Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-165738

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus Dated April 20, 2010)

 

3,000,000 Shares

 

 

Getty Realty Corp.

 

Common Stock

 

 

We are offering 3,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GTY.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on January 18, 2011 was $29.50 per share.

 

Our common stock is subject to certain restrictions on ownership and transfer designed to preserve our qualification as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes. See “Description of Capital Stock — Ownership and Transfer Restrictions” on page 5 of the accompanying prospectus for more information about these restrictions.

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock.

 

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

 

 

We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase, within the 30-day period from the date of this prospectus supplement, up to an additional 450,000 shares of our common stock to cover over-allotments.

 

Delivery of our common stock to purchasers is expected to occur on or about January 24, 2011.

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

 

Co-Managers

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is January 19, 2011

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

Prospectus

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering.

To the extent any inconsistency or conflict exists between the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the information included or incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus, the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement updates and supersedes the information in the accompanying prospectus.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference herein is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates or as of other dates which are specified in those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

NOTICE TO EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA INVESTORS

 

In any member state (“Member State”) of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) that has implemented the Prospectus Directive, this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive.

 

This Prospectus has been prepared on the basis that any offer of shares in any Member State of the EEA which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”) will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in that Relevant Member State, from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of shares. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make any offer within the EEA of shares which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the issuer or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive, in each case, in relation to such offer. Neither the issuer nor the underwriters have authorised, nor do they authorise, the making of any offer of shares through any financial intermediary, other than offers made by managers which constitute the final placement of shares contemplated in this prospectus supplement.

 

NOTICE TO UNITED KINGDOM INVESTORS

 

This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth entities or other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The shares are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

 

SUMMARY

		Three Months Ended December 31, 2010												Year Ended
		Range or Value												December 31, 2010
														Range or Value
Net earnings per diluted share		$	0.40				to			$	0.43			$	1.83				to			$	1.86
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets			0.08								0.08				0.35								0.35
Gains from dispositions of real estate			—								—				(0.06	)							(0.06	)
Funds from operations per diluted share			0.48				to				0.51				2.12				to				2.15
Revenue recognition adjustments			(0.02	)							(0.02	)			(0.06	)							(0.06	)
Adjusted funds from operations per diluted share		$	0.46				to			$	0.49			$	2.06				to			$	2.09

Issuer		Getty Realty Corp.
Common stock offered by us		3,000,000 shares (or 3,450,000 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their over-allotment option)
Common stock outstanding after this offering		32,944,155 shares (or 33,394,155 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their over-allotment option)(1)
Use of proceeds		We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $79.7 million (or approximately $91.8 million if the underwriters exercise in full their over-allotment option) after deducting the underwriting discount and our estimated offering expenses. We intend to use the net proceeds of the offering for the repayment of outstanding indebtedness under our credit agreement and general corporate purposes. We will re-borrow amounts repaid under our credit agreement to fund future property acquisitions and for other general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” and “Conflicts of Interest.”
Risk Factors		You should carefully consider all of the information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including information that is incorporated by reference. In particular, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement, page 3 of the accompanying prospectus and page 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for a description of factors that you should consider before making a decision to invest in our common stock.
New York Stock Exchange symbol		“GTY”
Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer		Shares of our common stock are subject to certain restrictions on ownership and transfer designed to preserve our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. See “Description of Capital Stock — Ownership and Transfer Restrictions” in the accompanying prospectus.

(1)		Based on the number of shares of common stock outstanding as of January 14, 2011. Does not include: (a) 12,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options; (b) 123,200 shares of common stock issuable upon settlement of outstanding restricted stock units; and (c) 876,800 shares of common stock reserved for future awards under our equity compensation plans.

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus include and incorporate by reference forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are made in accordance with 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”), and include information about possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. Statements regarding the following subjects are forward-looking by their nature:

 

 

The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider these risks before you make an investment decision with respect to our common stock, along with the following factors that could cause actual results to vary from our forward-looking statements:

 

 

 

When we use the words “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “projects,” “estimates,” “predicts” and similar expressions, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

 

There are a number of risk factors associated with the conduct of our business, and the risks listed above or discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement, and in the documents incorporated by reference, may not be exhaustive. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. All forward-looking statements should be reviewed with caution. Except to the extent required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to, and do not intend to, update any forward-looking statements, the factors listed above or the matters discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2009, or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

 

In addition to other information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should carefully consider the risks described below and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which reports are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before making an investment decision, including documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) after the date of this prospectus supplement and which are deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. These risks are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. Each of these risk factors could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Related to our Business

 

We are subject to risks inherent in owning and leasing real estate.

 

We are subject to varying degrees of risk generally related to leasing and owning real estate many of which are beyond our control. In addition to general risks related to owning properties used in the petroleum marketing industry, our risks include, among others:

 

 

Each of these factors could cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price. In addition, real estate investments are relatively illiquid, which means that our ability to vary our portfolio of properties in response to changes in economic and other conditions may be limited.

 

Adverse developments in general business, economic, or political conditions could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Adverse developments in general business and economic conditions, including through recession, downturn or otherwise, either in the economy generally or in those regions in which a large portion of our business is conducted, could have a material adverse effect on us and significantly increase certain of the risks we are subject to. The general economic conditions in the United States are, and for an extended period of time may be, significantly less favorable than that of prior years. Among other effects, adverse economic conditions could depress real estate values, impact our ability to re-let or sell our properties and have an adverse effect on our tenants’ level of sales and financial performance generally. Our revenues are dependent on the economic success of our tenants and any factors that adversely impact our tenants could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

Because our financial results are materially dependent on the performance of Marketing, in the event that Marketing does not perform its rental or environmental obligations under the Marketing Leases, our business, financial condition, revenues, operating expenses, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price could be materially adversely affected. The financial performance of Marketing has deteriorated in recent years. No assurance can be given that Marketing will have the ability to meet its obligations under the Marketing Leases.

 

Our financial results are materially dependent upon the ability of Marketing to meet its rental and environmental obligations under the Marketing Leases. A substantial portion of our revenues (66% for the year ended December 31, 2010) are derived from the Marketing Leases. Accordingly, any factor that adversely affects Marketing’s ability to meet its obligations under the Marketing Leases may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, revenues, operating expenses, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price. For additional information regarding the portion of our financial results that are attributable to Marketing, see Note 8 in “Item 1. Financial Statements — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010. Marketing has made all required monthly rental payments under the Marketing Leases when due through January 2011, although there can be no assurance that it will continue to do so.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2009, Marketing reported a significant loss, continuing a trend of reporting large losses in recent years. We have not yet received Marketing’s operating results for the year ended December 31, 2010. As a result of Marketing’s significant annual losses through December 31, 2009, and Marketing’s losses reported to us subsequent to its reorganization and the cumulative impact of those losses on Marketing’s financial position as of September 30, 2010 we continue to believe that Marketing likely does not have the ability to generate cash flows from its business sufficient to meet its obligations as they come due in the ordinary course through the terms of the Marketing Leases unless it shows significant improvement in its financial results, generates sufficient liquidity through the sale of assets or otherwise, or receives financial support from Lukoil, its parent company. Lukoil is not, however, a guarantor of the Marketing Leases. Even though Marketing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lukoil, and Lukoil has provided capital to Marketing in the past, there can be no assurance that Lukoil will provide financial support or additional capital to Marketing in the future. Furthermore, Lukoil has the right to sell its ownership interest in Marketing without the Company’s consent, and there can be no assurance that if Marketing were sold by Lukoil that the acquiror would provide financial support to Marketing. We cannot predict with certainty what impact Marketing’s restructuring and other changes in its business model will have on us. If Marketing does not meet its obligations under the Marketing Leases, our business, financial condition, revenues, operating expenses, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price may be materially adversely affected.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2009, Marketing announced a restructuring of its business. We cannot predict with certainty what impact Marketing’s restructuring and other changes in its business model will have on us.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2009, Marketing announced a restructuring of its business. Marketing disclosed that the restructuring included the sale of all assets unrelated to the properties it leases from us, the elimination of parent-guaranteed debt, and steps to reduce operating costs. Although Marketing’s press release stated that its restructuring included the sale of all assets unrelated to the properties it leases from us, we have concluded, based on the press releases related to the Marketing/Bionol contract dispute described below, that Marketing’s restructuring did not include the sale of all assets unrelated to the properties it leases from us. Marketing sold certain assets unrelated to the properties it leases from us to its affiliates, LUKOIL Pan Americas LLC and LUKOIL North America LLC. We believe that Marketing retained other assets, liabilities and business matters unrelated to the properties it leases from us. As part of the restructuring, Marketing paid off debt which had been guaranteed by Lukoil with proceeds from the sale of assets to Lukoil affiliates and with financial support from Lukoil. Marketing also announced additional steps to reduce its costs including closing two marketing regions, eliminating jobs and exiting the direct-supplied retail gasoline business.

In June 2010, Marketing and Bionol Clearfield LLC (“Bionol”) each issued press releases regarding a contractual dispute between them. Bionol owns and operates an ethanol plant in Pennsylvania. Bionol and Marketing entered into a five-year contract under which Marketing agreed to purchase substantially all of the ethanol production from the Bionol plant, at formula-based prices. Bionol stated that Marketing breached the contract by not paying the agreed-upon price for the ethanol. According to Bionol’s press release, the cumulative gross purchase commitment under the contract could be on the order of one billion dollars. Marketing stated in its press release that it continues to pay Bionol millions of dollars each month for the ethanol, withholding only the amount of the purchase price in dispute and that it has filed for arbitration to resolve the dispute. Among other items related to this matter, we do not know: (i) the accuracy of the statements made by Marketing and Bionol; (ii) the cumulative or projected amount of the purchase price in dispute and how Marketing has accounted for the ethanol contract in its financial statements; or (iii) how the formula-based price compares to the market price of ethanol. We cannot predict with any certainty how the ultimate resolution of this matter may impact Marketing’s long-term financial performance and its ability to meet its obligations to us as they become due under the terms of the Marketing Leases.

 

Marketing has partially exited the direct-supplied retail gasoline business by entering into subleases with petroleum distributors who supply their own petroleum products to our properties. Approximately 245 of our retail properties, comprising substantially all of the properties in New England that we lease to Marketing, have been subleased by Marketing to a single distributor. Substantially all of these properties have been rebranded BP stations and are being supplied petroleum products under a supply contract with BP. As of December 31, 2010, we believe approximately 70 of our retail properties in New Jersey have been subleased by Marketing to a single distributor. It is possible that Marketing may be seeking subtenants for other significant portions of the portfolio of properties it leases from us.

 

We cannot predict with certainty what impact Marketing’s restructuring and other changes in its business model will have on us. If Marketing does not meet its obligations under the Marketing Leases, our business, financial condition, revenues, operating expenses, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price may be materially adversely affected.

 

Although we periodically receive and review the unaudited financial statements and other financial information from Marketing, this information is not publicly available to investors. You will not have access to financial information about Marketing provided to us by Marketing to allow you to independently assess Marketing’s financial condition or its ability to satisfy its obligations under the Marketing Leases.

 

We periodically receive and review Marketing’s unaudited financial statements and other financial information. We receive the financial statements and other financial information from Marketing pursuant to the terms of the Marketing Leases. However, the financial statements and other financial information are not publicly available to investors and Marketing contends that the terms of the Marketing Leases prohibit us from including the financial statements and other financial information in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or in our Annual Reports to Shareholders. The Marketing Leases provide that Marketing’s financial information which is not publicly available shall be delivered to us within one hundred fifty days after the end of each fiscal year. We have not yet received Marketing’s operating results for the year ended December 31, 2010. The financial statements and other financial information that we receive from Marketing is unaudited and neither we, nor our auditors, have been involved with its preparation and as a result have no assurance as to its correctness or completeness. You will not have access to financial statements and other financial information about Marketing provided to us by Marketing to allow you to independently assess Marketing’s financial condition or its ability to satisfy its obligations under the Marketing Leases, which may put your investment in us at greater risk of loss.

If the Marketing Leases are modified significantly or terminated, our business, financial condition, revenues, operating expenses, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price could be materially adversely affected.

 

From time to time we have held discussions with representatives of Marketing regarding potential modifications to the Marketing Leases. These intermittent discussions have not resulted in a common understanding with Marketing that would form a basis for modification of the Marketing Leases. From time to time, however, we have been able to agree with Marketing on terms to allow for removal of individual properties from the Marketing Leases as mutually beneficial opportunities arise. We intend to continue to pursue the removal of individual properties from the Marketing Leases, and we remain open to removal of groups of properties; however, there is no fixed agreement in place providing for removal of properties from the Marketing Leases. Accordingly, the removal of properties from the Marketing Leases is subject to negotiation on a case-by-case basis. If Marketing ultimately determines that its business strategy is to exit all or a portion of the properties it leases from us, it is our intention to cooperate with Marketing in accomplishing those objectives if we determine that it is prudent for us to do so. Any modification of the Marketing Leases that removes a significant number of properties from the Marketing Leases would likely significantly reduce the amount of rent we receive from Marketing and increase our operating expenses. We cannot accurately predict if, or when, the Marketing Leases will be modified; what composition of properties, if any, may be removed from the Marketing Leases as part of any such modification; or what the terms of any agreement for modification of the Marketing Leases may be. We also cannot accurately predict what actions Marketing and Lukoil may take, and what our recourse may be, whether the Marketing Leases are modified or not. We may be required to increase or decrease the deferred rent receivable reserve, record additional impairment charges related to our properties, or accrue for environmental liabilities as a result of the potential or actual modification or termination of the Marketing Leases or leases with our other tenants, which may result in material adjustments to the amounts recorded for these assets and liabilities.

 

As permitted under the terms of the Marketing Leases, Marketing generally can, subject to any contrary terms under applicable third party leases, use each property for any lawful purpose, or for no purpose whatsoever. We believe that as of December 31, 2010, Marketing was not operating three of the nine terminals it leases from us and had removed, or has scheduled removal of, the underground gasoline storage tanks and related equipment at approximately one hundred forty of our properties and we also believe that most of these properties are either vacant or provide negative contribution to Marketing’s results. Marketing agreed to permit us to list with brokers and to show to prospective purchasers and lessees seventy-five of the properties where Marketing has removed, or has scheduled to remove, underground gasoline storage tanks and related equipment; however, the agreement expired in September 2010 and we are not currently actively pursuing marketing such properties for sale or lease. In those instances where we determine that the best use for a property is no longer as a retail motor fuel outlet, at the appropriate time we will seek an alternative tenant or buyer for such property. With respect to properties that are vacant or have had underground gasoline storage tanks and related equipment removed, it may be more difficult or costly to re-let or sell such properties as gas stations because of capital costs or possible zoning or permitting rights that are required and that may have lapsed during the period since gasoline was last sold at the property.

 

We intend either to re-let or sell any properties that are removed from the Marketing Leases, whether such removal arises consensually by negotiation or as a result of default by Marketing, and reinvest any realized sales proceeds in new properties. We intend to offer properties removed from the Marketing Leases to replacement tenants or buyers individually, or in groups of properties, or by seeking a single tenant for the entire portfolio of properties subject to the Marketing Leases. In the event that properties are removed from the Marketing Leases, we cannot accurately predict if, when, or on what terms such properties could be re-let or sold. If the Marketing Leases are significantly modified or terminated, our business, financial condition, revenues, operating expenses, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price may be materially adversely affected.

If it becomes probable that Marketing will not pay its environmental obligations, or if we change our assumptions for environmental liabilities related to the Marketing Leases our business, financial condition, revenues, operating expenses, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price could be materially adversely affected.

 

Marketing is directly responsible to pay for (i) remediation of environmental contamination it causes and compliance with various environmental laws and regulations as the operator of our properties, and (ii) known and unknown environmental liabilities allocated to Marketing under the terms of the Marketing Leases and various other agreements with us relating to Marketing’s business and the properties it leases from us (collectively the “Marketing Environmental Liabilities”). However, we continue to have ongoing environmental remediation obligations at 186 retail sites and for certain pre-existing conditions at six of the terminals we lease to Marketing. If Marketing fails to pay the Marketing Environmental Liabilities, we may ultimately be responsible to pay for Marketing Environmental Liabilities as the property owner. We do not maintain pollution legal liability insurance to protect us from potential future claims for Marketing Environmental Liabilities. We will be required to accrue for Marketing Environmental Liabilities if we determine that it is probable that Marketing will not meet its environmental obligations and we can reasonably estimate the amount of the Marketing Environmental Liabilities for which we will be directly responsible to pay, or if our assumptions regarding the ultimate allocation methods or share of responsibility that we used to allocate environmental liabilities changes. However, we continue to believe that it is not probable that Marketing will not pay for substantially all of the Marketing Environmental Liabilities since we believe that Lukoil will not allow Marketing to fail to perform its rental, environmental and other obligations under the Marketing Leases. Accordingly, we did not accrue for the Marketing Environmental Liabilities as of December 31, 2010 or December 31, 2009. Nonetheless, we have determined that the aggregate amount of the Marketing Environmental Liabilities (as estimated by us) could be material to us if we were required to accrue for all of the Marketing Environmental Liabilities in the future since we believe that as a result of any such accrual, it is reasonably possible that we may not be in compliance with the existing financial covenants in our credit agreement and our term loan agreement. Such non-compliance could result in an event of default under the credit agreement and the term loan agreement which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our indebtedness under such agreements. If we determine that it is probable that Marketing will not meet the Marketing Environmental Liabilities and we accrue for such liabilities, our business, financial condition, revenues, operating expenses, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price may be materially adversely affected.

 

We estimate that the aggregate Marketing Environmental Liabilities for which we may ultimately be responsible to pay range between $13 million and $20 million, net of expected recoveries from underground storage tank funds, of which between $6 million and $9 million relate to the properties that we identified as the basis for our estimate of the deferred rent receivable reserve. Since we generally do not have access to certain site specific information available to Marketing, which is the party responsible for paying and managing its environmental remediation expenses at our properties, our estimates were developed in large part by review of the limited publically available information gathered through electronic databases and freedom of information requests and assumptions we made based on that data and on our own experiences with environmental remediation matters. The actual aggregate Marketing Environmental Liabilities and the actual Marketing Environmental Liabilities related to the properties that we identified as the basis for our estimate of the deferred rent receivable reserve may differ materially from our estimates and we can provide no assurance as to the accuracy of these estimates.

 

Substantially all of our tenants depend on the same industry for their revenues.

 

We derive substantially all of our revenues from leasing, primarily on a triple-net basis, retail motor fuel and convenience store properties and petroleum distribution terminals to tenants in the petroleum marketing industry. Accordingly, our revenues will be dependent on the economic success of the petroleum marketing industry, and any factors that adversely affect that industry could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price. The success of participants in the petroleum marketing industry depends upon the sale of refined petroleum products at margins in excess of fixed and variable expenses. The petroleum marketing industry is highly

competitive and volatile. Petroleum products are commodities, the prices of which depend on numerous factors that affect supply and demand. The prices paid by our tenants and other petroleum marketers for products are affected by global, national and regional factors. A large, rapid increase in wholesale petroleum prices would adversely affect the profitability and cash flows of Marketing and our other tenants if the increased cost of petroleum products could not be passed on to their customers or if automobile consumption of gasoline was to decline significantly. Petroleum products are commodities, the prices of which depend on numerous factors that affect the supply of and demand for petroleum products. The prices paid by Marketing and other petroleum marketers for products are affected by global, national and regional factors. We cannot be certain how these factors will affect petroleum product prices or supply in the future, or how in particular they will affect Marketing or our other tenants.

 

Our future cash flow is dependent on the performance of our tenants of their lease obligations, renewal of existing leases and either re-letting or selling our vacant properties.

 

We are subject to risks that financial distress, default or bankruptcy of our existing tenants may lead to vacancy at our properties or disruption in rent receipts as a result of partial payment or nonpayment of rent or that expiring leases may not be renewed. Under unfavorable general economic conditions, there can be no assurance that our tenants’ level of sales and financial performance generally will not be adversely affected, which in turn, could impact the reliability of our rent receipts. We are subject to risks that the terms governing renewal or re-letting of our properties (including the cost of required renovations, replacement of gasoline tanks and related equipment or environmental remediation) may be less favorable than current lease terms, or that the values of our properties that we sell may be adversely affected by unfavorable general economic conditions. Unfavorable general economic conditions may also negatively impact our ability to re-let or sell our properties. Numerous properties compete with our properties in attracting tenants to lease space. The number of available or competitive properties in a particular area could have a material adverse effect on our ability to re-let or sell our properties and on the rents we are able to charge. In addition to the risk of disruption in rent receipts, we are subject to the risk of incurring real estate taxes, maintenance, environmental and other expenses at vacant properties.

 

The financial distress, default or bankruptcy of our tenants may also lead to protracted and expensive processes for retaking control of our properties than would otherwise be the case, including, eviction or other legal proceedings related to or resulting from the tenant’s default. These risks are greater with respect to certain of our tenants who lease multiple properties from us, such as Marketing. (For additional information regarding the portion of our financial results that are attributable to Marketing, see Note 8 in “Item 1. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010. For additional information with respect to concentration of tenant risk, see “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — General — Marketing and the Marketing Leases” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010.) If a tenant files for bankruptcy protection it is possible that we would recover substantially less than the full value of our claims against the tenant.

 

If our tenants do not perform their lease obligations, or we are unable to renew existing leases and promptly recapture and re-let or sell vacant locations, or if lease terms upon renewal or re-letting were less favorable than current lease terms, or if the values of properties that we sell are adversely affected by market conditions, or if we incur significant costs or disruption related to or resulting from tenant financial distress, default or bankruptcy, then our cash flow could be significantly adversely affected.

 

Property taxes on our properties may increase without notice.

 

Each of the properties we own or lease is subject to real property taxes. The leases for certain of the properties that we lease from third parties obligate us to pay real property taxes with regard to those properties. The real property taxes on our properties and any other properties that we develop, acquire or lease in the future may increase as property tax rates change and as those properties are assessed or reassessed by

tax authorities. To the extent that our tenants are unable or unwilling to pay such increase in accordance with their leases, our net operating expenses may increase.

 

We incur significant operating costs as a result of environmental laws and regulations, which costs could significantly rise and reduce our profitability.

 

We are subject to numerous existing federal, state and local laws and regulations, including matters relating to the protection of the environment. Under certain environmental laws, a current or previous owner or operator of real estate may be liable for contamination resulting from the presence or discharge of hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum products at, on, or under, such property, and may be required to investigate and clean-up such contamination. Such laws typically impose liability and clean-up responsibility without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of or caused the presence of the contaminants, or the timing or cause of the contamination, and the liability under such laws has been interpreted to be joint and several unless the harm is divisible and there is a reasonable basis for allocation of responsibility. For example, liability may arise as a result of the historical use of a property or from the migration of contamination from adjacent or nearby properties. Any such contamination or liability may also reduce the value of the property. In addition, the owner or operator of a property may be subject to claims by third parties based on injury, damage and/or costs, including investigation and clean-up costs, resulting from environmental contamination present at or emanating from a property. The properties owned or controlled by us are leased primarily as retail motor fuel and convenience store properties, and therefore may contain, or may have contained, underground storage tanks (“UST” or “USTs”) for the storage of petroleum products and other hazardous or toxic substances, which creates a potential for the release of such products or substances. Some of our properties may be subject to regulations regarding the retirement and decommissioning or removal of long-lived assets including buildings containing hazardous materials, USTs and other equipment. Some of the properties may be adjacent to or near properties that have contained or currently contain USTs used to store petroleum products or other hazardous or toxic substances. In addition, certain of the properties are on, adjacent to, or near properties upon which others have engaged or may in the future engage in activities that may release petroleum products or other hazardous or toxic substances. There may be other environmental problems associated with our properties of which we are unaware. These problems may make it more difficult for us to re-let or sell our properties on favorable terms, or at all.

 

For additional information with respect to pending environmental lawsuits and claims, environmental remediation costs and estimates, and Marketing and the Marketing Leases see “Item 3. Legal Proceedings”, “Environmental Matters” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and “General — Marketing and the Marketing Leases” in “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 5 in “Item 1. Financial Statements — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010, each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

We enter into leases and various other agreements which allocate responsibility for known and unknown environmental liabilities by establishing the percentage and method of allocating responsibility between the parties. Our tenants are directly responsible to pay for (i) remediation of environmental contamination they cause and compliance with various environmental laws and regulations as the operators of our properties, and (ii) environmental liabilities allocated to them under the terms of our leases and various other agreements. Generally, the liability for the retirement and decommissioning or removal of USTs and other equipment is the responsibility of our tenants. We are contingently liable for these obligations in the event that our tenants do not satisfy their responsibilities. A liability has not been accrued for obligations that are the responsibility of our tenants based on our tenants’ past histories of paying such obligations and/or our assessment of their respective financial abilities to pay their share of such costs. However, there can be no assurance that our assessments are correct or that our tenants who have paid their obligations in the past will continue to do so.

 

As of September 30, 2010, we had accrued $12.9 million as management’s best estimate of the net fair value of reasonably estimable environmental remediation costs which was comprised of $17.0 million of estimated environmental obligations and liabilities offset by $4.1 million of estimated recoveries from state UST remediation funds, net of allowance. Environmental exposures are difficult to assess and estimate for

numerous reasons, including the extent of contamination, alternative treatment methods that may be applied, location of the property which subjects it to differing local laws and regulations and their interpretations, as well as the time it takes to remediate contamination. In developing our liability for probable and reasonably estimable environmental remediation costs on a property by property basis, we consider among other things, enacted laws and regulations, assessments of contamination and surrounding geology, quality of information available, currently available technologies for treatment, alternative methods of remediation and prior experience. Environmental accruals are based on estimates which are subject to significant change, and are adjusted as the remediation treatment progresses, as circumstances change and as environmental contingencies become more clearly defined and reasonably estimable. Adjustments to accrued liabilities for environmental remediation costs will be reflected in our financial statements as they become probable and a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made.

 

We have not accrued for approximately $1.0 million in costs incurred by the current property owner in connection with removal of USTs and soil remediation at a property that was leased to and operated by Marketing. We believe that Marketing is responsible for such costs under the terms of the Master Lease, and on that basis we tendered the matter to Marketing for defense and indemnification, but Marketing denied its liability for claims and its responsibility to defend and indemnify us. We were sued by the current property owner and filed third party claims against Marketing for indemnification. The property owner’s claim for reimbursement of costs incurred and our claim for indemnification from Marketing were actively litigated leading to a trial held before a judge. The trial court issued its decision in August 2009 under which the company and Marketing were held jointly and severally responsible to the current property owner for the costs incurred by the owner to remove USTs and remediate contamination at the site, but, as between the company and Marketing, Marketing was held accountable for such costs under the indemnification provisions of the Master Lease. Marketing has appealed the decision; however, we believe the probability that the trial court decision will be reversed or remanded and that Marketing will not ultimately be held responsible for the clean-up costs incurred by the current property owner is remote. It is reasonably possible that our assumption that Marketing ultimately will be responsible for the claim may change, which may result in our providing an accrual for this matter.

 

It is possible that our assumptions regarding the ultimate allocation methods and share of responsibility that we used to allocate environmental liabilities may change, which may result in adjustments to the amounts recorded for environmental litigation accruals, environmental remediation liabilities and related assets. We will be required to accrue for environmental liabilities that we believe are allocable to others under various other agreements if we determine that it is probable that the counter-party will not meet its environmental obligations. We may ultimately be responsible to directly pay for environmental liabilities as the property owner if the counterparty fails to pay them.

 

We cannot predict what environmental legislation or regulations may be enacted in the future, or if or how existing laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted with respect to products or activities to which they have not previously been applied. We cannot predict whether state UST fund programs will be administered and funded in the future in a manner that is consistent with past practices and if future environmental spending will continue to be eligible for reimbursement at historical recovery rates under these programs. Compliance with more stringent laws or regulations, as well as more vigorous enforcement policies of the regulatory agencies or stricter interpretation of existing laws which may develop in the future, could have an adverse effect on our financial position, or that of our tenants, and could require substantial additional expenditures for future remediation.

 

As a result of the factors discussed above, or others, compliance with environmental laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

 

We are defending pending lawsuits and claims and are subject to material losses.

 

We are subject to various lawsuits and claims, including litigation related to environmental matters, such as those arising from leaking USTs and releases of motor fuel into the environment, and toxic tort claims. The

ultimate resolution of certain matters cannot be predicted because considerable uncertainty exists both in terms of the probability of loss and the estimate of such loss. Our ultimate liabilities resulting from such lawsuits and claims, if any, could cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price. For additional information with respect to pending environmental lawsuits and claims and environmental remediation costs and estimates see “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and “Environmental Matters” in “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Notes 3 and 5 in “Item 1. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010, each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

A significant portion of our properties are concentrated in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, and adverse conditions in those regions in particular could negatively impact our operations.

 

A significant portion of the properties we own and lease are located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Because of the concentration of our properties in those regions, in the event of adverse economic conditions in those regions, we would likely experience higher risk of default on payment of rent to us (including under the Marketing Leases) than if our properties were more geographically diversified. Additionally, the rents on our properties may be subject to a greater risk of default than other properties in the event of adverse economic, political, or business developments or natural hazards that may affect the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic United States and the ability of our lessees to make rent payments. This lack of geographical diversification could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

 

We are in a competitive business.

 

The sector of the real estate industry in which we operate is highly competitive. Where we own properties, we compete for tenants with a large number of real estate property owners and other companies that sublet properties. Our principal means of competition are rents charged in relation to the income producing potential of the location. In addition, we expect other major real estate investors, some with much greater financial resources or more experienced personnel than we have, will compete with us for attractive acquisition opportunities. These competitors include petroleum manufacturing, distributing and marketing companies, other REITs, investment banking firms and private institutional investors. This competition has increased prices for properties we seek to acquire and may impair our ability to make suitable property acquisitions on favorable terms in the future.

 

We are exposed to counterparty credit risk and there can be no assurances that we will effectively manage or mitigate this risk.

 

We regularly interact with counterparties in various industries. The types of counterparties most common to our transactions and agreements include, but are not limited to, landlords, tenants, vendors and lenders. Our most significant counterparties include, but are not limited to, Marketing as our primary tenant, the members of the bank syndicate that are counterparties to our credit agreement as our primary source of financing, which includes affiliates of certain of the underwriters in this offering, and JPMorgan Chase, an affiliate of an underwriter in this offering, as the counterparty to our interest rate swap agreement. The default, insolvency or other inability of a significant counterparty to perform its obligations under an agreement or transaction, including, without limitation, as a result of the rejection of an agreement or transaction in bankruptcy proceedings, could have a material adverse effect on us. For additional information with respect to the bank syndicate, the credit agreement and the swap agreement, see “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010.

We may acquire or develop new properties, and this may create risks.

 

We may acquire or develop properties or acquire other real estate companies when we believe that an acquisition or development matches our business strategies. These properties may have characteristics or deficiencies currently unknown to us that affect their value or revenue potential. It is possible that the operating performance of these properties may decline after we acquire them, they may not perform as expected and, if financed using debt or new equity issuances, may result in shareholder dilution. Our acquisitions of new properties will also expose us to the liabilities of those properties, some of which we may not be aware of at the time of acquisition. We face competition in pursuing these acquisitions and we may not succeed in leasing newly developed or acquired properties at rents sufficient to cover their costs of acquisition or development and operations. Newly acquired properties may require significant management attention that would otherwise be devoted to our ongoing business. We may not succeed in consummating desired acquisitions or in completing developments on time or within our budget. Consequences arising from or in connection with any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

 

While we seek accretive acquisitions, acquisitions of new properties may be dilutive and may not produce the returns that we expect and we may not be able to successfully integrate new properties into our portfolio or manage our growth effectively, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects.

 

Acquisitions that we make may initially be dilutive to our net income, and new properties may not perform as we expect or produce the returns that we anticipate (including, without limitation, as a result of tenant bankruptcies, tenant concessions, our inability to collect rents and higher than anticipated operating expenses). Further, we may not successfully integrate one or more of these properties into our existing portfolio without operating disruptions or unanticipated costs. Additionally, as we increase the size of our portfolio, we may not be able to adapt our management, administrative, accounting and operational systems, or hire and retain sufficient operational staff to integrate new properties into our portfolio, or manage any future acquisitions of properties, without operating disruptions or unanticipated costs. Moreover, the continued growth of our portfolio will require increased investment in management personnel, professional fees, other personnel, financial and management systems and controls and facilities, which will result in additional operating expenses. Under the circumstances described above, our results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

 

We are subject to losses that may not be covered by insurance.

 

Marketing, and other tenants, as the lessees of our properties, are required to provide insurance for such properties, including casualty, liability, fire and extended coverage in amounts and on other terms as set forth in our leases. We do not maintain pollution legal liability insurance to protect the company from potential future claims for environmental contamination, including the environmental liabilities that are the responsibility of our tenants. We carry insurance against certain risks and in such amounts as we believe are customary for businesses of our kind. However, as the costs and availability of insurance change, we may decide not to be covered against certain losses (such as certain environmental liabilities, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and civil disorder) where, in the judgment of management, the insurance is not warranted due to cost or availability of coverage or the remoteness of perceived risk. There is no assurance that our insurance coverages are or will be sufficient to cover actual losses incurred. The destruction of, or significant damage to, or significant liabilities arising out of conditions at, our properties due to an uninsured cause would result in an economic loss and could result in us losing both our investment in, and anticipated profits from, such properties. When a loss is insured, the coverage may be insufficient in amount or duration, or a lessee’s customers may be lost, such that the lessee cannot resume its business after the loss at prior levels or at all, resulting in reduced rent or a default under its lease. Any such loss relating to a large number of properties

could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

 

Failure to qualify as a REIT under the federal income tax laws would have adverse consequences to our shareholders.

 

We elected to be treated as a REIT under the federal income tax laws beginning January 1, 2001. We cannot, however, guarantee that we will continue to qualify in the future as a REIT. We cannot give any assurance that new legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions will not significantly change the requirements relating to our qualification. If we fail to qualify as a REIT, we would not be allowed a deduction for distributions to shareholders in computing our taxable income and will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates, we could be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, we would be required to pay significant income taxes and we would have less money available for our operations and distributions to shareholders. This would likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of our securities. We could also be precluded from treatment as a REIT for four taxable years following the year in which we lost the qualification, and all distributions to shareholders would be taxable as regular corporate dividends to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. Loss of our REIT status would result in an event of default that, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our indebtedness under our credit agreement and term loan agreement which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

 

We are dependent on external sources of capital which may not be available on favorable terms, or at all.

 

We are dependent on external sources of capital to maintain our status as a REIT and must distribute to our shareholders each year at least ninety percent of our net taxable income, excluding any net capital gain. Because of these distribution requirements, it is not likely that we will be able to fund all future capital needs, including acquisitions, from income from operations. Therefore, we will have to continue to rely on third-party sources of capital, which may or may not be available on favorable terms, or at all. As part of our overall growth strategy we regularly review opportunities to acquire additional properties and we expect to continue to pursue acquisitions that we believe will benefit our financial performance. To the extent that our current sources of liquidity are not sufficient to fund such acquisitions we will require other sources of capital, including incurring additional indebtedness which may or may not be available on favorable terms or at all. We cannot accurately predict how periods of illiquidity in the credit markets will impact our access to or cost of capital. In addition, additional equity offerings may result in substantial dilution of shareholders’ interests, and additional debt financing may substantially increase our leverage. Our access to third-party sources of capital depends upon a number of factors including general market conditions, the market’s perception of our growth potential, our current and potential future earnings and cash distributions, covenants and limitations imposed under our credit agreement and our term loan agreement and the market price of our common stock.

 

The United States credit markets experienced an unprecedented contraction beginning in 2007. If one or more of the financial institutions that supports our credit agreement fails, we may not be able to find a replacement, which would negatively impact our ability to borrow under our credit agreement. We may not be able to refinance our outstanding debt when due in March 2011, (or in March 2012 if we exercise our option to extend the term of the credit agreement for one additional year), which could have a material adverse effect on us. We may be precluded from exercising our option to extend the term of the credit agreement for one additional year if we are in default of the credit agreement.

 

Our ability to meet the financial and other covenants relating to our credit agreement and our term loan agreement may be dependent on the performance of our tenants, including Marketing. Should our assessments, assumptions and beliefs that affect our accounting prove to be incorrect, or if circumstances change, we may have to materially adjust the amounts recorded in our financial statements for certain assets and liabilities, and, as a result, we may not be in compliance with the financial covenants in our credit agreement and our term loan agreement. We have determined that the aggregate amount of the Marketing Environmental Liabilities (as estimated by us, based on our assumptions and analysis of information currently available to us described in more detail above) could be material to us if we were required to accrue for all of the Marketing

Environmental Liabilities in the future since we believe that it is reasonably possible that as a result of such accrual, we may not be in compliance with the existing financial covenants in our credit agreement and our term loan agreement. (For additional information with respect to The Marketing Environmental Liabilities, see “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — General — Marketing and the Marketing Leases” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010.) If we are not in compliance with one or more of our covenants which if not complied with could result in an event of default under our credit agreement or our term loan agreement, there can be no assurance that our lenders would waive such non-compliance. A default under our credit agreement or our term loan agreement, if not cured or waived, whether due to a loss of our REIT status, a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or prospects, a failure to comply with financial and certain other covenants in the credit agreement or our term loan agreement or otherwise, could result in the acceleration of all of our indebtedness under our credit agreement and our term loan agreement. This could have a material adverse affect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

 

The downturn in the credit markets has increased the cost of borrowing and has made financing difficult to obtain, which may negatively impact our business, and may have a material adverse effect on us. Lenders may require us to enter into more restrictive covenants relating to our operations.

 

During 2007, the United States housing and residential lending markets began to experience accelerating default rates, declining real estate values and increasing backlog of housing supply. The residential sector issues quickly spread more broadly into the corporate, asset-backed and other credit and equity markets and the volatility and risk premiums in most credit and equity markets have increased dramatically, while liquidity has decreased. These issues continued throughout 2010 and into the beginning of 2011. Increasing concerns regarding the United States and world economic outlook, such as large asset write-downs at banks, volatility in oil prices, declining business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment and bankruptcy filings, are compounding these issues and risk premiums in most capital markets remain at elevated levels. These factors are precipitating generalized credit market dislocations and a significant contraction in available credit. As a result, it is more difficult to obtain cost-effective debt capital to finance new investment activity or to refinance maturing debt, and most lenders are imposing more stringent restrictions on the terms of credit. Any future credit agreements or loan documents we execute may contain additional or more restrictive covenants. The negative impact on the tightening of the credit markets and continuing credit and liquidity concerns could have negative effects on our business such as (i) we could have difficulty in acquiring or developing properties, which would adversely affect our business strategy, (ii) our liquidity could be adversely affected, (iii) we may be unable to repay or refinance our indebtedness or (iv) we may need to make higher interest and principal payments or sell some of our assets on unfavorable terms to fund our liquidity needs. These negative effects may cause other material adverse effects on our business, financial condition, results of operations, ability to pay dividends or stock price. Additionally, there is no assurance that the increased financing costs, financing with increasingly restrictive terms or the increase in risk premiums that are demanded by investors will not have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Our business operations may not generate sufficient cash for distributions or debt service.

 

There is no assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to make distributions on our common stock, to pay our indebtedness, or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may not be able to repay or refinance existing indebtedness on favorable terms, which could force us to dispose of properties on disadvantageous terms (which may also result in losses) or accept financing on unfavorable terms.

 

We are exposed to interest rate risk and there can be no assurances that we will manage or mitigate this risk effectively.

 

We are exposed to interest rate risk, primarily as a result of our $175.0 million credit agreement and our $25.0 million term loan agreement. Borrowings under our credit agreement and our term loan agreement bear

interest at a floating rate. Accordingly, an increase in interest rates will increase the amount of interest we must pay under our credit agreement and our term loan agreement. A significant increase in interest rates could also make it more difficult to find alternative financing on desirable terms. We have entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a major financial institution which expires in June 2011 with respect to a portion of our variable rate debt outstanding under our credit agreement and our term loan agreement. We are, and will be, exposed to interest rate risk to the extent that our aggregate borrowings floating at market rates exceed the $45.0 million notional amount of the swap agreement. Although the swap agreement is intended to lessen the impact of rising interest rates, it also exposes us to the risk that the other party to the agreement will not perform, the agreement will be unenforceable and the underlying transactions will fail to qualify as a highly-effective cash flow hedge for accounting purposes. Further, there can be no assurance that the use of an interest rate swap will always be to our benefit. While the use of an interest rate swap agreement is intended to lessen the adverse impact of rising interest rates, it also conversely limits the positive impact that could be realized from falling interest rates with respect to the portion of our variable rate debt covered by the interest rate swap agreement. For additional information with respect to interest rate risk, see “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010.

 

Inflation may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Although inflation has not materially impacted our results of operations in the recent past, increased inflation could have a more pronounced negative impact on any variable rate debt we incur in the future and on our results of operations. During times when inflation is greater than increases in rent, as provided for in our leases, rent increases may not keep up with the rate of inflation. Likewise, even though our triple net leases reduce our exposure to rising property expenses due to inflation, substantial inflationary pressures and increased costs may have an adverse impact on our tenants if increases in their operating expenses exceed increases in revenue, which may adversely affect the tenants’ ability to pay rent.

 

The loss of certain members of our management team could adversely affect our business.

 

We depend upon the skills and experience of our executive officers. Loss of the services of any of them could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price. Except for the employment agreement with our President and Chief Executive Officer, David Driscoll, we do not have employment agreements with any of our executives.

 

Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial position and results of operations, and they require management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain.

 

Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial position and results of operations. We have identified several accounting policies as being critical to the presentation of our financial position and results of operations because they require management to make particularly subjective or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because of the likelihood that materially different amounts would be recorded under different conditions or using different assumptions. Because of the inherent uncertainty of the estimates, judgments and assumptions associated with these critical accounting policies, we cannot provide any assurance that we will not make subsequent significant adjustments to our consolidated financial statements including those within this prospectus supplement. Estimates, judgments and assumptions underlying our consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, deferred rent receivable, income under direct financing leases, recoveries from state UST funds, environmental remediation costs, real estate including impairment charges related to the reduction in market value of our real estate, depreciation and amortization, impairment of long-lived assets, litigation, accrued expenses, income taxes and the allocation of the purchase price of properties acquired to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. For example, we have made judgments regarding the level of environmental reserves and reserves for our deferred rent receivable relating to Marketing and the Marketing Leases and leases with our other tenants. We may be required to increase or decrease the deferred rent receivable reserve, record additional

impairment charges related to our properties, or accrue for environmental liabilities as a result of the potential or actual modification or termination of the Marketing Leases or leases with our other tenants, which may result in material adjustments to the amounts recorded for these assets and liabilities. These judgments, assumptions and allocations may prove to be incorrect and our business, financial condition, revenues, operating expense, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price may be materially adversely affected if that is the case.

 

Amendments to the Accounting Standards Codification made by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) or changes in accounting standards issued by other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect our reported revenues, profitability or financial position.

 

Our financial statements are subject to the application of GAAP in accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification, which is periodically amended by the FASB. The application of GAAP is also subject to varying interpretations over time. Accordingly, we are required to adopt amendments to the Accounting Standards Codification or comply with revised interpretations that are issued from time-to-time by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB and the SEC. Those changes could adversely affect our reported revenues, profitability or financial position.

 

Terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war may affect the market on which our common stock trades, the markets in which we operate, our operations and our results of operations.

 

Terrorist attacks or other acts of violence or war could affect our business or the businesses of our tenants or of Marketing or its parent. The consequences of armed conflicts are unpredictable, and we may not be able to foresee events that could have a material adverse effect on us. More generally, any of these events could cause consumer confidence and spending to decrease or result in increased volatility in the United States and worldwide financial markets and economy. Terrorist attacks also could be a factor resulting in, or a continuation of, an economic recession in the United States or abroad. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

 

Risks Related to this Offering

 

The trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be subject to wide fluctuations.

 

The sale price of our common stock on the NYSE has fluctuated significantly in recent quarters. Our stock price may fluctuate in response to a number of events and factors, such as those described elsewhere in this “Risk Factors” section and those events described or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

 

This offering may be dilutive, and there may be future dilution of our common stock.

 

Giving effect to the potential issuance of common stock in this offering, the receipt of the expected net proceeds and the use of those proceeds, this offering may have a dilutive effect on our expected earnings per share, funds from operations per share and adjusted funds from operations per share. The actual amount of such dilution cannot be determined at this time and will be based on numerous factors. Additionally, we are not restricted from issuing additional shares of our common stock or preferred stock, including any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock or preferred stock or any substantially similar securities in the future. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market after this offering or the perception that such sales could occur.

 

We may be unable to pay dividends.

 

Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, our ability to pay dividends would be restricted if, after payment of the dividend, (1) we would not be able to pay indebtedness as it becomes due in the usual course of business or (2) our total assets would be less than the sum of our liabilities plus the amount that would be

needed, if we were to be dissolved, to satisfy the rights of any shareholders with liquidation preferences. There currently are no shareholders with liquidation preferences. No assurance can be given that our financial performance in the future will permit our payment of any dividends. (For additional information regarding Marketing and the Marketing Leases, see “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — General — Marketing and the Marketing Leases” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010.) In particular, our credit agreement and our term loan agreement prohibit the payments of dividends during certain events of default. As a result of the factors described above, we may experience material fluctuations in future operating results on a quarterly or annual basis, which could materially and adversely affect our business, stock price and ability to pay dividends.

 

We may change the dividend policy of our common stock in the future.

 

The decision to declare and pay dividends on our common stock in the future, as well as the timing, amount and composition of any such future dividends, will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on such factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant and the dividend paid may vary from expected amounts. Any change in our dividend policy could adversely affect our business and the market price of our common stock. A recent Internal Revenue Service revenue procedure allows us to satisfy the REIT income distribution requirement by distributing up to 90% of our dividends on our common stock in shares of our common stock in lieu of paying dividends entirely in cash. Although we reserve the right to utilize this procedure in the future, we currently have no intent to do so. In the event that we pay a portion of a dividend in shares of our common stock, taxable U.S. shareholders would be required to pay tax on the entire amount of the dividend, including the portion paid in shares of common stock, in which case such shareholders might have to pay the tax using cash from other sources. If a U.S. shareholder sells the stock it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our common stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. shareholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such dividend, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in stock. In addition, if a significant number of our shareholders sell shares of our common stock in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, such sales would put downward pressure on the market price of our common stock.

 

Changes in market conditions could adversely affect the market price of our publicly traded common stock.

 

As with other publicly traded securities, the market price of our publicly traded common stock depends on various market conditions, which may change from time-to-time. Among the market conditions that may affect the market price of our publicly traded common stock are the following:

 

 

We may not use the net proceeds from this offering effectively.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for the repayment of outstanding indebtedness under our credit agreement and general corporate purposes, which may not improve our results of operations or

enhance the value of our common stock. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or ability to pay dividends and cause the price of our common stock to decline.

 

In order to preserve our REIT status, our charter limits the number of shares a person may own, which may discourage a takeover that could result in a premium price for our common stock or otherwise benefit our stockholders.

 

Our charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes our directors to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to preserve our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Unless exempted by our board of directors, no person may actually or constructively own more than 5% (by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of our common stock or the outstanding shares of any class or series of our preferred stock, which may inhibit large investors from desiring to purchase our stock. This restriction may have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in control, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders. See “Description of Capital Stock — Ownership and Transfer Restrictions” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

The net proceeds to us from this offering are expected to be approximately $79,720,000 ($91,753,000 if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of common stock in full), after deducting the underwriting discount and our estimated offering expenses.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for the repayment of outstanding indebtedness under our credit agreement and general corporate purposes. We will re-borrow amounts repaid under our credit agreement with proceeds from this offering to fund future property acquisitions and for other general corporate purposes.

 

We are party to a $175.0 million amended and restated senior unsecured credit agreement which expires in March 2011 that we utilize from time to time to fund our working capital needs, including acquisitions and capital expenditures. Subject to the terms of the credit agreement and continued compliance with its covenants, we have the option to extend the term of the credit agreement for one additional year to March 2012. As of September 30, 2010, borrowings under the Credit Agreement were $38.7 million, bearing interest at a rate of 1.56% per annum. We had $136.3 million available under the terms of the Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2010. On January 13, 2011, we borrowed funds available under our credit facility to finance our $111.3 million investment involving a sale/leaseback and loan transaction with CPD NY. Affiliates of the underwriters are lenders under our credit agreement and will receive a portion of the net proceeds from this offering. See “Conflicts of Interest.”

 

The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization as of September 30, 2010:

 

(i) on an actual basis;

 

(ii) on a pro forma basis giving effect to the funds borrowed under our credit facility in connection with our $111.3 million investment involving a sale/leaseback and loan transaction with CPD NY; and

 

(iii) on pro forma basis, as adjusted, to give effect to the pro forma changes described in (ii) above and the sale by us of 3,000,000 shares of our common stock in this offering at the public offering price of $28.00 per share after deducting the underwriting discount and our estimated offering expenses and the application of the net proceeds as described under “Use of Proceeds.”

 

For purposes of the following table, we have assumed no exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option. This table should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

 

 

The following selected financial data for the three years ended December 31, 2009 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The financial data for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements. In Getty’s opinion the unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 2010. The data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, related notes, and other financial information incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

Supplemental Non-GAAP Measures

 

We manage our business to enhance the value of our real estate portfolio and, as a REIT, place particular emphasis on minimizing risk and generating cash sufficient to make required distributions to shareholders of at least ninety percent of our taxable income each year. In addition to measurements defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), our management also focuses on

funds from operations available to common shareholders (“FFO”) and adjusted funds from operations available to common shareholders (“AFFO”) to measure our performance. FFO is generally considered to be an appropriate supplemental non-GAAP measure of the performance of REITs. FFO is defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts as net earnings before depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, gains or losses on dispositions of real estate, (including such non-FFO items reported in discontinued operations), extraordinary items and cumulative effect of accounting change. Other REITs may use definitions of FFO and/or AFFO that are different than ours and; accordingly, may not be comparable.

 

We believe that FFO and AFFO are helpful to investors in measuring our performance because both FFO and AFFO exclude various items included in GAAP net earnings that do not relate to, or are not indicative of, our fundamental operating performance. FFO excludes various items such as gains or losses from property dispositions and depreciation and amortization of real estate assets. In our case, however, GAAP net earnings and FFO typically include the impact of the Revenue Recognition Adjustments comprised of deferred rental revenue (straight-line rental revenue), the net amortization of above-market and below-market leases, and income recognized from direct financing leases on our recognition of revenues from rental properties, as offset by the impact of related collection reserves. GAAP net earnings and FFO from time to time may also include impairment charges and/or income tax benefits. Deferred rental revenue results primarily from fixed rental increases scheduled under certain leases with our tenants. In accordance with GAAP, the aggregate minimum rent due over the current term of these leases are recognized on a straight-line (or an average) basis rather than when payment is contractually due. The present value of the difference between the fair market rent and the contractual rent for in-place leases at the time properties are acquired is amortized into revenue from rental properties over the remaining lives of the in-place leases. Income from direct financing leases is recognized over the lease term using the effective interest method which produces a constant periodic rate of return on the net investment in the leased property. Impairment of long-lived assets represents charges taken to write-down real estate assets to fair value estimated when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the property may not be recoverable. In prior periods, income tax benefits have been recognized due to the elimination of, or a net reduction in, amounts accrued for uncertain tax positions related to being taxed as a C-corp., rather than as a REIT, prior to 2001.

 

Management pays particular attention to AFFO, a supplemental non-GAAP performance measure that we define as FFO less Revenue Recognition Adjustment, impairment charges and income tax benefit. In management’s view, AFFO provides a more accurate depiction than FFO of our fundamental operating performance related to: (i) the impact of scheduled rent increases under these leases; (ii) the rental revenue earned from acquired in-place leases; (iii) the impact of rent due from direct financing leases; (iv) our rental operating expenses (exclusive of impairment charges); and (v) our election to be treated as a REIT under the federal income tax laws beginning in 2001. Neither FFO nor AFFO represent cash generated from operating activities calculated in accordance with GAAP and therefore these measures should not be considered an alternative for GAAP net earnings or as a measure of liquidity.

A reconciliation of net earnings to FFO and AFFO for the three years ended December 31, 2009 and the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

The following discussion summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to our taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). This section also summarizes material federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of our Common Stock.

 

DLA Piper LLP (US) has reviewed this summary and is of the opinion that the discussion contained herein fairly summarizes the federal income tax consequences that are material to a holder of our common stock. This discussion is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations and does not provide a detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax considerations, nor does it discuss all of the aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to a prospective shareholder in light of his or her particular circumstances or to shareholders (including, but not limited to, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, financial institutions or broker-dealers, partnerships and other pass-through entities, regulated investment companies, REITs, persons holding our common stock as part of a hedge, straddle, conversion or other risk reduction or constructive sale transaction, foreign corporations and persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States, U.S. expatriates and persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar) who are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws.

 

The information in this section is based on the current provisions of the Code, current final, temporary and proposed regulations, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, and court decisions. The reference to Internal Revenue Service interpretations and practices includes Internal Revenue Service practices and policies reflected in private letter rulings issued to other taxpayers, which rulings would not be binding on the Internal Revenue Service in any of its dealings with us. These sources are being relied upon as of the date of this prospectus. No assurance can be given that future legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations and court decisions will not significantly change current law, or adversely affect existing interpretations of law, on which the information in this section is based. Any change of this kind could apply retroactively to transactions preceding the date of the change in law. Even if there is no change in applicable law, no assurance can be provided that the statements made in the following discussion will not be challenged by the Internal Revenue Service or will be sustained by a court if so challenged.

 

Each prospective shareholder is advised to consult with his or her own tax advisor to determine the impact of his or her personal tax situation on the anticipated tax consequences of our status as a REIT and the ownership and sale of our stock. This includes the U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign income and other tax consequences of the ownership and sale of our stock, and the potential impact of changes in applicable tax laws.

 

Taxation of Getty Realty Corp.

 

General.  We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, and we believe that we have met the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT since our initial REIT election in 2001. We intend to continue to operate in such a manner as to continue to so qualify, but no assurance can be given that we have qualified or will remain qualified as a REIT. We have not requested and do not intend to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service as to our current status as a REIT. However, we have received an opinion from DLA Piper LLP (US) stating that, since the commencement of our taxable year which began January 1, 2007 through the tax year ending December 31, 2010, we have been organized and have operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and our actual method of operation has enabled, and our proposed method of organization and operation will enable, us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for our current and subsequent taxable years, provided that we have been organized and have operated and continue to be organized and to operate in accordance with certain assumptions and representations made by us to DLA Piper LLP (US). It must be emphasized that this opinion is based on various assumptions and on our representations concerning our organization and operations, including an assumption that we qualified as a REIT at all times from January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2006, and including representations regarding the nature of our assets and the conduct and method of operation of our business. The opinion cannot be relied

upon if any of those assumptions and representations later prove incorrect or the facts otherwise vary from those relied on by DLA Piper LLP (US) in rendering the opinion. Moreover, our continued qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet, through actual annual operating results, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership, the various REIT qualification tests imposed under the Code, the results of which will not be reviewed by DLA Piper LLP (US). Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations will satisfy such requirements. Additional information regarding the risks associated with our failure to qualify as a REIT is set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement.

 

The opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) is based upon current law, which is subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Changes in applicable law could modify the conclusions expressed in the opinion. Moreover, unlike a tax ruling (which we will not seek), this opinion is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service, and no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service could not successfully challenge our status as a REIT.

 

If we have qualified and continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income taxes on that portion of our ordinary income and capital gain that we distribute (or are deemed to distribute) currently to our shareholders. Even if we qualify as a REIT, however, we will be subject to federal income taxes under the following circumstances. First, we will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains. Second, under certain circumstances, we may be subject to the “alternative minimum tax” on certain items of tax preference. Third, if we have (i) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” (which is, in general, property acquired by foreclosure or otherwise on default of a loan secured by the property) which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (ii) other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate on such income. Fourth, if we have net income from prohibited transactions (which are, in general, certain sales or other dispositions of property (other than foreclosure property) held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business), such income will be subject to a 100% tax. This 100% tax on income from prohibited transactions is discussed in more detail below. Fifth, if we should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test (as discussed below), and nonetheless have maintained our qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements have been met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on the income attributable to the greater of the amount by which we failed the 75% or the amount by which we failed the 95% test, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. Sixth, if we were to violate one or more of the REIT asset tests (as discussed below) under certain circumstances, but the violation was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and we were to take certain remedial actions, we may avoid a loss of our REIT status by, among other things, paying a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the non-qualifying asset during a specified period. Seventh, if we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income (including net capital gain) from prior years, subject to certain adjustments, we would be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed. Eighth, if we were to acquire any asset, directly or indirectly, from a C corporation (i.e., a corporation generally subject to full corporate level tax) in a transaction in which our basis in the asset is determined by reference to the basis of the asset (or any other property) in the hands of the C corporation, and we were to recognize gain on the disposition of such asset during the 10-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired such asset, then, to the extent of such property’s “built-in” gain (the excess of the fair market value of such property at the time we acquired it over the adjusted basis of such property at such time), such gain will be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate applicable. We refer to this tax as the “Built-in Gains Tax.” Ninth, if we fail to satisfy certain of the REIT qualification requirements under the Code (other than the gross income and asset tests), and the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, we may be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure to maintain our REIT status. Finally, if we fail to comply with the requirements to send annual letters to certain shareholders requesting information regarding the actual ownership of our outstanding stock 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.

Activities conducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary are subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates. In general, a taxable REIT subsidiary may engage in activities that, if engaged in directly by a REIT, would produce income that does not satisfy the REIT gross income tests, described below, or income that, if earned by the REIT, would be subject to the 100% tax on prohibited transactions, also described below. A number of constraints, however, are imposed on REITs and their taxable REIT subsidiaries to ensure that taxable REIT subsidiaries pay an appropriate corporate-level tax on their income. For example, a taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to the “earnings stripping” rules of the Code with respect to interest paid to the REIT, which could defer or disallow a portion of our taxable REIT subsidiary’s deductions for interest paid to us under certain circumstances. In addition, if a taxable REIT subsidiary were to make deductible payments to us (such as interest or rent), and the amount of those deductible payments is determined by the Internal Revenue Service to exceed the amount that unrelated parties would charge to each other, we would be subject to a 100% penalty tax on the excess payments. We would incur a similar 100% penalty tax on a portion of the rent we receive from our tenants, to the extent the Internal Revenue Service determines that the rent payments are attributable to certain services provided to our tenants by a taxable REIT subsidiary without receiving adequate compensation either from us or from our tenants. We have only one taxable REIT subsidiary and as of the date of this prospectus, it has no activities or assets.

 

Requirements for Qualification.  The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

 

(1) which is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

 

(2) the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;

 

(3) which would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code;

 

(4) which is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to certain provisions of the Code;

 

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

 

(6) not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities);

 

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

 

(8) which uses the calendar year as its taxable year; and

 

(9) which meets certain other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and regarding distributions to its shareholders.

 

The Code provides that conditions (1) through (4), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year, that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months, and that condition (6) must be met during the last half of each taxable year. We have issued sufficient shares of our common stock with sufficient diversity of ownership to allow us to satisfy requirements (5) and (6). We will be treated as having met condition (6) above if we complied with certain Treasury Regulations for ascertaining the ownership of our stock and if we did not know (or after the exercise of reasonable diligence would not have known) that our stock was sufficiently closely held to cause us to fail condition (6). In addition, Article VI of our Articles of Incorporation contains restrictions regarding the transfer and ownership of our shares that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in clauses (5) and (6) above but without causing us to violate the freely transferable shares requirement described in clause (2) above. See “Description of Capital Stock — Ownership and Transfer Restrictions” on page 5 of the accompanying prospectus.

 

In the case of a REIT owning an interest in a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, or other legal entity that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (which we refer to collectively as partnerships), the REIT is deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership

and is deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to such share (based on the REIT’s capital interest in the partnership). In addition, the assets and gross income of the partnership will retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and asset tests that are discussed below. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not own any interests in entities that are treated as partnerships for federal tax purposes.

 

Income Tests.  To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income requirements annually. First, at least 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property (including “rents from real property” and, in certain circumstances, mortgage interest) or from certain types of temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived from such real property investments described above, and from dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, or from any combination of the foregoing. In our taxable years from 2001 through 2004, any payment that we received under certain kinds of financial instruments that we entered into to reduce the interest rate risks with respect to any indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets, as well as any gain derived from the sale or other disposition of any such investment, constituted qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test (but not the 75% gross income test). In our taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, any transaction that we enter into to hedge indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets must constitute a properly identified “hedging transaction” (in accordance with Section 1221 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) to avoid giving rise to non-qualifying gross income, and any income or gain that we derive from such a properly-identified hedging transaction will be excluded from our gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test (but not the 75% gross income test). For hedging transactions entered into after July 30, 2008, such income is also excluded for purposes of the 75% gross income test.

 

Rents that we receive will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the above gross income tests only if several conditions are met. 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 received or accrued generally will not be excluded from “rents from real property” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second, rents received from a tenant will not qualify as “rents from real property” if we directly or constructively were deemed to own 10% or more of the ownership interests in such tenant (a “Related Party Tenant”), unless such tenant is our taxable REIT subsidiary and certain other conditions are satisfied. Third, if rent attributable to personal property that is leased in connection with a lease of real property is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to such personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property.” Finally, for rent to qualify as “rents from real property,” we generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to our tenants, other than through an “independent contractor” from whom we derive no revenue. The “independent contractor” requirement, however, does not apply to the extent the services we provide are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant.” In addition, the “independent contractor” requirement will not apply to noncustomary services we provide, if the annual value of such noncustomary services does not exceed 1% of the gross income derived from the property with respect to which the noncustomary services are provided (the “1% de minimis exception”). For this purpose, such services may not be valued at less than 150% of our direct cost of providing the services, and any gross income deemed to have been derived by us from the performance of noncustomary services pursuant to the 1% de minimis exception will constitute nonqualifying gross income under the 75% and 95% gross income tests. In addition, our taxable REIT subsidiaries are permitted to provide noncustomary services to our tenants without causing the rents we receive from such tenants to be disqualified as “rents from real property.”

 

From time to time, we may derive rent from certain tenants based, in whole or in part, on the net profits of the tenant, rent from Related Party Tenants, or rent that is more than 15% attributable to personal property. However, the amount of such nonqualifying rent income, if any, is not expected to be material, and we have complied and believe we will continue to comply with the 95% and 75% gross income tests. In addition, based

on our knowledge of the real estate markets in the geographic regions in which we operate, we believe that all services that are provided to the tenants of the properties generally will be considered “usually or customarily” rendered in connection with the rental of comparable real estate. Further, we intend to provide any noncustomary services only through qualifying independent contractors, through our taxable REIT subsidiaries or in compliance with the 1% de minimis exception.

 

If we were to 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 such year if we are entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if our failure to meet such tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and we attach a schedule to our federal income tax return containing certain information concerning our gross income. It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. As discussed above in “General,” even if these relief provisions were to apply, a tax would be imposed with respect to the excess income.

 

Asset Tests.  At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we must satisfy several tests relating to the nature of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets (including our allocable share of real estate assets held by any partnerships in which we own interests), certain temporary investments in stock or debt instruments purchased with the proceeds of a stock offering or a public offering of long-term debt (but only for the one-year period beginning on the date we receive the applicable offering proceeds), cash, certain cash items and government securities. Second, not more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class. Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class, the value of any one issuer’s debt and equity securities that we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets (the “5% asset test”). Fourth, we may not own more than 10% of the total voting power of any one issuer’s outstanding securities (the “10% voting securities test”). Fifth, we may not own more than 10% of the total value of any one issuer’s outstanding debt and equity securities (the “10% value test”), subject to certain exceptions. Mortgage debt secured by real estate assets constitutes a “real estate asset” and does not constitute a “security” for purposes of the foregoing tests.

 

The following assets (“qualifying debt”) are not treated as “securities” held by us for purposes of the 10% value test: (i) “straight debt” meeting certain requirements, unless we hold (either directly or through our “controlled” taxable REIT subsidiaries) certain other securities of the same corporate or partnership issuer that have an aggregate value greater than 1% of such issuer’s outstanding securities; (ii) loans to individuals or estates; (iii) certain rental agreements calling for deferred rents or increasing rents that are subject to Section 467 of the Code, other than with certain related persons; (iv) obligations to pay us amounts qualifying as “rents from real property” under the 75% and 95% gross income tests; (v) securities issued by a state or any political subdivision of a state, the District of Columbia, a foreign government, any political subdivision of a foreign government, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, but only if the determination of any payment received or accrued under the security does not depend in whole or in part on the profits of any person not described in this category, or payments on any obligation issued by such an entity; (vi) securities issued by another qualifying REIT; and (vii) other arrangements identified in Treasury regulations (which have not yet been issued or proposed). For taxable years beginning after October 22, 2004,

 

 

In addition, any non-qualifying debt issued by a partnership will not be treated as a “security” under the 10% value test if at least 75% of the partnership’s gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) is derived from sources meeting the requirements of the 75% gross income test and, if the

partnership fails to meet the 75% gross income test, then the non-qualifying debt issued by the partnership nevertheless will not be treated as a “security” to the extent of our interest as a partner in the partnership.

 

The 10% voting securities test, and the 10% value test do not apply to the securities of a taxable REIT subsidiary. However, the value of the debt and equity securities of all taxable REIT subsidiaries we own cannot represent more than 25% of the value of our total assets. Any corporation in which a REIT directly or indirectly owns stock (other than another REIT or a corporation engaged in certain specified activities) may be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary if the REIT and the corporation file a joint election with the Internal Revenue Service for the corporation to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary of the REIT.

 

We believe that our debt and equity securities of our taxable REIT subsidiaries, have represented, at all relevant times, less than 20% of the value of our total assets. We believe that the securities of each such issuer, at all relevant times, also represented less than 5% of the value of our total assets. We also believe that the value of the securities, including unsecured debt, of each other issuer in which we have owned an interest, excluding equity interests in partnerships (which are looked through rather than treated as securities for purposes of the REIT asset tests), has never exceeded 5% of the total value of our assets and that we comply with the 10% voting securities test and the 10% value test (taking into account the various exceptions referred to above). No independent appraisals have been obtained, however, to support these conclusions, and DLA Piper LLP(US), in rendering the tax opinion described above, is relying upon our representations regarding the value of our securities and our other assets. Although we plan to take steps to ensure that we continue to satisfy all of the applicable REIT asset tests, there can be no assurance that such steps will always be successful or will not require a reduction in our overall interest in the taxable REIT subsidiaries or changes in our other investments.

 

If we were to fail any of the asset tests discussed above at the end of any quarter without curing such failure within 30 days after the end of such quarter, we would fail to qualify as a REIT, unless we were to qualify under certain relief provisions. Under one of these relief provisions, if we were to fail the 5% asset test, the 10% voting securities test, or the 10% value test, we nevertheless would continue to qualify as a REIT if the failure was due to the ownership of assets having a total value not exceeding the lesser of 1% of our assets at the end of the relevant quarter or $10,000,000, and we were to dispose of such assets (or otherwise meet such asset tests) within six months after the end of the quarter in which we identified the failure. If we were to fail to meet any of the REIT asset tests for a particular quarter, but we did not qualify for the relief for de minimis failures that is described in the preceding sentence, then we would be deemed to have satisfied the relevant asset test if: (i) following our identification of the failure, we were to file a schedule with a description of each asset that caused the failure; (ii) the failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect; (iii) we were to dispose of the non-qualifying asset (or otherwise meet the relevant asset test) within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identified the failure, and (iv) we were to pay a penalty tax equal to the greater of $50,000, or the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the non-qualifying asset during the period beginning on the first date that the failure occurred and ending on the date we dispose of the asset (or otherwise cure the asset test failure). It is not possible to predict whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions.

 

Annual Distribution Requirements.  To qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends (other than capital gain dividends) to our shareholders in an amount at least equal to (A) the sum of (i) 90% of our “REIT taxable income” (computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain) and (ii) 90% of the net income (after tax), if any, from foreclosure property, minus (B) the sum of certain items of noncash income. Such distributions must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for such year and if paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. 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 subject to tax on the undistributed amount at regular corporate tax rates. Furthermore, if we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our REIT capital gain income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income (including any net capital gain) from prior periods, subject to certain adjustments, we will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed.

We have made and intend to continue to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements. It is possible, however, that we may not have sufficient cash or liquid assets, from time to time, to meet the distribution requirements due to timing differences between the receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses and the inclusion of such income and deduction of such expenses in arriving at our taxable income, or if the amount of nondeductible expenses (such as principal amortization or capital expenses) exceeds the amount of noncash deductions (such as depreciation). In the event that such timing differences occur, we may need to borrow money, sell assets, pay taxable stock dividends (for example, where shareholders may elect to receive a dividend paid in cash or with newly issued shares of our common stock), or take other measures to permit us to pay the required dividends.

 

Under certain circumstances, 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 that 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 and penalties, if any, to the Internal Revenue Service based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

 

Failure to Qualify.  If we were to fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than an asset or income test violation of a type for which relief is otherwise available as described above, we would retain our REIT qualification if the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and if we were to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. It is not possible to predict whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of this relief provision.

 

If we were to fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year and no relief provisions were to apply, we would be subject to tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. Distributions to shareholders in any year in which we fail to qualify will not be deductible from our taxable income, nor will they be required to be made. In such event, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to our shareholders will be taxable as regular dividend income. Under these circumstances, subject to certain limitations in the Code, corporate shareholders may be eligible for the dividends received deduction and individual shareholders may be eligible for a reduced tax rate on “qualified dividend income” received from regular C corporations. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to such statutory relief. In addition, to re-elect REIT status after being disqualified, we would have to distribute as dividends, no later than the end of our first taxable year as a re-electing REIT, all of the earnings and profits attributable to any taxable years for which we were a taxable C corporation. Thus, to re-elect REIT status after being disqualified, we could be required to incur substantial indebtedness or liquidate substantial investments in order to make such distributions.

 

Prohibited Transactions Tax.  Any gain that a REIT recognizes from the sale of property held as inventory or otherwise held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business (excluding sales of foreclosure property and sales conducted by taxable REIT subsidiaries) 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 business is a question of fact that depends on all of the facts and circumstances of the particular transaction. Under a statutory safe harbor, however, we will not be subject to the 100% tax with respect to a sale of property if (i) the property has been held 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 and other than certain involuntary conversions) in the year of sale or (b) (x) the aggregate tax basis of property sold during the year of sale is 10% or less of the aggregate tax basis of all of our assets as of the beginning of the taxable year, or the aggregate fair market value of property sold during the year of sale is 10% or less of the aggregate fair market value of all of our assets as of the beginning of the taxable year, in each case excluding sales of foreclosure property and involuntary conversions, and (y) substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property sold are made through an independent contractor from whom we derive no income. The sale of more than one property to a buyer as part of one

transaction constitutes one sale for purposes of this safe harbor. Not all of our property sales will qualify for the safe harbor. Nevertheless, we intend to own our properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring, developing and owning rental properties and making occasional sales of properties as are consistent with our investment objectives. However, the Internal Revenue Service may successfully contend that some of our sales are prohibited transactions, in which case we would be required to pay the 100% penalty tax on the gains resulting from any such sales. Because of this prohibited transactions tax, we intend that sales of property to customers in the ordinary course of business will be made by a taxable REIT subsidiary, which will be subject to corporate-level tax on its profit but will not be subject to the 100% penalty tax on prohibited transactions.

 

Taxation of Shareholders

 

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders.  As used herein, the term “U.S. shareholder” means a holder of our common stock that for federal income tax purposes is:

 

 

If a partnership, entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership as a U.S. person will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership that will hold our common stock, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock by the partnership.

 

Under current law, certain “qualified dividend income” received by non-corporate U.S. shareholders in taxable years through 2012 is subject to tax at the same tax rates as long-term capital gain (generally, a maximum rate of 15% for such taxable years). Dividends received from REITs, however, generally are not eligible for these reduced tax rates and, therefore, will continue to be subject to tax at ordinary income rates subject to three narrow exceptions. Under the first exception, dividends received from a REIT may be treated as “qualified dividend income” eligible for the reduced tax rates to the extent that the REIT itself has received qualified dividend income from other corporations (such as taxable REIT subsidiaries) in which the REIT has invested. Under the second exception, dividends paid by a REIT in a taxable year may be treated as qualified dividend income in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the excess of the REIT’s “REIT taxable income” for the preceding taxable year over the corporate-level federal income tax payable by the REIT for such preceding taxable year and (ii) the excess of the REIT’s income that was subject to the Built-in Gains Tax (as described above) in the preceding taxable year over the tax payable by the REIT on such income for such preceding taxable year. Under the third exception, dividends received from a REIT may be treated as “qualified dividend income” to the extent attributable to earnings and profits accumulated in non-REIT taxable years. We do not expect to receive a material amount of dividends from our taxable REIT subsidiaries or from other taxable corporations, we do not expect to pay a material amount of federal income tax on undistributed REIT taxable income or a material amount of Built-in Gains Tax, and we believe we have previously distributed as dividends all of our non-REIT accumulated earnings and profits. Therefore, as long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions made to our non-corporate U.S. Shareholders out of current or accumulated earnings and profits (and not designated as capital gain dividends) will be taken into account by them as ordinary income (except, in the case of non-corporate shareholders who meet certain holding period requirements, to the limited extent that one of the foregoing exceptions applies). In addition, as long as we qualify as a REIT, corporate U.S. Shareholders will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction as to any dividends received from us.

Under IRS guidance that applies to publicly traded REITs, we may declare a distribution with respect to a taxable year ending on or before December 31, 2011 that is payable, at the election of each shareholder, either in the form of cash or newly issued shares of our common stock of equivalent value. The IRS guidance allows the amount of cash to be distributed in the aggregate to all shareholders to be limited to not less than 10% of the aggregate declared distribution, with a proration mechanism applying if too many shareholders elect to receive cash. In such circumstances, the shareholders who actually receive shares of common stock would be treated for federal income tax purposes as if they had received the distribution in cash, so that our shareholders would recognize dividend income, and we would be permitted to take a dividends paid deduction, to the extent the distribution does not exceed our current or accumulated earnings and profits.

 

Distributions that we designate as capital gain dividends will be taxed as long-term capital gains (to the extent they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year) without regard to the period for which the shareholder has held his or her shares. However, corporate shareholders may be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the shareholder’s shares of our common stock, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a shareholder’s shares of our common stock, they will be included in income as long-term capital gain (or short-term capital gain if the shares have been held by the distributee for one year or less), assuming the shares are a capital asset in the hands of the shareholder. In addition, any dividend that we declare in October, November or December of any year payable to a shareholder of record on a specific date in any such a month shall be treated as both paid by us and received by the shareholder on December 31 of such year, provided that the dividend is actually paid by us during January of the following calendar year.

 

We may elect to retain and pay income tax on all or a portion of the net long-term capital gain that we receive in a taxable year and do not distribute as a capital gain dividend. In that case, to the extent that we designate such amount in a timely notice to such shareholder, our shareholders would be required to include in their income as long-term capital gain their proportionate shares of our undistributed net capital gain. Each shareholder would be deemed to have paid his or her proportionate share of the income tax imposed on us with respect to such undistributed net capital gain, and this amount would be credited or refunded to the shareholder in computing his or her own federal income tax liability. In addition, the tax basis of the shareholder’s stock would be increased by his or her proportionate share of the undistributed net capital gains included in his or her income, less his or her proportionate share of the income tax imposed on us with respect to such gains.

 

U.S. shareholders may not include in their individual income tax returns any of our net operating losses or net capital losses. Instead, we would carry over such losses for potential offset against our future income, subject to certain limitations. Taxable distributions from us and gain from the sale of our shares will not be treated as passive activity income and, therefore, U.S. shareholders generally will not be able to apply any “passive activity losses” (such as losses from certain types of limited partnerships in which a shareholder is a limited partner) against such income. In addition, taxable distributions from us generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitations. Capital gains from the disposition of our stock (or distributions, if any, taxable at capital gain rates), however, will be treated as investment income only if the shareholder so elects, in which case such capital gains or distributions, as the case may be, will be taxed at ordinary income rates. For purposes of computing each shareholder’s alternative minimum taxable income, certain of our “differently treated items” for each taxable year (for example, differences in computing depreciation deductions for regular tax purposes and alternative minimum tax purposes) may be apportioned to our shareholders in accordance with section 59(d)(1)(A) of the Code.

 

In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of our shares by a U.S. Shareholder who is not a dealer in securities will be treated as a capital gain or loss. Any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares of our common stock by a shareholder who has held such shares for six months or less (after applying certain holding period rules) will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of actual or deemed distributions from us that were required to be treated by such shareholder as long-term capital gain. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of our shares may be disallowed if other shares of our stock are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition.

For non-corporate taxpayers, the tax rate differential between capital gain and ordinary income may be significant. Under current law, the highest marginal non-corporate income tax rate applicable to ordinary income is 35%. Any capital gain recognized or otherwise properly taken into account before January 1, 2013, generally will be taxed to a non-corporate taxpayer at a maximum rate of 15% with respect to capital assets held for more than one year. The tax rates applicable to ordinary income apply to gain from the sale or exchange of capital assets held for one year or less. In the case of capital gain attributable to the sale or exchange of certain real property held for more than one year, an amount of such gain equal to the amount of all prior depreciation deductions not otherwise required to be taxed as ordinary depreciation recapture income will be taxed at a maximum rate of 25%. With respect to distributions designated by us as capital gain dividends (including any deemed distributions of retained capital gains), subject to certain limits, we also may designate, and will notify our shareholders, whether the dividend is taxable to non-corporate shareholders at regular long-term capital gain rates or at the 25% rate applicable to unrecaptured depreciation.

 

The characterization of income as capital or ordinary also may affect the deductibility of capital losses. Capital losses not offset by capital gains may be deducted against a non-corporate taxpayer’s ordinary income only up to a maximum annual amount of $3,000. Non-corporate taxpayers may carry forward their unused capital losses. All net capital gain of a corporate taxpayer is subject to tax at ordinary corporate rates. A corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses only to the extent of its capital gains, with unused losses eligible to be carried back three years and forward five years.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.  We will report to our U.S. Shareholders and the Internal Revenue Service the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any, with respect thereto. Under the backup withholding rules, a shareholder may be subject to backup withholding, at a rate equal to the fourth lowest rate of federal income tax applicable to ordinary income of individuals (currently 28%), with respect to dividends paid unless such shareholder (a) is a corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or (b) provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A shareholder who does not provide his or her correct taxpayer identification number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Any amount paid as backup withholding may be applied as a credit against the shareholder’s federal income tax liability, which could result in a refund. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions made to any shareholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to us. See “Taxation of Foreign Shareholders” below.

 

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders.  The Internal Revenue Service has ruled publicly that amounts distributed by a REIT to a tax-exempt employees’ pension trust do not constitute “unrelated business taxable income” (“UBTI”). Based upon this ruling and subject to the discussion below regarding qualified pension trust investors, distributions by us to a shareholder that is a tax-exempt entity should not constitute UBTI, provided that the tax-exempt entity has not financed the acquisition of its shares with “acquisition indebtedness” within the meaning of the Code and the shares of our stock are not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business of the tax-exempt entity. Revenue rulings, however, are interpretive in nature and subject to revocation or modification by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

A “qualified trust” (defined to be any trust described in section 401(a) of the Code and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of the Code) that holds more than 10% of the value of the shares of a REIT may be required, under certain circumstances, to treat a portion of distributions from the REIT as UBTI. This requirement will apply for a taxable year only if (i) the REIT satisfies the requirement that not more than 50% of the value of its shares be held by five or fewer individuals (the “five or fewer requirement”) by relying on a special “look-through” rule under which shares held by qualified trust shareholders are treated as held by the beneficiaries of such trusts in proportion to their actuarial interests therein, and (ii) the REIT is “predominantly held” by qualified trusts. A REIT is “predominantly held” if either (i) a single qualified trust holds more than 25% of the value of the REIT’s shares or (ii) one or more qualified trusts, each owning more than 10% of the value of the REIT’s shares, hold in the aggregate more than 50% of the value of the REIT’s shares. If the foregoing requirements are met, the percentage of any REIT dividend treated as UBTI to a qualified trust that owns more than 10% of the value of the REIT’s shares is equal to the ratio of (a) the UBTI earned by the

REIT (treating the REIT as if it were a qualified trust and therefore subject to tax on its UBTI) to (b) the total gross income (less certain associated expenses) of the REIT. A de minimis exception applies where the ratio set forth in the preceding sentence is less than 5% for any year. The provisions requiring qualified trusts to treat a portion of REIT distributions as UBTI will not apply if the REIT is able to satisfy the five or fewer requirement without relying upon the “look-through” rule.

 

Taxation of Foreign Shareholders.  The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of persons that are not U.S. Shareholders (“Non-U.S. Shareholders”) are complex, and no attempt will be made herein to provide more than a limited summary of such rules. Prospective Non-U.S. Shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. federal, state and local income tax laws with regard to an investment in our common stock, including any reporting requirements.

 

Distributions that are not attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests and not designated by us as capital gain dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions, ordinarily, will be subject to a withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the distribution unless an applicable tax treaty reduces that tax. However, if income from the investment in our stock is treated as effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Shareholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the Non-U.S. Shareholder generally will be subject to a tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. shareholders are taxed with respect to such dividends (and may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax if the shareholder is a foreign corporation). We expect to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on the gross amount of any dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Shareholder that are not designated as capital gain dividends unless (i) a lower treaty rate applies and the required IRS Form W-8BEN evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate is filed with us or (ii) the Non-U.S. Shareholder files an IRS Form W-8ECI with us properly claiming that the distribution is “effectively connected” income. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the shareholder’s shares of stock, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a Non-U.S. Shareholder’s shares, such excess will constitute gain that may be subject to U.S. federal income tax under the provisions of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”), as described below. If it cannot be determined at the time a distribution is made whether or not such distribution will be in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to ordinary dividends. In addition, the portion of such distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, to the extent not subject to the 30% withholding tax on ordinary dividends, will be subject to a 10% withholding tax under FIRPTA, unless the Non-U.S. Shareholder obtains a withholding certificate from the Internal Revenue Service establishing the right to a reduced amount of FIRPTA withholding. The Non-U.S. Shareholder may seek a refund from the Internal Revenue Service of excess tax withheld if it is subsequently determined that such distribution was, in fact, in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits or, if the 10% withholding tax applied, did not give rise to taxable gain under FIRPTA.

 

Under current law, distributions to a Non-U.S. Shareholder that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests will not be treated under FIRPTA as income “effectively connected” with a U.S. business carried on by the Non-U.S. Shareholder, provided that (i) the distribution is received with respect to a class of our stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States and (ii) the Non-U.S. Shareholder does not own more than 5% of that regularly traded class of stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the relevant distribution. Rather than being subject to tax as effectively connected income under FIRPTA, such distributions will be treated as ordinary REIT dividends that are not capital gain dividends. Thus, such distributions generally will be subject to the 30% withholding tax described above (as opposed to a 35% withholding tax rate under FIRPTA), such distributions will not be subject to the branch profits tax, and Non-U.S. Shareholders generally will not be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return by reason of receiving such distributions.

 

In the case of any Non-U.S. Shareholder who is not eligible for the exception described above (an “Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder”), for any year in which we qualify as a REIT, distributions that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests will be taxed to such Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder under the provisions of FIRPTA. Under FIRPTA, these distributions are taxed

to an Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder as if such gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business. Thus, Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholders will be taxed on such distributions at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. shareholders (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals) and will be required to file U.S. federal income tax returns. Also, distributions subject to FIRPTA may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a corporate Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder not entitled to treaty relief or exemption. We are required by applicable Treasury Regulations to withhold 35% of any distribution to an Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder that could be designated by us as a capital gain dividend. This amount may be applied as a credit against the Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder’s FIRPTA tax liability.

 

Gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Shareholder upon a sale of our stock generally will not be taxed under FIRPTA if we are a “domestically controlled REIT,” defined generally as a REIT in which at all times during a specified testing period less than 50% in value of the stock was held directly or indirectly by foreign persons. As of the date of this prospectus, we believe that we qualify as a “domestically controlled REIT,” and that the sale of common stock by a Non-U.S. Shareholder therefore will not be subject to tax under FIRPTA. Because our stock is publicly traded, however, no assurance can be given that we are, or will continue to be, a domestically controlled REIT. If we were not a domestically controlled REIT, whether a Non-U.S. Shareholder’s gain would be taxed under FIRPTA would depend on whether our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market at the time of sale and on the size of the selling shareholder’s interest in our stock. In addition, gain not subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a Non-U.S. Shareholder if (i) the investment in our common stock is treated as effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Shareholder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the Non-U.S. Shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with respect to such gain, or (ii) 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 certain other conditions are met, in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gains. If the gain on the sale of our common stock were to be subject to tax under FIRPTA, the Non-U.S. Shareholder would be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with respect to such gain (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals).

 

The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act of 2010 will impose on non-U.S. persons that are entities certain increased certification requirements and information reporting related to U.S. accounts or ownership. In the event of noncompliance with the revised requirements, a 30% U.S. withholding tax could be imposed on payments to such non-U.S. persons of dividends and sales proceeds in respect of our common stock. If payment of U.S. withholding taxes is required, non-U.S. persons that are otherwise not subject to U.S. tax on, or eligible for an exemption from, or a reduction of, U.S. tax with respect to, dividends and sale proceeds will be required to seek a refund from the Internal Revenue Service to obtain the benefit of such non-taxability, exemption or reduction. We will not pay any additional amounts to non-U.S. shareholders in respect of any amounts withheld. Such provisions will generally apply to payments made after December 31, 2012. It cannot be predicted in what form this legislation will be further implemented. Prospective investors who are non-U.S. persons should consult their own tax advisors regarding this new legislation.

 

State and Local Taxes

 

Getty Realty Corp., its subsidiaries, and its shareholders may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which it or they transact business or reside (although shareholders who are individuals generally should not be required to file state income tax returns outside of their state of residence with respect to our operations and distributions), and their state and local tax treatment may not conform to the federal income tax consequences discussed above. Consequently, prospective shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in our securities.

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are the representatives of the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters named below, through their representatives, have severally agreed to purchase from us the following respective numbers of common stock:

 

 

The underwriters are committed to purchase all of the shares of common stock offered by us if they purchase any shares. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may also be increased or the offering may be terminated. The underwriters propose to offer the common stock directly to the public at the initial price to the public set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $0.756 per share. After the public offering of the shares, the offering price and other selling terms may be changed by the underwriters.

 

The underwriters have an option to buy up to 450,000 additional shares of common stock from us to cover sales of shares by the underwriters that exceed the number of shares specified in the table above. The underwriters have 30 days from the date of this prospectus to exercise this over-allotment option. If any shares of common stock are purchased with this over-allotment option, the underwriters will purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as shown in the table above. If any additional shares of common stock are purchased, the underwriters will offer the additional shares on the same terms as those on which the 3,000,000 shares of common stock are being offered.

 

The underwriting fee is equal to the public offering price per share less the amount paid by the underwriters to us per share. The underwriting fee is $1.26 per share. The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions we will pay to the underwriters assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

 

 

We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $500,000.

 

We, our directors and executive officers have entered into a lock-up agreement with the representatives prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which we and each of these persons for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, may not, subject to limited exceptions, without the prior written consent of the representatives (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock (including, without limitation, shares which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the lock-up signatory in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or

warrant) or (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our common shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of our common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period, we issue an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to our company occurs; or (ii) prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day period, the restrictions described above shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

 

The restrictions described in the preceding paragraph do not apply to:

 

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters, and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify us, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, which involves making bids for, purchasing and selling shares of our common stock in the open market for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock while this offering is in progress. These stabilizing transactions may include making short sales of the common stock, which involves the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares of common stock than they are required to purchase in this offering, and purchasing shares of common stock on the open market to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales may be “covered” shorts, which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ over-allotment option referred to above, or may be “naked” shorts, which are short positions in excess of that amount. The underwriters may close out any covered short position either by exercising their over-allotment option, in whole or in part, or by purchasing shares in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market compared to the price at which the underwriters may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. To the extent that the underwriters create a naked short position, they will purchase shares in the open market to cover the position.

 

These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock, and, as a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If the underwriters commence these activities, they may discontinue them at any time. The underwriters may carry out these transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

 

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

 

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in the offering. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage

account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representatives to underwriters and selling group members that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

 

An invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) in connection with the issue or sale of the shares of common stock has only been communicated or caused to be communicated and will only be communicated or caused to communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us; and all applicable provisions of the FSMA have been complied with and will be complied with, with respect to anything done in relation to the common stock being offered hereby in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

 

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”) an offer of common stock may not be made to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, an offer of shares may be offered to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:

 

 

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of shares to the public” in relation to any shares in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the shares, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the EU Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression EU Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/7 1/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

 

In the case of any shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, such financial intermediary will also be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the shares acquired by it in the offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any shares to the public, other than their offer or resale in a Relevant Member State to qualified investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

 

Each subscriber for or purchaser of shares in the offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement located within a Member State of the EEA will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive. The issuer and its affiliates and the underwriters and each of their respective affiliates and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representation, acknowledgment and agreement. Notwithstanding the above, a person who is not a qualified investor and who has notified the underwriters of such fact in writing may, with the

consent of the underwriters, be permitted to subscribe for or purchase shares in the offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

 

We have not and will not register with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 119 of the Federal Act on Collective Investment Scheme of 23 June 2006, as amended (CISA), and accordingly the shares being offered pursuant to this prospectus have not and will not be approved, and may not be licenseable, with FINMA. Therefore, the shares have not been authorized for distribution by FINMA as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 119 CISA and the shares offered hereby may not be offered to the public (as this term is defined in Article 3 CISA) in or from Switzerland. The shares may solely be offered to “qualified investors,” as this term is defined in Article 10 CISA, and in the circumstances set out in Article 3 of the Ordinance on Collective Investment Scheme of 22 November 2006, as amended (CISO), such that there is no public offer. Investors, however, do not benefit from protection under CISA or CISO or supervision by FINMA. This prospectus and any other materials relating to the shares are strictly personal and confidential to each offeree and do not constitute an offer to any other person. This prospectus may only be used by those qualified investors to whom it has been handed out in connection with the offer described herein and may neither directly or indirectly be distributed or made available to any person or entity other than its recipients. It may not be used in connection with any other offer and shall in particular not be copied and/or distributed to the public in Switzerland or from Switzerland. This prospectus does not constitute an issue prospectus as that term is understood pursuant to Article 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Federal Code of Obligations. We have not applied for a listing of the shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other regulated securities market in Switzerland, and consequently, the information presented in this prospectus does not necessarily comply with the information standards set out in the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange and corresponding prospectus schemes annexed to the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

 

This document relates to an exempt offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority. This document is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in those rules. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The Dubai Financial Services Authority has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with exempt offers. The Dubai Financial Services Authority has not approved this document nor taken steps to verify the information set out in it, and has no responsibility for it. The shares which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the shares offered should conduct their own due diligence on the shares. If you do not understand the contents of this document you should consult an authorised financial adviser.

 

 

As described in “Use of Proceeds,” the net proceeds of this offering will be used to repay borrowings under our global line of credit. Because an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as sole lead arranger and acts as administrative agent in connection with our credit agreement and affiliates of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Capital One Southcoast, Inc. and an affiliate of Santander Investment Securities Inc. are lenders under our credit agreement, it is possible that more than 10% of the proceeds of this offering (not including underwriting discounts and commissions) may be received by the underwriters or their affiliates. Nonetheless, in accordance with the Financial Industry Authority Rule 5121, the appointment of a qualified independent underwriter is not necessary in connection with this offering because we, the issuer of the securities in this offering, are a real estate investment trust. An affiliate of TD Securities (USA) LLC is the lender under our loan agreement. We are also party to a $45 million LIBOR based interest rate swap with an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. In addition, from time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.

 

Certain legal and U.S. federal income tax matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by DLA Piper LLP (US). The underwriters are being represented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York.

 

The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financing Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

We file annual, quarterly and other periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements, or other information we file with the SEC at its public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. Our filings are also available to the public on the Internet, through a website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate” into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus information that we file with the SEC in other documents. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to other documents that contain that information. Any information that we incorporate by reference is considered part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

Information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and information that we file with the SEC in the future and incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus automatically modifies and supersedes previously filed information including information in previously filed documents or reports that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, to the extent the new information differs from or is inconsistent with the old information. Any information so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the completion of this offering, provided however, that we are not incorporating any documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with the rules of the SEC. We also incorporate by reference, as of their respective dates of filing, the documents listed below that we have filed with and furnished to the SEC:

 

 

 

You may request a copy of these documents, which will be provided to you at no cost, by writing or telephoning us using the following contact information:

 

Getty Realty Corp.
125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 103
Jericho, New York 11753
(516) 478-5400
Attention: Investor Relations

 

Our SEC filings also are available on our Internet website at http://www.gettyrealty.com. The information on our website is not, and you must not consider the information to be, a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and in accordance with those requirements, we file reports and other information with the SEC. The reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of this material can be obtained by mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. The public may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other materials that are filed through the SEC Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system. In addition, our common stock is listed on the NYSE and we are required to file reports, proxy and information statements and other information with the NYSE. These documents can be inspected at the principal office of the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration File No. 333-165738) covering the securities offered by this prospectus supplement. You should be aware that this prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information contained or incorporated by reference in that registration statement and its exhibits and schedules. You may inspect and obtain the registration statement, including exhibits, schedules, reports and other information that we have filed with the SEC, as described in the preceding paragraph. Statements contained in this prospectus supplement concerning the contents of any document we refer you to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance we refer you to the applicable document filed with the SEC for more complete information.

$350,000,000

 

GETTY REALTY CORP.

 

Common Stock

 

Preferred Stock

 

Debt Securities

 

Warrants to Purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or
Debt Securities and Units

 

We may from time to time in one or more offerings, offer and sell up to $350,000,000 aggregate dollar amount of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units comprised of one or more of the other securities. We will provide the specific terms for each of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. We may sell these securities to or through underwriters or dealers and also to other purchasers or through agents. We will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents in the accompanying prospectus supplement applicable to the sale of such securities. You should read carefully this prospectus and any supplement before you invest.

 

Shares of our common stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GTY.”

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risk. See “Risk Factors” noted on page 3.

 

This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless it is accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is April 20, 2010.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time in one or more offerings sell shares of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units comprised of one or more of the other securities, in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $350,000,000. We have provided to you in this prospectus a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will, to the extent required by law, provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. We may also add, update or change in any accompanying prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered to you any of the information contained in this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement or the related free writing prospectus, provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date — for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus — the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

 

We have not authorized any dealer, agent or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or an accompanying prospectus supplement. This prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor does this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference (as our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date), even though this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.

 

As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, includes additional information not contained in this prospectus. You may read the registration statement and the other reports we file with the SEC at the SEC’s web site or at the SEC’s offices described below under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

SUMMARY

 

Investment in our securities involves risks. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should consider carefully the risk factors, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, including any additional specific risks described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in any supplements to this prospectus and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, as well as any amendments or additions thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Each of these risk factors could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

 

This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement may include 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”). These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors and were derived utilizing numerous important assumptions that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Statements preceded by, followed by, or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “projects,” “estimates,” “predicts” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and are not historical facts. Factors and assumptions involved in the derivation of forward-looking statements, and the failure of such other assumptions to be realized as well as other factors may also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Most of these factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond our control. These factors and assumptions may have an impact on the continued accuracy of any forward-looking statements that we make. Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events unless required by law. For any forward-looking statements contained in any document, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 

We present below our ratio of earnings to fixed charges. For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent (1) earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, plus (2) fixed charges, plus (3) amortized premiums and discounts related to indebtedness and interest expense. Fixed charges include interest on indebtedness (whether expensed or capitalized) and amortization of debt discounts we believe to be representative of interest.

 

 

Except as described in any prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds of any sale of securities for acquisition of properties in the gas station and convenience store sector, repayment or refinancing of outstanding indebtedness under our revolving credit facility and general corporate purposes. We may re-borrow amounts repaid under our revolving credit facility to fund future property acquisitions and for other general corporate purposes. Pending application of such net proceeds, we will invest such proceeds in interest-bearing accounts and short-term, interest-bearing securities, which are consistent with our intention to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT.

 

When we offer a particular series of securities, we will describe the intended use of the net proceeds from that offering in a prospectus supplement.

 

The actual amount of net proceeds we spend on a particular use will depend on many factors, including, our future revenue growth, if any, our future capital expenditures and the amount of cash required by our operations. Many of these factors are beyond our control. Therefore, we will retain broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds.

 

We may offer shares of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units comprised of one or more of the other securities. We may offer up to $350,000,000 of securities under this prospectus. If securities are offered as units, we will describe the terms of the units in a prospectus supplement.

 

The following description of our capital stock, together with any additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of our capital stock that we may offer in offerings under this prospectus. For the complete terms of our capital stock, please refer to our charter and by-laws, which are exhibits to the registration statement that includes this prospectus. The terms of our capital stock may also be affected by Maryland law.

 

Common Stock

 

We have the authority to issue 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. At March 16, 2010, we had outstanding 24,766,426 shares of common stock. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GTY”.

 

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. For the election of our board of directors, holders of common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting rights. Our common stockholders are entitled to receive ratably such dividends that we declare out of funds legally available therefor. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Getty, holders of our common stock have the right to a ratable portion of the assets remaining after payment of liabilities and liquidation preferences of any outstanding shares of our preferred stock. The holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights or rights to convert their common stock into other securities. The rights of the holders of our common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of our preferred stock.

 

Under Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter, a distribution (whether by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares) to holders of shares of our common stock may be made only if, after giving effect to the distribution, our total assets are greater than our total liabilities plus the amount necessary to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of stockholders whose preferential rights on dissolution are superior to the holders of common stock. We have complied with this requirement in all of our prior distributions to holders of common stock.

Under Maryland General Corporation Law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business unless approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter. A Maryland corporation may provide, however, in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter provides for approval of these matters by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

Preferred Stock

 

We have the authority to issue 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. Our Board has the authority, without further action by the holders of common stock, to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the relative designations, powers, preferences and privileges of the preferred stock, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock. Our Board, without stockholder approval, can issue preferred stock with voting, conversion or other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of common stock. Preferred stock could thus be issued quickly with terms that could delay or prevent a change in control of us or make removal of our management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may decrease the market price of our common stock and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. As of March 16, 2010, we do not have any preferred stock outstanding.

 

The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series will be fixed by the Board by filing articles supplementary relating to each series. A prospectus supplement relating to each series will specify the terms of the preferred stock, including, but not limited to:

 

 

We will describe the specific terms of a particular series of preferred stock in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. The description of preferred stock above and the description of the terms of a particular series of preferred stock in the prospectus supplement are not complete. You should refer to the applicable articles supplementary for complete information. The prospectus supplement will contain a description of U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the preferred stock.

 

Ownership and Transfer Restrictions

 

Because our board of directors believes that it is desirable for Getty to qualify for taxation as a REIT, provisions in our charter provide that, subject to certain exceptions, no person may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, more than: (i) 5% of the lesser of the number or value of shares of common stock outstanding; or (ii) 5% of the lesser of the number or value of the issued and outstanding shares of any class or series of our preferred stock.

 

These provisions are designed to ensure that Getty complies with the closely held prohibition, and that it does not derive rent from a related tenant. Our board of directors granted exemptions from the ownership limit

to certain existing stockholders (Messrs. Liebowitz, Safenowitz and Cooper and their affiliated trusts and partnerships) who own stock in excess of the ownership limitations.

 

The ownership attribution rules under the Internal Revenue Code are complex and may cause stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be owned constructively by one individual or entity. As a result, the ownership or acquisition of less than 5% of our common or preferred stock or the ownership or acquisition of an interest in an entity that owns, actually or constructively, our common or preferred stock by an individual or entity could cause that individual or entity, or another individual or entity, to own constructively in excess of the ownership limits.

 

Article VI of our charter provides that if the ownership or any purported transfer or acquisition of shares of Getty stock would result in any person (the “Prohibited Transferee”) violating the ownership limit, then the number of shares that exceed the ownership limit will be automatically transferred to a trust, the beneficiary of which will be a qualified charitable organization that we select. Article VI of the charter provides that within 20 days of receiving notice from Getty of the transfer of shares to the trust, the trustee will be required to sell the shares to a person or entity who could own such shares without violating the ownership limitation and distribute to the Prohibited Transferee generally the lesser of the price paid by the Prohibited Transferee for shares or the sales proceeds received by the trust for those shares. Prior to a sale of any shares by the trust, the trustee will be entitled to receive, in trust for the beneficiary, all dividends and other distributions and will be entitled to exercise all voting rights with respect to those shares. Additionally, shares of stock held in the trust will be deemed to have been offered for sale to Getty, or its designee, at a price per share generally equal to the lesser of the price paid by the Prohibited Transferee for such shares and the market value of the shares on the date Getty, or its designee, accepts the offer.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Registrar and Transfer Company, 10 Commerce Drive, Cranford, New Jersey 07016.

 

Possible Anti-Takeover Effects of Maryland Law and our Charter and Bylaws

 

Our charter and bylaws contain provisions that may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us without the approval of our Board. In addition, provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law may hinder or delay an attempted takeover of our company other than through negotiation with our Board. These provisions could discourage attempts to acquire us or remove our management even if some or a majority of our stockholders believe this action to be in their best interest, including attempts that might result in our stockholders’ receiving a premium over the market price of their shares of our capital stock.

 

Number of Directors; Vacancies.  The number of directors on our Board may only be altered by the action of a majority of the entire Board. A vacancy in the number of directors created by an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors. A vacancy on the Board of Directors for any cause other than an increase in the number of directors can be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, although such majority is less than a quorum. Any individual so elected as director holds office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is elected and qualifies.

 

Power to Issue Preferred Stock.  Our Board, has the authority, without further action by the holders of our common stock, to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the relative designations, powers, preferences and privileges of the preferred stock, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock. Our Board, without stockholder approval, can issue preferred stock with voting, conversion or other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of common stock.

 

Power to Reclassify Shares of Our Stock.  Our charter authorizes our Board to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of stock into one or more classes or series of stock, and to divide and classify shares of any class into one or more series of such class. Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified shares of any class or series, our Board is required by the Maryland General Corporation Law and by our charter to set the

preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series.

 

Special Stockholders’ Meetings.  Our bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called only by our president, chairman of the board, chief executive officer or Board of Directors, or by our stockholders only upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting.

 

Advance Notice Provisions.  Our bylaws establish an advance written notice procedure for stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors at any annual meeting of stockholders and to bring business before an annual meeting of our stockholders. Our bylaws provide that only persons who are nominated by or at the direction of our board or by a stockholder who has given timely written notice to our secretary before the meeting to elect directors will be eligible for election as our directors. Our bylaws also provide that any matter to be presented at any meeting of stockholders must be presented either by our board or by a stockholder in compliance with the procedures in our bylaws. A stockholder must give timely written notice to our secretary of its intention to present a matter before an annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Restrictions of Transfer.  The ownership and transfer restriction provisions in our charter described above could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a takeover or other transaction in which stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over the then prevailing market price or which stockholders might believe to be otherwise in their best interest.

 

Maryland Business Combination Act.  In addition to these provisions of our charter and bylaws, we are subject to the provisions of Maryland Business Combination Act (the “Business Combination Act”) which prohibits transactions between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Generally, pursuant to the Business Combination Act, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of a Maryland corporation’s voting stock. These provisions could have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control of our company or reducing the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our capital stock.

 

Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act.  The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act may deny voting rights to shares involved in an acquisition of one-tenth or more of the voting stock of a Maryland corporation. In our charter and bylaws, we have elected not to have the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of our company.

 

The debt securities that we may issue may constitute debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of Getty Realty Corp., to be issued in one or more series, which may include senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities and senior subordinated debt securities.

 

Debt securities that we may issue may be issued under a senior indenture between us and a trustee, or a subordinated indenture between us and a trustee (collectively, the “indenture”). The descriptions in this section relating to the debt securities and the indentures are summaries of their provisions. The summaries are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the actual indentures and debt securities and the further descriptions in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we enter into any revised indenture or indenture supplement, we will file a copy of that supplement with the SEC. A form of the senior indenture and a form of the subordinated indenture under which we may issue our debt securities, and the forms of the debt securities, have been filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement that includes this prospectus and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” Whenever we refer in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement to particular sections or defined terms of an indenture, those sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement, as applicable. You should refer to the provisions of the indentures for provisions that may be important to you.

The particular terms of any series of debt securities we offer, including the extent to which the general terms set forth below may be applicable to a particular series, will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series.

 

General

 

We may issue an unlimited principal amount of debt securities in separate series. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series. The debt securities will have terms that are consistent with the indentures. Unless the prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, senior debt securities will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equal with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. We will make payments on our subordinated debt securities only if we have made all payments due under our senior indebtedness, including any outstanding senior debt securities.

 

The indentures might not limit the amount of other debt that we may incur and might not contain financial or similar restrictive covenants. The indentures might not contain any provision to protect holders of debt securities against a sudden or dramatic decline in our ability to pay our debt.

 

We will describe the debt securities and the price or prices at which we will offer the debt securities in a prospectus supplement. We will describe:

 

 

 

We may sell the debt securities at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. We will describe U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any, applicable to debt securities sold at an original issue discount in the prospectus supplement. An “original issue discount security” is any debt security sold for less than its face value, and which provides that the holder cannot receive the full face value if maturity is accelerated. We will describe the particular provisions relating to acceleration of the maturity upon the occurrence of an event of default in the prospectus supplement. In addition, we will describe U.S. federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency or unit other than U.S. dollars in the prospectus supplement.

 

Conversion and Exchange Rights

 

If applicable, we will describe the terms on which you may convert debt securities into or exchange them for common stock or other securities or property in the prospectus supplement. The conversion or exchange may be mandatory or may be at your option. We will describe how to calculate the number of shares of common stock or other securities or property that you will receive upon conversion or exchange.

 

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

 

We will pay the indebtedness underlying the subordinated debt securities if we have made all payments due under our senior indebtedness, including any outstanding senior debt securities. If we distribute our assets to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceedings, we must first pay all amounts due or to become due on all senior indebtedness before we pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, the subordinated debt securities. If an event of default accelerates the subordinated debt securities, we may not make any payment on the subordinated debt securities until we have paid all senior indebtedness or the acceleration is rescinded. If the payment of subordinated debt securities accelerates because of an event of default, we must promptly notify holders of senior indebtedness of the acceleration.

 

If we experience a bankruptcy, dissolution or reorganization, holders of senior indebtedness may receive more, ratably, and holders of subordinated debt securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. The indenture for subordinated debt securities may not limit our ability to incur additional senior indebtedness.

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer

 

We will issue debt securities only in fully registered form, without coupons, and only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. The holder of a debt security may elect, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities, to exchange them for other debt securities of the same series of any authorized denomination and of similar terms and aggregate principal amount.

 

Holders of debt securities may present them for exchange as provided above or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer duly executed, at the office of the transfer agent we designate for that purpose. We will not impose a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require a payment sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the transfer or exchange. We will name the transfer agent in the prospectus supplement. We may designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, but we must maintain a transfer agent in each place in which we will pay on debt securities.

If we redeem the debt securities, we will not be required to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security during a specified period prior to mailing a notice of redemption. We are not required to register the transfer of or exchange any debt security selected for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of the debt security being redeemed.

 

Global Securities

 

The debt securities may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more global securities that will have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of all debt securities of that series. We will deposit each global security with a depositary or a custodian. The global security will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer.

 

No global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered, and no transfer of a global security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any person other than the depositary or any nominee or successor of the depositary unless:

 

 

The depositary will determine how all securities issued in exchange for a global security will be registered.

 

As long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of a global security, we will consider the depositary or the nominee to be the sole owner and holder of the global security and the underlying debt securities. Except as stated above, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the global security or any debt security registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of certificated debt securities and will not be considered to be the owners or holders of the global security or underlying debt securities. We will make all payments of principal, premium and interest on a global security to the depositary or its nominee. The laws of some jurisdictions require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These laws may prevent you from transferring your beneficial interests in a global security.

 

Only institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee and persons that hold beneficial interests through the depositary or its nominee may own beneficial interests in a global security. The depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of its participants. Your ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or any such participant.

 

The policies and procedures of the depositary may govern payments, transfers, exchanges and others matters relating to beneficial interests in a global security. We and the trustee will assume no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a global security.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Unless we indicate otherwise, we will pay principal and any premium or interest on a debt security to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest.

 

Unless we indicate otherwise, we will pay principal and any premium or interest on the debt securities at the office of our designated paying agent. Unless we indicate otherwise, the corporate trust office of the trustee will be the paying agent for the debt securities.

 

We will name any other paying agents for the debt securities of a particular series in the prospectus supplement. We may designate additional paying agents, rescind the designation of any paying agent or

approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, but we must maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities.

 

The paying agent will return to us all money we pay to it for the payment of the principal, premium or interest on any debt security that remains unclaimed for a specified period. Thereafter, the holder may look only to us for payment, as an unsecured general creditor.

 

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

 

Except as may be provided for a series of debt securities, under the terms of the indentures, so long as any securities remain outstanding, we may not consolidate or enter into a share exchange with or merge into any other person, in a transaction in which we are not the surviving corporation, or sell, convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless:

 

 

Events of Default

 

Each of the following will constitute an event of default under each indenture:

 

 

If an event of default occurs and continues, both the trustee and holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may declare the principal amount of the debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul the acceleration if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived.

 

Except for certain duties in case of an event of default, the trustee will not be obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. If they provide this indemnification, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

 

No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any proceeding with respect to the indentures, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy, unless:

 

 

 

Modification and Waiver

 

We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters, including:

 

 

In addition, under the indentures, we and the trustee may change the rights of holders of a series of notes with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, we and the trustee may only make the following changes with the consent of the holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

 

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to debt securities of that series, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest on any debt security of that series or in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be amended without each holder’s consent.

 

Except in certain limited circumstances, we may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the indentures. In certain limited circumstances, the trustee may set a record date. To be effective, the action must be taken by holders of the requisite principal amount of such debt securities within a specified period following the record date.

 

Defeasance

 

We may apply the provisions in the indentures relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, or to defeasance of certain restrictive covenants, to the debt securities of any series. The indentures provide that, upon satisfaction of the requirements described below, we may terminate all of our obligations under the debt securities of any series and the applicable indenture, known as legal defeasance, other than our obligation:

 

 

In addition, we may terminate our obligation to comply with any restrictive covenants under the debt securities of any series or the applicable indenture, known as covenant defeasance.

 

We may exercise our legal defeasance option even if we have previously exercised our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise either defeasance option, payment of the notes may not be accelerated because of the occurrence of events of default.

 

To exercise either defeasance option as to debt securities of any series, we must irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee money and/or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. that will provide

money in an amount sufficient in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the debt securities. We may establish this trust only if:

 

 

Notices

 

We will mail notices to holders of debt securities as indicated in the prospectus supplement.

 

Title

 

We may treat the person in whose name a debt security is registered as the absolute owner, whether or not such debt security may be overdue, for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes.

 

Governing Law

 

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York.

 

Warrant to Purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock

 

The following summarizes the terms of common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants we may issue. We urge you to read the detailed provisions of the stock warrant agreement that we will enter into with a stock warrant agent we select at the time of issue.

 

General.  We may issue stock warrants evidenced by stock warrant certificates under a stock warrant agreement independently or together with any securities we offer by any prospectus supplement. If we offer stock warrants, we will describe the terms of the stock warrants in a prospectus supplement, including, but not limited to

 

 

 

Exercise of Stock Warrants.  You may exercise stock warrants by surrendering to the stock warrant agent the stock warrant certificate, which indicates your election to exercise all or a portion of the stock warrants evidenced by the certificate. You must pay the exercise price by cash or check when you surrender your stock warrant certificate. The stock warrant agent will deliver certificates evidencing duly exercised stock warrants to the transfer agent. Upon receipt of the certificates, the transfer agent will deliver a certificate representing the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchased. If you exercise fewer than all the stock warrants evidenced by any certificate, the stock warrant agent will deliver a new stock warrant certificate representing the unexercised stock warrants.

 

No Rights as Stockholders.  Holders of stock warrants are not entitled to vote, to consent, to receive dividends or to receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as stockholders.

 

Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities

 

The following summarizes the terms of the debt warrants we may offer. We urge you to read the detailed provisions of the debt warrant agreement that we will enter into with a debt warrant agent we select at the time of issue.

 

General.  We may issue debt warrants evidenced by debt warrant certificates independently or together with any securities offered by any prospectus supplement. If we offer debt warrants, we will describe the terms of the warrants in a prospectus supplement, including, but not limited to:

 

 

You may exchange debt warrant certificates for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and may present debt warrant certificates for registration of transfer at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent, which we will list in the prospectus supplement. You will not have any of the rights of holders of debt securities, except to the extent that the consent of warrant holders may be required for certain modifications of the terms of an indenture or form of the debt security and the series of debt securities issuable upon exercise of the debt warrants. In addition, you will not receive payments of principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities unless you exercise your debt warrant.

Exercise of Debt Warrants.  You may exercise debt warrants by surrendering to the debt warrant agent the debt warrant certificate, with payment in full of the exercise price. Upon the exercise of debt warrants, the debt warrant agent will, as soon as practicable, deliver to you the debt securities in authorized denominations in accordance with your instructions and at your sole cost and risk. If you exercise fewer than all the debt warrants evidenced by any debt warrant certificate, the agent will deliver to you a new debt warrant certificate representing the unexercised debt warrants.

 

General

 

We may issue units comprised of one or more debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock and warrants in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

 

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units, including, but not limited to:

 

 

The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Warrants” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security or warrant included in each unit, respectively.

 

Issuance in Series

 

We may issue units in such amounts and in numerous distinct series as we determine.

 

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units

 

Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.

 

We, the unit agents and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary.

 

The following discussion summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to our taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). This section also summarizes material federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of our Common Stock. A prospectus supplement will contain information about additional federal income tax considerations, if any, relating to a particular offering of preferred stock, debt securities, warrants to purchase Common Stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units comprised of one or more of the other securities.

 

DLA Piper LLP (US) has reviewed this summary and is of the opinion that the discussion contained herein fairly summarizes the federal income tax consequences that are material to a holder of our common stock. This discussion is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations and does not provide a detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax considerations, nor does it discuss all of the aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to a prospective shareholder in light of his or her particular circumstances or to shareholders (including, but not limited to, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, financial institutions or broker-dealers, partnerships and other pass-through entities, regulated investment companies, REITs, persons holding our common stock as part of a hedge, straddle, conversion or other risk reduction or constructive sale transaction, foreign corporations and persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States, U.S. expatriates and persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar) who are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws.

 

The information in this section is based on the current provisions of the Code, current final, temporary and proposed regulations, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, and court decisions. The reference to Internal Revenue Service interpretations and practices includes Internal Revenue Service practices and policies reflected in private letter rulings issued to other taxpayers, which rulings would not be binding on the Internal Revenue Service in any of its dealings with us. These sources are being relied upon as of the date of this prospectus. No assurance can be given that future legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations and court decisions will not significantly change current law, or adversely affect existing interpretations of law, on which the information in this section is based. Any change of this kind could apply retroactively to transactions preceding the date of the change in law. Even if there is no change in applicable law, no assurance can be provided that the statements made in the following discussion will not be challenged by the Internal Revenue Service or will be sustained by a court if so challenged.

 

Each prospective shareholder is advised to consult with his or her own tax advisor to determine the impact of his or her personal tax situation on the anticipated tax consequences of our status as a REIT and the ownership and sale of our stock. This includes the U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign income and other tax consequences of the ownership and sale of our stock, and the potential impact of changes in applicable tax laws.

 

Taxation of Getty Realty Corp.

 

General.  We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, and we believe that we have met the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT since our initial REIT election in 2001. We intend to continue to operate in such a manner as to continue to so qualify, but no assurance can be given that we have qualified or will remain qualified as a REIT. We have not requested and do not intend to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service as to our current status as a REIT. However, we have received an opinion from DLA Piper LLP (US) stating that, since the commencement of our taxable year which began January 1, 2007 through the tax year ending December 31, 2009, we have been organized and have operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and our actual method of operation has enabled, and our proposed method of organization and operation will enable, us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT, provided that we have been organized and have operated and continue to be organized and to operate in accordance with certain assumptions and representations made by us to DLA Piper LLP (US). It must be

emphasized that this opinion is based on various assumptions and on our representations concerning our organization and operations, including an assumption that we qualified as a REIT at all times from January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2006, and including representations regarding the nature of our assets and the conduct and method of operation of our business. The opinion cannot be relied upon if any of those assumptions and representations later prove incorrect or the facts otherwise vary from those relied on by DLA Piper LLP (US) in rendering the opinion. Moreover, our continued qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet, through actual annual operating results, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership, the various REIT qualification tests imposed under the Code, the results of which will not be reviewed by DLA Piper LLP (US). Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations will satisfy such requirements. Additional information regarding the risks associated with our failure to qualify as a REIT is set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) is based upon current law, which is subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Changes in applicable law could modify the conclusions expressed in the opinion. Moreover, unlike a tax ruling (which we will not seek), this opinion is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service, and no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service could not successfully challenge our status as a REIT.

 

If we have qualified and continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income taxes on that portion of our ordinary income and capital gain that we distribute (or are deemed to distribute) currently to our shareholders. Even if we qualify as a REIT, however, we will be subject to federal income taxes under the following circumstances. First, we will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains. Second, under certain circumstances, we may be subject to the “alternative minimum tax” on certain items of tax preference. Third, if we have (i) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” (which is, in general, property acquired by foreclosure or otherwise on default of a loan secured by the property) which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (ii) other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate on such income. Fourth, if we have net income from prohibited transactions (which are, in general, certain sales or other dispositions of property (other than foreclosure property) held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business), such income will be subject to a 100% tax. This 100% tax on income from prohibited transactions is discussed in more detail below. Fifth, if we should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test (as discussed below), and nonetheless have maintained our qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements have been met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on the income attributable to the greater of the amount by which we failed the 75% or 95% test, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. Sixth, if we were to violate one or more of the REIT asset tests (as discussed below) under certain circumstances, but the violation was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and we were to take certain remedial actions, we may avoid a loss of our REIT status by, among other things, paying a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the non-qualifying asset during a specified period. Seventh, if we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income (including net capital gain) from prior years, subject to certain adjustments, we would be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed. Eighth, if we were to acquire any asset, directly or indirectly, from a C corporation (i.e., a corporation generally subject to full corporate level tax) in a transaction in which our basis in the asset is determined by reference to the basis of the asset (or any other property) in the hands of the C corporation, and we were to recognize gain on the disposition of such asset during the 10-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired such asset, then, to the extent of such property’s “built-in” gain (the excess of the fair market value of such property at the time we acquired it over the adjusted basis of such property at such time), such gain will be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate applicable. We refer to this tax as the “Built-in Gains Tax.” Ninth, if we fail to satisfy certain of the REIT qualification requirements under the Code (other than the gross income and asset tests), and the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, we may be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such

failure to maintain our REIT status. Finally, if we fail to comply with the requirements to send annual letters to certain shareholders requesting information regarding the actual ownership of our outstanding stock 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.

 

Activities conducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary are subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates. In general, a taxable REIT subsidiary may engage in activities that, if engaged in directly by a REIT, would produce income that does not satisfy the REIT gross income tests, described below, or income that, if earned by the REIT, would be subject to the 100% tax on prohibited transactions, also described below. A number of constraints, however, are imposed on REITs and their taxable REIT subsidiaries to ensure that taxable REIT subsidiaries pay an appropriate corporate-level tax on their income. For example, a taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to the “earnings stripping” rules of the Code with respect to interest paid to the REIT, which could defer or disallow a portion of our taxable REIT subsidiary’s deductions for interest paid to us under certain circumstances. In addition, if a taxable REIT subsidiary were to make deductible payments to us (such as interest or rent), and the amount of those deductible payments is determined by the Internal Revenue Service to exceed the amount that unrelated parties would charge to each other, we would be subject to a 100% penalty tax on the excess payments. We would incur a similar 100% penalty tax on a portion of the rent we receive from our tenants, to the extent the Internal Revenue Service determines that the rent payments are attributable to certain services provided to our tenants by a taxable REIT subsidiary without receiving adequate compensation either from us or from our tenants. We have only one taxable REIT subsidiary and as of the date of this prospectus, it has no activities or assets.

 

Requirements for Qualification.  The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

 

(1) which is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

 

(2) the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;

 

(3) which would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code;

 

(4) which is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to certain provisions of the Code;

 

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

 

(6) not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities);

 

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

 

(8) which uses the calendar year as its taxable year; and

 

(9) which meets certain other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and regarding distributions to its shareholders.

 

The Code provides that conditions (1) through (4), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year, that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months, and that condition (6) must be met during the last half of each taxable year. We have issued sufficient shares of our common stock with sufficient diversity of ownership to allow us to satisfy requirements (5) and (6). We will be treated as having met condition (6) above if we complied with certain Treasury Regulations for ascertaining the ownership of our stock and if we did not know (or after the exercise of reasonable diligence would not have known) that our stock was sufficiently closely held to cause us to fail condition (6). In addition, Article VI of our Articles of Incorporation contains restrictions regarding the transfer and ownership of our shares that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in clauses (5) and (6) above but without causing us to

violate the freely transferable shares requirement described in clause (2) above. See “Description of Common Stock — Restrictions on Transfer.”

 

In the case of a REIT owning an interest in a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, or other legal entity that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (which we refer to collectively as partnerships), the REIT is deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and is deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to such share (based on the REIT’s capital interest in the partnership). In addition, the assets and gross income of the partnership will retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and asset tests that are discussed below. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not own any interests in entities that are treated as partnerships for federal tax purposes.

 

Income Tests.  To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income requirements annually. First, at least 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property (including “rents from real property” and, in certain circumstances, mortgage interest) or from certain types of temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived from such real property investments described above, and from dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, or from any combination of the foregoing. In our taxable years from 2001 through 2004, any payment that we received under certain kinds of financial instruments that we entered into to reduce the interest rate risks with respect to any indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets, as well as any gain derived from the sale or other disposition of any such investment, constituted qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test (but not the 75% gross income test). In our taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, any transaction that we enter into to hedge indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets must constitute a properly identified “hedging transaction” (in accordance with Section 1221 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) to avoid giving rise to non-qualifying gross income, and any income or gain that we derive from such a properly-identified hedging transaction will be excluded from our gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test (but not the 75% gross income test). For hedging transactions entered into after July 30, 2008, such income is also excluded for purposes of the 75% gross income test.

 

Rents that we receive will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the above gross income tests only if several conditions are met. 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 received or accrued generally will not be excluded from “rents from real property” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second, rents received from a tenant will not qualify as “rents from real property” if we directly or constructively were deemed to own 10% or more of the ownership interests in such tenant (a “Related Party Tenant”), unless such tenant is our taxable REIT subsidiary and certain other conditions are satisfied. Third, if rent attributable to personal property that is leased in connection with a lease of real property is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to such personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property.” Finally, for rent to qualify as “rents from real property,” we generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to our tenants, other than through an “independent contractor” from whom we derive no revenue. The “independent contractor” requirement, however, does not apply to the extent the services we provide are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant.” In addition, the “independent contractor” requirement will not apply to noncustomary services we provide, if the annual value of such noncustomary services does not exceed 1% of the gross income derived from the property with respect to which the noncustomary services are provided (the “1% de minimis exception”). For this purpose, such services may not be valued at less than 150% of our direct cost of providing the services, and any gross income deemed to have been derived by us from the performance of noncustomary services pursuant to the 1% de minimis exception will constitute nonqualifying gross income under the 75% and 95% gross income tests. In addition, our taxable REIT subsidiaries are

permitted to provide noncustomary services to our tenants without causing the rents we receive from such tenants to be disqualified as “rents from real property.”

 

From time to time, we may derive rent from certain tenants based, in whole or in part, on the net profits of the tenant, rent from Related Party Tenants, or rent that is more than 15% attributable to personal property. However, the amount of such nonqualifying rent income, if any, is not expected to be material, and we have complied and believe we will continue to comply with the 95% and 75% gross income tests. In addition, based on our knowledge of the real estate markets in the geographic regions in which we operate, we believe that all services that are provided to the tenants of the properties generally will be considered “usually or customarily” rendered in connection with the rental of comparable real estate. Further, we intend to provide any noncustomary services only through qualifying independent contractors, through our taxable REIT subsidiaries or in compliance with the 1% de minimis exception.

 

If we were to 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 such year if we are entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if our failure to meet such tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and we attach a schedule to our federal income tax return containing certain information concerning our gross income. It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. As discussed above in “General,” even if these relief provisions were to apply, a tax would be imposed with respect to the excess income.

 

Asset Tests.  At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we must satisfy several tests relating to the nature of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets (including our allocable share of real estate assets held by any partnerships in which we own interests), certain temporary investments in stock or debt instruments purchased with the proceeds of a stock offering or a public offering of long-term debt (but only for the one-year period beginning on the date we receive the applicable offering proceeds), cash, certain cash items and government securities. Second, not more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class. Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class, the value of any one issuer’s debt and equity securities that we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets (the “5% asset test”). Fourth, we may not own more than 10% of the total voting power of any one issuer’s outstanding securities (the “10% voting securities test”). Fifth, we may not own more than 10% of the total value of any one issuer’s outstanding debt and equity securities (the “10% value test”), subject to certain exceptions. Mortgage debt secured by real estate assets constitutes a “real estate asset” and does not constitute a “security” for purposes of the foregoing tests.

 

The following assets (“qualifying debt”) are not treated as “securities” held by us for purposes of the 10% value test: (i) “straight debt” meeting certain requirements, unless we hold (either directly or through our “controlled” taxable REIT subsidiaries) certain other securities of the same corporate or partnership issuer that have an aggregate value greater than 1% of such issuer’s outstanding securities; (ii) loans to individuals or estates; (iii) certain rental agreements calling for deferred rents or increasing rents that are subject to Section 467 of the Code, other than with certain related persons; (iv) obligations to pay us amounts qualifying as “rents from real property” under the 75% and 95% gross income tests; (v) securities issued by a state or any political subdivision of a state, the District of Columbia, a foreign government, any political subdivision of a foreign government, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, but only if the determination of any payment received or accrued under the security does not depend in whole or in part on the profits of any person not described in this category, or payments on any obligation issued by such an entity; (vi) securities issued by another qualifying REIT; and (vii) other arrangements identified in Treasury regulations (which have not yet been issued or proposed). For taxable years beginning after October 22, 2004,

 

 

In addition, any non-qualifying debt issued by a partnership will not be treated as a “security” under the 10% value test if at least 75% of the partnership’s gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) is derived from sources meeting the requirements of the 75% gross income test and, if the partnership fails to meet the 75% gross income test, then the non-qualifying debt issued by the partnership nevertheless will not be treated as a “security” to the extent of our interest as a partner in the partnership.

 

The 10% voting securities test, and the 10% value test do not apply to the securities of a taxable REIT subsidiary. However, the value of the debt and equity securities of all taxable REIT subsidiaries we own cannot represent more than 20% of the value of our total assets (25% for our taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009). Any corporation in which a REIT directly or indirectly owns stock (other than another REIT or a corporation engaged in certain specified activities) may be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary if the REIT and the corporation file a joint election with the Internal Revenue Service for the corporation to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary of the REIT.

 

We believe that our debt and equity securities of our taxable REIT subsidiaries, have represented, at all relevant times, less than 20% of the value of our total assets. We believe that the securities of each such issuer, at all relevant times, also represented less than 5% of the value of our total assets. We also believe that the value of the securities, including unsecured debt, of each other issuer in which we have owned an interest, excluding equity interests in partnerships (which are looked through rather than treated as securities for purposes of the REIT asset tests), has never exceeded 5% of the total value of our assets and that we comply with the 10% voting securities test and the 10% value test (taking into account the various exceptions referred to above). No independent appraisals have been obtained, however, to support these conclusions, and DLA Piper LLP(US), in rendering the tax opinion described above, is relying upon our representations regarding the value of our securities and our other assets. Although we plan to take steps to ensure that we continue to satisfy all of the applicable REIT asset tests, there can be no assurance that such steps will always be successful or will not require a reduction in our overall interest in the taxable REIT subsidiaries or changes in our other investments.

 

If we were to fail any of the asset tests discussed above at the end of any quarter without curing such failure within 30 days after the end of such quarter, we would fail to qualify as a REIT, unless we were to qualify under certain relief provisions. Under one of these relief provisions, if we were to fail the 5% asset test, the 10% voting securities test, or the 10% value test, we nevertheless would continue to qualify as a REIT if the failure was due to the ownership of assets having a total value not exceeding the lesser of 1% of our assets at the end of the relevant quarter or $10,000,000, and we were to dispose of such assets (or otherwise meet such asset tests) within six months after the end of the quarter in which we identified the failure. If we were to fail to meet any of the REIT asset tests for a particular quarter, but we did not qualify for the relief for de minimis failures that is described in the preceding sentence, then we would be deemed to have satisfied the relevant asset test if: (i) following our identification of the failure, we were to file a schedule with a description of each asset that caused the failure; (ii) the failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect; (iii) we were to dispose of the non-qualifying asset (or otherwise meet the relevant asset test) within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identified the failure, and (iv) we were to pay a penalty tax equal to the greater of $50,000, or the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the non-qualifying asset during the period beginning on the first date that the failure occurred and ending on the date we dispose of the asset (or otherwise cure the asset test failure). It is not possible to predict whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions.

 

Annual Distribution Requirements.  To qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends (other than capital gain dividends) to our shareholders in an amount at least equal to (A) the sum of (i) 90% of our “REIT taxable income” (computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain) and (ii) 90% of the net income (after tax), if any, from foreclosure property, minus (B) the sum of certain items of noncash income. Such distributions must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for such year and if paid on or before

the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. 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 subject to tax on the undistributed amount at regular corporate tax rates. Furthermore, if we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our REIT capital gain income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income (including any net capital gain) from prior periods, subject to certain adjustments, we will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed.

 

We have made and intend to continue to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements. It is possible, however, that we may not have sufficient cash or liquid assets, from time to time, to meet the distribution requirements due to timing differences between the receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses and the inclusion of such income and deduction of such expenses in arriving at our taxable income, or if the amount of nondeductible expenses (such as principal amortization or capital expenses) exceeds the amount of noncash deductions (such as depreciation). In the event that such timing differences occur, we may need to borrow money, sell assets, pay taxable stock dividends (for example, where shareholders may elect to receive a dividend paid in cash or with newly issued shares of our common stock), or take other measures to permit us to pay the required dividends.

 

Under certain circumstances, 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 that 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 and penalties, if any, to the Internal Revenue Service based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

 

Failure to Qualify.  If we were to fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than an asset or income test violation of a type for which relief is otherwise available as described above, we would retain our REIT qualification if the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and if we were to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. It is not possible to predict whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of this relief provision.

 

If we were to fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year and no relief provisions were to apply, we would be subject to tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. Distributions to shareholders in any year in which we fail to qualify will not be deductible from our taxable income, nor will they be required to be made. In such event, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to our shareholders will be taxable as regular dividend income. Under these circumstances, subject to certain limitations in the Code, corporate shareholders may be eligible for the dividends received deduction and individual shareholders may be eligible for a reduced tax rate on “qualified dividend income” received from regular C corporations. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to such statutory relief. In addition, to re-elect REIT status after being disqualified, we would have to distribute as dividends, no later than the end of our first taxable year as a re-electing REIT, all of the earnings and profits attributable to any taxable years for which we were a taxable C corporation. Thus, to re-elect REIT status after being disqualified, we could be required to incur substantial indebtedness or liquidate substantial investments in order to make such distributions.

 

Prohibited Transactions Tax.  Any gain that a REIT recognizes from the sale of property held as inventory or otherwise held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business (excluding sales of foreclosure property and sales conducted by taxable REIT subsidiaries) 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 business is a question of fact that depends on all of the facts and circumstances of the particular transaction. Under a statutory safe harbor, however, we will not be subject to the 100% tax with respect to a sale of property if (i) the property has been held for at least four years (shortened to two years for sales after July 30, 2008) for the production of rental income prior to the sale, (ii) capitalized expenditures on the property in the four years preceding the sale

(shortened to two years for sales after July 30, 2008) 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 and other than certain involuntary conversions) in the year of sale or (b) (x) the aggregate tax basis of property sold during the year of sale is 10% or less of the aggregate tax basis of all of our assets as of the beginning of the taxable year, or for sales after July 30, 2008, the aggregate fair market value of property sold during the year of sale is 10% or less of the aggregate fair market value of all of our assets as of the beginning of the taxable year, in each case excluding sales of foreclosure property and involuntary conversions, and (y) substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property sold are made through an independent contractor from whom we derive no income. The sale of more than one property to a buyer as part of one transaction constitutes one sale for purposes of this safe harbor. Not all of our property sales will qualify for the safe harbor. Nevertheless, we intend to own our properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring, developing and owning rental properties and making occasional sales of properties as are consistent with our investment objectives. However, the Internal Revenue Service may successfully contend that some of our sales are prohibited transactions, in which case we would be required to pay the 100% penalty tax on the gains resulting from any such sales. Because of this prohibited transactions tax, we intend that sales of property to customers in the ordinary course of business will be made by a taxable REIT subsidiary, which will be subject to corporate-level tax on its profit but will not be subject to the 100% penalty tax on prohibited transactions.

 

Taxation of Shareholders

 

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders.  As used herein, the term “U.S. shareholder” means a holder of our common stock that for federal income tax purposes is:

 

 

If a partnership, entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership as a U.S. person will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership that will hold our common stock, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock by the partnership.

 

Under current law, certain “qualified dividend income” received by non-corporate U.S. shareholders in taxable years 2003 through 2010 is subject to tax at the same tax rates as long-term capital gain (generally, a maximum rate of 15% for such taxable years). Dividends received from REITs, however, generally are not eligible for these reduced tax rates and, therefore, will continue to be subject to tax at ordinary income rates (generally, a maximum rate of 35% for taxable years 2003-2010), subject to three narrow exceptions. Under the first exception, dividends received from a REIT may be treated as “qualified dividend income” eligible for the reduced tax rates to the extent that the REIT itself has received qualified dividend income from other corporations (such as taxable REIT subsidiaries) in which the REIT has invested. Under the second exception, dividends paid by a REIT in a taxable year may be treated as qualified dividend income in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the excess of the REIT’s “REIT taxable income” for the preceding taxable year over the corporate-level federal income tax payable by the REIT for such preceding taxable year and (ii) the excess of the REIT’s income that was subject to the Built-in Gains Tax (as described above) in the preceding taxable year over the tax payable by the REIT on such income for such preceding taxable year. Under the third exception, dividends received from a REIT may be treated as “qualified dividend income” to the extent attributable to earnings and profits accumulated in non-REIT taxable years. We do not expect to receive a

material amount of dividends from our taxable REIT subsidiaries or from other taxable corporations, we do not expect to pay a material amount of federal income tax on undistributed REIT taxable income or a material amount of Built-in Gains Tax, and we believe we have previously distributed as dividends all of our non-REIT accumulated earnings and profits. Therefore, as long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions made to our non-corporate U.S. Shareholders out of current or accumulated earnings and profits (and not designated as capital gain dividends) will be taken into account by them as ordinary income (except, in the case of non-corporate shareholders who meet certain holding period requirements, to the limited extent that one of the foregoing exceptions applies). In addition, as long as we qualify as a REIT, corporate U.S. Shareholders will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction as to any dividends received from us.

 

Under IRS guidance that applies to publicly traded REITs, we may declare a distribution with respect to a taxable year ending on or before December 31, 2011 that is payable, at the election of each shareholder, either in the form of cash or newly issued shares of our common stock of equivalent value. The IRS guidance allows the amount of cash to be distributed in the aggregate to all shareholders to be limited to not less than 10% of the aggregate declared distribution, with a proration mechanism applying if too many shareholders elect to receive cash. In such circumstances, the shareholders who actually receive shares of common stock would be treated for federal income tax purposes as if they had received the distribution in cash, so that our shareholders would recognize dividend income, and we would be permitted to take a dividends paid deduction, to the extent the distribution does not exceed our current or accumulated earnings and profits.

 

Distributions that we designate as capital gain dividends will be taxed as long-term capital gains (to the extent they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year) without regard to the period for which the shareholder has held his or her shares. However, corporate shareholders may be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the shareholder’s shares of our common stock, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a shareholder’s shares of our common stock, they will be included in income as long-term capital gain (or short-term capital gain if the shares have been held by the distributee for one year or less), assuming the shares are a capital asset in the hands of the shareholder. In addition, any dividend that we declare in October, November or December of any year payable to a shareholder of record on a specific date in any such a month shall be treated as both paid by us and received by the shareholder on December 31 of such year, provided that the dividend is actually paid by us during January of the following calendar year.

 

We may elect to retain and pay income tax on all or a portion of the net long-term capital gain that we receive in a taxable year and do not distribute as a capital gain dividend. In that case, to the extent that we designate such amount in a timely notice to such shareholder, our shareholders would be required to include in their income as long-term capital gain their proportionate shares of our undistributed net capital gain. Each shareholder would be deemed to have paid his or her proportionate share of the income tax imposed on us with respect to such undistributed net capital gain, and this amount would be credited or refunded to the shareholder in computing his or her own federal income tax liability. In addition, the tax basis of the shareholder’s stock would be increased by his or her proportionate share of the undistributed net capital gains included in his or her income, less his or her proportionate share of the income tax imposed on us with respect to such gains.

 

U.S. shareholders may not include in their individual income tax returns any of our net operating losses or net capital losses. Instead, we would carry over such losses for potential offset against our future income, subject to certain limitations. Taxable distributions from us and gain from the sale of our shares will not be treated as passive activity income and, therefore, U.S. shareholders generally will not be able to apply any “passive activity losses” (such as losses from certain types of limited partnerships in which a shareholder is a limited partner) against such income. In addition, taxable distributions from us generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitations. Capital gains from the disposition of our stock (or distributions, if any, taxable at capital gain rates), however, will be treated as investment income only if the shareholder so elects, in which case such capital gains or distributions, as the case may be, will be taxed at ordinary income rates. For purposes of computing each shareholder’s alternative minimum taxable income,

certain of our “differently treated items” for each taxable year (for example, differences in computing depreciation deductions for regular tax purposes and alternative minimum tax purposes) may be apportioned to our shareholders in accordance with section 59(d)(1)(A) of the Code.

 

In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of our shares by a U.S. Shareholder who is not a dealer in securities will be treated as a capital gain or loss. Any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares of our common stock by a shareholder who has held such shares for six months or less (after applying certain holding period rules) will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of actual or deemed distributions from us that were required to be treated by such shareholder as long-term capital gain. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of our shares may be disallowed if other shares of our stock are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition.

 

For non-corporate taxpayers, the tax rate differential between capital gain and ordinary income may be significant. Under current law, the highest marginal non-corporate income tax rate applicable to ordinary income is 35%. Any capital gain recognized or otherwise properly taken into account before January 1, 2011, generally will be taxed to a non-corporate taxpayer at a maximum rate of 15% with respect to capital assets held for more than one year. (Under current law, the maximum capital gains rate for non-corporate taxpayers will rise to 20% for gain taken into account on or after January 1, 2011.) The tax rates applicable to ordinary income apply to gain from the sale or exchange of capital assets held for one year or less. In the case of capital gain attributable to the sale or exchange of certain real property held for more than one year, an amount of such gain equal to the amount of all prior depreciation deductions not otherwise required to be taxed as ordinary depreciation recapture income will be taxed at a maximum rate of 25%. With respect to distributions designated by us as capital gain dividends (including any deemed distributions of retained capital gains), subject to certain limits, we also may designate, and will notify our shareholders, whether the dividend is taxable to non-corporate shareholders at regular long-term capital gain rates or at the 25% rate applicable to unrecaptured depreciation.

 

The characterization of income as capital or ordinary also may affect the deductibility of capital losses. Capital losses not offset by capital gains may be deducted against a non-corporate taxpayer’s ordinary income only up to a maximum annual amount of $3,000. Non-corporate taxpayers may carry forward their unused capital losses. All net capital gain of a corporate taxpayer is subject to tax at ordinary corporate rates. A corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses only to the extent of its capital gains, with unused losses eligible to be carried back three years and forward five years.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.  We will report to our U.S. Shareholders and the Internal Revenue Service the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any, with respect thereto. Under the backup withholding rules, a shareholder may be subject to backup withholding, at a rate equal to the fourth lowest rate of federal income tax applicable to ordinary income of individuals (currently 28%), with respect to dividends paid unless such shareholder (a) is a corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or (b) provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A shareholder who does not provide his or her correct taxpayer identification number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Any amount paid as backup withholding may be applied as a credit against the shareholder’s federal income tax liability, which could result in a refund. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions made to any shareholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to us. See “Taxation of Foreign Shareholders” below.

 

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders.  The Internal Revenue Service has ruled publicly that amounts distributed by a REIT to a tax-exempt employees’ pension trust do not constitute “unrelated business taxable income” (“UBTI”). Based upon this ruling and subject to the discussion below regarding qualified pension trust investors, distributions by us to a shareholder that is a tax-exempt entity should not constitute UBTI, provided that the tax-exempt entity has not financed the acquisition of its shares with “acquisition indebtedness” within the meaning of the Code and the shares of our stock are not otherwise used in an

unrelated trade or business of the tax-exempt entity. Revenue rulings, however, are interpretive in nature and subject to revocation or modification by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

A “qualified trust” (defined to be any trust described in section 401(a) of the Code and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of the Code) that holds more than 10% of the value of the shares of a REIT may be required, under certain circumstances, to treat a portion of distributions from the REIT as UBTI. This requirement will apply for a taxable year only if (i) the REIT satisfies the requirement that not more than 50% of the value of its shares be held by five or fewer individuals (the “five or fewer requirement”) by relying on a special “look-through” rule under which shares held by qualified trust shareholders are treated as held by the beneficiaries of such trusts in proportion to their actuarial interests therein, and (ii) the REIT is “predominantly held” by qualified trusts. A REIT is “predominantly held” if either (i) a single qualified trust holds more than 25% of the value of the REIT’s shares or (ii) one or more qualified trusts, each owning more than 10% of the value of the REIT’s shares, hold in the aggregate more than 50% of the value of the REIT’s shares. If the foregoing requirements are met, the percentage of any REIT dividend treated as UBTI to a qualified trust that owns more than 10% of the value of the REIT’s shares is equal to the ratio of (a) the UBTI earned by the REIT (treating the REIT as if it were a qualified trust and therefore subject to tax on its UBTI) to (b) the total gross income (less certain associated expenses) of the REIT. A de minimis exception applies where the ratio set forth in the preceding sentence is less than 5% for any year. The provisions requiring qualified trusts to treat a portion of REIT distributions as UBTI will not apply if the REIT is able to satisfy the five or fewer requirement without relying upon the “look-through” rule.

 

Taxation of Foreign Shareholders.  The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of persons that are not U.S. Shareholders (“Non-U.S. Shareholders”) are complex, and no attempt will be made herein to provide more than a limited summary of such rules. Prospective Non-U.S. Shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. federal, state and local income tax laws with regard to an investment in our common stock, including any reporting requirements.

 

Distributions that are not attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests and not designated by us as capital gain dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions, ordinarily, will be subject to a withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the distribution unless an applicable tax treaty reduces that tax. However, if income from the investment in our stock is treated as effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Shareholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the Non-U.S. Shareholder generally will be subject to a tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. shareholders are taxed with respect to such dividends (and may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax if the shareholder is a foreign corporation). We expect to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on the gross amount of any dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Shareholder that are not designated as capital gain dividends unless (i) a lower treaty rate applies and the required IRS Form W-8BEN evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate is filed with us or (ii) the Non-U.S. Shareholder files an IRS Form W-8ECI with us properly claiming that the distribution is “effectively connected” income. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the shareholder’s shares of stock, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a Non-U.S. Shareholder’s shares, such excess will constitute gain that may be subject to U.S. federal income tax under the provisions of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”), as described below. If it cannot be determined at the time a distribution is made whether or not such distribution will be in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to ordinary dividends. In addition, the portion of such distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, to the extent not subject to the 30% withholding tax on ordinary dividends, will be subject to a 10% withholding tax under FIRPTA, unless the Non-U.S. Shareholder obtains a withholding certificate from the Internal Revenue Service establishing the right to a reduced amount of FIRPTA withholding. The Non-U.S. Shareholder may seek a refund from the Internal Revenue Service of excess tax withheld if it is subsequently determined that such distribution was, in fact, in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits or, if the 10% withholding tax applied, did not give rise to taxable gain under FIRPTA.

Under current law, distributions to a Non-U.S. Shareholder that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests will not be treated under FIRPTA as income “effectively connected” with a U.S. business carried on by the Non-U.S. Shareholder, provided that (i) the distribution is received with respect to a class of our stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States and (ii) the Non-U.S. Shareholder does not own more than 5% of that regularly traded class of stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the relevant distribution. Rather than being subject to tax as effectively connected income under FIRPTA, such distributions will be treated as ordinary REIT dividends that are not capital gain dividends. Thus, such distributions generally will be subject to the 30% withholding tax described above (as opposed to a 35% withholding tax rate under FIRPTA), such distributions will not be subject to the branch profits tax, and Non-U.S. Shareholders generally will not be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return by reason of receiving such distributions.

 

In the case of any Non-U.S. Shareholder who is not eligible for the exception described above (an “Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder”), for any year in which we qualify as a REIT, distributions that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests will be taxed to such Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder under the provisions of FIRPTA. Under FIRPTA, these distributions are taxed to an Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder as if such gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business. Thus, Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholders will be taxed on such distributions at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. shareholders (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals) and will be required to file U.S. federal income tax returns. Also, distributions subject to FIRPTA may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a corporate Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder not entitled to treaty relief or exemption. We are required by applicable Treasury Regulations to withhold 35% of any distribution to an Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder that could be designated by us as a capital gain dividend. This amount may be applied as a credit against the Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder’s FIRPTA tax liability.

 

Gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Shareholder upon a sale of our stock generally will not be taxed under FIRPTA if we are a “domestically controlled REIT,” defined generally as a REIT in which at all times during a specified testing period less than 50% in value of the stock was held directly or indirectly by foreign persons. As of the date of this prospectus, we believe that we qualify as a “domestically controlled REIT,” and that the sale of common stock by a Non-U.S. Shareholder therefore will not be subject to tax under FIRPTA. Because our stock is publicly traded, however, no assurance can be given that we are, or will continue to be, a domestically controlled REIT. If we were not a domestically controlled REIT, whether a Non-U.S. Shareholder’s gain would be taxed under FIRPTA would depend on whether our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market at the time of sale and on the size of the selling shareholder’s interest in our stock. In addition, gain not subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a Non-U.S. Shareholder if (i) the investment in our common stock is treated as effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Shareholder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the Non-U.S. Shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with respect to such gain, or (ii) 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 certain other conditions are met, in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gains. If the gain on the sale of our common stock were to be subject to tax under FIRPTA, the Non-U.S. Shareholder would be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with respect to such gain (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals).

 

State and Local Taxes

 

Getty Realty Corp., its subsidiaries, and its shareholders may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which it or they transact business or reside (although shareholders who are individuals generally should not be required to file state income tax returns outside of their state of residence with respect to our operations and distributions), and their state and local tax treatment may not conform to the federal income tax consequences discussed above. Consequently, prospective shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in our securities.

 

We may sell the securities through underwriters or dealers, through agents, directly to one or more purchasers or through a combination of any of these methods of sale. We will describe the terms of an offering of the securities in a prospectus supplement, including, but not limited to:

 

 

Only underwriters we name in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

 

If we use underwriters in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell them from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series offered by the prospectus supplement. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time.

 

We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.

 

Shares may also be sold in one or more of the following transactions: (a) block transactions (which may involve crosses) in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of the shares as agent but may position and resell all or a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement; (c) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers; (d) sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, for shares; and (e) sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers. Broker-dealers may also receive compensation from purchasers of the shares which is not expected to exceed that customary in the types of transactions involved.

 

We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to such liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

 

All securities we offer pursuant to this prospectus, other than the common stock, which are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue

any market making at any time without notice. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchange or market, but we are not obligated to do so. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.

 

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).

 

DLA Piper LLP (US), Baltimore, Maryland, will pass for us upon the validity of the securities being offered hereby by us, and counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement will pass upon legal matters for any underwriters, dealers or agents.

 

The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act. In accordance with the Exchange Act, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our corporate website is located at www.gettyrealty.com, and our filings pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge on our website under the tab “SEC Filings” as soon as reasonably practicable after such filings are electronically filed with the SEC. The information contained on our corporate website is not part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. Interested readers may also read and copy any materials that we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C., 20549. Readers may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains our reports.

 

You should rely only upon the information provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or incorporated herein or therein by reference. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, including any information incorporated herein or therein by reference, is accurate as of any date other than that set forth on the front cover of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate” into this prospectus information that we file with the SEC in other documents. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to other documents that contain that information. Any information that we incorporate by reference is considered part of this prospectus.

Information contained in this prospectus and information that we file with the SEC in the future and incorporate by reference in this prospectus automatically modifies and supersedes previously filed information including information in previously filed documents or reports that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, to the extent the new information differs from or is inconsistent with the old information. Any information so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to its effectiveness, provided however, that we are not incorporating any documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with the rules of the SEC. We also incorporate by reference, as of their respective dates of filing, the documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC and any documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus:

 

 

You may request a copy of these documents, which will be provided to you at no cost, by writing or telephoning us using the following contact information:

 

Getty Realty Corp.
125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 103
Jericho, New York 11753
(516) 478-5400
Attention: Investor Relations

 

3,000,000 Shares

 

 

Getty Realty Corp.

 

Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

BofA Merrill Lynch

 

J.P. Morgan

 

KeyBanc Capital Markets

 

RBC Capital Markets

 

Capital One Southcoast

 

Santander

 

TD Securities

 

January 19, 2011