are met:
o First, the rent must not be based, in whole or in part, on the income or
profits of any person, but may be based on a fixed percentage or
percentages of receipts or sales.
o Second, neither Storage USA nor a direct or indirect owner of 10% or more of
its stock may own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of a tenant from
whom it receives rent.
o Third, all of the rent received under a lease of real property will not
qualify as "rents from real property" unless the rent attributable to the
personal property leased in connection with such lease is no more than
15% of the total rent received under the lease.
o Finally, Storage USA generally must not operate or manage its real property
or furnish or render services to its tenants, other than through an
"independent contractor" who is adequately compensated and from whom
Storage USA does not derive revenue. However, Storage USA need not provide
services through an "independent contractor," but instead may provide services
directly, if the services are "usually or customarily rendered" in connection
with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not considered to be
provided for the tenants' convenience. In addition, Storage USA may provide
a minimal amount of "non-customary" services to the tenants of a property,
other than through an independent contractor, as long as its income from the
services does not exceed 1% of its income from the related property. Tax
legislation enacted in 1999 will allow Storage USA to own up to 100% of the
stock of a "taxable REIT subsidiary," which can provide customary and
noncustomary services to Storage USA's tenants without tainting Storage USA's
rental income. See "--Taxable Subsidiaries."
Storage USA, through SUSA Partnership, derives most of its revenues
from rent from storage unit leases, additional first month rent, and late
charges attributable to such rents. We believe that, other than the late charges
attributable to rent, which are treated as interest that qualifies for the 95%
gross income test, but not the 75% gross income test, those revenues qualify as
rents from real property for purposes of both gross income tests. Additional
revenues are derived from ancillary services such as moving truck rental
commissions, packing and shipping commissions, rent from leasing space utilized
for sales of locks and packing supplies to SUSA Management, Inc., a Tennessee
corporation, 5% of whose voting stock and 100% of whose nonvoting stock are
owned by SUSA Partnership, rent from vehicle and boat storage leases, including
additional first month rent and late charges attributable thereto, and similar
items. We believe that those revenues and other types of potentially
nonqualifying gross income earned by Storage USA in each taxable year are equal
to, and will continue to be equal to, less than 5% of Storage USA's total gross
income and, thus, that such items of income do not adversely affect Storage
USA's qualification as a REIT. Storage USA also receives dividends from SUSA
Management, Inc. and Storage USA Franchise Corp., a Tennessee corporation of
which SUSA Partnership owns 100% of the nonvoting stock. We believe that those
dividends are qualifying income for purposes of the 95% test.
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Storage USA does not receive any rent that is based on the income or
profits of any person. In addition, other than with respect to its leasing
arrangement with SUSA Management, Inc. with respect to the sale of lock and
packing supplies, the revenue from which Storage USA will treat as nonqualifying
income for purposes of the 75% and 95% tests, Storage USA does not own, directly
or indirectly, 10% or more of any tenant or receive any rent based on the income
or profits of any tenant. Furthermore, we believe that any personal property
rented in connection with our storage facilities is well within the 15%
restriction. However, in order for our rental income to constitute "rents from
real property," Storage USA must not provide services, other than within the 1%
de minimis exception described above, to its tenants that are not customarily
furnished or rendered in connection with the rental of the self-storage units,
other than through an independent contractor.
Storage USA, through SUSA Partnership, which is not an independent
contractor, provides certain services with respect to the facilities and will
provide certain services with respect to any newly acquired self-storage
facilities. Such services include:
o common area services, such as cleaning and maintaining public entrances,
exits, stairways, walkways, lobbies and rest rooms, removing snow and
debris, collecting trash, and painting the exteriors of the facilities
and common areas;
o providing general security for the facilities;
o cleaning and repairing of units at the facilities as tenants move in and out;
o at the request of the tenant, and without additional charge, accepting
delivery of goods from carriers or unlocking a particular unit when goods
are delivered to a facility (however, SUSA Partnership does not otherwise
assist tenants in the storage or removal of goods or belongings from the
units);
o permitting tenants to use the fax machine at a facility for occasional
local faxes without additional charge and for occasional long-distance faxes
for a nominal charge;
o maintaining underground utilities and structural elements of the facilities;
o paying real and personal property taxes or the cost of replacing or
refurbishing personal property with respect to real and personal property
owned by SUSA Partnership at a facility;
o for a fee, acting as an agent for moving truck rental companies for tenants
of certain facilities and walk-in customers;
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o for a fee, providing packing and shipping services to tenants of certain
facilities and walk-in customers; and
o at a few facilities, allowing tenants to use trucks owned by Storage USA
or SUSA Partnership to move their goods and belongings into and out of
the units without additional charge.
Storage USA believes that the services provided by SUSA Partnership are
customarily furnished or rendered in connection with the rental of space for
occupancy only by self-storage facilities in the geographic areas in which its
facilities are located.
Storage USA's investment, through SUSA Partnership, in the facilities
in major part gives rise to rental income that is qualifying income for purposes
of both gross income tests. Gains on sales of the facilities or of Storage USA's
interest in SUSA Partnership generally will be qualifying income for purposes of
both gross income tests. Storage USA anticipates that income on its other
investments, including its indirect investments in SUSA Management, Inc. and
Storage USA Franchise Corp., will not result in Storage USA failing either gross
income test for any year.
A REIT will incur a 100% tax on the net income derived from any sale or
other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that the REIT
holds primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or
business. We believe that none of Storage USA's or SUSA Partnership's assets is
held for sale to customers and that a sale of any such asset would not be in the
ordinary course of its business. Whether a REIT holds an asset "primarily for
sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business" depends,
however, on the facts and circumstances in effect from time to time, including
those related to a particular asset. Nevertheless, we will attempt to comply
with the terms of safe-harbor provisions in the federal income tax laws
prescribing when an asset sale will not be characterized as a prohibited
transaction. We cannot provide assurance, however, that we can comply with such
safe-harbor provisions or that Storage USA or SUSA Partnership will avoid owning
property that may be characterized as property that it holds "primarily for sale
to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business."
From time to time, Storage USA or SUSA Partnership may enter into
hedging transactions with respect to one or more of its assets or liabilities.
Its hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and
floors, options to purchase such items, and futures and forward contracts. To
the extent that Storage USA or SUSA Partnership enters into an interest rate
swap or cap contract, option, futures contract, forward rate agreement, or any
similar financial instrument to hedge its indebtedness incurred to acquire or
carry "real estate assets," any periodic income or gain from the disposition of
such contract should be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income
test, but not the 75% gross income test. To the extent that Storage USA or SUSA
Partnership hedges with other types of financial instruments, or in other
situations, it is not entirely clear how the income from those transactions will
be treated for purposes of the gross income tests. We intend to structure any
hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize Storage USA's status
as a REIT.
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If Storage USA fails to satisfy one or both of the gross income tests
for any taxable year, it nevertheless may qualify as a REIT for such year if it
qualifies for relief under certain provisions of the federal income tax laws.
Those relief provisions generally will be available if:
o its failure to meet such tests is due to reasonable cause and not due to
willful neglect;
o we attach a schedule of the sources of its income to its tax return; and
o any incorrect information on the schedule was not due to fraud with intent to
evade tax.
We cannot predict, however, whether in all circumstances Storage USA
would qualify for the relief provisions. In addition, as discussed above in
"--Taxation of Storage USA," even if the relief provisions apply, Storage USA
would incur a 100% tax on the gross income attributable to the greater of the
amounts by which it fails the 75% and 95% gross income tests, multiplied by a
fraction intended to reflect its profitability.
Asset Tests
To maintain its qualification as a REIT, Storage USA also must satisfy
two asset tests at the close of each quarter of each taxable year. First, at
least 75% of the value of its total assets must consist of:
o cash or cash items, including certain receivables;
o government securities;
o interests in real property, including leaseholds and options to acquire real
property and leaseholds;
o interests in mortgages on real property;
o stock in other REITs; and
o investments in stock or debt instruments during the one-year period
following Storage USA's receipt of new capital that it raises through
equity offerings or offerings of debt with at least a five-year term.
The second asset test has two components:
o First, of Storage USA's investments not included in the 75% asset class,
the value of its interest in any one issuer's securities may not exceed
5% of the value of its total assets; and
o Second, Storage USA may not own more than 10% of any one issuer's outstanding
voting securities.
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For purposes of both components of the second asset test, "securities"
does not include Storage USA's stock in any qualified REIT subsidiary or in
other REITs or its interest in any partnership.
SUSA Partnership owns 5% of the voting stock and 100% of the nonvoting
stock of SUSA Management, Inc., which together constitute 99% of the beneficial
economic interest therein. In addition, SUSA Partnership owns 100% of the
nonvoting stock of Storage USA Franchise Corp., which represents 97.5% of the
beneficial economic interest therein. By virtue of its partnership interest in
SUSA Partnership, Storage USA is deemed to own its pro rata share of the assets
of SUSA Partnership, including the stock of SUSA Management, Inc. and Storage
USA Franchise Corp. held by SUSA Partnership.
SUSA Partnership does not own more than 10% of the voting securities of
SUSA Management, Inc. or Storage USA Franchise Corp. In addition, based upon its
analysis of the estimated value of the stock of each of SUSA Management, Inc.
and Storage USA Franchise Corp. relative to the estimated value of the other
assets owned by Storage USA, Storage USA believes that neither its pro rata
share of the stock of SUSA Management, Inc. nor its pro rata share of the stock
of Storage USA Franchise Corp. exceeds 5% of the total value of Storage USA's
assets. No independent appraisals have been obtained to support this conclusion.
This 5% limitation must be satisfied at the end of each quarter in which Storage
USA or SUSA Partnership increases its interest in SUSA Management, Inc. or
Storage USA Franchise Corp., including as a result of Storage USA increasing its
interest in SUSA Partnership in connection with a stock offering or as limited
partners of SUSA Partnership exercise their rights to redeem their partnership
units for cash or shares of Storage USA's common stock. Although Storage USA
plans to take steps to ensure that it satisfies the 5% asset test for any
quarter with respect to which retesting is to occur, there can be no assurance
that such steps will always be successful.
Tax legislation enacted in 1999 (the "Tax Bill") will allow Storage USA
to own up to 100% of the stock of taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRSs"), which can
perform activities unrelated to Storage USA's tenants, such as third-party
management, development, and other independent business activities, as well as
provide services to Storage USA's tenants. Storage USA and its taxable
subsidiary must elect for the subsidiary to be treated as a TRS. A corporation
of which a TRS directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or
value of the stock will automatically be treated as a TRS. The Tax Bill limits
the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to Storage USA to assure
that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. Further,
the Tax Bill imposes a 100% excise tax on transactions between a TRS and Storage
USA or its tenants that are not conducted on an arm's-length basis. The Tax Bill
also prevents Storage USA from owning more than 10% of the voting power or value
of the stock of a taxable subsidiary that is not treated as a TRS. Prior to the
Tax Bill, Storage USA only was prohibited from owning more than 10% of the
voting stock of a taxable subsidiary. Overall, no more than 20% of Storage USA's
assets can consist of securities of TRSs under the Tax Bill.
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The TRS provisions of the Tax Bill will apply for taxable years
beginning after December 31, 2000. However, a taxable subsidiary in existence on
July 12, 1999, such as SUSA Management, Inc. and Storage USA Franchise Corp.,
will be grandfathered unless and until (1) it engages in a new line of business
or acquires a substantial new asset, other than in certain tax-free transactions
or pursuant to a binding contract in effect on July 12, 1999, or (2) Storage USA
acquires, directly or indirectly, additional stock in the taxable subsidiary
(including as a result of limited partner redemptions of their interests in SUSA
Partnership), other than in certain tax-free transactions or pursuant to a
binding contract in effect on July 12, 1999. Such existing taxable subsidiaries
can be converted into TRSs on a tax-free basis prior to January 1, 2004. See
"--Taxable Subsidiaries."
If Storage USA should fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a
calendar quarter, it would not lose its REIT status if (1) it satisfied the
asset tests at the close of the preceding calendar quarter and (2) the
discrepancy between the value of its assets and the asset test requirements
arose from changes in the market values of its assets and was not wholly or
partly caused by the acquisition of one or more non-qualifying assets. If
Storage USA did not satisfy the condition described in clause (2) of the
preceding sentence, it still could avoid disqualification as a REIT by
eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar
quarter in which the discrepancy arose.
Distribution Requirements
Each taxable year, Storage USA must distribute dividends, other than
capital gain dividends and deemed distributions of retained capital gain, to its
stockholders in an aggregate amount at least equal to:
o the sum of (1) 95% of its "REIT taxable income," computed without regard
to the dividends paid deduction and its net capital gain or loss, and (2)
95% of its after-tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property; minus
o the sum of certain items of non-cash income.
Storage USA must pay such distributions in the taxable year to which
they relate, or in the following taxable year if it declares the distribution
before it timely files its federal income tax return for such year and pays the
distribution on or before the first regular dividend payment date after such
declaration. Under the Tax Bill, the 95% distribution requirement discussed
above was reduced to 90% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2000.
Storage USA will pay federal income tax on taxable income, including
net capital gain, that it does not distribute to stockholders. Furthermore, if
it fails to distribute during a calendar year, or by the end of January
following such calendar year in the case of distributions with declaration and
record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, at least the
sum of:
o 85% of its REIT ordinary income for such year;
o 95% of its REIT capital gain income for such year; and
o any undistributed taxable income from prior periods,
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it will incur a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of such required
distribution over the amounts it actually distributed. Storage USA may elect to
retain and pay income tax on the net long-term capital gain it receives in a
taxable year. See "--Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders." If it so elects, it
will be treated as having distributed any such retained amount for purposes of
the 4% excise tax described above. Storage USA has made, and Storage USA intends
to continue to make, timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual
distribution requirements.
It is possible that, from time to time, Storage USA may experience
timing differences between (1) the actual receipt of income and actual payment
of deductible expenses and (2) the inclusion of that income and deduction of
such expenses in arriving at its REIT taxable income. For example, Storage USA
may not deduct recognized capital losses from its "REIT taxable income."
Further, it is possible that, from time to time, Storage USA may be allocated a
share of net capital gain attributable to the sale of depreciated property that
exceeds its allocable share of cash attributable to that sale. As a result of
the foregoing, Storage USA may have less cash than is necessary to distribute
all of its taxable income and thereby avoid corporate income tax and the excise
tax imposed on certain undistributed income. In such a situation, it may need to
borrow funds or issue preferred stock or additional common stock.
Under certain circumstances, Storage USA may be able to correct a
failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying "deficiency
dividends" to its stockholders in a later year. Storage USA may include such
deficiency dividends in its deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year.
Although Storage USA may be able to avoid income tax on amounts distributed as
deficiency dividends, it will be required to pay interest to the Internal
Revenue Service based upon the amount of any deduction it takes for deficiency
dividends.
Recordkeeping Requirements
Storage USA must maintain certain records in order to qualify as a
REIT. In addition, to avoid a monetary penalty, it must request on an annual
basis information from its stockholders designed to disclose the actual
ownership of its outstanding stock. Storage USA has complied, and Storage USA
intends to continue to comply, with such requirements.
Failure to Qualify
If Storage USA failed to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, and no
relief provision applied, it would be subject to federal income tax and any
applicable alternative minimum tax on its taxable income at regular corporate
rates. In calculating its taxable income in a year in which it failed to qualify
as a REIT, Storage USA would not be able to deduct amounts paid out to
stockholders. In fact, Storage USA would not be required to distribute any
amounts to stockholders in such year. In such event, to the extent of its
current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to stockholders
would be taxable as ordinary income. Subject to certain limitations of the
federal income tax laws, corporate stockholders might be eligible for the
dividends received deduction. Unless Storage USA qualified for relief under
specific statutory provisions, it also would be disqualified from taxation as a
REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which it ceased to
qualify as a REIT. We cannot predict whether in all circumstances Storage USA
would qualify for such statutory relief.
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Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders
As long as Storage USA qualifies as a REIT, a taxable "U.S. stockholder"
must take into account distributions made out of Storage USA's current or
accumulated earnings and profits and that Storage USA does not designate as
capital gain dividends or retained long-term capital gain as ordinary income. A
U.S. stockholder will not qualify for the dividends received deduction generally
available to corporations. As used herein, the term "U.S. stockholder" means a
holder of common stock that for U.S. federal income tax purposes is:
o a citizen or resident of the United States;
o a corporation, partnership, or other entity created or organized in or under
the laws of the United States or of an political subdivision thereof;
o an estate whose income from sources without the United States is includible
in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its
connection with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States;
or
o any trust with respect to which (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of such trust and (2) one or more U.S.
persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
A U.S. stockholder generally will recognize distributions that Storage USA
designates as capital gain dividends as long-term capital gain without regard to
the period for which the U.S. stockholder has held its common stock. Storage USA
generally will designate its capital gain dividends as either 20% or 25% rate
distributions. A corporate U.S. stockholder, however, may be required to treat
up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.
Storage USA may elect to retain and pay income tax on the net long-term
capital gain that it receives in a taxable year. In that case, a U.S.
stockholder would be taxed on its proportionate share of Storage USA's
undistributed long-term capital gain. The U.S. stockholder would receive a
credit or refund for its proportionate share of the tax Storage USA paid. The
U.S. stockholder would increase the basis in its stock by the amount of its
proportionate share of Storage USA's undistributed long-term capital gain, minus
its share of the tax Storage USA paid.
A U.S. stockholder will not incur tax on a distribution in excess of
Storage USA's current and accumulated earnings and profits if such distribution
does not exceed the adjusted basis of the U.S. stockholder's common stock.
Instead, such distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of such common stock.
A U.S. stockholder will recognize a distribution in excess of both Storage USA's
current and accumulated earnings and profits and the U.S. stockholder's adjusted
basis in its common stock as long-term capital gain, or short-term capital gain
if the common stock has been held for one year or less, assuming the common
stock is a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. stockholder. In addition, if
Storage USA declares a distribution in October, November, or December of any
year that is payable to a U.S. stockholder of record on a specified date in any
such month, such distribution shall be treated as both paid by Storage USA and
received by the U.S. stockholder on December 31 of such year, provided that
Storage USA actually pays the distribution during January of the following
calendar year.
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Stockholders may not include in their individual income tax returns any
net operating losses or capital losses of Storage USA. Instead, such losses
would be carried over by Storage USA for potential offset against its future
income generally. Taxable distributions from Storage USA and gain from the
disposition of the common stock will not be treated as passive activity income
and, therefore, stockholders generally will not be able to apply any "passive
activity losses," such as losses from certain types of limited partnerships in
which the shareholder is a limited partner, against such income. In addition,
taxable distributions from Storage USA and gain from the disposition of common
stock generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the
investment interest limitations. Storage USA will notify stockholders after the
close of its taxable year as to the portions of the distributions attributable
to that year that constitute ordinary income, return of capital, and capital
gain.
Taxation of U.S. Stockholders on the Disposition of the Common Stock
In general, a U.S. stockholder who is not a dealer in securities must
treat any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of the common stock
as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. stockholder has held the common
stock for more than one year and otherwise as short-term capital gain or loss.
However, a U.S. stockholder must treat any loss upon a sale or exchange of
common stock held by such shareholder for six months or less as a long-term
capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends and other distributions
from Storage USA that such U.S. stockholder treats as long-term capital gain.
All or a portion of any loss that a U.S. stockholder realizes upon a taxable
disposition of the common stock may be disallowed if the U.S. stockholder
purchases other shares of common stock within 30 days before or after the
disposition.
Capital Gains and Losses
A taxpayer generally must hold a capital asset for more than one year
for gain or loss derived from its sale or exchange to be treated as long-term
capital gain or loss. The highest marginal individual income tax rate is 39.6%.
The maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain applicable to non-corporate
taxpayers is 20% for sales and exchanges of assets held for more than one year.
The maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain from the sale or exchange of
"section 1250 property," or depreciable real property, is 25% to the extent that
such gain would have been treated as ordinary income if the property were
"section 1245 property." With respect to distributions that Storage USA
designates as capital gain dividends and any retained capital gain that it is
deemed to distribute, Storage USA generally may designate whether such a
distribution is taxable to its non-corporate stockholders at a 20% or 25% rate.
Thus, the tax rate differential between capital gain and ordinary income for
non-corporate taxpayers may be significant. In addition, the characterization of
income as capital gain or ordinary income may affect the deductibility of
capital losses. A non-corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses not offset by
capital gains against its ordinary income only up to a maximum annual amount of
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$3,000. A non-corporate taxpayer may carry forward unused capital losses
indefinitely. A corporate taxpayer must pay tax on its net capital gain at
ordinary corporate rates. A corporate taxpayer can deduct capital losses only to
the extent of capital gains, with unused losses being carried back three years
and forward five years.
Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding
Storage USA will report to its stockholders and to the Internal Revenue
Service the amount of distributions it pays during each calendar year, and the
amount of tax it withholds, if any. Under the backup withholding rules, a
stockholder may be subject to backup withholding at the rate of 31% with respect
to distributions unless such holder (1) is a corporation or comes within certain
other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact or (2)
provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption
from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements
of the backup withholding rules. A stockholder who does not provide Storage USA
with its correct taxpayer identification number also may be subject to penalties
imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Any amount paid as backup withholding
will be creditable against the stockholder's income tax liability. In addition,
Storage USA may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions
to any stockholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to Storage USA.
The U.S. Treasury Department has issued final regulations regarding the backup
withholding rules as applied to non-U.S. stockholders. Those regulations alter
certain procedural aspects of backup withholding compliance and are effective
for distributions made after December 31, 2000. See "--Taxation of Non-U.S.
Stockholders."
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders
Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit
sharing trusts and individual retirement accounts and annuities generally are
exempt from federal income taxation. However, they are subject to taxation on
their unrelated business taxable income. While many investments in real estate
generate unrelated business taxable income, the Internal Revenue Service has
issued a published ruling that dividend distributions from a REIT to an exempt
employee pension trust do not constitute unrelated business taxable income,
provided that the exempt employee pension trust does not otherwise use the
shares of the REIT in an unrelated trade or business of the pension trust. Based
on that ruling, amounts that Storage USA distributes to tax-exempt stockholders
generally should not constitute unrelated business taxable income. However, if a
tax-exempt shareholder were to finance its acquisition of the common stock with
debt, a portion of the income that it receives from Storage USA would constitute
unrelated business taxable income pursuant to the "debt-financed property"
rules. Furthermore, social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations,
supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services
plans that are exempt from taxation under special provisions of the federal
income tax laws are subject to different unrelated business taxable income
rules, which generally will require them to characterize distributions that they
receive from Storage USA as unrelated business taxable income. Finally, in
certain circumstances, a qualified employee pension or profit sharing trust that
owns more than 10% of Storage USA's stock is required to treat a percentage of
the dividends that it receives from Storage USA as unrelated business taxable
income. Such percentage is equal to the gross income Storage USA derives from an
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unrelated trade or business, determined as if it were a pension trust, divided
by its total gross income for the year in which it pays the dividends. That rule
applies to a pension trust holding more than 10% of Storage USA's stock only if:
o the percentage of its dividends that the tax-exempt trust must treat as
unrelated business taxable income is at least 5%;
o Storage USA qualifies as a REIT by reason of the modification of the rule
requiring that no more than 50% of Storage USA's shares be owned by five
or fewer individuals that allows the beneficiaries of the pension trust
to be treated as holding Storage USA's stock in proportion to their
actuarial interests in the pension trust; and
o either (1) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of Storage
USA's stock or (2) a group of pension trusts individually holding more
than 10% of the value of Storage USA's stock collectively owns more than
50% of the value of Storage USA's stock.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders
The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of nonresident alien
individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships, and other foreign
stockholders (collectively, "non-U.S. stockholders") are complex. This section
is only a summary of such rules. We urge non-U.S. stockholders to consult their
own tax advisors to determine the impact of federal, state, and local income tax
laws on ownership of the common stock, including any reporting requirements.
A non-U.S. stockholder that receives a distribution that is not
attributable to gain from Storage USA's sale or exchange of U.S. real property
interests, as defined below, and that Storage USA does not designate as a
capital gain dividend or retained capital gain will recognize ordinary income to
the extent that Storage USA pays such distribution out of its current or
accumulated earnings and profits. A withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross
amount of the distribution ordinarily will apply to such distribution unless an
applicable tax treaty reduces or eliminates the tax. However, if a distribution
is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder's conduct of a
U.S. trade or business, the non-U.S. stockholder generally will be subject to
federal income tax on the distribution at graduated rates, in the same manner as
U.S. stockholders are taxed with respect to such distributions and also may be
subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a non-U.S. stockholder that
is a non-U.S. corporation. Storage USA plans to withhold U.S. income tax at the
rate of 30% on the gross amount of any such distribution paid to a non-U.S.
stockholder unless either:
o a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. stockholder files the required
form evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate with Storage USA; or
o the non-U.S. stockholder files an IRS Form 4224 with Storage USA claiming
that the distribution is effectively connected income.
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The U.S. Treasury Department has issued final regulations that modify
the manner in which Storage USA will comply with the withholding requirements.
Those regulations are effective for distributions made after December 31, 2000.
A non-U.S. stockholder will not incur tax on a distribution in excess
of Storage USA's current and accumulated earnings and profits if such
distribution does not exceed the adjusted basis of its common stock. Instead,
such a distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of such common stock. A
non-U.S. stockholder will be subject to tax on a distribution that exceeds both
Storage USA's current and accumulated earnings and profits and the adjusted
basis of its common stock, if the non-U.S. stockholder otherwise would be
subject to tax on gain from the sale or disposition of its common stock, as
described below. Because Storage USA generally cannot determine at the time it
makes a distribution whether or not the distribution will exceed its current and
accumulated earnings and profits, it normally will withhold tax on the entire
amount of any distribution at the same rate as it would withhold on a dividend.
However, a non-U.S. stockholder may obtain a refund of amounts that Storage USA
withholds if it later determines that a distribution in fact exceeded its
current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Storage USA must withhold 10% of any distribution that exceeds its
current and accumulated earnings and profits. Consequently, although it intends
to withhold at a rate of 30% on the entire amount of any distribution, to the
extent that it does not do so, it will withhold at a rate of 10% on any portion
of a distribution not subject to withholding at a rate of 30%.
For any year in which Storage USA qualifies as a REIT, a non-U.S.
Stockholder will incur tax on distributions that are attributable to gain from
its sale or exchange of "U.S. real property interests" under special provisions
of the federal income tax laws ("FIRPTA"). The term "U.S. real property
interests" includes certain interests in real property and stock in corporations
at least 50% of whose assets consists of interests in real property. Under those
rules, a non-U.S. stockholder is taxed on distributions attributable to gain
from sales of U.S. real property interests as if such gain were effectively
connected with a U.S. business of the non-U.S. stockholder. A non-U.S.
stockholder thus would be taxed on such a distribution at the normal capital
gain rates applicable to U.S. stockholders, subject to applicable alternative
minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of a nonresident
alien individual. A non-U.S. corporate stockholder not entitled to treaty relief
or exemption also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax on such a
distribution. Storage USA must withhold 35% of any distribution that it could
designate as a capital gain dividend. A non-U.S. stockholder may receive a
credit against its tax liability for the amount Storage USA withholds.
A non-U.S. stockholder generally will not incur tax under FIRPTA as long as
at all times non-U.S. persons hold, directly or indirectly, less than 50% in
value of Storage USA's stock. We cannot assure you that that test will be met.
However, a non-U.S. stockholder that owned, actually or constructively, 5% or
less of the common stock at all times during a specified testing period will not
incur tax under FIRPTA if the common stock is "regularly traded" on an
established securities market. If the gain on the sale of the common stock were
taxed under FIRPTA, a non-U.S. stockholder would be taxed in the same manner as
U.S. stockholders with respect to such gain, subject to applicable alternative
minimum tax, a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien
individuals, and the possible application of the 30% branch profits tax in the
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case of non-U.S. corporations. Furthermore, a non-U.S. stockholder will incur
tax on gain not subject to FIRPTA if (1) the gain is effectively connected with
the non-U.S. stockholder's U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S.
stockholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders with
respect to such gain, or (2) the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien
individual who was present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable
year and has a "tax home" in the United States, in which case the non-U.S.
stockholder will incur a 30% tax on his capital gains.
Other Tax Consequences
State and Local Taxes
Storage USA and/or you may be subject to state and local tax in various
states and localities, including those states and localities in which Storage
USA or you transact business, own property, or reside. The state and local tax
treatment in such jurisdictions may differ from the federal income tax treatment
described above. Consequently, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding
the effect of state and local tax laws upon an investment in the common stock.
Tax Aspects of the Company's Investments in SUSA Partnership and
Subsidiary Partnerships
The following discussion summarizes certain federal income tax
considerations applicable to our direct or indirect investments in SUSA
Partnership and the Subsidiary Partnerships (each individually a "Partnership"
and, collectively, the "Partnerships"). The discussion does not cover state or
local tax laws or any federal tax laws other than income tax laws.
Classification as Partnerships
Storage USA is entitled to include in its income its distributive share
of each Partnership's income and to deduct its distributive share of each
Partnership's losses only if the Partnerships are classified for federal income
tax purposes as partnerships rather than as corporations or associations taxable
as corporations. An organization will be classified as a partnership, rather
than as a corporation, for federal income tax purposes if it (1) is treated as a
partnership under Treasury regulations, effective January 1, 1997, relating to
entity classification (the "check-the-box regulations") and (2) is not a
"publicly traded" partnership.
Under the check-the-box regulations, an unincorporated entity with at
least two members may elect to be classified either as an association taxable as
a corporation or as a partnership. If such an entity fails to make an election,
it generally will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
The federal income tax classification of an entity that was in existence prior
to January 1, 1997 will be respected for all periods prior to January 1, 1997
if:
o the entity had a reasonable basis for its claimed classification;
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o the entity and all members of the entity recognized the federal tax
consequences of any changes in the entity's classification within the 60
months prior to January 1, 1997; and
o neither the entity nor any member of the entity was notified in writing by a
taxing authority on or before May 8, 1996 that the classification of the
entity was under examination.
Each Partnership in existence prior to January 1, 1997 reasonably
claimed partnership classification under the Treasury regulations relating to
entity classification in effect prior to January 1, 1997. In addition, the
Partnerships intend to continue to be classified as partnerships for federal
income tax purposes and no Partnership will elect to be treated as an
association taxable as a corporation under the check-the-box regulations.
A publicly traded partnership is a partnership whose interests are
traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a
secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. A publicly traded
partnership will not, however, be treated as a corporation for any taxable year
if 90% or more of the partnership's gross income for such year consists of
certain passive-type income, including real property rents, gains from the sale
or other disposition of real property, interest, and dividends (the "90% passive
income exception").
Treasury regulations (the "PTP regulations") provide limited safe
harbors from the definition of a publicly traded partnership. Pursuant to one of
those safe harbors (the "private placement exclusion"), interests in a
partnership will not be treated as readily tradable on a secondary market or the
substantial equivalent thereof if (1) all interests in the partnership were
issued in a transaction or transactions that were not required to be registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (2) the partnership does not
have more than 100 partners at any time during the partnership's taxable year.
In determining the number of partners in a partnership, a person owning an
interest in a partnership, grantor trust, or S corporation that owns an interest
in the partnership is treated as a partner in such partnership only if (1)
substantially all of the value of the owner's interest in the entity is
attributable to the entity's direct or indirect interest in the partnership and
(2) a principal purpose of the use of the entity is to permit the partnership to
satisfy the 100-partner limitation. Each Partnership qualifies for the private
placement exclusion.
If a Partnership is considered a publicly traded partnership under the
PTP regulations because it is deemed to have more than 100 partners, such
Partnership should not be treated as a corporation because it should be eligible
for the 90% passive income exception. If, however, for any reason a Partnership
were taxable as a corporation, rather than as a partnership, for federal income
tax purposes, Storage USA would not be able to qualify as a REIT. See "Federal
Income Tax Consequences of Storage USA's Status as a REIT -- Requirements for
Qualification -- Income Tests" and "-- Requirements for Qualification -- Asset
Tests." In addition, any change in a Partnership's status for tax purposes might
be treated as a taxable event, in which case Storage USA might incur tax
liability without any related cash distribution. See "Federal Income Tax
Consequences of Storage USA's Status as a REIT -- Requirements for Qualification
-- Distribution Requirements." Further, items of income and deduction of such
Partnership would not pass through to its partners, and its partners would be
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treated as stockholders for tax purposes. Consequently, such Partnership would
be required to pay income tax at corporate tax rates on its net income, and
distributions to its partners would constitute dividends that would not be
deductible in computing such Partnership's taxable income.
Income Taxation of the Partnerships and their Partners
Partners, Not the Partnerships, Subject to Tax. A partnership is not a
taxable entity for federal income tax purposes. Rather, Storage USA is required
to take into account its allocable share of each Partnership's income, gains,
losses, deductions, and credits for any taxable year of such Partnership ending
within or with the taxable year of Storage USA, without regard to whether
Storage USA has received or will receive any distribution from such Partnership.
Partnership Allocations. Although a partnership agreement generally
will determine the allocation of income and losses among partners, such
allocations will be disregarded for tax purposes if they do not comply with the
provisions of the federal income tax laws governing partnership allocations. If
an allocation is not recognized for federal income tax purposes, the item
subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partners'
interests in the partnership, which will be determined by taking into account
all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the
partners with respect to such item. Each Partnership's allocations of taxable
income, gain, and loss are intended to comply with the requirements of the
federal income tax laws governing partnership allocations.
Tax Allocations With Respect to Contributed Properties. Income, gain,
loss, and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is
contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership must
be allocated in a manner such that the contributing partner is charged with, or
benefits from, respectively, the unrealized gain or unrealized loss associated
with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of such unrealized
gain or unrealized loss is generally equal to the difference between the fair
market value of contributed property at the time of contribution, and the
adjusted tax basis of such property at the time of contribution (a "book-tax
difference"). Such allocations are solely for federal income tax purposes and do
not affect the book capital accounts or other economic or legal arrangements
among the partners. SUSA Partnership was formed by way of contributions of
appreciated property and has received contributions of appreciated property
since Storage USA's initial public offering. SUSA Partnership's partnership
agreement requires such allocations to be made in a manner consistent with the
federal income tax laws governing partnership allocations.
In general, the carryover basis of the facilities contributed by
Storage USA to SUSA Partnership will cause Storage USA to be allocated lower
depreciation and other deductions, and possibly amounts of taxable income, in
the event of a sale of such a facility, in excess of the economic or book income
allocated to it as a result of such sale. While this will tend to eliminate the
book-tax differences over the life of the Partnership, the federal income tax
laws governing partnership allocations do not always entirely rectify the
book-tax difference on an annual basis or with respect to a specific taxable
transaction such as a sale. Therefore, elimination of book-tax differences with
respect to the facilities contributed by Storage USA may cause Storage USA to
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recognize taxable income in excess of its proportionate share of the cash
proceeds, which might adversely affect Storage USA's ability to comply with the
REIT distribution requirements. See "Federal Income Tax Consequences of Storage
USA's Status as a REIT -- Requirements for Qualification -- Distribution
Requirements."
Under SUSA Partnership's partnership agreement, depreciation or
amortization deductions of SUSA Partnership generally will be allocated among
the partners in accordance with their respective interests in SUSA Partnership,
except to the extent that SUSA Partnership is required under the federal income
tax laws governing partnership allocations to use a method for allocating tax
depreciation deductions attributable to contributed properties that results in
Storage USA receiving a disproportionate share of such deductions. In addition,
gain on sale of a facility that has been contributed, in whole or in part, to
SUSA Partnership will be specially allocated to the contributing partners to the
extent of any "built-in" gain with respect to such facility for federal income
tax purposes.
Basis in Partnership Interest. Storage USA's adjusted tax basis in its
partnership interest in SUSA Partnership generally is equal to (1) the amount of
cash and the basis of any other property contributed to SUSA Partnership by
Storage USA, (2) increased by (A) its allocable share of SUSA Partnership's
income and (B) its allocable share of indebtedness of SUSA Partnership, and (3)
reduced, but not below zero, by (A) Storage USA's allocable share of SUSA
Partnership's loss and (B) the amount of cash distributed to Storage USA, and by
constructive distributions resulting from a reduction in Storage USA's share of
indebtedness of SUSA Partnership.
If the allocation of Storage USA's distributive share of SUSA
Partnership's loss would reduce the adjusted tax basis of Storage USA's
partnership interest in SUSA Partnership below zero, the recognition of such
loss will be deferred until such time as the recognition of such loss would not
reduce Storage USA's adjusted tax basis below zero. To the extent that SUSA
Partnership's distributions, or any decrease in Storage USA's share of the
indebtedness of SUSA Partnership, which is considered a constructive cash
distribution to the partners, would reduce Storage USA's adjusted tax basis
below zero, such distributions constitute taxable income to Storage USA. Such
distributions and constructive distributions normally will be characterized as
capital gain, and, if Storage USA's partnership interest in SUSA Partnership has
been held for longer than one year, the distributions and constructive
distributions will constitute long-term capital gain.
Sale of a Partnership's Property
Generally, any gain realized by a Partnership on the sale of property
held by the Partnership for more than one year will be long-term capital gain,
except for any portion of such gain that is treated as depreciation or cost
recovery recapture. Any gain recognized by a Partnership on the disposition of
contributed properties will be allocated first to the partners of the
Partnership to the extent of their "built-in gain" on those properties for
federal income tax purposes. The partners' "built-in gain" on the contributed
properties sold will equal the excess of the partners' proportionate share of
the book value of those properties over the partners' tax basis allocable to
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those properties at the time of the sale. Any remaining gain recognized by the
Partnership on the disposition of the contributed properties, and any gain
recognized by the Partnership or the disposition of the other properties, will
be allocated among the partners in accordance with their respective percentage
interests in the Partnership.
Storage USA's share of any gain realized by a Partnership on the sale
of any property held by the Partnership as inventory or other property held
primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the Partnership's
trade or business will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that
is subject to a 100% penalty tax. Such prohibited transaction income also may
have an adverse effect upon Storage USA's ability to satisfy the income tests
for REIT status. See "Federal Income Tax Consequences of Storage USA's Status as
a REIT -- Requirements for Qualification -- Income Tests." Storage USA, however,
does not presently intend to allow any Partnership to acquire or hold any
property that represents inventory or other property held primarily for sale to
customers in the ordinary course of Storage USA's or such Partnership's trade or
business.
Taxable Subsidiaries
SUSA Partnership owns 100% of the nonvoting stock, and 5% of the voting
stock, of SUSA Management, Inc., representing in the aggregate a 99% economic
interest therein. In addition, SUSA Partnership owns 100% of the nonvoting stock
of Storage USA Franchise Corp. which represents a 97.5% economic interest
therein. By virtue of its ownership of SUSA Partnership, Storage USA is
considered to own its pro rata share of the stock of SUSA Management, Inc. and
Storage USA Franchise Corp. held by SUSA Partnership.
As noted above, for Storage USA to qualify as a REIT, Storage USA's
proportionate share of the value of the securities of each of SUSA Management,
Inc. and Storage USA Franchise Corp. may not exceed 5% of the total value of
Storage USA's assets. In addition, Storage USA's proportionate share of the
equity securities of each of SUSA Management, Inc. and Storage USA Franchise
Corp. may not constitute more than 10% of the voting securities of such entity.
Storage USA does not own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the voting
securities of SUSA Management, Inc. or Storage USA Franchise Corp., and it
believes that its proportionate share of the value of the securities of each of
SUSA Management, Inc. and Storage USA Franchise Corp. does not exceed 5% of the
total value of Storage USA's assets. If the Internal Revenue Service were to
challenge successfully those determinations, however, Storage USA likely would
fail to qualify as a REIT.
SUSA Management, Inc. and Storage USA Franchise Corp. are organized as
corporations and pay federal, state, and local income taxes on their taxable
income at normal corporate rates. Any such taxes reduce amounts available for
distribution by SUSA Management, Inc. and Storage USA Franchise Corp., which in
turn will reduce amounts available for distribution to Storage USA's
stockholders.
As described above, the Tax Bill allows Storage USA to own up to 100%
of the stock of taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRSs"), which can perform activities
unrelated to Storage USA's tenants, such as third-party management, development,
and other independent business activities, as well as provide services to
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Storage USA's tenants. Storage USA and its subsidiary must elect for the
subsidiary to be treated as a TRS. A corporation of which a TRS directly or
indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the stock will
automatically be treated as a TRS. The Tax Bill limits the deductibility of
interest paid or accrued by a TRS to Storage USA to assure that the TRS is
subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. Further, the Tax Bill
imposes a 100% excise tax on transactions between a TRS and Storage USA or its
tenants that are not conducted on an arm's-length basis. The Tax Bill also
prevents Storage USA from owning more than 10% of the voting power or value of
the stock of a taxable subsidiary that is not treated as a TRS. Prior to the Tax
Bill, Storage USA only was prohibited from owning more than 10% of the voting
stock of a taxable subsidiary. Overall, no more than 20% of Storage USA's assets
can consist of securities of TRSs under the Tax Bill.
The TRS provisions of the Tax Bill will apply for taxable years
beginning after December 31, 2000. However, a taxable subsidiary in existence on
July 12, 1999, such as SUSA Management, Inc. and Storage USA Franchise Corp.,
will be grandfathered unless and until (1) it engages in a new line of business
or acquires a substantial new asset, other than in certain tax-free transactions
or pursuant to a binding contract in effect on July 12, 1999, or (2) Storage USA
acquires, directly or indirectly, additional stock in the taxable subsidiary
(including as a result of limited partner redemptions of their interests in SUSA
Partnership), other than in certain tax-free transactions or pursuant to a
binding contract in effect on July 12, 1999. Such existing taxable subsidiaries
can be converted into TRSs on a tax-free basis prior to January 1, 2004.
Accordingly, SUSA Management, Inc. and Storage USA Franchise Corp. will be
grandfathered after the Tax Bill unless and until either (1) they engage in a
new line of business or acquire a substantial new asset or (2) Storage USA
acquires additional stock in either such subsidiary (e.g., as a result of an
increase in Storage USA's percentage interest in SUSA Partnership due to limited
partners' exercise of redemption rights). If SUSA Management, Inc. or Storage
USA Franchise Corp. were to acquire a substantial new asset or Storage USA were
to acquire additional stock in either such entity, such entity no longer would
be grandfathered and Storage USA would not be able to satisfy the provision in
the Tax Bill that prevents Storage USA from owning more than 10% of the voting
power or value of the stock of a taxable subsidiary that is not treated as a
TRS.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
This Prospectus relates to the possible issuance by Storage USA of the
shares of Common Stock if, and to the extent that, the Unitholders tender their
Units for redemption and Storage USA elects to redeem the Units for shares of
Common Stock. SUSA Partnership issued 37,071 Units to the Unitholders in
exchange for interests in self-storage facilities on September 25, 1999. The
Units will become redeemable on September 25, 2000. Storage USA is registering
the issuance of 37,071 shares of Common Stock so that the Unitholders will have
freely tradable securities upon redemption of their Units. However, registration
of these shares does not necessarily mean that any of such shares will be issued
by Storage USA or offered or sold by the Unitholders.
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Storage USA may from time to time issue shares of Common Stock upon
redemption of Units. Storage USA will exchange the redeeming partner's Units for
shares of Common Stock. Consequently, with each such redemption, Storage USA's
interest in SUSA Partnership will increase.
LEGAL OPINIONS
Hunton & Williams, Richmond, Virginia, has delivered to Storage USA a
legal opinion as to the validity of the common stock covered by this prospectus.
EXPERTS
The consolidated balance sheets of Storage USA, Inc. as of December 31,
1999 and 1998, the consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
1999, and the financial statement schedule of Storage USA as of December 31,
1999 have been incorporated herein in reliance on the reports of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of
said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The estimated expenses in connection with the offering are as follows:
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee $ 302.00
Legal fees 3,000.00
Accounting fees and expenses 2,000.00
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TOTAL $5,302.00
Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors.
Storage USA's Charter obligates it to indemnify and advance expenses to
present and former directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by
Tennessee law. The Tennessee Business Corporation Act permits a corporation to
indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against
judgments, settlements, penalties, fines or reasonable expenses incurred with
respect to a proceeding to which they may be made a party by reason of their
service in those or other capacities if (i) such persons conducted themselves in
good faith, (ii) they reasonably believed, in the case of conduct in their
official capacities with the corporation, that their conduct was in its best
interests and, in all other cases, that their conduct was at least not opposed
to its best interests, and (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, they
had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful.
Any indemnification by Storage USA pursuant to the provisions of the
Charter described above shall be paid out of the assets of Storage USA and shall
not be recoverable from the shareholders. To the extent that the foregoing
indemnification provisions purport to include indemnification for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act of 1933, in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is contrary to public policy and,
therefore, unenforceable. Storage USA has purchased director and officer
liability insurance for the purpose of providing a source of funds to pay any
indemnification described above.
The TCBA permits the charter of a Tennessee corporation to include a
provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of its directors to the
corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director, except that such provision cannot eliminate or limit the
liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to
the corporation or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good
faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law,
or (iii) for unlawful distributions that exceed what could have been distributed
without violating the TBCA or the corporation's charter. Storage USA's Charter
contains a provision eliminating the personal liability of its directors or
officers to Storage USA or its shareholders for money damages to the maximum
extent permitted by Tennessee law from time to time.
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The Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
SUSA Partnership provides, generally, for the indemnification of an "indemnitee"
against losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, settlements and
other amounts (including reasonable expenses) that relate to the operations of
SUSA Partnership unless it is established that (i) the act or omission of the
Indemnitee was material and either was committed in bad faith or pursuant to
active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) the Indemnitee actually received an
improper personal benefit in money, property or services, or (iii) in the case
of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that
the act or omission was unlawful. For this purpose, the term "Indemnitee"
includes any person made a party to a proceeding by reason of his status as a
director or officer of SUSA Partnership, SUSA Management, Inc. or Storage USA,
and such other persons (including affiliates of Storage USA or SUSA Partnership)
as Storage USA, may designate from time to time in its discretion. Any such
indemnification will be made only out of assets of SUSA Partnership, and in no
event may an Indemnitee subject the limited partners of SUSA Partnership to
personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions in The
Partnership Agreement. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted pursuant to the foregoing provisions
or otherwise, SUSA Partnership has been advised that, in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public
policy and, therefore, unenforceable. SUSA Partnership has purchased liability
insurance for the purpose of providing a source of funds to pay the
indemnification described above.
Item 16. Exhibits.
4.1* Form of Common Stock Certificate
4.2** Amended Charter of Storage USA
4.3*** Articles of Amendment to the Amended Charter of Storage USA, Inc.,
designating and fixing the rights and preferences of the 8 7/8%
Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, as filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Tennessee on November 12, 1998.
4.4* Restated and Amended Bylaws of Storage USA
5 Opinion of Hunton & Williams
8 Tax Opinion of Hunton & Williams
23.1 Consent of Hunton & Williams (included in Exhibits 5 and 8)
23.2 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
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* Filed as an Exhibit to Storage USA's Registration Statement on Form S-11,
File No. 33-74072, as amended, and incorporated by reference herein.
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** Filed as an Exhibit to Storage USA's Amendment No. 1 to Registration
Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-4556, and incorporated by reference
herein.
*** Filed as an Exhibit to Storage USA's current report on Form 8-K, filed with
the Commission on November 20, 1998, and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made
of the securities registered hereby, 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; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any
facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in
the registration statement (Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation
from the low or high and of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
"Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
statement.); and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided,
however, that the undertakings set forth in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) above do
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or
furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this
registration statement;
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof;
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.
The undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this
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; and
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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of
1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the registrant has
been advised that the in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the
registrant by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant further hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form
of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
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.
II-4
<PAGE>
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 Memphis, State of Tennessee on this 18th day of
September, 2000.
STORAGE USA, INC.
By: /s/ John W. McConomy
John W. McConomy
Executive Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on September 18, 2000. Each of the undersigned officers and
directors of the registrant hereby constitutes Christopher P. Marr and John W.
McConomy, either of whom may act as his/her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
with full power to sign for him/her and in his/her name in the capacities
indicated below and to file any and all amendments to the registration statement
filed herewith, making such changes in the registration statement as the
registrant deems appropriate, and generally to do all such things in his/her
name and behalf in his/her capacity as an officer and director to enable the
registrant to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and all
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Signature Title & Capacity
--------- ----------------
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
Officer and President
/s/ Dean Jernigan (Principal Executive Officer)
-------------------------------
Dean Jernigan
Chief Financial Officer
/s/ Christopher P. Marr (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
-------------------------------
Christopher P. Marr
/s/ C. Ronald Blankenship Director
-------------------------------
C. Ronald Blankenship
/s/ Howard P. Colhoun Director
-------------------------------
Howard P. Colhoun
<PAGE>
/s/ Alan B. Graf, Jr. Director
-------------------------------
Alan B. Graf, Jr.
/s/ Mark Jorgensen Director
-------------------------------
Mark Jorgensen
/s/ John P. McCann Director
-------------------------------
John P. McCann
/s/ Caroline S. McBride Director
-------------------------------
Caroline S. McBride
/s/ William D. Sanders Director
-------------------------------
William D. Sanders
/s/ Harry J. Thie Director
-------------------------------
Harry J. Thie
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Exhibit
------- -------
4.1* Form of Common Stock Certificate
4.2** Amended Charter of Storage USA
4.3*** Articles of Amendment to the Amended Charter of Storage USA, Inc.,
designating and fixing the rights and preferences of the 8 7/8%
Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, as filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Tennessee on November 12, 1998.
4.4* Restated and Amended Bylaws of Storage USA
5 Opinion of Hunton & Williams
8 Tax Opinion of Hunton & Williams
23.1 Consent of Hunton & Williams (included in Exhibits 5 and 8)
23.2 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
----------------
* Filed as an Exhibit to Storage USA's Registration Statement on Form S-11,
File No. 33-74072, as amended, and incorporated by reference herein.
** Filed as an Exhibit to Storage USA's Amendment No. 1 to Registration
Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-4556, and incorporated by reference
herein.
*** Filed as an Exhibit to Storage USA's current report on Form 8-K, filed
with the Commission on November 20, 1998, and incorporated by reference
herein.
