As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 7, 2024

 

Registration No. 333-

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

KITE REALTY GROUP TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Maryland

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

11-3715772
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

30 S. Meridian Street
Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 577-5600
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

Heath R. Fear
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Kite Realty Group Trust
30 S. Meridian Street
Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 577-5600
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

 

Copy to:
David W. Bonser
Hogan Lovells US LLP
555 Thirteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004-1109
(202) 637-5600

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, 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 this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨
  Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Kite Realty Group Trust

9,915,700 Common Shares

 

Our operating partnership, Kite Realty Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, issued and sold $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 0.75% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2027 (the “notes”) in a private transaction in March 2021. Under certain circumstances, Kite Realty Group Trust (the “Company”) may issue our common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (the “common shares”), upon exchange of the notes. In such circumstances, the recipients of such common shares, whom we refer to as the selling shareholders, may use this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement to resell from time to time some or all of the common shares that we may issue to them upon the exchange of the notes. Additional selling shareholders may be named by future prospectus supplements.

 

The registration of our common shares covered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements does not necessarily mean that any of the selling shareholders will exchange their notes for our common shares, that upon any exchange of the notes we will elect, in our sole and absolute discretion, to satisfy any exchange of notes with cash, or common shares, or a combination thereof, or that any of our common shares received upon exchange of the notes will be sold by the selling shareholders.

 

We will not receive any of the proceeds from any issuances of our common shares to the selling shareholders upon exchange of the notes or from any sale of such common shares by the selling shareholders, but we have agreed to pay certain registration expenses relating to such common shares. The selling shareholders from time to time may offer and sell common shares held by them directly or through agents or broker-dealers on terms to be determined at the time of sale, as described in more detail in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements.

 

To assist us in complying with certain federal income tax requirements applicable to real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) among other purposes, our declaration of trust contains certain restrictions relating to the ownership and transfer of our common shares, preferred shares and capital stock, including an ownership limit of 7% on our common shares. See “Restrictions on Ownership” in this prospectus.

 

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “KRG.” On June 6, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the NYSE was $22.27 per share. Our principal executive offices are located at 30 S. Meridian Street, Suite 1100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 and our telephone number is (317) 577-5600.

 

Investing in our common shares involves risks. See the risks described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Item 1A of each subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (which documents are incorporated by reference herein), as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement hereto before making a decision to invest in our securities. See “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” and “Where To Find Additional Information” in this prospectus.

 

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

 

This prospectus is dated June 7, 2024

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 2
RISK FACTORS 3
OUR COMPANY 4
USE OF PROCEEDS 5
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES 6
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP 13
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS 15
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS 16
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 44
LEGAL MATTERS 46
EXPERTS 46
WHERE TO FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 46
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE 46

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this process, the selling shareholders may, from time to time, sell the offered securities described in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement in one or more offerings. Additionally, under the shelf registration process, in certain circumstances, we may provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of a particular offering by one or more selling shareholders. We may also provide a prospectus supplement to add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Selling shareholders may offer our common shares directly, through agents, or to or through underwriters. A prospectus supplement may describe the terms of the plan of distribution and set forth the names of any underwriters involved in the sale of our common shares. See “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described below under the headings “Where to Find Additional Information,” “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” and any additional information you may need to make your investment decision.

 

You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. Neither we nor the selling shareholders have authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. Neither we nor the selling shareholders are making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of these securities is not permitted. You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. The business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects of our Company may have changed since those dates.

 

You should read carefully the entire prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, which we have referred you to in “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” on page 46 of this prospectus (including the risks described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Item 1A of each subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q), before making an investment decision. Information incorporated by reference after the date of this prospectus may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any information in such subsequent filings and any applicable prospectus supplement that is inconsistent with this prospectus will supersede the information in this prospectus or any earlier prospectus supplement.

 

When used in this prospectus, except where the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Kite Realty Group Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust, and those entities owned or controlled by the Company, including Kite Realty Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, which we refer to as the “Operating Partnership.”

 

1

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by us, contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Such statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated. Future events and actual results, performance, transactions or achievements, financial or otherwise, may differ materially from the results, performance, transactions or achievements, financial or otherwise, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

 

Risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause such differences, some of which could be material, include but are not limited to:

 

·economic, business, banking, real estate and other market conditions, particularly in connection with low or negative growth in the U.S. economy as well as economic uncertainty (including a potential economic slowdown or recession, rising interest rates, inflation, unemployment, or limited growth in consumer income or spending);
·financing risks, including the availability of, and costs associated with, sources of liquidity;
·our ability to refinance, or extend the maturity dates of, our indebtedness;
·the level and volatility of interest rates;
·the financial stability of our tenants;
·the competitive environment in which we operate, including potential oversupplies of, or a reduction in demand for, rental space;
·acquisition, disposition, development and joint venture risks;
·property ownership and management risks, including the relative illiquidity of real estate investments, and expenses, vacancies or the inability to rent space on favorable terms or at all;
·our ability to maintain our status as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
·potential environmental and other liabilities;
·impairment in the value of real estate property we own;
·the attractiveness of our properties to tenants, the actual and perceived impact of e-commerce on the value of shopping center assets, and changing demographics and customer traffic patterns;
·business continuity disruptions and a deterioration in our tenants’ ability to operate in affected areas or delays in the supply of products or services to us or our tenants from vendors that are needed to operate efficiently, causing costs to rise sharply and inventory to fall;
·risks related to our current geographical concentration of properties in the states of Texas, Florida, and North Carolina and the metropolitan statistical areas of New York, Atlanta, Seattle, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.;
·civil unrest, acts of violence, terrorism or war, acts of God, climate change, epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters and severe weather conditions, including such events that may result in underinsured or uninsured losses or other increased costs and expenses;
·changes in laws and government regulations including governmental orders affecting the use of our properties or the ability of our tenants to operate, and the costs of complying with such changed laws and government regulations;
·possible short-term or long-term changes in consumer behavior due to COVID-19 and the fear of future pandemics;
·our ability to satisfy environmental, social or governance standards set by various constituencies;
·insurance costs and coverage, especially in Florida and Texas coastal areas;
·risks associated with cybersecurity attacks and the loss of confidential information and other business disruptions;
·other factors affecting the real estate industry generally; and
·other risks identified in this prospectus and, from time to time, in other reports we file with the SEC or in other documents that we publicly disseminate, including, in particular, the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

 

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

2

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in and other information contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is incorporated by reference herein, together with all other information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement before acquiring any of such securities. If any of the risk factors were to occur, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, and prospects could be materially adversely affected. As a result, the market price of the securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.

 

3

 

 

OUR COMPANY

 

We are a publicly held REIT that, through our majority-owned subsidiary, the Operating Partnership, owns interests in various operating subsidiaries and joint ventures engaged in the ownership, operation, acquisition, development, and redevelopment of high-quality, open-air shopping centers and mixed-use assets that are primarily grocery-anchored and located in high-growth Sun Belt markets and select strategic gateway markets in the United States. Following our merger with Retail Properties of America, Inc. (“RPAI”) in 2021, we became a top-five open-air shopping center REIT based upon market capitalization. We derive our revenue primarily from the collection of contractual rents and reimbursement payments from tenants under existing lease agreements at each of our properties. Therefore, our operating results depend materially on, among other things, the ability of our tenants to make required lease payments, the health and resilience of the U.S. retail sector, interest rate volatility, stability in the banking sector, job growth, the real estate market, and overall economic conditions.

 

As of March 31, 2024, we owned interests in 180 operating retail properties totaling approximately 28.1 million square feet and one office property with 0.3 million square feet. Of the 180 operating retail properties, 10 contain an office component. We also owned two development projects under construction as of this date and an additional two properties with future redevelopment opportunities.

 

Our common shares are listed on the NYSE, trading under the symbol “KRG.” We were formed as a REIT in the state of Maryland in 2004. Our principal executive offices are located at 30 S. Meridian Street, Suite 1100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, and our telephone number is (317) 577-5600. We maintain a website at www.kiterealty.com. The information contained on or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into, and you must not consider the information to be a part of, this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Additional information about us and our subsidiaries is included in documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The foregoing information about us is only a general summary and is not intended to be comprehensive. For additional information about us, you should refer to the information under “Where to Find Additional Information” on page 46 and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” on page 46 of this prospectus.

 

4

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common shares by the selling shareholders from time to time pursuant to the applicable prospectus. The proceeds from any such offering are solely for the account of the selling shareholders. We have agreed, however, to pay certain expenses relating to the registration of the common shares under applicable securities laws.

 

5

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES

 

General

 

Our declaration of trust currently provides that we may issue up to 490,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, and 20,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share. As of May 31, 2024, 219,654,226 common shares were issued and outstanding, and there were no preferred shares issued and outstanding.

 

Maryland law and our declaration of trust provide that none of our shareholders is personally liable for any of our obligations solely as a result of that shareholder’s status as a shareholder.

 

Authorization and Issuance

 

All common shares offered by this prospectus will be duly authorized, and, when issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Voting Rights of Common Shares

 

Subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding restrictions on the transfer and ownership of shares of beneficial interest, each outstanding common share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of trustees, and, except as provided with respect to any other class or series of shares of beneficial interest, the holders of such common shares will possess the exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees, which means that the holders of a plurality of the outstanding common shares, voting as a single class, can elect all of the trustees then standing for election.

 

Under the Maryland statute governing real estate investment trusts formed under the laws of that state, which we refer to as the Maryland REIT law, a Maryland REIT generally cannot amend its declaration of trust or merge unless recommended by its board of trustees and approved by the affirmative vote of shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter. Our declaration of trust provides that shareholders shall be entitled to vote only on: (a) the election and removal of trustees; (b) amendments to our declaration of trust; (c) termination of our existence; (d) mergers, consolidations, and transfers of all or substantially all of our assets; (e) such matters as the trustees direct for shareholder approval or ratification; and (f) such matters as are properly brought before a meeting of shareholders pursuant to the bylaws. The election of trustees requires a majority of all the votes cast in an uncontested election at a meeting of our shareholders at which a quorum is present, and removal of trustees requires a vote of not less than two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast and must be for cause. Generally, amendments to our declaration of trust, mergers, consolidations, transfers of all or substantially all of our assets, and termination of our existence by dissolution all require approval by at least two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast. Our declaration of trust permits the trustees to amend the declaration of trust from time to time to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code or the Maryland REIT law, without the affirmative vote or written consent of the shareholders. Any other matter submitted for approval or ratification or brought before a shareholder meeting for action would require the approval of a majority of the votes cast, unless the trustees established a greater threshold for approval.

 

Dividends, Liquidation and Other Rights

 

All common shares offered by this prospectus will be duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of our common shares will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of trustees out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends. They also will be entitled to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our shareholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after payment of or adequate provision for all of our known debts and liabilities. These rights will be subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of our shares and to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding restrictions on transfer of our shares.

 

Holders of our common shares will have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal rights and will have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of the securities. Subject to the restrictions on transfer of shares contained in our declaration of trust and to the ability of the board of trustees to create common shares with differing voting rights, all common shares will have equal dividend, liquidation and other rights.

 

6

 

 

Power to Classify and Reclassify Shares and Issue Additional Common Shares or Preferred Shares

 

Our declaration of trust authorizes our board of trustees to classify any unissued preferred shares and to reclassify any previously classified but unissued common shares and preferred shares of any series from time to time in one or more series, as authorized by the board of trustees. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, the board of trustees is required by the Maryland REIT law and our declaration of trust to set for each such class or series, subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding the restrictions on transfer of shares of beneficial interest, the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each such class or series. As a result, our board of trustees could authorize the issuance of preferred shares that have priority over the common shares with respect to dividends and rights upon liquidation and with other terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of common shares or otherwise might be in their best interest.

 

To permit us increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise, our declaration of trust allows us to issue additional common shares or preferred shares and to classify or reclassify unissued common shares or preferred shares and thereafter to issue the classified or reclassified shares without shareholder approval, unless shareholder approval is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Although we have no present intention of doing so, we could issue a class or series of shares that could delay, deter or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of common shares or might otherwise be in their best interests.

 

Holders of our common shares do not have preemptive rights, which means they have no right to acquire any additional shares that we may issue at a subsequent date.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

 

Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws

 

The following description of certain provisions of Maryland law and of our declaration of trust and bylaws is only a summary. For a complete description, we refer you to the applicable Maryland law, our declaration of trust and bylaws.

 

Number of Trustees; Vacancies

 

Our declaration of trust and bylaws provide that the number of our trustees will be established by a vote of a majority of the members of our board of trustees. Our bylaws provide that any vacancy, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of trustees, may be filled only by a vote of a majority of the remaining trustees, even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum. Pursuant to our declaration of trust, each of our trustees is elected by our shareholders to serve until the next annual meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualify. Under Maryland law, our board may elect to create staggered terms for its members.

 

Our bylaws provide that at least a majority of our trustees will be “independent,” with independence being defined in the manner established by our board of trustees and in a manner consistent with listing standards established by the NYSE.

 

Removal of Trustees

 

Our declaration of trust provides that a trustee may be removed only with cause and only upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of trustees. Absent removal of all of our trustees, this provision, when coupled with the provision in our bylaws authorizing our board of trustees to fill vacant trusteeships, may preclude shareholders from removing incumbent trustees and filling the vacancies created by such removal with their own nominees.

 

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Business Combinations

 

Maryland law prohibits “business combinations” between a Maryland REIT and an interested shareholder or an affiliate of an interested shareholder for five years after the most recent date on which the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. Maryland law defines an interested shareholder as:

 

·any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the REIT’s shares; or

 

·an affiliate or associate of the REIT who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting shares.

 

A person is not an interested shareholder under Maryland law if the board of trustees approves in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested shareholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of trustees may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board of trustees.

 

After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between a Maryland REIT and an interested shareholder generally must be recommended by the board of trustees and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

·80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of the REITs’ then outstanding shares of beneficial interest; and

 

·two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of the voting shares other than shares held by the interested shareholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or shares held by an affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder.

 

These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the common shareholders receive a minimum price, as described under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its shares.

 

The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are approved by the board of trustees before the time that the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder.

 

Our board of trustees has approved a resolution that exempts us from the provisions of the Maryland business combination statute described above but may opt to make these provisions applicable to us in the future.

 

Control Share Acquisitions

 

Maryland law provides that “control shares” of a Maryland REIT acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights unless approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiror or by officers or trustees who are employees are excluded from the shares entitled to vote on the matter. “Control shares” are issued and outstanding voting shares that, if aggregated with all other shares previously acquired by the acquiring person, or in respect of which the acquiring person is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiring person to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power in electing trustees within one of the following ranges of voting power:

 

·one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

 

·one-third or more but less than a majority; or

 

·a majority or more of all voting power.

 

8

 

 

Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained shareholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition of outstanding control shares subject to certain exceptions.

 

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel our board of trustees to call a special meeting of shareholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the special meeting. If no request for a special meeting is made, we may present the question at any shareholders’ meeting.

 

If voting rights are not approved at the shareholders’ meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver the statement required by Maryland law, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the issuer may redeem for the fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. Fair value is determined without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares and as of the date of the last control share acquisition or of any meeting of shareholders at which the voting rights of the shares were considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a shareholders’ meeting, the acquiror may then vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, and all other shareholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares for purposes of these appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition. The control share acquisition statute does not apply to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the issuer is a party to the transaction, nor does it apply to acquisitions approved by or exempted by the declaration of trust or bylaws.

 

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting any and all acquisitions of our common shares from the control shares provisions of Maryland law. However, our board of trustees may opt to make these provisions applicable to us at any time by amending or repealing this provision in the future and may do so on a retroactive basis.

 

Unsolicited Takeovers

 

Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), as applicable to Maryland REITs, permits a Maryland REIT with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent trustees to elect to be subject, by provision in its declaration of trust or bylaws or a resolution of its board of trustees, and notwithstanding any provision in its declaration of trust or bylaws, to any or all of the following five provisions:

 

·a classified board;

 

·a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a trustee;

 

·a requirement that the number of trustees be fixed only by vote of the trustees;

 

·a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining trustees then in office (even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum) and for the remainder of the full term of the class of trustees in which the vacancy occurred; and

 

·a majority requirement for the calling of a shareholder-requested special meeting of shareholders.

 

Through provisions in our declaration of trust and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL, (i) trustees may only be removed for cause and by the vote of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares then entitled to vote; and (ii) our bylaws already require the request of holders of at least a majority of votes entitled to be cast to call a special meeting of shareholders, unless such special meeting is called by the chair of our board of trustees, the president, the chief executive officer, or a majority of our trustees.

 

Our board of trustees has the power, under Maryland law, without shareholder approval, and notwithstanding any provision of our declaration of trust or bylaws, to elect to be subject to any of the other provisions described above.

 

9

 

 

Merger, Amendment of Declaration of Trust

 

Under the Maryland REIT law, a Maryland REIT generally cannot terminate its existence by dissolution, amend its declaration of trust or merge with another entity unless recommended by the board of trustees and approved by the affirmative vote of shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter unless a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, is set forth in the REIT’s declaration of trust. Our declaration of trust does not alter this two-thirds voting standard. Our declaration of trust, including its provisions on removal of trustees, may be amended only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Under the Maryland REIT law and our declaration of trust, our trustees are permitted, without any action by our shareholders, to amend the declaration of trust from time to time to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code or the Maryland REIT law without the affirmative vote or written consent of the shareholders.

 

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

 

Our declaration of trust limits the liability of our trustees and officers for money damages, except for liability resulting from:

 

·actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or

 

·a final judgment based upon a finding of active and deliberate dishonesty by the trustee or officer that was material to the cause of action adjudicated.

 

Our declaration of trust requires us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify, and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses to, any of our present or former trustees or officers or any individual who, while a trustee or officer and at our request, serves or has served another entity, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a trustee, director, officer, partner or otherwise. Our declaration of trust and bylaws require us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify each present or former trustee or officer who is made a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service to us.

 

Maryland law permits us to indemnify our present and former trustees and officers against liabilities and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in any proceeding unless:

 

·the act or omission of the trustee or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith;

 

·was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

·the trustee or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

·in a criminal proceeding, the trustee or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

 

In addition, Maryland law prohibits us from indemnifying our present and former trustees and officers for an adverse judgment in an action by us or in a derivative action or if the trustee or officer was adjudged to be liable for an improper personal benefit.

 

Our bylaws and Maryland law require us, as a condition to advancing expenses in certain circumstances, to obtain:

 

·a written affirmation by the trustee or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification; and

 

·a written undertaking to repay the amount paid or reimbursed if the standard of conduct is not met.

 

In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our trustees and executive officers that provide for indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

 

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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to trustees, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Operations

 

We generally are prohibited from engaging in certain activities, including acquiring or holding property or engaging in any activity that would cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT.

 

Term and Termination

 

Our declaration of trust provides for us to have a perpetual existence. Pursuant to our declaration of trust, and subject to the provisions of any of our classes or series of shares of beneficial interest then outstanding and the approval by a majority of the entire board of trustees, our shareholders, at any meeting thereof, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, may approve a plan of liquidation and dissolution.

 

Meetings of Shareholders

 

Under our bylaws, annual meetings of shareholders are to be held each year at a date and time as determined by our board of trustees. Special meetings of shareholders may be called only by a majority of the trustees then in office, by the chair of our board of trustees, our President or our Chief Executive Officer. Special meetings of shareholders shall also be called by the chair of the board of trustees upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all votes entitled to be cast at any such meeting. Only matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered and acted upon at such a meeting. Our bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting by unanimous written consent, if that consent sets forth that action and is signed by each shareholder entitled to vote on the matter and any other shareholder entitled to notice of a meeting of shareholders (but not to vote thereat) has waived in writing any right to dissent from such action, and such consent and waiver are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the shareholders.

 

Advance Notice of Trustee Nominations and New Business

 

Our bylaws provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of shareholders, nominations of persons for election to our board of trustees and the proposal of business to be considered by shareholders at the annual meeting may be made only:

 

·pursuant to our notice of the meeting;

 

·by or at the direction of our board of trustees; or

 

·by a shareholder who was a shareholder of record both at the time of the provision of notice and at the time of the meeting who is entitled to vote at the meeting and has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws.

 

With respect to special meetings of shareholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting of shareholders and nominations of persons for election to our board of trustees may be made only:

 

·by or at the direction of our board of trustees; or

 

·provided that the meeting has been called in accordance with our bylaws, by a shareholder who was a shareholder of record both at the time of the provision of notice and at the time of the meeting who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in our bylaws.

 

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Exclusive Forum

 

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (i) the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any Internal Corporate Claim as defined under the MGCL, (b) any derivative action or proceeding brought in the right or on behalf of the Company, (c) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Company to the Company or its shareholders, (d) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the Maryland REIT law, the Company’s declaration of trust or bylaws, or (e) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Company that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, and (ii) the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, as amended. In the event that any action or proceeding described in clause (i) is pending in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, our bylaws require that any shareholder that is a party to such proceeding or claim shall cooperate in seeking to have the action or proceeding assigned to the Maryland Business and Technology Case Management Program.

 

Possible Anti-Takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws

 

The business combination provisions of Maryland law (if our board of trustees opts to make them applicable to us), the control share acquisition provisions of Maryland law (if the applicable provision in our bylaws is rescinded), the “unsolicited takeover” provisions of Maryland law (if our board of trustees elect for any of such provisions to be applicable), the limitations on removal of trustees, the restrictions on the acquisition of our shares of beneficial interest, the power to issue additional common shares or preferred shares and the advance notice provisions of our bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of the common shares or might otherwise be in their best interest.

 

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RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP

 

In order to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, our shares must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, no more than 50% of the value of our outstanding shares (after taking into account options to acquire shares) may be owned, directly, indirectly, or through attribution, by five or fewer individuals at any time during the last half of each taxable year (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code to include certain entities).

 

Because our board of trustees believes that it is essential for us to qualify as a REIT and for anti-takeover reasons, our declaration of trust, subject to certain exceptions, contains restrictions on the number of our shares of beneficial interest that a person may own. Our declaration of trust provides that:

 

·no person, other than an excepted holder or a designated investment entity (each as defined in the declaration of trust), may own directly, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, more than 7%, in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our issued and outstanding common shares;

 

·no person may own directly or indirectly, or be deemed to own through attribution, more than 9.8% in number or value or any class of series of preferred shares;

 

·no one excepted holder, which means members of the Kite family, their family members and certain entities controlled by them, treated as an individual, may currently acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, shares in excess of 21.5% in number or value, whichever is more restrictive, of our issued and outstanding common shares after application of the relevant attribution rules;

 

·no designated investment entity may acquire or hold, directly or indirectly (or through attribution), shares in excess of the designated investment entity limit of 9.8%, in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of any class or series of shares;

 

·no person shall beneficially own shares that would result in our otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including but not limited to ownership that would result in our owning (directly or constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code if the income derived by us (either directly or indirectly through one or more partnerships or limited liability companies) from such tenant would cause us to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Internal Revenue Code);

 

·no person shall beneficially or constructively own our shares of beneficial interest that would result in us being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT; and

 

·no person shall transfer our shares of beneficial interest if such transfer would result in our shares of beneficial interest being owned by fewer than 100 persons.

 

The declaration of trust defines a “designated investment entity” as:

 

1.an entity that is a pension trust that qualifies for look-through treatment under Section 856(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

 

2.an entity that qualifies as a regulated investment company under Section 851 of the Internal Revenue Code; or

 

3.an entity that (i) for compensation engages in the business of advising others as to the value of securities or as to the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities; (ii) purchases securities in the ordinary course of its business and not with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of us, nor in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect, including any transaction subject to Rule 13d-3(b) of the Exchange Act, as amended; and (iii) has or shares voting power and investment power within the meaning of Rule 13d-3(a) under the Exchange Act, as amended; so long as each beneficial owner of such entity, or in the case of an investment management company, the individual account holders of the accounts managed by such entity, would satisfy the 7% ownership limit on common shares or the 9.8% ownership limit on preferred shares if such beneficial owner or account holder owned directly its proportionate share of the shares held by the entity.

 

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Our board of trustees may waive the 7% ownership limit for common shares, the 9.8% ownership limit for preferred shares, or the 9.8% designated investment entity limit, for a shareholder that is not an individual if such shareholder provides information and makes representations to the board that are satisfactory to the board, in its reasonable discretion, to establish that such person’s ownership in excess of the 7% limit for common shares, the 9.8% limit for preferred shares or the 9.8% designated investment entity limit, as applicable, would not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT.

 

Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial or constructive ownership of our shares that will or may violate any of the foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will be required to give written notice immediately to us and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of such transfer on our status as a REIT. If any transfer of shares or any other event would otherwise result in any person violating the ownership limits described above, then our declaration of trust provides that (a) the transfer will be void and of no force or effect with respect to the prohibited transferee with respect to that number of shares that exceeds the ownership limits and (b) the prohibited transferee would not acquire any right or interest in the shares. Such events will result in the automatic transfer of our common shares to a charitable trust, which will be responsible for selling the common shares to permitted transferees and distributing at least a portion of the proceeds to the prohibited transferees. The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if our board of trustees determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT.

 

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

 

Every owner of more than 5% (or such lower percentage as required by the Internal Revenue Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) of all classes or series of our shares, including common shares, will be required to give written notice to us within 30 days after the end of each taxable year stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of each class and series of shares that the owner beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which such shares are held. Each such owner shall provide to us such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limitations. In addition, each shareholder shall upon demand be required to provide to us such information as we may request, in good faith, in order to determine our status as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.

 

These ownership limitations could delay, deter or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for the common shares or might otherwise be in the best interest of our shareholders.

 

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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

 

The 0.75% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2027 were originally issued by the Operating Partnership and sold by the initial purchasers of the notes in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act to persons reasonably believed by the initial purchasers to be qualified institutional buyers as defined by Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Under certain circumstances, we may issue our common shares upon the exchange of the notes. In such circumstances, the recipients of our common shares, whom we refer to as the selling shareholders, may use this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement to resell from time to time the common shares that we may issue to them upon the exchange of the notes. Information about selling shareholders will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to our qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust, a “REIT,” and the acquisition, holding, and disposition of our common shares. For purposes of this discussion, references to “our Company,” “we” and “us” mean only Kite Realty Group Trust and not its subsidiaries or affiliates. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Treasury Regulations, rulings and other administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) (including administrative interpretations and practices expressed in private letter rulings which are binding on the IRS only with respect to the particular taxpayers who requested and received those rulings), and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below. We have not sought and will not seek an advance ruling from the IRS regarding any matter discussed in this section. The summary is also based upon the assumption that we will operate our Company and its subsidiaries and affiliated entities in accordance with their applicable organizational documents. This discussion is limited to holders that hold our shares as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This summary is for general information only, and does not purport to discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a particular investor in light of its investment or tax circumstances, or to investors subject to special tax rules, including:

 

·tax-exempt organizations, except to the extent discussed below in “-Taxation of U.S. Shareholders-Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders,”

 

·broker-dealers,

 

·non-U.S. corporations, non-U.S. partnerships, non-U.S. trusts, non-U.S. estates, or individuals who are not taxed as citizens or residents of the United States, all of which may be referred to collectively as “non-U.S. persons,” except to the extent discussed below in “-Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders,”

 

·trusts and estates,

 

·regulated investment companies, or “RICs,”

 

·REITS, financial institutions,

 

·insurance companies,

 

·subchapter S corporations,

 

·foreign (non-U.S. governments),

 

·persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code,

 

·persons holding the shares as part of a “hedge,” “straddle,” “conversion,” “synthetic security” or other integrated investment,

 

·persons holding the shares through a partnership or similar pass-through entity,

 

·persons with a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar,

 

·persons holding 10% or more (by vote or value) of the beneficial interest in us, except to the extent discussed below,

 

·persons who do not hold the shares as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code,

 

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·corporations subject to the provisions of Section 7874 of the Code,

 

·U.S. expatriates, or

 

·persons otherwise subject to special tax treatment under the Code.

 

This summary does not address state, local or non-U.S. tax considerations. This summary also does not consider tax considerations that may be relevant with respect to securities we (or our Operating Partnership) may issue, or selling security holders may sell, other than our shares.

 

Each prospective investor is advised to consult his or her tax advisor to determine the impact of his or her personal tax situation on the anticipated tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and sale of our shares. This includes the U.S. federal, state, local, foreign and other tax considerations of the ownership and sale of our shares and the potential changes in applicable tax laws.

 

Taxation of our Company as a REIT

 

We elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with our first taxable year ended December 31, 2004. A REIT generally is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on the “REIT taxable income” (generally, taxable income of the REIT subject to specified adjustments, including a deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain) that it distributes to shareholders provided that the REIT meets the annual REIT distribution requirement and the other requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code. We believe that we are organized and have operated, and we intend to continue to operate, in a manner to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code. However, qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet the various qualification tests imposed under the Code, including (through our actual annual, or in some cases quarterly, operating results) requirements relating to income, asset ownership, distribution levels and diversity of share ownership. Given the complex nature of the REIT qualification requirements, the ongoing importance of factual determinations and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, we cannot provide any assurances that we will be organized or operated in a manner so as to satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. See “ – Failure to Qualify as a REIT” for potential tax consequences if we fail to qualify as a REIT.

 

The sections of the Code that relate to our qualification and taxation as a REIT are highly technical and complex. This discussion sets forth the material aspects of the sections of the Code that govern the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a REIT and its shareholders. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, relevant rules and Treasury Regulations, and related administrative and judicial interpretations.

 

Taxation of REITs in General

 

For each taxable year in which we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our REIT taxable income (generally, taxable income of the REIT subject to specified adjustments, including a deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain) that is distributed annually to our shareholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” at the corporate and shareholder levels that generally results from an investment in a non-REIT “C” corporation. A non-REIT “C” corporation is a corporation that generally is required to pay tax at the corporate level. Double taxation means taxation once at the corporate level when income is earned and once again at the shareholder level when the income is distributed. In general, the income that we generate is taxed only at the shareholder level upon a distribution of dividends to our shareholders.

 

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U.S. shareholders generally will be subject to taxation on dividends distributed by us (other than designated capital gain dividends and “qualified dividend income”) at rates applicable to ordinary income, instead of at lower capital gain rates. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2026, generally, U.S. shareholders that are individuals, trusts or estates may deduct 20% of the aggregate amount of ordinary dividends distributed by us, subject to certain limitations. Capital gain dividends and qualified dividend income will continue to be subject to a maximum 20% rate (excluding the 3.8% tax on “net investment income”). All references to tax rates in this discussion captioned “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” are to the rates that currently are in effect under existing law, but there have been proposals from time to time to change certain tax rates, at least for certain taxpayers. There can be no assurance that one or more of those proposals, or other proposals that may be made in the future, might not be enacted into law.

 

Any net operating losses, foreign tax credits and other tax attributes of a REIT generally do not pass through to our shareholders, subject to special rules for certain items such as the net capital gains that we recognize.

 

Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the following circumstances:

 

1.We will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable income (generally, taxable income of the REIT subject to specified adjustments, including a deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain).

 

2.If we have (1) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” that is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, or (2) other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property, such income will be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate.

 

3.Our gain from “prohibited transactions” will be subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business other than foreclosure property.

 

4.If we fail to satisfy either the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, as discussed below, but our failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and we nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because of specified cure provisions, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount equal to (a) the greater of (1) the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test or (2) the amount by which we fail the 95% gross income test, as the case may be, multiplied by (b) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

 

5.We will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of amounts actually distributed, excess distributions from the preceding tax year and amounts retained for which U.S. federal income tax was paid, if we fail to make the required distributions by the end of a calendar year. The required distribution for each calendar year is equal to the sum of:

 

·85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year;

 

·95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year other than capital gains we elect to retain and pay tax on as described below; and

 

·any undistributed taxable income from prior taxable years.

 

6.We will be subject to a 100% penalty tax on certain rental income we receive when a taxable REIT subsidiary provides services to our tenants, on certain expenses deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary on payments made to us and on income for services rendered to us by a taxable REIT subsidiary, if the arrangements among us, our tenants, and our taxable REIT subsidiaries do not reflect arm’s-length terms.

 

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7.If we acquire any assets from a non-REIT “C” corporation in a carry-over basis transaction, we would be liable for U.S. federal corporate income tax, at the highest applicable corporate rate for the “built-in gain” with respect to those assets if we disposed of those assets within five years after they were acquired. To the extent that assets are transferred to us in a carry-over basis transaction by a partnership in which a corporation owns an interest, we will be subject to this tax in proportion to the non-REIT “C” corporation’s interest in the partnership. Built-in gain is the amount by which an asset’s fair market value exceeds its adjusted tax basis at the time we acquire the asset. The results described in this paragraph assume that the non-REIT “C” corporation will not elect, in lieu of this treatment, to be subject to an immediate tax when the asset is acquired by us.

 

8.We may elect to retain and pay U.S. federal income tax on our net long-term capital gain. In that case, a U.S. shareholder would include its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain (to the extent that we make a timely designation of such gain to the shareholder) in its income, would be deemed to have paid the tax we paid on such gain, and would be allowed a credit for its proportionate share of the tax deemed to have been paid, and an adjustment would be made to increase the basis of the U.S. shareholder in our common shares.

 

9.If we violate the asset tests (other than certain de minimis violations) or other requirements applicable to REITs, as described below, but our failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and we nevertheless maintain our REIT qualification because of specified cure provisions, we will be subject to a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the amount determined by multiplying the net income generated by such non-qualifying assets by the highest rate of tax applicable to non-REIT “C” corporations during periods when such assets would have caused us to fail the asset test.

 

10.If we fail to satisfy a requirement under the Code which would result in the loss of our REIT qualification, other than a failure to satisfy a gross income test, or an asset test as described in paragraph 9 above, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because the requirements of certain relief provisions are satisfied, we will be subject to a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.

 

11.If we fail to comply with the requirements to send annual letters to our shareholders requesting information regarding the actual ownership of our shares and the failure was not due to reasonable cause or was due to willful neglect, we will be subject to a $25,000 penalty or, if the failure is intentional, a $50,000 penalty.

 

12.The earnings of any subsidiaries that are non-REIT “C” corporations, including any taxable REIT subsidiary, are subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax.

 

13.As the “successor” to Inland Diversified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Inland Merger, if Inland Diversified failed to qualify as a REIT for a taxable year before the Inland Merger or for the taxable year that includes the Inland Merger, and no relief is available, as a result of the Inland Merger we would inherit any corporate tax liabilities of Inland Diversified for Inland Diversified’s open tax years (possibly extending back six years to Inland Diversified’s 2013 tax year), including penalties and interest.

 

14.As the “successor” to RPAI for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the RPAI Merger, if RPAI failed to qualify as a REIT for a taxable year before the RPAI Merger or for the taxable year that includes the RPAI Merger, and no relief is available, as a result of the RPAI Merger we would inherit any corporate tax liabilities of RPAI for RPAI’s open tax years (possibly extending back six years to RPAI’s 2015 tax year), including penalties and interest.

 

Notwithstanding our qualification as a REIT, we and our subsidiaries may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local, and foreign income, property and other taxes on our assets, operations and/or net worth. We could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.

 

Requirements for Qualification as a REIT

 

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

 

1.that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

 

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2.that issues transferable shares or transferable certificates to evidence its beneficial ownership;

 

3.that would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code;

 

4.that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company within the meaning of certain provisions of the Code;

 

5.that is beneficially owned by 100 or more persons;

 

6.not more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares or other beneficial interest of which is owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities and as determined by applying certain attribution rules) during the last half of each taxable year;

 

7.that makes an election to be a REIT for the current taxable year, or has made such an election for a previous taxable year that has not been revoked or terminated, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS that must be met to elect and maintain REIT status;

 

8.that uses a calendar year for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

9.that meets other applicable tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions; and

 

10.that has no earnings and profits from any non-REIT taxable year at the close of any taxable year.

 

The Code provides that conditions (1), (2), (3) and (4) above must be met during the entire taxable year and condition (5) above must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. Conditions (5) and (6) do not apply until after the first taxable year for which an election is made to be taxed as a REIT. Condition (6) must be met during the last half of each taxable year. For purposes of determining share ownership under condition (6) above, a supplemental unemployment compensation benefits plan, a private foundation or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes generally is considered an individual. However, a trust that is a qualified trust under Code Section 401(a) generally is not considered an individual, and beneficiaries of a qualified trust are treated as holding shares of a REIT in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for purposes of condition (6) above.

 

We believe that we have been organized, have operated and have issued sufficient shares of beneficial interest with sufficient diversity of ownership to allow us to satisfy the above conditions. In addition, our declaration of trust contains restrictions regarding the transfer of shares of beneficial interest that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, we will fail to qualify as a REIT unless we qualify for certain relief provisions described below.

 

To monitor our compliance with condition (6) above, we are generally required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our shares. To do so, we must demand written statements each year from the record holders of specified percentages of our shares pursuant to which the record holders must disclose the actual owners of the shares (i.e., the persons required to include in gross income the dividends paid by us). We must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with this demand as part of our records. We could be subject to monetary penalties if we fail to comply with these record-keeping requirements. A shareholder that fails or refuses to comply with the demand is required by Treasury Regulations to submit a statement with its tax return disclosing the actual ownership of our shares and other information. If we comply with the record-keeping requirement and we do not know or, exercising reasonable diligence, would not have known of our failure to meet condition (6) above, then we will be treated as having met condition (6) above.

 

To qualify as a REIT, we cannot have at the end of any taxable year any undistributed earnings and profits that are attributable to a non-REIT taxable year. We elected to be taxed as a REIT beginning with our first taxable year in 2004 and we have not succeeded to any earnings and profits of a non-REIT “C” corporation.

 

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Therefore, we do not believe we have had any undistributed non-REIT earnings and profits (and do not believe that we inherited any un-distributed non-REIT earnings and profits in any prior transactions).

 

As the “successor” to Inland Diversified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Inland Merger, if Inland Diversified failed to qualify as a REIT for a taxable year before the Inland Merger or the taxable year that includes the Inland Merger, and no relief is available, in connection with the Inland Merger we would succeed to any undistributed earnings and profits accumulated by Inland Diversified for the taxable periods that it did not qualify as a REIT, and we would have to pay a special dividend and/or employ applicable deficiency dividend procedures (including significant interest payments to the IRS) to eliminate such earnings and profits. Although Inland Diversified believed that it was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for each of its taxable years prior to the taxable year that includes the Inland Merger, Inland Diversified did not request a ruling from the IRS that it qualified as a REIT and thus no assurance can be given that it qualified as a REIT. See also “– Failure to Qualify as a REIT” for a discussion of the adverse impact that Inland Diversified’s failure to qualify as a REIT might have on our qualification as a REIT if we are regarded as the “successor” to Inland Diversified under the REIT rules.

 

As the “successor” to RPAI for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the RPAI Merger, if RPAI failed to qualify as a REIT for a taxable year before the RPAI Merger or the taxable year that includes the RPAI Merger, and no relief is available, in connection with the RPAI Merger we would succeed to any undistributed earnings and profits accumulated by RPAI for the taxable periods that it did not qualify as a REIT, and we would have to pay a special dividend and/or employ applicable deficiency dividend procedures (including significant interest payments to the IRS) to eliminate such earnings and profits. Although RPAI believed that it was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for each of its taxable years prior to the taxable year that includes the RPAI Merger, RPAI did not request a ruling from the IRS that it qualified as a REIT and thus no assurance can be given that it qualified as a REIT. See also “– Failure to Qualify as a REIT” for a discussion of the adverse impact that RPAI’s failure to qualify as a REIT might have on our qualification as a REIT if we are regarded as the “successor” to RPAI under the REIT rules.

 

Effect of Subsidiary Entities

 

Ownership of Interests in Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies. In the case of a REIT which is a partner in a partnership or a member in a limited liability company treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Treasury Regulations provide that the REIT will be deemed to own its pro rata share of the assets of the partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, based on its capital interests in such partnership or limited liability company. Our capital interest in a partnership or limited liability company is based on either our percentage ownership of the capital of the partnership or limited liability company or based on the allocations provided in the applicable partnership or limited liability company operating agreement, using the more conservative calculation. Also, the REIT will be deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership or limited liability company attributable to its pro rata share of the assets of that entity. The assets and gross income of the partnership or limited liability company retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and the asset tests. Thus, our pro rata share of the assets and items of income of our Operating Partnership, including our Operating Partnership’s share of these items of any partnership or limited liability company in which it owns an interest, are treated as our assets and items of income for purposes of applying the requirements described in this prospectus, including the income and asset tests described below.

 

We have included a brief summary of the rules governing the U.S. federal income taxation of partnerships and limited liability companies and their partners or members below in “– Tax Aspects of Our Ownership of Interests in the Operating Partnership and other Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies.” We generally have control of our Operating Partnership and substantially all of the subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies in which our Operating Partnership has invested and intend to continue to operate them in a manner consistent with the requirements for our qualification and taxation as a REIT. In the future, we may be a limited partner or non-managing member in some of our partnerships and limited liability companies. If such a partnership or limited liability company were to take actions which could jeopardize our qualification as a REIT or require us to pay tax, we may be forced to dispose of our interest in such entity. In addition, it is possible that a partnership or limited liability company could take an action which could cause us to fail a REIT income or asset test, and that we would not become aware of such action in a time frame which would allow us to dispose of our interest in the partnership or limited liability company or take other corrective action on a timely basis. In that case, we could fail to qualify as a REIT unless entitled to relief, as described below.

 

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Under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, liability is imposed on the partnership (rather than its partners) for adjustments to reported partnership taxable income resulting from audits or other tax proceedings. The liability can include an imputed underpayment of tax, calculated by using the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate, as well as interest and penalties on such imputed underpayment of tax. Using certain rules, partnerships may be able to transfer these liabilities to their partners. In the event any adjustments are imposed by the IRS on the taxable income reported by any subsidiary partnerships, we intend to utilize certain rules to the extent possible to allow us to transfer any liability with respect to such adjustments to the partners of the subsidiary partnerships who should properly bear such liability. However, there is no assurance that we will qualify under those rules or that we will have the authority to use those rules under the operating agreements for certain of our subsidiary partnerships.

 

Ownership of Interests in Qualified REIT Subsidiaries. We may acquire 100% of the stock of one or more corporations that are qualified REIT subsidiaries. A corporation will qualify as our qualified REIT subsidiary if we own 100% of its stock and it is not a taxable REIT subsidiary. A qualified REIT subsidiary will not be treated as a separate corporation, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of a qualified REIT subsidiary will be treated as our assets, liabilities and such items (as the case may be) for all purposes of the Code, including the REIT qualification tests. For this reason, references in this discussion to our income and assets should be understood to include the income and assets of any qualified REIT subsidiary we own. Our ownership of the stock of a qualified REIT subsidiary will not violate the restrictions against ownership of securities of any one issuer which constitute more than 10% of the voting power or value of such issuer’s securities or more than 5% of the value of our total assets, as described below in “-Asset Tests Applicable to REITs.”

 

Ownership of Interests in Taxable REIT Subsidiaries. A taxable REIT subsidiary of ours is a corporation other than a REIT in which we directly or indirectly hold stock, and that has made a joint election with us to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary under Section 856(l) of the Code. A taxable REIT subsidiary also includes any corporation other than a REIT in which a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours owns, directly or indirectly, securities (other than certain “straight debt” securities), which represent more than 35% of the total voting power or value of the outstanding securities of such corporation. Other than some activities relating to lodging and health care facilities, a taxable REIT subsidiary may generally engage in any business, including the provision of customary or non-customary services to our tenants without causing us to receive impermissible tenant service income under the REIT gross income tests. A taxable REIT subsidiary is required to pay regular U.S. federal income tax, and state and local income tax where applicable, as a non-REIT “C” corporation. In addition, a taxable REIT subsidiary may be prevented from deducting interest on debt, including debt funded directly or indirectly by us, if certain tests are not satisfied. If dividends are paid to us by one or more of our taxable REIT subsidiaries, then a portion of the dividends we distribute to shareholders who are taxed at individual rates will generally be eligible for taxation at lower capital gains rates, rather than at ordinary income rates. See “– Taxation of U.S. Shareholders-Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders-Qualified Dividend Income.”

 

Generally, a taxable REIT subsidiary can perform impermissible tenant services without causing us to receive impermissible tenant services income under the REIT income tests. However, several provisions applicable to the arrangements between us and our taxable REIT subsidiaries ensure that such taxable REIT subsidiaries will be subject to an appropriate level of U.S. federal income taxation. For example, taxable REIT subsidiaries are limited in their ability to deduct interest payments in excess of a certain amount, including interest payments made directly or indirectly to us, as described below in “—Annual Distribution Requirements.” In addition, we will be obligated to pay a 100% excise tax on some payments we receive or on certain expenses deducted by our taxable REIT subsidiaries, and on income earned by our taxable REIT subsidiaries for services provided to, or on behalf of, us, if the economic arrangements between us, our tenants and such taxable REIT subsidiaries are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties. Our taxable REIT subsidiaries, and any future taxable REIT subsidiaries acquired by us, may make interest and other payments to us and to third parties in connection with activities related to our properties. There can be no assurance that our taxable REIT subsidiaries will not be limited in their ability to deduct interest payments made to us. In addition, there can be no assurance that the IRS might not seek to impose the 100% excise tax on a portion of payments received by us from, or expenses deducted by, or service income imputed to, our taxable REIT subsidiaries. See “-Failure to Satisfy the Gross Income Tests” for further discussion of these rules and the 100% excise tax.

 

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We own subsidiaries that have elected to be treated as taxable REIT subsidiaries for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Each of our taxable REIT subsidiaries is taxable as a non-REIT “C” corporation and has elected, together with us, to be treated as our taxable REIT subsidiary or is treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary under the 35% subsidiary rule discussed above. We may elect, together with other corporations in which we may own directly or indirectly stock, for those corporations to be treated as our taxable REIT subsidiaries.

 

Gross Income Tests

 

To qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income tests that are applied on an annual basis. First, in each taxable year at least 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, certain hedging transactions, as described below, and certain foreign currency transactions) must be derived from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, generally including:

 

1.“rents from real property”;

 

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

 

3.a gain from the sale of real property or mortgages on real property, in either case, not held for sale to customers;

 

4.interest income derived from mortgage loans secured by real property; and

 

5.income attributable to temporary investments of new capital in stocks and debt instruments during the one-year period following our receipt of new capital that we raise through equity offerings or issuance of debt obligations with at least a five-year term.

 

Second, at least 95% of our gross income in each taxable year (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, certain hedging transactions, as described below, and certain foreign currency transactions) must be derived from some combination of income that qualifies under the 75% gross income test described above, as well as other income sources generally including (a) dividends, (b) interest (including interest income from debt instruments issued by publicly offered REITs), and (c) gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities (including gain from the sale or other disposition of debt instruments issued by publicly offered REITs), in either case, not held for sale to customers.

 

Rents from Real Property. Rents we receive will qualify as “rents from real property” for the purpose of satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if several conditions are met. These conditions relate to the identity of the tenant, the computation of the rent payable, and the nature of the property lease.

 

1.First, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount we receive or accrue generally will not be excluded from the term “rents from real property” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales;

 

2.Second, we, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of our shares, must not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the interests in the tenant, or, if the tenant is a corporation, 10% or more of the voting power or value of all classes of stock of the tenant. Rents received from such tenant that is a taxable REIT subsidiary, however, will not be excluded from the definition of “rents from real property” as a result of this condition if either (i) at least 90% of the space at the property to which the rents relate is leased to third parties, and the rents paid by the taxable REIT subsidiary are comparable to rents paid by our other tenants for comparable space or (ii) the property is a qualified lodging facility or a qualified health care property and such property is operated on behalf of the taxable REIT subsidiary by a person who is an “eligible independent contractor” (as described below) and certain other requirements are met;

 

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3.Third, rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, must not be greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease. If this requirement is not met, then the portion of rent attributable to personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property”; and

 

4.Fourth, for rents to qualify as rents from real property for the purpose of satisfying the gross income tests, we generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to the tenants of such property, other than through an “independent contractor” who is adequately compensated and from whom we derive no revenue or through a taxable REIT subsidiary. To the extent that impermissible services are provided by an independent contractor or taxable REIT subsidiary, the cost of the services generally must be borne by the independent contractor or taxable REIT subsidiary. We anticipate that any services we provide directly to tenants will be “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and not otherwise considered to be provided for the tenants’ convenience. We may provide a minimal amount of “non-customary” services to tenants of our properties, other than through an independent contractor or taxable REIT subsidiary, but we intend that our income from these services will not exceed 1% of our total gross income from the property. If the impermissible tenant services income exceeds 1% of our total income from a property, then all of the income from that property will fail to qualify as rents from real property. If the total amount of impermissible tenant services income does not exceed 1% of our total income from the property, the services will not “taint” the other income from the property (that is, it will not cause the rent paid by tenants of that property to fail to qualify as rents from real property), but the impermissible tenant services income will not qualify as rents from real property. We are deemed to have received income from the provision of impermissible services in an amount equal to at least 150% of our direct cost of providing the service.

 

We monitor (and intend to continue to monitor) the activities provided at, and the non-qualifying income arising from, our properties and believe that we have not provided services at levels that will cause us to fail to meet the income tests. We provide services and may provide access to third party service providers at some or all of our properties. Based upon our experience in the retail markets where the properties are located, we believe that all access to service providers and services provided to tenants by us (other than through a qualified independent contractor or a taxable REIT subsidiary) either are usually or customarily rendered in connection with the rental of real property and not otherwise considered rendered to the occupant, or, if considered impermissible services, will not result in an amount of impermissible tenant service income that will cause us to fail to meet the income test requirements. However, we cannot provide any assurance that the IRS will agree with these positions.

 

Income we receive that is attributable to the rental of parking spaces at the properties will constitute rents from real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests if the services provided with respect to the parking facilities are performed by independent contractors from whom we derive no income, either directly or indirectly, or by a taxable REIT subsidiary. We believe that the income we receive that is attributable to parking facilities will meet these tests and, accordingly, will constitute rents from real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests.

 

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We may in the future hold one or more hotel properties. We expect to lease any such hotel properties to our taxable REIT subsidiary (or to a joint venture entity in which our taxable REIT subsidiary will have an interest). In order for rent paid pursuant to a REIT’s leases to constitute “rents from real property,” the leases must be respected as true leases for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the leases cannot be treated as service contracts, joint ventures or some other type of arrangement. The determination of whether the leases are true leases for U.S. federal income tax purposes depends upon an analysis of all the surrounding facts and circumstances. We intend to structure the leases so that the leases will be respected as true leases for U.S. federal income tax purposes. With respect to the management of the hotel properties, the taxable REIT subsidiary (or the taxable REIT subsidiary-joint venture entity-lessee) intends to enter into a management contract with a hotel management company that qualifies as an “eligible independent contractor.” A taxable REIT subsidiary must not directly or indirectly operate or manage a lodging or health care facility or, generally, provide to another person, under a franchise, license or otherwise, rights to any brand name under which any lodging facility or health care facility is operated. Although a taxable REIT subsidiary may not operate or manage a lodging facility, it may lease or own such a facility so long as the facility is a “qualified lodging facility” and is operated on behalf of the taxable REIT subsidiary by an “eligible independent contractor.” A “qualified lodging facility” is, generally, a hotel at which no authorized gambling activities are conducted, and includes the customary amenities and facilities operated as part of, or associated with, the hotel. “Customary amenities” must be customary for other properties of a comparable size and class owned by other owners unrelated to the REIT. An “eligible independent contractor” is an independent contractor that, at the time a management agreement is entered into with a taxable REIT subsidiary to operate a “qualified lodging facility,” is actively engaged in the trade or business of operating “qualified lodging facilities” for a person or persons unrelated to either the taxable REIT subsidiary or any REITs with which the taxable REIT subsidiary is affiliated. A hotel management company that otherwise would qualify as an “eligible independent contractor” with regard to a taxable REIT subsidiary of a REIT will not so qualify if the hotel management company and/or one or more actual or constructive owners of 10% or more of the hotel management company actually or constructively own more than 35% of the REIT, or one or more actual or constructive owners of more than 35% of the hotel management company own 35% or more of the REIT (determined with respect to a REIT whose shares are regularly traded on an established securities market by taking into account only the shares held by persons owning, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the REIT and, if the stock of the eligible independent contractor is publicly traded, 5% of the publicly traded stock of the eligible independent contractor). We intend to take all steps reasonably practicable to ensure that none of our taxable REIT subsidiaries will engage in “operating” or “managing” any hotels and that the hotel management companies engaged to operate and manage hotels leased to or owned by the taxable REIT subsidiaries will qualify as “eligible independent contractors” with regard to those taxable REIT subsidiaries. We expect that rental income we receive, if any, that is attributable to the hotel properties will constitute rents from real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests.

 

Interest Income. “Interest” generally will be non-qualifying income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests if it depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, interest based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales may still qualify under the gross income tests. We do not expect to derive significant amounts of interest that will not qualify under the 75% and 95% gross income tests.

 

Dividend Income. Our share of any dividends received from any taxable REIT subsidiaries will qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. We do not anticipate that we will receive sufficient dividends from any taxable REIT subsidiaries to cause us to exceed the limit on non-qualifying income under the 75% gross income test. Dividends that we receive from other qualifying REITs will qualify for purposes of both REIT income tests.

 

Income from Hedging Transactions. From time to time, we may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Any such hedging transactions could take a variety of forms, including the use of derivative instruments such as interest rate swap or cap agreements, option agreements, and futures or forward contracts. Income of a REIT, including income from a pass-through subsidiary, arising from “clearly identified” hedging transactions that are entered into to manage the risk of interest rate or price changes with respect to borrowings, including gain from the disposition of such hedging transactions, to the extent the hedging transactions hedge indebtedness incurred, or to be incurred, by the REIT to acquire or carry real estate assets (each such hedge, a “Borrowings Hedge”), will not be treated as gross income for purposes of either the 95% gross income test or the 75% gross income test. Income of a REIT arising from hedging transactions that are entered into to manage the risk of currency fluctuations with respect to our investments (each such hedge, a “Currency Hedge”) will not be treated as gross income for purposes of either the 95% gross income test or the 75% gross income test provided that the transaction is “clearly identified.” This exclusion from the 95% and 75% gross income tests also will apply if we previously entered into a Borrowings Hedge or a Currency Hedge, a portion of the hedged indebtedness or property is disposed of, and in connection with such extinguishment or disposition we enter into a new “clearly identified” hedging transaction to offset the prior hedging position. In general, for a hedging transaction to be “clearly identified,” (1) it must be identified as a hedging transaction before the end of the day on which it is acquired, originated, or entered into; and (2) the items of risks being hedged must be identified “substantially contemporaneously” with entering into the hedging transaction (generally not more than 35 days after entering into the hedging transaction). To the extent that we hedge with other types of financial instruments or in other situations, the resultant income will be treated as income that does not qualify under the 95% or 75% gross income tests unless the hedge meets certain requirements and we elect to integrate it with a specified asset and to treat the integrated position as a synthetic debt instrument. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT but there can be no assurance we will be successful in this regard.

 

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Income from Prohibited Transactions. Any gain that we realize on the sale of any property (other than the sale of foreclosure property) held as inventory or otherwise held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, including our share of any such gain realized by our Operating Partnership, either directly or through its subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies, will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction. However, we will not be treated as a dealer in real property with respect to a property that we sell for the purposes of the 100% tax if (i) we have held the property for at least two years for the production of rental income prior to the sale, (ii) capitalized expenditures on the property in the two years preceding the sale are less than 30% of the net selling price of the property, and (iii) we either (a) have seven or fewer sales of property (excluding certain property obtained through foreclosure) for the year of sale; or (b) the aggregate adjusted basis of property sold during the year is 10% or less of the aggregate adjusted basis of all of our assets as of the beginning of the taxable year; or (c) the fair market value of property sold during the year is 10% or less of the aggregate fair market value of all of our assets as of the beginning of the taxable year; or (d) the aggregate adjusted basis of property sold during the year is 20% or less of the aggregate adjusted basis of all of our assets as of the beginning of the taxable year and the aggregate adjusted basis of property sold during the three-year period ending with the year of sale is 10% or less of the aggregate tax basis of all of our assets as of the beginning of each of the three taxable years ending with the year of sale; or (e) the fair market value of property sold during the year is 20% or less of the aggregate fair market value of all of our assets as of the beginning of the taxable year and the fair market value of property sold during the three-year period ending with the year of sale is 10% or less of the aggregate fair market value of all of our assets as of the beginning of each of the three taxable years ending with the year of sale. If we rely on clauses (b), (c), (d), or (e) in the preceding sentence, substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property sold must be made through an independent contractor from whom we derive no income or our taxable REIT subsidiary. The sale of more than one property to one buyer as part of one transaction constitutes one sale for purposes of this “safe harbor.”

 

We intend to hold our properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring, developing and owning our properties and to make occasional sales of the properties as are consistent with our investment objectives. However, the IRS may successfully contend that some or all of the sales made by us or our Operating Partnership or its subsidiary partnerships or limited liability companies are prohibited transactions.

 

In that case, we would be required to pay the 100% penalty tax on our allocable share of the gains resulting from any such sales.

 

Income from Foreclosure Property. We generally will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate on any net income from foreclosure property, including any gain from the disposition of the foreclosure property, other than income that constitutes qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Foreclosure property is real property and any personal property incident to such real property (1) that we acquire as the result of having bid on the property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced the property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after a default (or upon imminent default) on a lease of the property or a mortgage loan held by us and secured by the property, (2) for which we acquired the related loan or lease at a time when default was not imminent or anticipated, and (3) with respect to which we made a proper election to treat the property as foreclosure property. Any gain from the sale of property for which a foreclosure property election has been made and remains in place generally will not be subject to the 100% tax on gains from prohibited transactions described above, even if the property would otherwise constitute inventory or dealer property. To the extent that we receive any income from foreclosure property that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test, we intend to make an election to treat the related property as foreclosure property if the election is available (which may not be the case with respect to any acquired “distressed loans”).

 

Failure to Satisfy the Gross Income Tests. If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for that year if we are entitled to relief under the Code. These relief provisions will be generally available if (1) our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and (2) following our identification of the failure to meet the 75% and/or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we file a schedule with the IRS setting forth a description of each item of our gross income that satisfies the gross income tests for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income test for such taxable year in accordance with Treasury Regulations. It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances, we will fail to qualify as a REIT. As discussed above in “- Taxation of our Company as a REIT - General,” even if these relief provisions apply, a tax would be imposed based on the amount of non-qualifying income. We intend to take advantage of any and all relief provisions that are available to us to cure any violation of the income tests applicable to REITs.

 

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Redetermined Amounts. Any redetermined rents, redetermined deductions, excess interest, or redetermined taxable REIT subsidiary service income we generate will be subject to a 100% penalty tax. In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of services furnished by one of our taxable REIT subsidiaries to any of our tenants, redetermined deductions and excess interest represent amounts that are deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s-length negotiations, and redetermined taxable REIT subsidiary service income is gross income (less deductions allocable thereto) of a taxable REIT subsidiary attributable to services provided to, or on behalf of, us that is less than the amounts that would have been paid by us to the taxable REIT subsidiary if based on arm’s-length negotiations. Rents we receive will not constitute redetermined rents if they qualify for the safe harbor provisions contained in the Code. Safe harbor provisions are provided where:

 

1.amounts are excluded from the definition of impermissible tenant service income as a result of satisfying the 1% de minimis exception;

 

2.a taxable REIT subsidiary renders a significant amount of similar services to unrelated parties and the charges for such services are substantially comparable;

 

3.rents paid to us by tenants leasing at least 25% of the net leasable space of the REIT’s property who are not receiving services from the taxable REIT subsidiary are substantially comparable to the rents paid by the REIT’s tenants leasing comparable space who are receiving such services from the taxable REIT subsidiary and the charge for the service is separately stated; or

 

4.the taxable REIT subsidiary’s gross income from the service is not less than 150% of the taxable REIT subsidiary’s direct cost of furnishing the service.

 

While we anticipate that any fees paid to a taxable REIT subsidiary for tenant services will reflect arm’s-length rates, a taxable REIT subsidiary may under certain circumstances provide tenant services which do not satisfy any of the safe-harbor provisions described above. Nevertheless, these determinations are inherently factual, and the IRS has broad discretion to assert that amounts paid between related parties should be reallocated to clearly reflect their respective incomes. If the IRS successfully made such an assertion, we would be required to pay a 100% penalty tax on the redetermined rent, redetermined deductions or excess interest, as applicable.

 

Asset Tests

 

At the close of each calendar quarter, we must satisfy the following tests relating to the nature and diversification of our assets. For purposes of the asset tests, a REIT is not treated as owning the stock of a qualified REIT subsidiary or an equity interest in any entity treated as a partnership otherwise disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Instead, a REIT is treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets held by such entity.

 

1.At least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by some combination of “real estate assets,” cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, and, in some circumstances, stock or debt instruments purchased with new capital. For purposes of this test, real estate assets include interests in real property, such as land and buildings, leasehold interests in real property, stock of other corporations that qualify as REITs (and debt instruments issued by publicly offered REITs, interests in mortgages on interests in real property and personal property leased in connection with real property to the extent that rents attributable to such personal property are treated as “rents from real property”), and some types of mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans. Assets that do not qualify for purposes of the 75% asset test are subject to the additional asset tests described below.

 

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2.Not more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities other than those described in the first bullet above.

 

3.Except for securities described in the first bullet above and the last bullet below and securities in qualified REIT subsidiaries and taxable REIT subsidiaries, the value of any one issuer’s securities owned by us may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets.

 

4.Except for securities described in the first bullet above and the last bullet below and securities in qualified REIT subsidiaries and taxable REIT subsidiaries, we may not own more than 10% of any one issuer’s outstanding voting securities.

 

5.Except for securities described in the first bullet above and the last bullet below and securities in qualified REIT subsidiaries and taxable REIT subsidiaries, and certain types of indebtedness that are not treated as securities for purposes of this test, as discussed below, we may not own more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer.

 

6.Not more than 20% of the value of our total assets may be represented by the securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries.

 

7.Not more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by debt instruments issued by publicly offered REITs that are “nonqualified” debt instruments (e.g., not secured by interests in mortgages on interests in real property and personal property leased in connection with real property to the extent that rents attributable to such personal property are treated as “rents from real property”).

 

The 10% value test does not apply to certain “straight debt” and other excluded securities, as described in the Code, including (1) loans to individuals or estates; (2) obligations to pay rent from real property; (3) rental agreements described in Section 467 of the Code; (4) any security issued by other REITs; (5) certain securities issued by a state, the District of Columbia, a foreign government, or a political subdivision of any of the foregoing, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and (6) any other arrangement as determined by the IRS. In addition, (1) a REIT’s interest as a partner in a partnership is not considered a security for purposes of the 10% value test; (2) any debt instrument issued by a partnership (other than straight debt or other excluded security) will not be considered a security issued by the partnership if at least 75% of the partnership’s gross income is derived from sources that would qualify for the 75% REIT gross income test; and (3) any debt instrument issued by a partnership (other than straight debt or other excluded security) will not be considered a security issued by a partnership to the extent of the REIT’s interest as a partner in the partnership.

 

For purposes of the 10% value test, debt will meet the “straight debt” safe harbor if (1) neither we, nor any of our controlled taxable REIT subsidiaries (i.e., taxable REIT subsidiaries more than 50% of the vote or value of the outstanding stock of which is directly or indirectly owned by us), own any securities not described in the preceding paragraph that have an aggregate value greater than one percent of the issuer’s outstanding securities, as calculated under the Code, (2) the debt is a written unconditional promise to pay on demand or on a specified date a sum certain in money, (3) the debt is not convertible, directly or indirectly, into stock, and (4) the interest rate and the interest payment dates of the debt are not contingent on the profits, the borrower’s discretion or similar factors. However, contingencies regarding time of payment and interest are permissible for purposes of qualifying as a straight debt security if either (1) such contingency does not have the effect of changing the effective yield of maturity, as determined under the Code, other than a change in the annual yield to maturity that does not exceed the greater of (i) 5% of the annual yield to maturity or (ii) 0.25%, or (2) neither the aggregate issue price nor the aggregate face amount of the issuer’s debt instruments held by the REIT exceeds $1,000,000 and not more than 12 months of unaccrued interest can be required to be prepaid thereunder. In addition, debt will not be disqualified from being treated as “straight debt” solely because the time or amount of payment is subject to a contingency upon a default or the exercise of a prepayment right by the issuer of the debt, provided that such contingency is consistent with customary commercial practice.

 

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Our Operating Partnership owns 100% of the interests of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries. We are considered to own our pro rata share (based on our ownership in the Operating Partnership) of the interests in each taxable REIT subsidiary equal to our proportionate share (by capital) of the Operating Partnership. Each taxable REIT subsidiary is taxable as a non-REIT “C” corporation and has elected, together with us, to be treated as our taxable REIT subsidiary. So long as each taxable REIT subsidiary qualifies as such, we will not be subject to the 5% asset test, 10% voting securities limitation or 10% value limitation with respect to our ownership interest in each taxable REIT subsidiary. In the future, we may elect, together with other corporations in which we own directly or indirectly stock, for those corporations to be treated as our taxable REIT subsidiaries. We believe that the aggregate value of our interests in our taxable REIT subsidiaries does not exceed, and in the future it will not exceed, 20% of the aggregate value of our gross assets. To the extent that we own an interest in an issuer that does not qualify as a REIT, a qualified REIT subsidiary, or a taxable REIT subsidiary, we believe that our pro rata share of the value of the securities, including debt, of any such issuer does not exceed 5% of the total value of our assets. Moreover, with respect to each issuer in which we own an interest that does not qualify as a qualified REIT subsidiary or a taxable REIT subsidiary, we believe that our ownership of the securities of any such issuer complies with the 10% voting securities limitation and 10% value limitation.

 

No independent appraisals have been obtained to support these conclusions and we cannot provide any assurance that the IRS will not disagree with our determinations.

 

Failure to Satisfy the Asset Tests. The asset tests must be satisfied not only on the last day of the calendar quarter in which we, directly or through pass-through subsidiaries, acquire securities in the applicable issuer, but also on the last day of the calendar quarter in which we increase our ownership of securities of such issuer, including as a result of increasing our interest in pass-through subsidiaries. After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our status as a REIT for failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in the relative values of our assets (including a discrepancy caused solely by the change in the foreign currency exchange rate used to value a foreign asset). If failure to satisfy the asset tests results from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, we can cure this failure by disposing of sufficient non-qualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. An acquisition of securities could include an increase in our interest in our Operating Partnership, the exercise by limited partners of their redemption right relating to units in the Operating Partnership or an additional capital contribution of proceeds of an offering of our shares of beneficial interest. We intend to continue to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests and to take any available action within 30 days after the close of any quarter as may be required to cure any noncompliance with the asset tests. Although we plan to take steps to ensure that we satisfy such tests for any quarter with respect to which testing is to occur, there can be no assurance that such steps will always be successful. If we fail to timely cure any noncompliance with the asset tests, we will cease to qualify as a REIT, unless we satisfy certain relief provisions.

 

The failure to satisfy the 5% asset test, or the 10% vote or value asset tests can be remedied even after the 30-day cure period under certain circumstances. Specifically, if we fail these asset tests at the end of any quarter and such failure is not cured within 30 days thereafter, we may dispose of sufficient assets (generally within six months after the last day of the quarter in which our identification of the failure to satisfy these asset tests occurred) to cure such a violation that does not exceed the lesser of 1% of our assets at the end of the relevant quarter or $10,000,000. If we fail any of the other asset tests or our failure of the 5% and 10% asset tests is in excess of the de minimis amount described above, as long as such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, we are permitted to avoid disqualification as a REIT, after the 30-day cure period, by taking steps including the disposing of sufficient assets to meet the asset test (generally within six months after the last day of the quarter in which our identification of the failure to satisfy the REIT asset test occurred), paying a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate of the net income generated by the non-qualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy the asset test, and filing in accordance with applicable Treasury Regulations a schedule with the IRS that describes the assets that caused us to fail to satisfy the asset test(s). We intend to take advantage of any and all relief provisions that are available to us to cure any violation of the asset tests applicable to REITs. In certain circumstances, utilization of such provisions could result in us being required to pay an excise or penalty tax, which could be significant in amount.

 

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Annual Distribution Requirements

 

To qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our shareholders each year in an amount at least equal to:

 

1.the sum of: (1) 90% of our “REIT taxable income” (generally, taxable income of the REIT subject to specified adjustments, including a deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain); and (2) 90% of our after-tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property; minus

 

2.the sum of specified items of non-cash income.

 

For purposes of this test, non-cash income means income attributable to leveled stepped rents, original issue discount included in our taxable income without the receipt of a corresponding payment, cancellation of indebtedness or income attributable to a like-kind exchange that is later determined to be taxable.

 

We generally must make dividend distributions in the taxable year to which they relate. Dividend distributions may be made in the following year in two circumstances. First, if we declare a dividend in October, November, or December of any year with a record date in one of these months and pay the dividend on or before January 31 of the following year. Such distributions are treated as both paid by us and received by each shareholder on December 31 of the year in which they are declared. Second, distributions may be made in the following year if they are declared before we timely file our tax return for the year and if made with or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. These distributions are taxable to our shareholders in the year in which paid, even though the distributions relate to our prior taxable year for purposes of the 90% distribution requirement.

 

To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be required to pay tax on that amount at regular corporate tax rates. We intend to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy these annual distribution requirements. In this regard, the partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership authorizes us, as general partner of our Operating Partnership, to take such steps as may be necessary to cause our Operating Partnership to distribute to its partners an amount sufficient to permit us to meet these distribution requirements. In certain circumstances we may elect to retain, rather than distribute, our net long-term capital gains and pay tax on such gains. In this case, we could elect for our shareholders to include their proportionate share of such undistributed long-term capital gains in income, and to receive a corresponding credit for their share of the tax that we paid. Our shareholders would then increase their adjusted basis of their stock by the difference between (1) the amounts of capital gain dividends that we designated and that they included in their taxable income, minus (2) the tax that we paid on their behalf with respect to that income.

 

To the extent that in the future we may have available net operating losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. Such losses, however, (1) will generally not affect the character, in the hands of our shareholders, of any distributions that are actually made as ordinary dividends or capital gains; and (2) cannot be passed through or used by our shareholders. See “-Taxation of U.S. Shareholders-Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders-Distributions Generally.”

 

If we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (a) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (b) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we would be subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the sum of (x) the amounts that we actually distributed (taking into account excess distributions from prior years), and (y) the amounts of income we retained and on which we paid U.S. federal corporate income tax.

 

In addition, if we were to recognize built-in-gain on the disposition of any assets acquired from a non-REIT “C” corporation in a transaction in which our basis in the assets was determined by reference to the non-REIT “C” corporation’s basis (for instance, if the assets were acquired in a tax-free reorganization), we would be required to distribute at least 90% of the built-in-gain net of the tax we would pay on such gain.

 

We expect that our REIT taxable income (determined before our deduction for dividends paid) will be less than our cash flow because of depreciation and other non-cash charges included in computing REIT taxable income. Accordingly, we anticipate that we will generally have sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable us to satisfy the distribution requirements described above.

 

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However, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet these distribution requirements due to timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses, and the inclusion of income and deduction of expenses in arriving at our taxable income. If these timing differences occur, we may need to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings or need to pay dividends in the form of taxable dividends in order to meet the distribution requirements. Further, under amendments to Section 451 of the Code, subject to certain exceptions, we must accrue income for U.S. federal income tax purposes no later than when such income is taken into account as revenue in our financial statements, which could create additional differences between REIT taxable income and the receipt of cash attributable to such income. In addition, Section 162(m) of the Code places a per-employee limit of $1 million on the amount of compensation that a publicly held corporation may deduct in any one year with respect to its chief executive officer and certain other highly compensated executive officers. Changes to Section 162(m) eliminated an exception that formerly permitted certain performance-based compensation to be deducted even in excess of $1 million, which may have the effect of increasing our REIT taxable income. If these timing difference occur, we may need to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings or pay dividends in the form of taxable stock dividends in order to meet the distribution requirements.

 

We may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our shareholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. However, we will be required to pay interest to the IRS based upon the amount of any deduction claimed for deficiency dividends.

 

The Code limits the deductibility of net interest expense paid or accrued on debt properly allocable to a trade or business to 30% of “adjusted taxable income,” subject to certain exceptions. Any deduction in excess of the limitation is carried forward and may be used in a subsequent year, subject to the 30% limitation. Adjusted taxable income is determined without regard to certain deductions, including those for net interest expense and net operating loss carryforwards. If we or our subsidiaries, as applicable, are eligible to make and make a timely election (which is irrevocable), the 30% limitation does not apply to a trade or business involving real property development, redevelopment, construction, reconstruction, rental, operation, acquisition, conversion, disposition, management, leasing or brokerage, within the meaning of Section 469(c)(7)(C) of the Code. If this election is made, depreciable real property (including certain improvements) held by the relevant trade or business must be depreciated under the alternative depreciation system under the Code, which is generally less favorable than the generally applicable system of depreciation under the Code. If we do not make the election or if the election is determined not to be available with respect to all or certain of our business activities, the interest deduction limitation could result in us having more REIT taxable income and thus increase the amount of distributions we must make to comply with the REIT requirements and avoid incurring corporate level tax. Similarly, the limitation could cause our taxable REIT subsidiaries to have greater taxable income and thus potentially greater corporate tax liability.

 

We may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our shareholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. However, we will be required to pay interest to the IRS based upon the amount of any deduction claimed for deficiency dividends.

 

Record-Keeping Requirements

 

We are required to comply with applicable record-keeping requirements. Failure to comply could result in monetary fines.

 

Failure to Qualify as a REIT

 

If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification other than gross income and asset tests that have the specific savings clauses, we can avoid termination of our REIT qualification by paying a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure, provided that our noncompliance was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.

 

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If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year and the relief provisions do not apply, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income, determined without reduction for amounts distributed to shareholders. Additionally, we may also be subject to certain taxes enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 that are applicable to non-REIT corporations, including the nondeductible 1% excise tax on certain stock repurchases. If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT, we will not be required to make any distributions to shareholders, and any distributions that are made to shareholders will not be deductible by us. As a result, our failure to qualify for taxation as a REIT would significantly reduce the cash available for distributions by us to our shareholders. In addition, if we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT, all distributions to shareholders, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, will be taxable as regular corporate dividends and will not be eligible for the 20% deduction on REIT dividends that may be available to U.S. shareholders that are individuals, trusts, or estates for taxable years prior to 2026. However, such dividends paid to U.S. shareholders that are individuals, trusts, or estates may be taxable at the preferential income tax rates (i.e., the 20% maximum U.S. federal rate) for qualified dividends. In addition, subject to the limitations of the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we also will be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost.

 

In addition, if we were to be considered the “successor” to another REIT under the REIT rules and that REIT failed to qualify as a REIT at the time it combined with us through a merger or otherwise, the IRS might seek to assess that we would not be eligible to qualify to elect REIT status until the fifth taxable year following the year during which the other REIT was disqualified, unless it is entitled to relief under applicable statutory provisions. If we violated or in the future violate any of the requirements for REIT qualification, there can be no assurance that we would be entitled to any statutory relief. We intend, however, to take advantage of any and all relief provisions that are available to us to cure any violation of the requirements applicable to REITs.

 

Tax Aspects of Our Ownership of Interests in the Operating Partnership and other Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies

 

General

 

Substantially all of our investments are owned indirectly through Kite Realty Group, L.P., our Operating Partnership. In addition, our Operating Partnership holds certain of its investments indirectly through subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies that we believe are treated as partnerships or as disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, entities that are classified as partnerships or as disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes are “pass-through” entities which are not required to pay U.S. federal income tax. Rather, partners or members of such entities are allocated their pro rata shares of the items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the entity, and are required to include these items in calculating their U.S. federal income tax liability, without regard to whether the partners or members receive a distribution of cash from the entity. We include in our income our pro rata share of the foregoing items for purposes of the various REIT gross income tests and in the computation of our REIT taxable income (generally, taxable income of the REIT subject to specified adjustments, including a deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain). Moreover, for purposes of the REIT asset tests, we include our pro rata share of assets, based on capital interests, of assets held by our Operating Partnership, including its share of its subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies. See “-Requirements for Qualification as a REIT-Effect of Subsidiary Entities-Ownership of Interests in Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies.”

 

Entity Classification

 

Our interests in our Operating Partnership and the subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies involve special tax considerations, including the possibility that the IRS might challenge the status of one or more of these entities as a partnership or disregarded entity, and assert that such entity is an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If our Operating Partnership, or a subsidiary partnership or limited liability company, were treated as an association, it would be taxable as a corporation and would be required to pay an entity-level tax on its income. In this situation, the character of our assets and items of gross income could change and could preclude us from satisfying the REIT asset tests and possibly the REIT income tests. See “-Requirements for Qualification as a REIT-Gross Income Tests,” and “-Asset Tests.” This, in turn, would prevent us from qualifying as a REIT. See “-Failure to Qualify as a REIT” for a discussion of the effect of our failure to meet these tests for a taxable year. In addition, a change in our Operating Partnership’s or a subsidiary partnership’s or limited liability company’s status as a partnership for tax purposes might be treated as a taxable event. If so, we might incur a tax liability without any related cash distributions.

 

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We believe our Operating Partnership and each of our other partnerships and limited liability companies (other than our taxable REIT subsidiaries) will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a partnership or disregarded entity. Pursuant to Treasury regulations under Section 7701 of the Code, a partnership will be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless it elects to be treated as a corporation or would be treated as a corporation because it is a “publicly traded partnership.” A “publicly traded partnership” is any partnership (i) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or (ii) the interests in which are readily tradable on a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof.”

 

The Company and the Operating Partnership currently take the reporting position for U.S. federal income tax purposes that the Operating Partnership is not a publicly traded partnership. There is a risk, however, that the right of a holder of Operating Partnership units to redeem the units for common shares could cause Operating Partnership units to be considered readily tradable on the substantial equivalent of a secondary market. Under the relevant Treasury regulations, interests in a partnership will not be considered readily tradable on a secondary market or on the substantial equivalent of a secondary market if the partnership qualifies for specified “safe harbors,” which are based on the specific facts and circumstances relating to the partnership. We and the Operating Partnership believe that the Operating Partnership will qualify for at least one of these safe harbors at all times in the foreseeable future. The Operating Partnership cannot provide any assurance that it will continue to qualify for one of the safe harbors mentioned above.

 

If the Operating Partnership is a publicly traded partnership, it will be taxed as a corporation unless at least 90% of its gross income consists of “qualifying income” under Section 7704 of the Code. Qualifying income is generally real property rents and other types of passive income. We believe that the Operating Partnership will have sufficient qualifying income so that it would be taxed as a partnership, even if it were a publicly traded partnership. The income requirements applicable to us in order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code and the definition of qualifying income under the publicly traded partnership rules are very similar. Although differences exist between these two income tests, we do not believe that these differences would cause the Operating Partnership not to satisfy the 90% gross income test applicable to publicly traded partnerships.

 

If our Operating Partnership were taxable as a corporation, most, if not all, of the tax consequences described herein would be inapplicable. In particular, we would not qualify as a REIT because the value of our ownership interest in our Operating Partnership would exceed 5% of our assets and we would be considered to hold more than 10% of the voting securities (and more than 10% of the value of the outstanding securities) of another corporation (see “- Requirements for Qualification as a REIT-Asset Tests” above). In this event, the value of our shares could be materially adversely affected (see “-Failure to Qualify as a REIT” above).

 

Allocations of Partnership Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction

 

The partnership agreement generally provides that items of operating income and loss will be allocated to the holders of units in proportion to the number of units held by each such unit holder. Certain limited partners have agreed, or may agree in the future, to guarantee debt of our Operating Partnership, either directly or indirectly through an agreement to make capital contributions to our Operating Partnership under limited circumstances. As a result of these guarantees or contribution agreements, such limited partners could under limited circumstances be allocated net loss that would have otherwise been allocable to us.

 

If an allocation of partnership income or loss does not comply with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partners’ interests in the partnership. This reallocation will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item. Our Operating Partnership’s allocations of taxable income and loss are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated under this section of the Code.

 

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Tax Allocations with Respect to the Properties

 

Under Section 704(c) of the Code, income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership, must be allocated in a manner so that the contributing partner is charged with the unrealized gain or benefits from the unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of the unrealized gain or unrealized loss is generally equal to the difference between the fair market value or book value and the adjusted tax basis of the property at the time of contribution (referred to as a book-tax difference hereinafter, as adjusted from time to time). These allocations are solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes and do not affect the book capital accounts or other economic or legal arrangements among the partners. The partnership agreement requires that these allocations be made in a manner consistent with Section 704(c) of the Code.

 

Treasury Regulations issued under Section 704(c) of the Code provide partnerships with a choice of several methods of accounting for book-tax differences. We and our Operating Partnership have agreed to use the “traditional method” for accounting for book-tax differences for the properties initially contributed to our Operating Partnership. Under the traditional method, which is the least favorable method from our perspective, the carryover basis of contributed properties in the hands of our Operating Partnership (i) may cause us to be allocated lower amounts of depreciation and other deductions for tax purposes than would be allocated to us if all contributed properties were to have a tax basis equal to their fair market value at the time of the contribution and (ii) in the event of a sale of such properties, could cause us to be allocated taxable gain in excess of our corresponding economic or book gain (or taxable loss that is less than our economic or book loss) with respect to the sale, with a corresponding benefit to the contributing partners. Therefore, the use of the traditional method could result in our having taxable income that is in excess of economic income and our cash distributions from the Operating Partnership. This excess taxable income is sometimes referred to as “phantom income” and will be subject to the REIT distribution requirements described in “-Annual Distribution Requirements.” Because we rely on our cash distributions from the Operating Partnership to meet the REIT distribution requirements, the phantom income could adversely affect our ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements and cause our shareholders to recognize additional dividend income without an increase in distributions. See “-Requirements for Qualification as a REIT” and “-Annual Distribution Requirements.” We and our Operating Partnership have not yet decided what method will be used to account for book-tax differences for other properties acquired by our Operating Partnership in the future. Any property acquired by our Operating Partnership in a taxable transaction will initially have a tax basis equal to its fair market value and, accordingly, Section 704(c) of the Code will not apply.

 

Taxation of U.S. Shareholders

 

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders

 

This section summarizes the taxation of U.S. shareholders that are not tax-exempt organizations. For these purposes, the term “U.S. shareholder” is a beneficial owner of our shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

1.a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

2.a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of a political subdivision thereof (including the District of Columbia);

 

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

 

4.any trust if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (2) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person.

 

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partner of a partnership holding our shares should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to the partner of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our shares by the partnership.

 

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Distributions Generally. So long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits that are not designated as capital gains dividends or “qualified dividend income” will be taxable to our taxable U.S. shareholders as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of U.S. shareholders that are corporations. For purposes of determining whether distributions to holders of shares are out of current or accumulated earnings and profits, our earnings and profits will be allocated first to any outstanding preferred shares and then to our outstanding common shares. Dividends received from REITs are generally not eligible to be taxed at the preferential qualified dividend income rates currently available to individual U.S. shareholders who receive dividends from taxable non-REIT “C” corporations. However, for taxable years prior to 2026, generally U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts or estates may deduct 20% of the aggregate amount of ordinary dividends distributed by us, subject to certain limitations.

 

Capital Gain Dividends. We may elect to designate distributions of our net capital gain as “capital gain dividends.” Distributions that we properly designate as “capital gain dividends” will be taxable to our taxable U.S. shareholders as long-term capital gains without regard to the period for which the U.S. shareholder that receives such distribution has held its shares. Designations made by us will only be effective to the extent that they comply with Revenue Ruling 89-81, which requires that distributions made to different classes of shares be composed proportionately of dividends of a particular type. If we designate any portion of a dividend as a capital gain dividend, a U.S. shareholder will receive an IRS Form 1099-DIV indicating the amount that will be taxable to the shareholder as capital gain. Corporate shareholders, however, may be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Recipients of capital gain dividends from us that are taxed at U.S. federal corporate income tax rates will be taxed at the normal U.S. federal corporate income tax rates on these dividends.

 

We may elect to retain and pay taxes on some or all of our net long-term capital gains, in which case U.S. shareholders will be treated as having received, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our undistributed capital gains as well as a corresponding credit or refund, as the case may be, for taxes that we paid on such undistributed capital gains, which taxes will be deemed to have been paid by the U.S. shareholders. A U.S. shareholder will increase the basis in its shares by the difference between the amount of capital gain included in its income and the amount of tax it is deemed to have paid. A U.S. shareholder that is a corporation will appropriately adjust its earnings and profits for the retained capital gain in accordance with Treasury Regulations to be prescribed by the IRS. Our earnings and profits will be adjusted appropriately.

 

We will classify portions of any designated capital gain dividend or undistributed capital gain as either:

 

1.a long-term capital gain distribution, which would be taxable to non-corporate U.S. shareholders at a maximum rate of 20% (excluding the 3.8% tax on “net investment income”), and taxable to U.S. shareholders that are corporations at a maximum rate of 21%; or

 

2.an “unrecaptured Section 1250 gain” distribution, which would be taxable to non-corporate U.S. shareholders at a maximum rate of 25%, to the extent of previously claimed depreciation deductions.

 

Distributions from us in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a U.S. shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the U.S. shareholder’s shares in respect of which the distributions were made. Rather, the distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of these shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a U.S. shareholder’s shares of our shares, the U.S. shareholder generally must include such distributions in income as long-term capital gain, or short-term capital gain if the shares have been held for one year or less. In addition, any dividend that we declare in October, November or December of any year and that is payable to a shareholder of record on a specified date in any such month will be treated as both paid by us and received by the shareholder on December 31 of such year, provided that we actually pay the dividend before the end of January of the following calendar year.

 

To the extent that we have available net operating losses and capital losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. See “-Taxation of our Company as a REIT” and “-Requirements for Qualification as a REIT-Annual Distribution Requirements.” Such losses, however, are not passed through to U.S. shareholders and do not offset income of U.S. shareholders from other sources, nor would such losses affect the character of any distributions that we make, which are generally subject to tax in the hands of U.S. shareholders as dividends to the extent that we have current or accumulated earnings and profits. Under amendments to Section 172 of the Code, our deduction for any net operating loss carryforwards arising from losses we sustain in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 is limited to 80% of our REIT taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), and any unused portion of losses arising in taxable years ending after December 31, 2017 may not be carried back, but may be carried forward indefinitely.

 

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The maximum amount of dividends that we may designate as capital gain and as “qualified dividend income” (discussed below) with respect to any taxable year may not exceed the dividends actually paid by us with respect to such year, including dividends paid by us in the succeeding tax year that relate back to the prior tax year for purposes of determining our dividends-paid deduction.

 

Qualified Dividend Income. We may elect to designate a portion of our distributions paid to shareholders as “qualified dividend income.” A portion of a distribution that is properly designated as qualified dividend income is taxable to non-corporate U.S. shareholders as capital gain, provided that the shareholder has held the shares with respect to which the distribution is made for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the date on which such shares become ex-dividend with respect to the relevant distribution. The maximum amount of our distributions eligible to be designated as qualified dividend income for a taxable year is equal to the sum of:

 

1.the qualified dividend income received by us during such taxable year from non-REIT corporations (including our taxable REIT subsidiaries);

 

2.the excess of any “undistributed” “REIT taxable income” (generally, taxable income of the REIT subject to specified adjustments, including a deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain) recognized during the immediately preceding year over the U.S. federal income tax paid by us with respect to such undistributed “REIT taxable income” (generally, taxable income of the REIT subject to specified adjustments, including a deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain); and

 

3.the excess of (i) any income recognized during the immediately preceding year attributable to the sale of a built-in-gain asset that was acquired in a carry-over basis transaction from a non-REIT “C” corporation with respect to which we are required to pay U.S. federal income tax, over (ii) the U.S. federal income tax paid by us with respect to such built-in gain.

 

Generally, dividends that we receive will be treated as qualified dividend income for purposes of the first bullet above if (A) the dividends are received from (i) a U.S. corporation (other than a REIT or a RIC), (ii) any of our taxable REIT subsidiaries, or (iii) a “qualifying foreign corporation,” and (B) specified holding period requirements and other requirements are met. A foreign corporation (other than a “foreign personal holding company,” a “foreign investment company,” or “passive foreign investment company”) will be a qualifying foreign corporation if it is incorporated in a possession of the United States, the corporation is eligible for benefits of an income tax treaty with the United States that the Secretary of Treasury determines is satisfactory, or the stock of the foreign corporation on which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. We generally expect that an insignificant portion, if any, of our distributions from us will consist of qualified dividend income. If we designate any portion of a dividend as qualified dividend income, a U.S. shareholder will receive an IRS Form 1099-DIV indicating the amount that will be taxable to the shareholder as qualified dividend income.

 

Passive Activity Losses and Investment Interest Limitations. Distributions we make and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. shareholder of our shares will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, U.S. shareholders generally will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against this income or gain. Distributions we make, to the extent they do not constitute a return of capital, generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation. A U.S. shareholder may elect, depending on its particular situation, to treat capital gain dividends, capital gains from the disposition of shares and income designated as qualified dividend income as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitation, in which case the applicable capital gains will be taxed at ordinary income rates. We will notify shareholders regarding the portions of our distributions for each year that constitute ordinary income, return of capital and qualified dividend income.

 

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Dispositions of Our Shares. If a U.S. shareholder sells, redeems or otherwise disposes of its shares in a taxable transaction, it will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received on the sale or other disposition and the holder’s adjusted basis in the shares for tax purposes. In general, a U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis will equal the U.S. shareholder’s acquisition cost, increased by the excess for net capital gains deemed distributed to the U.S. shareholder (discussed above) less tax deemed paid on it, and reduced by distributions that are treated as returns on capital, rather than taxable dividends.

 

In general, capital gains recognized by individuals and other non-corporate U.S. shareholders upon the sale or disposition of our shares will be subject to a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% (excluding the 3.8% tax on “net investment income”), if our shares are held for more than one year, and will be taxed at ordinary income rates of up to 37% if the stock is held for one year or less. Gains recognized by U.S. shareholders that are corporations are subject to U.S. federal income tax at a maximum rate of 21% whether or not such gains are classified as long-term capital gains. The IRS has the authority to prescribe, but has not yet prescribed, Treasury Regulations that would apply a capital gain tax rate of 25% (which is higher than the long-term capital gain tax rates for non-corporate U.S. shareholders) to a portion of capital gain realized by a non-corporate U.S. shareholder on the sale of our shares that would correspond to the REIT’s “unrecaptured Section 1250 gain.” U.S. shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors with respect to their capital gain tax liability.

 

Capital losses recognized by a U.S. shareholder upon the disposition of our shares that were held for more than one year at the time of disposition will be considered long-term capital losses and are generally available only to offset capital gain income of the shareholder but not ordinary income (except in the case of individuals, who may offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income each year). In addition, any loss upon a sale or exchange of our shares by a U.S. shareholder who has held the shares for six months or less, after applying holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions that we make that are required to be treated by the U.S. shareholder as long-term capital gain.

 

If a shareholder recognizes a loss upon a subsequent disposition of our shares in an amount that exceeds a prescribed threshold, it is possible that the provisions of Treasury Regulations involving “reportable transactions” could apply, with a resulting requirement to separately disclose the loss-generating transaction to the IRS. These regulations, though directed towards “tax shelters,” are broadly written, and apply to transactions that would not typically be considered tax shelters. The Code imposes significant penalties for failure to comply with these requirements. U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisors concerning any possible disclosure obligation with respect to the receipt or disposition of our shares, or transactions that we might undertake directly or indirectly.

 

Net Investment Income Tax. In certain circumstances, certain U.S. shareholders that are individuals, estates or trusts are subject to a 3.8% tax on “net investment income,” which includes, among other things, dividends on and gains from the sale or other disposition of REIT shares. U.S. shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding this legislation.

 

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders

 

U.S. tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit-sharing trusts and individual retirement accounts, generally are exempt from U.S. federal income taxation. Such entities, however, may be subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). While some investments in real estate may generate UBTI, the IRS has ruled that dividend distributions from a REIT to a tax-exempt entity generally do not constitute UBTI. Based on that ruling, and provided that (1) a tax-exempt shareholder has not held our shares as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Code (i.e., where the acquisition or holding of our shares is financed through a borrowing by the U.S. tax-exempt shareholder), (2) our shares are not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business of a U.S. tax-exempt shareholder, and (3) we do not hold an asset that gives rise to “excess inclusion income,” distributions that we make and income from the sale of our shares generally should not give rise to UBTI to a U.S. tax-exempt shareholder.

 

Tax-exempt shareholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, or qualified group legal services plans exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), or (c)(17) of the Code, respectively, or single parent title-holding corporations exempt under Section 501(c)(2) and whose income is payable to any of the aforementioned tax-exempt organizations, are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally require such shareholders to characterize distributions from us as UBTI unless the organization is able to properly claim a deduction for amounts set aside or placed in reserve for certain purposes so as to offset the income generated by its investment in our shares. These shareholders should consult with their tax advisors concerning these set aside and reserve requirements.

 

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In certain circumstances, a pension trust that (1) is described in Section 401(a) of the Code, (2) is tax exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code, and (3) owns more than 10% of the value of our shares could be required to treat a percentage of the dividends as UBTI, if we are a “pension-held REIT.” We will not be a pension-held REIT unless:

 

1.either (1) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of our shares, or (2) one or more pension trusts, each individually holding more than 10% of the value of our shares, collectively own more than 50% of the value of our shares; and

 

2.we would not have qualified as a REIT but for the fact that Section 856(h)(3) of the Code provides that shares owned by such trusts shall be treated, for purposes of the requirement that not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of a REIT is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer “individuals” (as defined in the Code to include certain entities), as owned by the beneficiaries of such trusts.

 

The percentage of any REIT dividend from a “pension-held REIT” that is treated as UBTI is equal to the ratio of the UBTI earned by the REIT, treating the REIT as if it were a pension trust and therefore subject to tax on UBTI, to the total gross income of the REIT. An exception applies where the percentage is less than 5% for any year, in which case none of the dividends would be treated as UBTI. The provisions requiring pension trusts to treat a portion of REIT distributions as UBTI will not apply if the REIT is able to satisfy the “not closely held requirement” without relying upon the “look-through” exception with respect to pension trusts. As a result of certain limitations on the transfer and ownership of our common and preferred shares contained in our declaration of trust, we do not expect to be classified as a “pension-held REIT,” and accordingly, the tax treatment described above with respect to pension-held REITs should be inapplicable to our tax-exempt shareholders.

 

Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders

 

The following discussion addresses the rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of non-U.S. shareholders. For purposes of this summary, “non-U.S. shareholder” is a beneficial owner of our shares that is not a U.S. shareholder (as defined above under “-Taxation of U.S. Shareholders-Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders”) or an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. These rules are complex, and no attempt is made herein to provide more than a brief summary of such rules. Accordingly, the discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation and does not address state local or foreign tax consequences that may be relevant to a non-U.S. shareholder in light of its particular circumstances. Prospective non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income tax laws on their ownership of our common shares or preferred shares, including any reporting requirements.

 

Distributions Generally. As described in the discussion below, distributions paid by us with respect to our common shares, preferred shares and depositary shares will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as either:

 

1.ordinary income dividends;

 

2.long-term capital gain; or

 

3.return of capital distributions.

 

This discussion assumes that our shares will continue to be considered regularly traded on an established securities market for purposes of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 ("FIRPTA") provisions described below. If our shares are no longer regularly traded on an established securities market, the tax considerations described below would materially differ.

 

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Ordinary Income Dividends. A distribution paid by us to a non-U.S. shareholder will be treated as an ordinary income dividend if the distribution is payable out of our earnings and profits and:

 

1.not attributable to our net capital gain; or

 

2.the distribution is attributable to our net capital gain from the sale of U.S. Real Property Interests, or “USRPIs,” and the non-U.S. shareholder owns 10% or less of the value of our common shares at all times during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution.

 

In general, non-U.S. shareholders will not be considered to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of their ownership of our shares. In cases where the dividend income from a non-U.S. shareholder’s investment in our shares is, or is treated as, effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the non-U.S. shareholder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. shareholders are taxed with respect to such dividends. Such income must generally be reported on a U.S. income tax return filed by or on behalf of the non-U.S. shareholder. The income may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder that is a corporation.

 

Generally, we will withhold and remit to the IRS 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) of dividend distributions (including distributions that may later be determined to have been made in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits) that could not be treated as capital gain distributions with respect to the non-U.S. shareholder (and that are not deemed to be capital gain dividends for purposes of the FIRPTA withholding rules described below) unless:

 

1.a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. shareholder files an IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or applicable successor form), as applicable, evidencing eligibility for that reduced treaty rate with us; or

 

2.the non-U.S. shareholder files an IRS Form W-8ECI (or applicable successor form) with us claiming that the distribution is income effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder’s trade or business; or

 

3.the non-U.S. shareholder is a foreign sovereign or controlled entity of a foreign sovereign and also provides an IRS Form W-8EXP claiming an exemption from withholding under section 892 of the Code.

 

Return of Capital Distributions. Unless (A) our shares constitute a USRPI, as described in “-Dispositions of Our Shares” below, or (B) either (1) the non-U.S. shareholder’s investment in our shares is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. shareholder (in which case the non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with respect to such gain) or (2) the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the United States (in which case the non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s net capital gain for the year or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), distributions that we make which are not dividends out of our earnings and profits will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax. If we cannot determine at the time a distribution is made whether or not the distribution will exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to dividends. The non-U.S. shareholder may seek a refund from the IRS of any amounts withheld if it subsequently is determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. If our shares constitute a USRPI, as described below, distributions that we make in excess of the sum of (1) the non-U.S. shareholder’s proportionate share of our earnings and profits, and (2) the non-U.S. shareholder’s basis in its shares, will be taxed under FIRPTA at the rate of tax, including any applicable capital gains rates, that would apply to a U.S. shareholder of the same type (e.g., an individual or a corporation, as the case may be), and the collection of the tax will be enforced by a refundable withholding tax at a rate of 15% of the amount by which the distribution exceeds the non-U.S. shareholder’s share of our earnings and profits.

 

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Capital Gain Dividends. A distribution paid by us to a non-U.S. shareholder will be treated as long-term capital gain if the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits and:

 

1.the distribution is attributable to our net capital gain (other than from the sale of USRPIs) and we timely designate the distribution as a capital gain dividend; or

 

2.the distribution is attributable to our net capital gain from the sale of USRPIs and the non-U.S. common shareholder owns more than 10% of the value of common shares at any point during the one-year period ending on the date on which the distribution is paid.

 

Long-term capital gain that a non-U.S. shareholder is deemed to receive from a capital gain dividend that is not attributable to the sale of USRPIs generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the hands of the non-U.S. shareholder unless:

 

1.the non-U.S. shareholder’s investment in our shares is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. shareholder, in which case the non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with respect to any gain, except that a non-U.S. shareholder that is a corporation also may be subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) branch profits tax; or

 

2.the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the United States in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on his capital gains.

 

Under FIRPTA, distributions that are attributable to net capital gain from the sale by us of USRPIs and paid to a non-U.S. shareholder that owns more than 10% of the value of our shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date on which the distribution is paid will be subject to U.S. tax as income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. The FIRPTA tax will apply to these distributions whether or not the distribution is designated as a capital gain dividend, and, in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder that is a corporation, such distributions also may be subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) branch profits tax.

 

Any distribution paid by us that is treated as a capital gain dividend or that could be treated as a capital gain dividend with respect to a particular non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to special withholding rules under FIRPTA. We will withhold and remit to the IRS 21% (or, to the extent provided in Treasury Regulations, 20%) of any distribution that could be treated as a capital gain dividend with respect to the non-U.S. shareholder, whether or not the distribution is attributable to the sale by us of USRPIs. The amount withheld is creditable against the non-U.S. shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability or refundable when the non-U.S. shareholder properly and timely files a tax return with the IRS.

 

Certain non-U.S. pension funds that are “qualified foreign pension funds” as defined by Section 897(l) of the Code and certain non-U.S. publicly traded entities that are “qualified shareholders” as defined by Section 897(k) of the Code may be entitled to exceptions to the FIRPTA tax with respect to distributions we pay. Non-U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these exceptions.

 

Undistributed Capital Gain. Although the law is not entirely clear on the matter, it appears that amounts designated by us as undistributed capital gains in respect of our shares held by non-U.S. shareholders generally should be treated in the same manner as actual distributions by us of capital gain dividends. Under this approach, the non-U.S. shareholder would be able to offset as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability resulting therefrom their proportionate share of the tax paid by us on the undistributed capital gains treated as long-term capital gains to the non-U.S. shareholder, and generally receive from the IRS a refund to the extent their proportionate share of the tax paid by us were to exceed the non-U.S. shareholder’s actual U.S. federal income tax liability on such long-term capital gain. If we were to designate any portion of our net capital gain as undistributed capital gain, a non-U.S. shareholder should consult its tax advisors regarding taxation of such undistributed capital gain.

 

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Dispositions of Our Shares. Unless our shares constitute a USRPI, a sale of our shares by a non-U.S. shareholder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation under FIRPTA. Generally, subject to the discussion below regarding dispositions by “qualified shareholders” and “qualified foreign pension funds,” with respect to any particular shareholder, our shares will constitute a USRPI only if each of the following three statements is true:

 

1.Fifty percent or more of our assets on any of certain testing dates during a prescribed testing period consist of interests in real property located within the United States, excluding for this purpose, interests in real property solely in a capacity as creditor;

 

2.We are not a “domestically-controlled qualified investment entity.” A domestically-controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT, less than 50% of value of which is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. shareholders at all times during a specified testing period. Although we believe that we are and will remain a domestically-controlled REIT, because our shares are publicly traded, we cannot guarantee that we are or will remain a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity; and

 

3.Either (a) our shares are not “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury regulations, on an established securities market; or (b) our shares are “regularly traded” on an established securities market and the selling non-U.S. shareholder has held over 10% of our outstanding common shares any time during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale.

 

Certain non-U.S. pension funds that are “qualified foreign pension funds” as defined by Section 897(l) of the Code and certain non-U.S. publicly traded entities that are “qualified shareholders” as defined by Section 897(k) of the Code may be entitled to exceptions to the FIRPTA tax with respect to the sale of our shares. Non-U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these exceptions.

 

Specific wash sales rules applicable to sales of shares in a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity could result in gain recognition, taxable under FIRPTA, upon the sale of our shares even if we are a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity. These rules would apply if a non-U.S. shareholder (1) disposes of our shares within a 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been taxable to such non-U.S. shareholder as gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI, (2) acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, other shares of our shares during the 61-day period that begins 30 days prior to such ex-dividend date, and (3) if our shares are “regularly traded” on an established securities market in the United States, such non-US stockholder has owned more than 10% of our outstanding shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of such distribution.

 

If gain on the sale of our shares were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. shareholder would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return and would be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. shareholder with respect to such gain, subject to the applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of non-resident alien individuals, and, if our common shares were not “regularly traded” on an established securities market, the purchaser of the shares generally would be required to withhold 15% of the purchase price and remit such amount to the IRS.

 

Gain from the sale of our shares that would not otherwise be subject to FIRPTA will nonetheless be taxable in the United States to a non-U.S. shareholder as follows: (1) if the non-U.S. shareholder’s investment in our shares is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. shareholder, the non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. shareholder with respect to such gain, or (2) if the non-U.S. shareholder 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, the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gain.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax Applicable to Shareholders

 

U.S. Shareholders - Generally

 

In general, information-reporting requirements will apply to payments of distributions on our shares and payments of the proceeds of the sale of our shares to some U.S. shareholders, unless an exception applies. Further, the payer will be required to withhold backup withholding tax on such payments if:

 

1.the payee fails to furnish a taxpayer identification number ("TIN") to the payer or to establish an exemption from backup withholding;

 

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2.the IRS notifies the payer that the TIN furnished by the payee is incorrect;

 

3.there has been a notified payee under-reporting with respect to interest, dividends or original issue discount described in Section 3406(c) of the Code; or

 

4.there has been a failure of the payee to certify under the penalty of perjury that the payee is not subject to backup withholding under the Code.

 

Some shareholders may be exempt from backup withholding. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a shareholder will be allowed as a credit against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the shareholder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

 

U.S. Shareholders - Withholding on Payments in Respect of Certain Foreign Accounts

 

As described below, certain future payments made to “foreign financial institutions” and “non-financial foreign entities” may be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%. U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this withholding provision on their ownership and disposition of our common stock. See “- Non-U.S. Shareholders - Withholding on Payments to Certain Foreign Entities” below.

 

Non-U.S. Shareholders - Generally

 

Generally, information reporting will apply to payments or distributions on our shares, and backup withholding described above for a U.S. shareholder will apply, unless the payee certifies that it is not a U.S. person or otherwise establishes an exemption. The payment of the proceeds from the disposition of our shares to or through the U.S. office of a U.S. or foreign broker will be subject to information reporting and, possibly, backup withholding as described above for U.S. shareholders, or the withholding tax for non-U.S. shareholders, as applicable, unless the non-U.S. shareholder certifies as to its non-U.S. status or otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that the broker does not have actual knowledge that the shareholder is a U.S. person or that the conditions of any other exemption are not, in fact, satisfied. The proceeds of the disposition by a non-U.S. shareholder of our shares to or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, if the broker is a U.S. person, a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income from all sources for specified periods is from activities that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, a foreign partnership 50% or more of whose interests are held by partners who are U.S. persons, or a foreign partnership that is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, then information reporting generally will apply as though the payment was made through a U.S. office of a U.S. or foreign broker unless the broker has documentary evidence as to the non-U.S. shareholder’s foreign status and has no actual knowledge to the contrary.

 

Applicable Treasury regulations provide presumptions regarding the status of shareholders when payments to the shareholders cannot be reliably associated with appropriate documentation provided to the payor. If a non-U.S. shareholder fails to comply with the information reporting requirement, payments to such person may be subject to the full withholding tax even if such person might have been eligible for a reduced rate of withholding or no withholding under an applicable income tax treaty. Because the application of these Treasury regulations varies depending on the non-U.S. shareholder’s particular circumstances, non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisor regarding the information reporting requirements applicable to them.

 

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts that we withhold under the backup withholding rules will be refunded or credited against the non-U.S. shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability if certain required information is furnished to the IRS. Non-U.S. shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding application of backup withholding in their particular circumstances and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding under current Treasury regulations.

 

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Non-U.S. Shareholders - Withholding on Payments to Certain Foreign Entities

 

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) imposes a 30% withholding tax on certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” and certain other non-U.S. entities unless certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations requirements are satisfied.

 

As a general matter, FATCA imposes a 30% withholding tax on dividends in respect of our shares if paid to a foreign entity unless either (i) the foreign entity is a “foreign financial institution” that undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations, or in the case of a foreign financial institution that is a resident in a jurisdiction that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement to implement FATCA, the entity complies with the diligence and reporting requirements of such agreement, (ii) the foreign entity is not a “foreign financial institution” and identifies certain of its U.S. investors, or (iii) the foreign entity otherwise is exempted under FATCA. While withholding under FATCA would have applied to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our shares on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.

 

If withholding is required under FATCA on a payment related to our shares, investors that otherwise would not be subject to withholding (or that otherwise would be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding) generally will be required to seek a refund or credit from the IRS to obtain the benefit of such exemption or reduction (provided that such benefit is available). Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect of FATCA in their particular circumstances.

 

Other Tax Considerations

 

State, Local and Foreign Taxes

 

We may be required to pay tax in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which we transact business, and our shareholders may be required to pay tax in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which they reside. Our state and local tax treatment may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax consequences discussed above. In addition, a shareholder’s state and local tax treatment may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax consequences discussed above. Consequently, prospective investors should consult with their tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in our shares and depositary shares.

 

A portion of our income is earned through our taxable REIT subsidiaries. The taxable REIT subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax at the full applicable corporate rates. In addition, a taxable REIT subsidiary will be limited in its ability to deduct interest payments in excess of a certain amount made directly or indirectly to us. To the extent that our taxable REIT subsidiaries and we are required to pay U.S. federal, state or local taxes, we will have less cash available for distribution to shareholders.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting

 

If a holder recognizes a loss as a result of a transaction with respect to our shares of at least (i) for a holder that is an individual, S corporation, trust or a partnership with at least one non-corporate partner, $2 million or more in a single taxable year or $4 million or more in a combination of taxable years, or (ii) for a holder that is either a corporation or a partnership with only corporate partners, $10 million or more in a single taxable year or $20 million or more in a combination of taxable years, such holder may be required to file a disclosure statement with the IRS on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases exempt from this reporting requirement, but shareholders of a REIT currently are not excepted. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs

 

The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. We cannot give you any assurances as to whether, or in what form, any proposals affecting REITs or their shareholders might be enacted, but these changes might include, in particular, increases in the U.S. federal income tax rates that apply to various categories of holders of our shares in certain circumstances, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes to the U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in our shares. Investors should consult with their tax advisors regarding the effect of potential changes to the U.S. federal tax laws and on an investment in our shares.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

The selling shareholders may, from time to time, sell any or all of our common shares beneficially owned by them and offered hereby directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers, agents or any combination thereof. The term “selling shareholder” includes pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest that receive the resale shares from a selling shareholder as a gift, distribution or other transfer (including a purchase) after the date of this prospectus. To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended and supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.

 

The selling shareholders will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale of the resale shares. The selling shareholders will be responsible for any underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. The common shares may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. The selling shareholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling our common shares (which may involve crosses or block transactions):

 

·on the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or quotation service on which our common shares may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

 

·in the over-the-counter market;

 

·in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;

 

·through the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;

 

·ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

·purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus;

 

·an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

·in privately negotiated transactions;

 

·through the settlement of short sales;

 

·broker-dealers may agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such common shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

·a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

·any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

In connection with distributions of the resale shares or otherwise, the selling shareholders, underwriters, selling group members and their respective affiliates may:

 

·enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the resale shares in the course of hedging their positions;

 

·sell our common shares short and deliver the resale shares to close out such short positions;

 

·enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions which require the delivery to them of resale shares offered by this prospectus, which they may in turn resell; or

 

·pledge shares to a broker-dealer or other financial institution, which, upon a default by the selling shareholder under the transaction to which such pledge relates, they may in turn resell.

 

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In addition, the selling shareholders may sell their common shares pursuant to Rule 144 adopted under the Securities Act, as permitted by that rule, or under Section 4(1) of the Securities Act, rather than pursuant to this prospectus. In effecting sales, broker-dealers or agents engaged by the selling shareholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate. Broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions, discounts or concessions from the selling shareholders, in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale.

 

The selling shareholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the common shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

 

The selling shareholders will be subject to the Exchange Act, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of common shares by the selling shareholders and their affiliates.

 

In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, the resale shares must be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

 

We will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling shareholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling shareholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the resale shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

 

At the time a particular offer of resale shares is made, if required, a prospectus supplement will be distributed that will set forth:

 

·the number of resale shares being offered;

 

·the terms of the offering, including the name of any underwriter, dealer or agent;

 

·the purchase price paid by any underwriter;

 

·any discount, commission and other underwriter compensation;

 

·any discount, commission or concession allowed or reallowed or paid to any dealer; and

 

·the proposed selling price to the public.

 

We have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the securities offered by means of this prospectus and certain U.S. federal income tax matters have been passed upon for us and the Operating Partnership by Hogan Lovells US LLP.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements and related schedule III of Kite Realty Group Trust as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE TO FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3, including exhibits, schedules and amendments filed with the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities that may be offered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement but does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. We have omitted parts of the registration statement in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the common shares that may be offered by this prospectus, reference is made to the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to in this prospectus are not necessarily complete and, where that contract or other document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each statement in this prospectus is qualified in all respects by the exhibit to which the reference relates.

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, we are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings, including the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules, are available to you on the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov), which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The reference to the SEC’s Internet site is intended to be an inactive textual reference only. We maintain a website at http://www.kiterealty.com, where you can also find any document we file with the SEC. You should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus.

 

Our securities are listed on the NYSE, and all material filed by us with the NYSE can be inspected at the offices of the NYSE, 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

SEC rules allow us to incorporate information into this prospectus by reference, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except to the extent superseded by information contained herein or by information contained in documents filed with or furnished to the SEC after the date of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have been previously filed with the SEC:

 

·our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023;

 

·our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024;

 

·our Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 16, 2024 (solely to the extent incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023);

 

·our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 17, 2024 and May 31, 2024; and

 

·the description of the Company’s common shares included in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on August 4, 2004 under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, as updated by Exhibit 4.14 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 20, 2024 and including any other amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such descriptions.

 

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We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus until we have sold all of the securities to which this prospectus relates or the offering is otherwise terminated; provided, however, that we are not incorporating any information furnished under either Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by contacting Investor Relations, Kite Realty Group, 30 S. Meridian Street, Suite 1100, Indianapolis, IN 46204, by telephone at 317-577-5600 or by visiting our website, www.kiterealty.com. The information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus. Our reference to our website is intended to be an inactive textual reference only.

 

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PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

 

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us and the Operating Partnership in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered.

 

SEC Registration Fee  $24,005.21 
Accountant’s Fees and Expenses   50,000.00 
Legal Fees and Expenses   100,000.00 
Printing Expenses   5,500.00 
Miscellaneous   5,000.00 
TOTAL  $184,505.21 

 

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

 

Maryland law permits a Maryland REIT to include in its declaration of trust a provision eliminating the liability of its trustees and officers to the REIT and its shareholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. Our declaration of trust contains a provision that limits the liability of our trustees and officers to us and our shareholders to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

 

The Maryland REIT law permits a Maryland REIT to indemnify and advance expenses to its trustees, officers, employees and agents to the same extent as permitted by the MGCL for directors and officers of Maryland corporations. The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was a result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services, or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, Maryland law prohibits indemnifying present and former trustees and officers for an adverse judgment in an action by the corporation or in a derivative action or if the trustee or officer was adjudged to be liable for an improper personal benefit.

 

Our declaration of trust provides that we shall indemnify, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, any individual who is a present or former trustee or officer, including any individual who, at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of service in such capacity. In accordance with the MGCL and our declaration of trust, our bylaws require us, as a condition to advancement of expenses, to obtain (a) a written affirmation by the trustee or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct necessary for indemnification and (b) a written undertaking by or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by us if it shall ultimately be determined that the applicable standard of conduct was not met. We have the power, with the approval of our board of trustees, to provide such indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses to any present or former trustee or officer who served a predecessor of our Company and to any employee or agent of our Company or a predecessor of our Company. Maryland law also requires us to indemnify a trustee or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity.

 

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In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our trustees and executive officers to provide for indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

 

The partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership provides that our Operating Partnership is required to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, (1) us, (2) the respective trustees, directors and officers of the Operating Partnership and the Company, and (3) such other persons (including affiliates of the Company, the Operating Partnership or a limited partner) as we may designate from time to time (whether before or after the event giving rise to potential liability) in our sole and absolute discretion, unless it is established by a final determination of a court of competent jurisdiction that: (a) the act or omission of the indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services, or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

 

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
3.1   Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust of Kite Realty Group Trust, as supplemented and amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kite Realty Group Trust filed with the SEC on February 28, 2022)
     
3.2   Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Kite Realty Group Trust, effective November 8, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Kite Realty Group Trust filed with the SEC on November 9, 2023)
     
5.1   Opinion of Hogan Lovells US LLP regarding the legality of the securities being registered
     
8.1   Opinion of Hogan Lovells US LLP regarding certain tax matters
     
23.1   Consent of KPMG LLP
     
23.2   Consent of Hogan Lovells US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
     
23.3   Consent of Hogan Lovells US LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1)
     
24.1   Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this Registration Statement)
     
107   Filing Fee Table

 

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.

 

(a) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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 this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

II-2

 

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

 

provided, however, that subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of 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 that remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(i) Each prospectus filed by either registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in this registration statement; and

 

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a) (1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in this registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is a part of this registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into this registration statement or prospectus that is a part of this registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in this registration statement or prospectus that was part of this registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

 

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrants under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

 

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

II-3

 

 

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-4

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Indianapolis, State of Indiana, on June 7, 2024.

 

  KITE REALTY GROUP TRUST
   
  By: /s/ JOHN A. KITE
    John A. Kite
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints John A. Kite and Heath R. Fear, and each of them, such person’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, from such person and in each person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all pre- and post-effective amendments to this registration statement, any subsequent registration statement for the same offering which may be filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any and all pre- or post-effective amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-facts and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as that person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any substitute therefore may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ JOHN A. KITE   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and   June 7, 2024
John A. Kite   Trustee (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ HEATH R. FEAR   Executive Vice President and Chief   June 7, 2024
Heath R. Fear   Financial Officer (Principal Financial    
    Officer)    
         
/s/ DAVID E. BUELL   Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting   June 7, 2024
David E. Buell   Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ BONNIE S. BIUMI   Trustee   June 7, 2024
Bonnie S. Biumi        
         
/s/ DERRICK BURKS   Trustee   June 7, 2024
Derrick Burks        
         
/s/ VICTOR J. COLEMAN   Trustee   June 7, 2024
Victor J. Coleman        
         
/s/ STEVEN P. GRIMES   Trustee   June 7, 2024
Steven P. Grimes        
         
/s/ CHRISTIE B. KELLY   Trustee   June 7, 2024
Christie B. Kelly        
         
/s/ PETER L. LYNCH   Trustee   June 7, 2024
Peter L. Lynch        
         
/s/ DAVID R. O’REILLY   Trustee   June 7, 2024
David R. O’Reilly        

 

 

 

 

/s/ BARTON R. PETERSON   Trustee   June 7, 2024
Barton R. Peterson        
         
/s/ CHARLES H. WURTZEBACH   Trustee   June 7, 2024
Charles H. Wurtzebach        
         
/s/ CAROLINE L. YOUNG   Trustee   June 7, 2024
Caroline L. Young        

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

Hogan Lovells US LLP
Columbia Square
555 Thirteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
T +1 202 637 5600
F +1 202 637 5910
www.hoganlovells.com

 

June 7, 2024

 

Board of Trustees

Kite Realty Group Trust

30 S. Meridian Street, Suite 1100

Indianapolis, IN 46204

 

To the addressee referred to above:

 

We are acting as counsel to Kite Realty Group Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-3, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) relating to the resale from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis by the selling shareholders identified in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement, and as to be identified in one or more supplements to the prospectus, of up to 9,915,700 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”) that are issuable to such selling shareholders upon exchange of the 0.75% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”) of Kite Realty Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

 

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed an appropriate basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter expressed. In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (including pdfs). We also have assumed that the Shares will not be issued in violation of the ownership limit contained in the Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust, as amended and supplemented. As to all matters of fact, we have relied on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so relied on. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

 

This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the applicable provisions of Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended, and applicable provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended. We express no opinion herein as to any other statutes, rules or regulations.

 

Hogan Lovells US LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in the state of Delaware. “Hogan Lovells” is an international legal practice that includes Hogan Lovells US LLP and Hogan Lovells International LLP, with offices in: Alicante Amsterdam Baltimore Berlin Beijing Birmingham Boston Brussels Colorado Springs Denver Dubai Dusseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hong Kong Houston Johannesburg London Los Angeles Luxembourg Madrid Mexico City Miami Milan Minneapolis Monterrey Munich New York Northern Virginia Paris Philadelphia Riyadh Rome San Francisco São Paulo Shanghai Silicon Valley Singapore Sydney Tokyo Warsaw Washington, D.C. Associated Offices: Budapest Jakarta Shanghai FTZ. Business Service Centers: Johannesburg Louisville. For more information see www.hoganlovells.com

 

 

 

 

Board of Trustees
Kite Realty Group Trust
2 June 7, 2024

 

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, if and when issued upon the exchange of the Notes in accordance with the Registration Statement and the terms of the Indenture, dated as of March 22, 2021, among the Operating Partnership, the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, upon due execution and delivery on behalf of the Company of certificates therefor, including global certificates, or the entry of the issuance thereof in the books and records of the Company, as the case may be, will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

 

This opinion letter has been prepared for use in connection with the Registration Statement.  We assume no obligation to advise of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement.  In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Act.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Hogan Lovells US LLP
   
  HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 8.1

  

  Hogan Lovells US LLP
Columbia Square
555 Thirteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
T +1 202 637 5600
F +1 202 637 5910
www.hoganlovells.com

 

June 7, 2024

 

Kite Realty Group Trust

30 S. Meridian Street

Suite 1100

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as tax counsel to Kite Realty Group Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”) in connection with its registration statement on Form S-3, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended relating to the resale from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis by the selling shareholders identified in the prospectus (the “Prospectus”) which forms a part of the Registration Statement, and as to be identified in one or more supplements to the Prospectus, of up to 9,915,700 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company that are issuable to such selling shareholders upon exchange of the 0.75% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2027 of Kite Realty Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). In connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, we have been asked to provide you with opinions regarding U.S. federal income tax matters specifically set forth below under the caption “Opinions.”

 

Bases for Opinions

 

The opinions set forth in this letter are based on relevant current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Treasury Regulations thereunder (including proposed and temporary Treasury Regulations), and interpretations of the foregoing as expressed in court decisions, applicable legislative history, and the administrative rulings and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), including its practices and policies in issuing private letter rulings, which are not binding on the IRS except with respect to a taxpayer that receives such a ruling, all as of the date hereof. These provisions and interpretations are subject to change by the IRS, Congress and the courts (as applicable), which may or may not be retroactive in effect and which might result in material modifications of our opinions. Our opinions do not foreclose the possibility of a contrary determination by the IRS or a court of competent jurisdiction, or of a contrary position taken by the IRS or the Treasury Department in regulations or rulings issued in the future. In this regard, an opinion of counsel with respect to an issue represents counsel’s best professional judgment with respect to the outcome on the merits with respect to such issue, if such issue were to be litigated, but an opinion is not binding on the IRS or the courts, and is not a guarantee that the IRS will not assert a contrary position with respect to such issue or that a court will not sustain such a position asserted by the IRS.

 

In rendering the following opinions, we have examined such statutes, regulations, records, agreements, certificates and other documents as we have considered necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions, including but not limited to:

 

 

 

Kite Realty Group Trust

June 7, 2024

Page 2

 

(1)the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, which forms a part of the Registration Statement;

 

(2)the discussion under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” contained in the Registration Statement (the “Tax Disclosure”); and

 

(3)certain organizational documents of the Company and its subsidiaries (those documents referred to in clauses (1) through (3), the “Reviewed Documents”).

 

The opinions set forth in this letter are premised on, among other things, the written representations of the Company and the Operating Partnership contained in a letter to us (including all exhibits and attachments thereto) executed by an officer of the Company dated as of the date hereof (the “Management Representation Letter”). Although we have discussed the Management Representation Letter with the signatories thereto, for purposes of rendering our opinions we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the Reviewed Documents and the Management Representation Letter. We consequently have relied upon the representations and statements of the Company and the Operating Partnership as described in the Reviewed Documents and the Management Representation Letter, and assumed that the information presented in such documents or otherwise furnished to us is accurate and complete in all material respects. We are not aware of any facts inconsistent with the statements in the Management Representation Letter.

 

In this regard, we have assumed with your consent the following:

 

(1)that (A) all of the representations and statements as to factual matters set forth in the Reviewed Documents and the Management Representation Letter are true, correct, and complete in all material respects as of the date hereof, (B) any representation or statement as to factual matters in the Reviewed Documents and the Management Representation Letter made as a belief or made “to the knowledge of” or similarly qualified is true, correct, and complete in all material respects as of the date hereof, without such qualification, (C) each agreement described in the Reviewed Documents is valid and binding in accordance with its terms, and (D) each of the obligations of the Company, and its subsidiaries, as described in the Reviewed Documents, has been or will be performed or satisfied in accordance with its terms;

 

(2)the genuineness of all signatures, the proper execution of all documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of documents submitted to us as copies, and the authenticity of the originals from which any copies were made;

 

(3)that any documents as to which we have reviewed only a form were or will be duly executed without material changes from the form reviewed by us;

 

(4)the Merger (as defined in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 22, 2021) was consummated in a manner consistent with the Company’s representations included in the Management Representation Letter; and

 

 

 

Kite Realty Group Trust

June 7, 2024

Page 3

 

(5)that from and after the date of this letter, the Company will comply with its representation contained in the Management Representation Letter that the Company will utilize all appropriate “savings provisions” (including the provisions of Sections 856(c)(6), 856(c)(7), and 856(g) of the Code, and the provision included in Section 856(c)(4) of the Code (flush language) allowing for the disposal of assets within 30 days after the close of a calendar quarter, and all available deficiency dividend procedures) available to the Company under the Code in order to correct any violations of the applicable REIT qualification requirements of Sections 856 and 857 of the Code, to the full extent the remedies under such provisions are available.

 

Any material variation or difference in the facts from those set forth in the documents that we have reviewed and upon which we have relied (including, in particular, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and the Management Representation Letter) may adversely affect the conclusions stated herein.

 

Opinions

 

Based upon and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, including, without limitation, the discussion in the next two paragraphs below, we are of the opinion that:

 

  (1)the Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under the Code for each of its taxable years beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 2017, and the Company’s current organization and current and proposed method of operation (as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Tax Disclosure, and the Management Representation Letter) will enable it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2024 and future taxable years; and
   
  (2)the portions of the discussion in the Tax Disclosure that describe applicable provisions of U.S. federal income tax law are correct in all material respects as of the date hereof.

 

The Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code depends upon the ability of the Company to meet on an ongoing basis (through actual quarterly and annual operating results, distribution levels, diversity of share ownership and otherwise) the various requirements imposed under the Code for qualification and taxation as a REIT, and upon the Company utilizing any and all appropriate “savings provisions” (including the provisions of Sections 856(c)(6), 856(c)(7), and 856(g) of the Code and the provision included in Section 856(c)(4) of the Code (flush language) allowing for the disposal of assets within 30 days after the close of a calendar quarter, and all available deficiency dividend procedures) available to the Company under the Code to correct violations of specified REIT qualification requirements of Sections 856 and 857 of the Code. Our opinions set forth above do not foreclose the possibility that the Company may have to utilize one or more of these “savings provisions” in the future, which could require the Company to pay an excise tax and/or penalty tax (either of which could be significant in amount) in order to maintain its REIT qualification. We have not undertaken at this time and will not undertake to review the Company’s compliance with these requirements on a continuing basis, nor will we do so in the future. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations, the sources of its income, the nature of its assets, the level of its distributions to shareholders and the diversity of its share ownership for any given taxable year will satisfy the requirements under the Code for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

 

 

 

Kite Realty Group Trust

June 7, 2024

Page 4

 

This opinion letter addresses only the specific U.S. federal income tax matters set forth above and does not address any other U.S. federal, state, local or foreign legal or tax issues. This opinion letter has been prepared for your use in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and speaks as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation by reason of this opinion letter or otherwise to advise you of any changes in our opinions subsequent to the delivery of this opinion letter. Except as provided in the next paragraph below, this opinion letter may not be used or relied upon by any person other than you or for any other purpose and may not be disclosed, quoted, or filed with a governmental agency or otherwise referred to without our prior written consent.

 

We hereby consent to (i) the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement and (ii) the reference to Hogan Lovells US LLP under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP

 

HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

  

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the use of our reports dated February 20, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Kite Realty Group Trust, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana  
June 7, 2024  

  

 

 

 

Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

Form S-3

(Form Type)

 

KITE REALTY GROUP TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

  Security
Type
Security Class Title Fee
Calculation
or Carry
Forward
Rule
Amount
Registered
Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
Fee Rate Amount of
Registration Fee
Carry Forward
Form Type
Carry Forward File Number Carry Forward
Initial Effective
Date
Filing Fee Previously
Paid In Connection
with Unsold
Securities to be
Carried Forward
Newly Registered Securities
Fees to Be Paid - - - - - -   - - - - -
Fees Previously Paid - - - - - -   - - - - -
Carry Forward Securities
Carry Forward Securities Equity Common Shares, $.01 par value per share 415(a)(6) 9,915,700 (1) - (2) - - S-3 333-256931 June 9, 2021 ​$24,005.21
  Total Offering Amounts   (2)   (2)        
  Total Fees Previously Paid       (2)        
  Total Fee Offsets       (2)        
  Net Fee Due       $0        

 

(1)Pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Registrant’s common shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value per share (“Common Shares”), offered hereby shall be deemed to cover additional securities to be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(2)Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement only includes unsold securities that have been previously registered. Accordingly, there is no registration fee due in connection with this Registration Statement.

Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, the securities registered pursuant to this Registration Statement consist of 9,915,700 unsold Common Shares previously registered on the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-3 filed on June 9, 2021 (Registration No. 333-256931) (the “Prior Registration Statement”). In connection with the original registration of such unsold Common Shares on the Prior Registration Statement, the Registrant paid a registration fee of $24,005.21, which will continue to be applied to such unsold securities. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the offering of the unsold securities registered under the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this Registration Statement.

 

 

 


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