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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-223183
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated February 23, 2018)
COMMON STOCK
We have entered into separate sales agency financing agreements with each of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC relating to issuances, offers and sales of shares of our common stock. We refer to these entities, when acting in this capacity, individually as a sales agent and collectively as sales agents. In accordance with the terms of the sales agency financing agreements, we may offer and sell up to $1,000,000,000 of our common stock from time to time through any of the sales agents (acting in their capacity as sales agents or as forward sellers, as described below), as our agents for the offer and sale of our common stock. The shares of common stock offered for sale under the sales agency financing agreements will be offered at market prices prevailing at the time of sale.
The sales agency financing agreements provide that, in addition to the issuance and sale of shares of our common stock by us through the sales agents, we also may enter into forward sale agreements under separate master forward sale agreements and related supplemental confirmations between us and each of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (or their respective affiliates). We refer to these entities, when acting in this capacity, individually as a forward purchaser and collectively as forward purchasers. In connection with each particular forward sale agreement, the relevant forward purchaser will, at our request, borrow from third parties and, through the relevant sales agent, sell a number of shares of our common stock equal to the number of shares of our common stock underlying the particular forward sale agreement. We refer to the sales agents, when acting as agents for forward purchasers, as forward sellers. In no event will we be party to outstanding forward sale agreements with more than one forward purchaser at any given time. Therefore, if at any time we are party to an outstanding forward sale agreement with a single forward purchaser, we may only enter into additional forward sale agreements with the same forward purchaser unless and until that outstanding forward sale agreement matures and settles or otherwise terminates. In no event will the aggregate number of shares of our common stock sold through the sales agents, whether as an agent for us or as a forward seller, under the sales agency financing agreements and under any forward sale agreements, have an aggregate sales price in excess of $1,000,000,000.
We will not initially receive any proceeds from the sale of borrowed shares of our common stock by a forward seller. We expect to fully physically settle each particular forward sale agreement with the relevant forward purchaser on one or more dates specified by us on or prior to the maturity date of that particular forward sale agreement, in which case we will expect to receive aggregate net cash proceeds at settlement equal to the number of shares underlying the particular forward sale agreement multiplied by the relevant forward sale price. However, we may also elect to cash settle or net share settle a particular forward sale agreement, in which case we may not receive any proceeds (in the case of cash settlement) or will not receive any proceeds (in the case of net share settlement), and we may owe cash (in the case of cash settlement) or shares of common stock (in the case of net share settlement) to the relevant forward purchaser.
The sales agents will offer our common stock in "at the market" offerings or by other methods described in "Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest." We will pay each sales agent a commission at a mutually agreed rate that will not exceed, but may be lower than, 2.0% of the sales price of all of the shares of common stock issued by us and sold through it as our sales agent under the relevant sales agency financing agreement. In connection with each forward sale agreement, we will pay the relevant forward seller, in the form of a reduced initial forward sale price under the related forward sale agreement with the related forward purchaser, commissions at a mutually agreed rate that will not exceed, but may be lower than, 2.0% of the sales prices of all borrowed shares of common stock sold during the applicable forward hedge selling period by it as a forward seller. If any sales agent and/or forward seller, as applicable, engages in special selling efforts, as that term is used in Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, such sales agent and/or forward seller, as applicable, will receive from us a commission to be agreed upon at the time of sale.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "AVB." On February 22, 2018, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $157.12 per share.
Investing in our common stock involves risks. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-3 of this prospectus supplement and page 1 of the accompanying prospectus.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities regulators have not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Barclays
BofA Merrill Lynch
Deutsche Bank Securities
J.P. Morgan
Morgan Stanley
UBS Investment Bank
Wells Fargo Securities
The date of this prospectus supplement is February 23, 2018.
When we refer to "AvalonBay," "the Company," "we," "us," or "our" or similar expressions in this prospectus supplement, we mean AvalonBay Communities, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
This prospectus supplement is a supplement to the accompanying prospectus. If information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the prospectus, this prospectus supplement will apply and supersede the information in the prospectus. It is important for you to read and carefully consider all information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. You should also read and carefully consider the information in the documents we have referred you to in "Where You Can Find More Information and Documents Incorporated By Reference."
We have not, and the sales agents, the forward sellers and the forward purchasers have not, authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus that we may provide to you. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any such free writing prospectus 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 do this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any such free writing prospectus 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
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contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference and any such free writing prospectus is correct on any date after their respective dates, even though this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any such free writing prospectus are delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may have changed since those dates.
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Issuer |
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. | |
NYSE Symbol for Our Common Stock |
AVB |
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Risk Factors |
An investment in our common stock involves various risks, and prospective investors should carefully consider the matters discussed under the caption entitled "Risk Factors" in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference before making a decision to invest in our common stock. |
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Use of Proceeds |
We intend to use the net proceeds (1) from issuances and sales of our common stock through the sales agents and (2) if any, upon the settlement of any forward sale agreements to fund the development, redevelopment and acquisition of apartment communities and for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes, which may include repayment and refinancing of debt. Pending such uses, we will invest the net proceeds, if any, in short-term securities. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Risk Factors." |
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Accounting Treatment of Forward Sales |
In the event that we enter into any forward sale agreements, we expect that before the issuance of shares of our common stock, if any, upon physical or net share settlement of any forward sale agreement, the shares issuable upon settlement of that particular forward sale agreement will be reflected in our diluted earnings per share calculations using the treasury stock method. Under this method, the number of shares of our common stock used in calculating diluted earnings per share is deemed to be increased by the excess, if any, of the number of shares of common stock that would be issued upon full physical settlement of that particular forward sale agreement over the number of shares of common stock that could be purchased by us in the market (based on the average market price during the relevant period) using the proceeds receivable upon full physical settlement (based on the adjusted forward sale price at the end of the relevant reporting period). |
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Consequently, before physical or net share settlement of a particular forward sale agreement and subject to the occurrence of certain events, we anticipate there will be no dilutive effect on our earnings per share except during periods when the average market price of our common stock is above the applicable adjusted forward sale price under that particular forward sale agreement, subject to increase or decrease based on the federal funds rate, less a spread, and subject to decrease by amounts related to expected dividends on our common stock during the term of that particular forward sale agreement. However, if we physically or net share settle a particular forward sale agreement, the delivery of shares of our common stock would result in an increase in the number of shares outstanding and dilution to our earnings per share and return on equity. |
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Conflicts of Interest |
We expect that all of the proceeds of any shares sold by a forward seller will be paid to the related forward purchaser, in which case such forward purchaser or its affiliate may receive more than 5% of the net proceeds of this offering, not including underwriting compensation. Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of Rule 5121 (Public Offerings of Securities with Conflicts of Interest) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"). Pursuant to that rule, the appointment of a "qualified independent underwriter" is not necessary in connection with this offering because the shares of common stock have a "bona fide public market" (as such terms are defined in FINRA Rule 5121). |
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Dividend Policy |
We pay a regular quarterly cash dividend and expect to continue paying a regular quarterly dividend, but the timing and amount of future dividends is subject to the factors discussed in "Risk Factors" and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading "Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities," which is incorporated into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference. |
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Transfer Agent and Registrar |
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare, Inc. |
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In addition to the other information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the risks described in the accompanying prospectus under the heading "Risk Factors" and any additional information and risk factors described in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including (i) our Annual Report on Form 10-K, (ii) our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and (iii) any other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") after the date of this prospectus supplement that are deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement before making an investment decision. These risks are not the only risks we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also adversely affect our business operations. These risks could adversely affect, among other things, our business, financial condition or results of operations, and could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline, resulting in the loss of all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Forward Sale Agreements
Settlement provisions contained in a forward sale agreement could result in substantial dilution to our earnings per share and return on equity or result in substantial cash payment obligations.
If we enter into one or more forward sale agreements, the relevant forward purchaser will have the right to accelerate that particular forward sale agreement (with respect to all or any portion of the transaction under that particular forward sale agreement that the relevant forward purchaser determines is affected by such event) and require us to settle on a date specified by the relevant forward purchaser if:
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- the relevant forward purchaser is unable to, or would incur a materially increased cost to, establish, maintain or unwind its hedge position
with respect to that particular forward sale agreement;
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- the relevant forward purchaser determines that it is unable, after using commercially reasonable efforts, to continue to borrow a number of
shares of our common stock equal to the number of shares of common stock underlying that particular forward sale agreement or that, with respect to borrowing such number of shares of common stock, it
would incur a cost that is greater than the stock borrow cost specified in that particular forward sale agreement, subject to a prior notice requirement;
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- a termination event occurs as a result of us declaring a dividend or distribution on our common stock with a cash value in excess of a
specified amount per calendar quarter, or with an ex-dividend date prior to the anticipated ex-dividend date for such cash dividend;
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- an extraordinary event (as such term is defined in that particular forward sale agreement and which includes certain mergers and tender offers
and the delisting of our common stock) occurs or our board of directors votes to approve or there is a public announcement of, in either case, any action that, if consummated, would constitute such an
extraordinary event; or
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- certain other events of default, termination events or other specified events occur, including, among other things, any material misrepresentation made by us in connection with entering into that particular forward sale agreement, our bankruptcy or a change in law (as such terms are defined in that particular forward sale agreement).
A forward purchaser's decision to exercise its right to accelerate the settlement of a particular forward sale agreement will be made irrespective of our need for capital. In such cases, we could be required to issue and deliver shares of common stock under the physical settlement provisions of that particular forward sale agreement or, if we so elect and the forward purchaser so permits our election,
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net share settlement provisions of that particular forward sale agreement irrespective of our capital needs, which would result in dilution to our earnings per share and return on equity.
We expect that settlement of any forward sale agreement will generally occur no later than the date specified in the particular forward sale agreement, which will be no later than twelve months following the trade date of that forward sale agreement. However, any forward sale agreement may be settled earlier than that specified date in whole or in part at our option. We expect that each forward sale agreement will be physically settled by delivery of shares of our common stock unless we elect to cash settle or net share settle a particular forward sale agreement. Upon physical settlement or, if we so elect, net share settlement of a particular forward sale agreement, delivery of shares of our common stock in connection with such physical settlement or, to the extent we are obligated to deliver shares of our common stock, net share settlement, will result in dilution to our earnings per share and return on equity. If we elect cash settlement or net share settlement with respect to all or a portion of the shares of common stock underlying a particular forward sale agreement, we expect that the relevant forward purchaser (or an affiliate thereof) will purchase a number of shares of common stock necessary to satisfy its or its affiliate's obligation to return the shares of common stock borrowed from third parties in connection with sales of shares of our common stock under that forward sale agreement. In addition, the purchase of shares of our common stock in connection with the relevant forward purchaser or its affiliate unwinding its hedge positions could cause the price of our common stock to increase over such time (or prevent a decrease over such time), thereby increasing the amount of cash we would owe to the relevant forward purchaser (or decreasing the amount of cash that the relevant forward purchaser would owe us) upon a cash settlement of the relevant forward sale agreement or increasing the number of shares of common stock we would deliver to the relevant forward purchaser (or decreasing the number of shares of common stock that the relevant forward purchaser would deliver to us) upon net share settlement of the relevant forward sale agreement. In no event will we be party to outstanding forward sale agreements with more than one forward purchaser at any given time. Therefore, if at any time we are party to an outstanding forward sale agreement with a single forward purchaser, we may only enter into additional forward sale agreements with the same forward purchaser unless and until that outstanding forward sale agreement matures and settles or otherwise terminates.
The forward sale price that we expect to receive upon physical settlement of a particular forward sale agreement will be subject to adjustment on a daily basis based on a floating interest rate factor equal to the federal funds rate less a spread and will be decreased based on amounts related to expected dividends on our common stock during the term of the particular forward sale agreement. If the federal funds rate is less than the spread on any day, the interest factor will result in a daily reduction of the applicable forward sale price. If the market value of our common stock during the relevant valuation period under the particular forward sale agreement is above the applicable forward sale price, in the case of cash settlement, we would pay the relevant forward purchaser under that particular forward sale agreement an amount in cash equal to the difference or, in the case of net share settlement, we would deliver to the relevant forward purchaser a number of shares of common stock having a value equal to the difference. Thus, we could be responsible for a potentially substantial cash payment in the case of cash settlement of a particular forward sale agreement. If the market value of our common stock during the relevant valuation period under that particular forward sale agreement is below the applicable forward sale price, in the case of cash settlement, we would be paid the difference in cash by the relevant forward purchaser under that particular forward sale agreement or, in the case of net share settlement, we would receive from the relevant forward purchaser a number of shares of common stock having a value equal to the difference. See "Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest" for information on the forward sale agreements.
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In case of our bankruptcy or insolvency, any forward sale agreements will automatically terminate, and we would not receive the expected proceeds from any forward sales of our common stock.
If we file for or consent to a proceeding seeking a judgment in bankruptcy or insolvency or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors' rights, or we or a regulatory authority with jurisdiction over us presents a petition for our winding-up or liquidation, and we consent to such a petition, any forward sale agreements that are then in effect will automatically terminate. If any such forward sale agreement so terminates under these circumstances, we would not be obligated to deliver to the relevant forward purchaser any of our common stock not previously delivered, and the relevant forward purchaser would be discharged from its obligation to pay the applicable forward sale price per share in respect of any of our common stock not previously settled under the applicable forward sale agreement. Therefore, to the extent that there are any shares of our common stock with respect to which any forward sale agreement has not been settled at the time of the commencement of any such bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, we would not receive the relevant forward sale price per share in respect of those shares of our common stock.
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of the cash that we might receive from cash settlement of a forward sale agreement is unclear and could jeopardize our ability to meet the REIT qualification requirements.
In the event that we elect to settle any forward sale agreement for cash and the settlement price is below the applicable forward sale price, we would be entitled to receive a cash payment from the relevant forward purchaser. Under Section 1032 of the Code (as defined below), generally, no gains and losses are recognized by a corporation in dealing in its own shares, including pursuant to a "securities futures contract," as defined in the Code by reference to the Exchange Act (as defined below). Although we believe that any amount received by us in exchange for our stock would qualify for the exemption under Section 1032 of the Code, because it is not entirely clear whether a forward sale agreement qualifies as a "securities futures contract," the U.S. federal income tax treatment of any cash settlement payment we receive is uncertain. In the event that we recognize a significant gain from the cash settlement of a forward sale agreement, we might not be able to satisfy the gross income requirements applicable to REITs (as defined below) under the Code. In that case, we may be able to rely upon the relief provisions under the Code in order to avoid the loss of our REIT status. Even if the relief provisions apply, we will be subject to a 100% tax on the greater of (i) the excess of 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) over the amount of such income attributable to sources that qualify under the 75% test or (ii) the excess of 95% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) over the amount of such gross income attributable to sources that qualify under the 95% test, as discussed in the accompanying prospectus under "Federal Income Tax Considerations and Consequences of Your Investment—Taxation of AvalonBay as a REIT" and "—Income Tests Applicable to REITs," multiplied in either case by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. In the event that these relief provisions were not available, we could lose our REIT status under the Code.
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We intend to use the net proceeds (1) from issuances and sales of our common stock through sales agents and (2) if any, upon the settlement of any forward sale agreements to fund the development, redevelopment and acquisition of apartment communities, and for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes, which may include repayment and refinancing of debt. Pending such uses, we will invest the net proceeds, if any, in short-term securities.
To the extent that we elect to cash settle any particular forward sale agreement, we may not receive any net proceeds (or may owe cash to the relevant forward purchaser). To the extent that we elect to net share settle any particular forward sale agreement in full, we would not receive any proceeds from the relevant forward purchaser.
We will not initially receive any proceeds from any sales of shares of our common stock by a forward seller in connection with any forward sale agreement. We expect to fully physically settle each particular forward sale agreement, in which case we will expect to receive aggregate net cash proceeds at settlement equal to the number of shares underlying the particular forward sale agreement multiplied by the relevant forward sale price. The forward sale price that we expect to receive upon physical settlement of a particular forward sale agreement will be equal to the sales prices of all borrowed shares of common stock sold by the relevant forward seller during the applicable forward hedge selling period less a forward hedge selling commission not to exceed 2.0%, will be subject to adjustment on a daily basis based on a floating interest rate factor equal to the federal funds rate less a spread and will be decreased based on amounts related to expected dividends on shares of our common stock during the term of the particular forward sale agreement. If the federal funds rate is less than the spread on any day, the interest factor will result in a daily reduction of the applicable forward sale price.
In the event that we enter into any forward sale agreements, we expect that before the issuance of shares of our common stock, if any, upon physical or net share settlement of any forward sale agreement, the shares issuable upon settlement of the particular forward sale agreement will be reflected in our diluted earnings per share calculations using the treasury stock method. Under this method, the number of shares of our common stock used in calculating diluted earnings per share is deemed to be increased by the excess, if any, of the number of shares of common stock that would be issued upon full physical settlement of that particular forward sale agreement over the number of shares of common stock that could be purchased by us in the market (based on the average market price during the period) using the proceeds receivable upon full physical settlement (based on the adjusted forward sale price at the end of the reporting period).
Affiliates of each of the sales agents, the forward sellers, and the forward purchasers are lenders under our $1,500,000,000 unsecured credit facility and affiliates of certain of the sales agents, the forward sellers, and the forward purchasers are lenders under our unsecured term loan. To the extent that we use the net proceeds of this offering to reduce indebtedness outstanding under the credit facility or the term loan, these affiliates will receive their pro rata portion of such payments.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION; CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
We have entered into separate sales agency financing agreements, each dated as of December 1, 2015, with each of the sales agents, forward sellers and forward purchasers under which we may issue and sell up to $1,000,000,000 of our common stock from time to time through the sales agents (acting in their capacity as sales agents or as forward sellers, as described below), as our agents for the offer and sale of shares of our common stock. The sales agency financing agreements provide that, in addition to the issuance and sale of shares of our common stock by us through the sales agents, we also may enter into forward sale agreements under separate master forward sale agreements and related supplemental confirmations between us and each of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (or their respective affiliates). In connection with each such forward sale agreement, the relevant forward purchaser will, at our request, borrow from third parties and, through the relevant forward seller, sell a number of shares of our common stock equal to the number of shares of our common stock underlying such forward sale agreement. In no event will we be party to outstanding forward sale agreements with more than one forward purchaser at any given time. Therefore, if at any time we are party to an outstanding forward sale agreement with a single forward purchaser, we may only enter into additional forward sale agreements with the same forward purchaser unless and until that outstanding forward sale agreement matures and settles or otherwise terminates. In no event will the aggregate number of shares of our common stock sold through the sales agents, whether as an agent for us or as a forward seller, under the sales agency financing agreements and under any forward sale agreements, have an aggregate sales price in excess of $1,000,000,000.
The sales, if any, of our common stock under each sales agency financing agreement will be made in "at the market" offerings as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange, the existing trading market for our common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker or through an electronic communications network. In addition, our common stock may be offered and sold by such other methods, including privately negotiated transactions, as we and any sales agent (and related forward seller and forward purchaser) agree to in writing.
If any sales agent and/or forward seller, as applicable, engages in special selling efforts, as that term is used in Regulation M under the Exchange Act, such sales agent and/or forward seller, as applicable, will receive from us a commission to be agreed upon at the time of sale.
We will report at least quarterly the number of shares of our common stock sold through the sales agents and/or forward sellers, as agents, in at-the-market offerings and, to the extent applicable, the number of shares of our common stock issued upon settlement of any forward sale agreements, and the net proceeds to us in connection with such sales of our common stock.
Sales of our common stock as contemplated by this prospectus supplement will be settled through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and the sales agents or forward sellers and related forward purchasers, as applicable, may agree upon.
In connection with any sale of our common stock hereunder, the sales agents, forward purchasers and/or forward sellers may each be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid to the sales agents or the forward seller in the form of a reduced initial forward sale price under the related forward sale agreement with the related forward purchaser may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to indemnify the sales agents, forward sellers and forward purchasers against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
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We have agreed to reimburse the sales agents, forward sellers and forward purchasers for their reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the sales agency financing agreements, the forward sale agreements and the offerings hereby, including fees and expenses of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in connection with continuing due diligence, in the amount specified in the sale agency financing agreements.
The sales agents and the forward sellers have determined that our common stock is an "actively traded security" exempted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by Rule 101(c)(1) under that Act. If a sales agent, forward seller or we have reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied, that party will promptly notify the other and sales of common stock under the sales agency financing agreement will be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of the sales agent, the forward seller and us.
The offering of our common stock pursuant to any sales agency financing agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (1) the sale of all of our common stock subject to the sales agency financing agreements and (2) termination of such sales agency financing agreement by either us, the relevant sales agent, the relevant forward seller or the relevant forward purchaser at any time in the respective party's sole discretion.
The expenses of the offering are estimated at $250,000 and are payable by us.
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "AVB."
Sales Through Sales Agents
From time to time during the term of the sales agency financing agreements, we may deliver a transaction notice to one of the sales agents specifying the length of the selling period (not to exceed 20 trading days), the amount of common stock to be sold (the aggregate sales price of such shares not to exceed $150,000,000 during any selling period without such sales agent's prior written consent) and the minimum price below which sales may not be made. Upon receipt of a transaction notice from us, and subject to the terms and conditions of the respective sales agency financing agreements, the applicable sales agent agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares of our common stock on such terms. We or any such sales agent may suspend the offering of our common stock at any time upon proper notice to the other, at which time the selling period will immediately terminate. Settlement for sales of our common stock will occur on the second trading day following the date any sales were made, unless we otherwise agree with the relevant sales agent. The obligation of any sales agent under its respective sales agency financing agreement to sell shares of our common stock pursuant to any transaction notice is subject to a number of conditions, which such sales agent reserves the right to waive in its sole discretion.
We will pay each sales agent a commission at a mutually agreed rate that will not exceed, but may be lower than, 2.0% of the sales price of all of the shares of common stock issued by us and sold through it as our sales agent under the relevant sales agency financing agreement.
Sales Through Forward Sellers
From time to time during the term of the sales agency financing agreements, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, we may deliver a transaction notice relating to a forward to any of the sales agents in their capacity as forward sellers. Upon receipt by a forward seller of a transaction notice from us requesting that it execute sales of shares of borrowed common stock as a forward seller in connection with one or more forward sale agreements, and subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant sales agency financing agreement, the relevant forward purchaser will use commercially reasonable efforts to borrow, and the relevant forward seller will use commercially reasonable efforts
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consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell, the relevant shares of our common stock on such terms to hedge the relevant forward purchaser's exposure under that particular forward sale agreement. We or the relevant forward seller may immediately suspend the offering of our common stock at any time upon proper notice to the other. In no event will we be party to outstanding forward sale agreements with more than one forward purchaser at any given time. Therefore, if at any time we are party to an outstanding forward sale agreement with a single forward purchaser, we may only enter into additional forward sale agreements with the same forward purchaser unless and until that outstanding forward sale agreement matures and settles or otherwise terminates.
We expect that settlement between the relevant forward purchaser and forward seller of sales of borrowed shares of our common stock, as well as the settlement between the relevant forward seller and buyers of such shares of our common stock in the market, will generally occur on the second trading day following each date the sales are made. The obligation of the relevant forward seller under the relevant sales agency financing agreement to execute such sales of our common stock is subject to a number of conditions, which each forward seller reserves the right to waive in its sole discretion.
In connection with each forward sale agreement, we will pay the relevant forward seller, in the form of a reduced initial forward sale price under the related forward sale agreement with the related forward purchaser, commissions at a mutually agreed rate that will not exceed, but may be lower than, 2.0% of sales prices of all borrowed shares of common stock sold during the applicable forward hedge selling period by it as a forward seller. We refer to this commission rate as the forward selling commission. The forward hedge selling period will be the period of one to 20 consecutive trading days determined by us in our sole discretion and as specified in the relevant transaction notice.
The forward sale price per share under each forward sale agreement will initially equal the product of (1) an amount equal to one minus the applicable forward selling commission and (2) the volume-weighted average price per share at which the shares of borrowed common stock were sold pursuant to the particular sales agency financing agreement by the relevant forward seller. Thereafter, the forward sale price will be subject to adjustment as described below.
The forward sale agreements, the maximum terms of which may not exceed twelve months, will provide that the forward sale price, as well as the sales prices used to calculate the initial forward sale price, will be subject to increase or decrease based on the federal funds rate, less a spread, and subject to decrease by amounts related to expected dividends on our common stock during the term of the particular forward sale agreement. If the federal funds rate is less than the spread on any day, the interest factor will result in a daily reduction of the forward sale price.
Before settlement of a particular forward sale agreement, we expect that the shares of our common stock issuable upon settlement of that particular forward sale agreement will be reflected in our diluted earnings per share, return on equity and dividends per share calculations using the treasury stock method. Under this method, the number of shares of our common stock used in calculating diluted earnings per share, return on equity and dividends per share is deemed to be increased by the excess, if any, of the number of shares of our common stock that would be issued upon full physical settlement of that particular forward sale agreement over the number of shares of our common stock that could be purchased by us in the market (based on the average market price during the relevant period) using the proceeds receivable upon full physical settlement (based on the adjusted forward sale price at the end of the relevant reporting period). Consequently, before physical or net share settlement of a particular forward sale agreement and subject to the occurrence of certain events, we anticipate there will be no dilutive effect on our earnings per share, except during periods when the average market price of our common stock is above the applicable forward sale price.
Except under limited circumstances described below, we have the right to elect physical, cash or net share settlement under any forward sale agreement. Although we expect to settle any forward sale agreement entirely by delivering shares of our common stock in connection with full physical
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settlement, we may, subject to certain conditions, elect cash settlement or net share settlement for all or a portion of our obligations under a particular forward sale agreement if we conclude that it is in our interest to do so. For example, we may conclude that it is in our interest to cash settle or net share settle a particular forward sale agreement if we have no then-current use for all or a portion of the net proceeds that we would receive upon physical settlement. In addition, subject to certain conditions, we may elect to accelerate the settlement of all or a portion of the number of shares of our common stock underlying a particular forward sale agreement.
If we elect to physically settle any forward sale agreement by issuing and delivering shares of our common stock, we will receive an amount of cash from the relevant forward purchaser equal to the product of the forward sale price per share under that particular forward sale agreement and the number of shares of our common stock underlying the particular forward sale agreement. In the event that we elect to cash settle, the settlement amount will be generally related to (1) (a) the average of the volume-weighted average price of our common stock on each exchange business day during the relevant valuation period under the particular forward sale agreement minus (b) the applicable forward sale price; multiplied by (2) the number of shares of our common stock underlying the particular forward sale agreement subject to cash settlement. In the event we elect to net share settle, the settlement amount will be generally related to (1) (a) the weighted average price at which the relevant forward purchaser or its affiliate purchases shares of our common stock during the relevant valuation period for such settlement under that particular forward sale agreement minus (b) the applicable forward sale price; multiplied by (2) the number of shares of our common stock underlying that particular forward sale agreement subject to such net share settlement. If this settlement amount is a negative number, the relevant forward purchaser will pay us the absolute value of that amount (in the case of cash settlement) or deliver to us a number of shares of our common stock having a value equal to the absolute value of such amount (in the event of net share settlement). If this settlement amount is a positive number, we will pay the relevant forward purchaser that amount (in the case of cash settlement) or deliver to the relevant forward purchaser a number of shares of our common stock having a value equal to such amount (in the event of net share settlement). In connection with any cash settlement or net share settlement, we would expect the relevant forward purchaser or its affiliate to purchase shares of our common stock in secondary market transactions for delivery to third-party stock lenders in order to close out its, or its affiliate's, hedge position in respect of that particular forward sale agreement. The purchase of shares of our common stock in connection with the relevant forward purchaser or its affiliate unwinding its hedge positions could cause the price of our common stock to increase over time (or prevent a decrease over time), thereby increasing the amount of cash we owe to the relevant forward purchaser (or decreasing the amount of cash that the relevant forward purchaser owes us) upon cash settlement or increasing the number of shares of our common stock that we are obligated to deliver to the relevant forward purchaser (or decreasing the number of shares of our common stock that the relevant forward purchaser is obligated to deliver to us) upon net share settlement of the particular forward sale agreement. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Forward Sale Agreements."
A forward purchaser will have the right to accelerate the particular forward sale agreement (with respect to all or any portion of the transaction under the particular forward sale agreement that the relevant forward purchaser determines is affected by such event) and require us to physically settle on a date specified by the relevant forward purchaser if (1) the relevant forward purchaser is unable to, or would incur a materially increased cost to, establish, maintain or unwind its hedge position with respect to the particular forward sale agreement; (2) the relevant forward purchaser determines that it is unable after using commercially reasonable efforts, to continue to borrow a number of shares of our common stock equal to the number of shares of our common stock underlying the particular forward sale agreement or that, with respect to borrowing such number of shares of our common stock, it would incur a cost that is greater than the stock borrow cost specified in the particular forward sale agreement, subject to a prior notice requirement; (3) a termination event occurs as a result of us
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declaring a dividend or distribution on our common stock with a cash value in excess of a specified amount per calendar quarter or with an ex-dividend date prior to the anticipated ex-dividend date for such cash dividend; (4) an extraordinary event (as such term is defined in the particular forward sale agreement and which includes certain mergers and tender offers and the delisting of our common stock) occurs, or our board of directors votes to approve or there is a public announcement of, in either case, any action that, if consummated, would constitute such an extraordinary event; or (5) certain other events of default, termination events or other specified events occur, including, among other things, any material misrepresentation made by us in connection with entering into the particular forward sale agreement, our bankruptcy or a change in law (as such terms are defined in the particular forward sale agreement). The relevant forward purchaser's decision to exercise its right to accelerate the settlement of the particular forward sale agreement will be made irrespective of our need for capital. In such cases, we could be required to issue and deliver shares of our common stock under the physical settlement provisions of the particular forward sale agreement or, if we so elect and the relevant forward purchaser so permits our election, net share settlement provisions of the particular forward sale agreement irrespective of our capital needs which would result in dilution to our earnings per share, return on equity and dividends per share. In addition, upon certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us, the particular forward sale agreement will terminate without further liability of either party. Following any such termination, we would not issue any shares of our common stock or receive any proceeds pursuant to the particular forward sale agreement. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Forward Sale Agreements."
Limitations on Sales of Similar Securities
We have agreed not to directly or indirectly sell, offer to sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of, our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire our common stock for a period beginning on the first trading day immediately prior to the delivery of any transaction notice to any of the sales agents and ending on the first trading day following the settlement date for our common stock sold pursuant to the applicable transaction notice, without the prior written consent of the applicable sales agent, forward seller or forward purchaser. This consent may be given at any time without public notice. The restriction described in this paragraph does not apply to sales of:
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- common stock we offer or sell pursuant to any transaction notice under any sales agency financing agreement (including sales of borrowed shares
of our common stock by a forward seller in connection with any forward sale agreement, if applicable);
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- common stock and options to purchase shares we issue, in either case, pursuant to any current or future employee or director stock option,
incentive or benefit plan, employee stock purchase, long-term incentive plan, deferred compensation plan or ownership plan or dividend investment plan;
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- common stock we issue upon conversion of convertible securities, or the exercise of warrants, options or other rights;
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- common stock we issue in connection with acquisitions; and
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- common stock issuable by us upon settlement of any forward sales agreement.
Relationship with Sales Agents, Forward Sellers and Forward Purchasers
Each of the sales agents, each of the forward sellers, each of the forward purchasers and/or their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. In the ordinary
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course of business, the sales agents, the forward sellers, the forward purchasers and/or their respective affiliates have from time to time provided, and expect to provide in the future, investment banking, commercial banking, construction lending, letter of credit facilities and other credit-related arrangements, financial advisory, brokerage and other services to us and our affiliates, for which it has received and may in the future continue to receive customary fees and commissions. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the sales agents, the forward sellers, the forward purchasers and/or their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours. The sales agents, the forward sellers, the forward purchasers and/or their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Affiliates of each of the sales agents, the forward sellers, and the forward purchasers are lenders under our $1,500,000,000 unsecured credit facility and affiliates of certain of the sales agents, the forward sellers, and the forward purchasers are lenders under our unsecured term loan. To the extent that we use the net proceeds of this offering to reduce indebtedness outstanding under the credit facility or the term loan, these affiliates will receive their pro rata portion of such payments.
Conflicts of Interest
We expect that all of the proceeds of any shares of our common stock sold by a forward seller will be paid to the related forward purchaser, in which case such forward purchaser or its affiliate may receive more than 5% of the net proceeds of this offering, not including underwriting compensation. Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121 (Public Offerings of Securities with Conflicts of Interest). Pursuant to that rule, the appointment of a "qualified independent underwriter" is not necessary in connection with this offering because the shares of common stock have a "bona fide public market" (as such terms are defined in FINRA Rule 5121).
Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada
The shares may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
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Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong
The shares may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a "prospectus" within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore
The shares of common stock which are the subject of this prospectus supplement do not represent units in a collective investment scheme which is authorized or recognized by the Monetary Authority of Singapore ("MAS") under Section 286 or 287 of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289 of Singapore) ("SFA") and this prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the MAS under the SFA. This prospectus supplement and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of shares of common stock will not be circulated or distributed, nor will the shares of common stock be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore, other than institutional investors as defined in Section 4A of the SFA or relevant regulations thereunder.
Notice to Prospective Investors in The Netherlands
The offer in The Netherlands of the shares included in this offering is exclusively limited to persons who trade or invest in securities in the conduct of a profession or business (which include banks, stockbrokers, insurance companies, pension funds, other institutional investors and finance companies and treasury departments of large enterprises).
Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland
The shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange ("SIX") or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company or the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of the shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority ("FINMA"), and the offer of the shares has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes ("CISA").
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The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of the shares.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre
This prospectus supplement relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority ("DFSA"). This prospectus supplement is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus supplement. The shares to which this prospectus supplement relates 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 prospectus supplement you should consult an authorized financial advisor.
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Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston, Massachusetts, will pass upon certain matters relating to this offering for us. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the sales agents and the forward purchasers by O'Melveny & Myers LLP, San Francisco.
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements and schedule included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements and schedule are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act, and in accordance with the Exchange Act, we file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. filings are available to the public free of charge from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. We have a website located at http://www.avalonbay.com. The information on our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
The information incorporated by reference herein is an important part of this prospectus supplement. Any statement contained in a document which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement is automatically updated and superseded if information contained in this prospectus supplement, or information that we have filed or later file with the SEC prior to the termination of this offering, modifies or replaces this information. We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below, which were previously filed with the SEC:
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- Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed on February 23, 2018;
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- the description of the AvalonBay Communities, Inc. common stock in AvalonBay Communities, Inc.'s Registration Statement on
Form 8-B filed on June 8, 1995; and
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- all documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of this offering, except as to any portion of any future report or document that is not deemed filed under such provisions.
Upon written or oral request, we will provide, without charge, to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus supplement is delivered a copy of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. You may request a copy of these filings, and any exhibits we have specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus supplement, by writing or telephoning us at the following:
AvalonBay
Communities, Inc.
671 N. Glebe Road, Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203
Attention: Investor Relations
(703) 329-6300
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Prospectus
AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
This prospectus provides you with a general description of debt and equity securities that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. may offer and sell from time to time. We may sell these securities independently, or together in any combination that may include other securities set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement, in one or more offerings, for sale directly to purchasers or through underwriters, dealers or agents to be designated at a future date. Each time we sell securities we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that sale and may add to or update the information in this prospectus, including the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of any securities. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "AVB."
Investing in our securities involves various risks. Beginning on page 1, we have discussed several "Risk Factors" that you should consider before investing in our securities.
February 23, 2018
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.
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to "we," "us," "our," "our company," "AvalonBay," or similar expressions in this prospectus refer collectively to AvalonBay Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and its subsidiaries, and their respective predecessor entities for the applicable periods, considered as a single enterprise.
Before you invest in our securities, you should be aware that there are risks in making the investment, including those described below. You should consider carefully these risk factors together with all of the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you decide to purchase our securities. This section includes or refers to forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks described in the documents incorporated herein by reference, including (i) our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, (ii) our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and (iii) other documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and which are deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should refer to the explanation of the qualifications and limitations on forward-looking statements discussed under "Forward-Looking Statements" below.
Development, redevelopment, construction and operating risks could affect our profitability.
We intend to continue to develop and redevelop apartment home communities. These activities can include long planning and entitlement timelines and can involve complex and costly activities, including significant environmental remediation or construction work in high-density urban areas. These activities may be exposed to the following risks:
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- we may abandon opportunities that we have already begun to explore for a number of reasons, including changes in local market conditions or
increases in construction or financing costs, and, as a result, we may fail to recover expenses already incurred in exploring those opportunities;
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- occupancy rates and rents at a community may fail to meet our original expectations for a number of reasons, including changes in market and
economic conditions beyond our control and the development by competitors of competing communities;
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- we may be unable to obtain, or experience delays in obtaining, necessary zoning, occupancy, or other required governmental or third party
permits and authorizations, which could result in increased costs or the delay or abandonment of opportunities;
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- we may incur costs that exceed our original estimates due to increased material, labor or other costs;
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- we may be unable to complete construction and lease-up of a community on schedule, resulting in increased construction and financing costs and
a decrease in expected rental revenues;
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- we may be unable to obtain financing with favorable terms, or at all, for the proposed development of a community, which may cause us to delay
or abandon an opportunity;
- •
- we may incur liabilities to third parties during the development process, for example, in connection with managing existing improvements on the
site prior to tenant terminations and demolition (such as commercial space) or in connection with providing services to third parties (such as the construction of shared infrastructure or other
improvements); and
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- we may incur liability if our communities are not constructed and operated in compliance with the accessibility provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Acts, the Fair Housing Act or other federal, state or local requirements. Noncompliance could result in imposition of fines, an award of damages to private litigants, and a requirement that we undertake structural modifications to remedy the noncompliance.
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We estimate construction costs based on market conditions at the time we prepare our budgets, and our projections include changes that we anticipate but cannot predict with certainty. Construction costs may increase, particularly for labor and certain materials and, for some of our Development Communities and Development Rights (as defined in our Form 10-K report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and subsequent reports we file with the SEC), the total construction costs may be higher than the original budget. Total capitalized cost includes all capitalized costs incurred and projected to be incurred to develop or redevelop a community, determined in accordance with GAAP, including:
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- land and/or property acquisition costs;
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- fees paid to secure air rights and/or tax abatements;
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- construction or reconstruction costs;
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- costs of environmental remediation;
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- real estate taxes;
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- capitalized interest and insurance;
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- loan fees;
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- permits;
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- professional fees;
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- allocated development or redevelopment overhead; and
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- other regulatory fees.
Costs to redevelop communities that have been acquired have, in some cases, exceeded our original estimates and similar increases in costs may be experienced in the future. We cannot assure you that market rents in effect at the time new development or redevelopment communities complete lease-up will be sufficient to fully offset the effects of any increased construction or reconstruction costs.
The construction and maintenance of our communities includes a risk of major casualty events that could materially damage our property and the property of others and pose the risk of personal injury. While we carry insurance for such risks in amounts we deem reasonable, we cannot assure that such insurance will be adequate, and when we have incurred and in the future may incur such casualties, we are subject to losses on account of deductibles and self-insured amounts in any event. Such casualties may also expose us in the future to higher insurance premiums, greater construction or operating costs (either voluntarily assumed by us or as a result of new local regulations), and risks to our reputation among prospective residents or municipalities from which we may seek approvals in the future, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and our financial condition and results of operations.
Unfavorable changes in market and economic conditions could adversely affect occupancy, rental rates, operating expenses, and the overall market value of our real estate assets.
Local conditions in our markets significantly affect occupancy, rental rates and the operating performance of our communities. The risks that may adversely affect conditions in those markets include the following:
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- corporate restructurings and/or layoffs, industry slowdowns and other factors that adversely affect the local economy;
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- an oversupply of, or a reduced demand for, apartment homes;
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- a decline in household formation or employment or lack of employment growth;
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- the inability or unwillingness of residents to pay rent increases;
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- rent control or rent stabilization laws, or other laws regulating housing, that could prevent us from raising rents sufficiently to offset
increases in operating costs; and
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- economic conditions that could cause an increase in our operating expenses, such as increases in property taxes, utilities, compensation of on-site associates and routine maintenance.
Rent control and other changes in applicable laws, or noncompliance with applicable laws, could adversely affect our operations or expose us to liability.
We must develop, construct and operate our communities in compliance with numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations, some of which may conflict with one another or be subject to limited judicial or regulatory interpretations. These laws and regulations may include zoning laws, building codes, landlord/tenant laws and other laws generally applicable to business operations. Noncompliance with laws could expose us to liability.
Lower revenue growth or significant unanticipated expenditures may result from our need to comply with changes in (i) laws imposing remediation requirements and the potential liability for environmental conditions existing on properties or the restrictions on discharges or other conditions, (ii) rent control or rent stabilization laws or other residential landlord/tenant laws, or (iii) other governmental rules and regulations or enforcement policies affecting the development, use and operation of our communities, including changes to building codes and fire and life-safety codes.
We have seen a recent increase in municipalities considering or being urged by advocacy groups to consider rent control or rent stabilization laws and regulations or take other actions which could limit our ability to raise rents based solely on market conditions. Depending on the nature of such laws or regulations and the number of our communities that become subject to any such restriction on rent increases, our revenues and net income could be adversely affected. For example, in 2016 in Mountain View, California, the voters passed a referendum that limits rent increases on existing tenants (but not on new move-ins) in communities built before 1995. We have three communities with a total of 946 apartment homes that are subject to the new law. We are aware of efforts in other municipalities to enact similar controls, as well as an effort in California to overturn a state law that currently limits municipal rent control in that state to (i) apartments built before 1995 and (ii) renewal increases in rent (not new tenancies upon a vacancy).
Short-term leases expose us to the effects of declining market rents.
Substantially all of our apartment leases are for a term of one year or less. Because these leases generally permit the residents to leave at the end of the lease term without penalty, our rental revenues are impacted by declines in market rents more quickly than if our leases were for longer terms.
Competition could limit our ability to lease apartment homes or increase or maintain rents.
Our apartment communities compete with other housing alternatives to attract residents, including other rental apartments, condominiums and single-family homes that are available for rent, as well as new and existing condominiums and single-family homes for sale. Competitive residential housing in a particular area could adversely affect our ability to lease apartment homes and to increase or maintain rental rates.
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Attractive investment opportunities may not be available, which could adversely affect our profitability.
We expect that other real estate investors, including insurance companies, pension and investment funds, other REITs and other well-capitalized investors, will compete with us to acquire existing properties and to develop new properties. This competition could increase prices for properties of the type we would likely pursue and adversely affect our profitability for new investments.
Capital and credit market conditions may adversely affect our access to various sources of capital and/or the cost of capital, which could impact our business activities, dividends, earnings, and common stock price, among other things.
In periods when the capital and credit markets experience significant volatility, the amounts, sources and cost of capital available to us may be adversely affected. We primarily use external financing to fund construction and to refinance indebtedness as it matures. If sufficient sources of external financing are not available to us on cost effective terms, we could be forced to limit our development and redevelopment activity and/or take other actions to fund our business activities and repayment of debt, such as selling assets, reducing our cash dividend or paying out less than 100% of our taxable income. To the extent that we are able and/or choose to access capital at a higher cost than we have experienced in recent years (reflected in higher interest rates for debt financing or a lower stock price for equity financing), absent changes in other factors, our earnings per share and cash flows could be adversely affected. In addition, the price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly and/or decline in a high interest rate or volatile economic environment. We believe that the lenders under our Credit Facility will fulfill their lending obligations thereunder, but if economic conditions deteriorate, there can be no assurance that the ability of those lenders to fulfill their obligations would not be adversely impacted.
Insufficient cash flow could affect our debt financing and create refinancing risk.
We are subject to the risks associated with debt financing, including the risk that our available cash will be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest on our debt. In this regard, in order for us to continue to qualify as a REIT, we are required to annually distribute dividends generally equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gain. This requirement limits the amount of our cash flow available to meet required principal and interest payments. The principal outstanding balance on a portion of our debt will not be fully amortized prior to its maturity. Although we may be able to repay our debt by using our cash flows, we cannot assure you that we will have sufficient cash flows available to make all required principal payments. Therefore, we may need to refinance at least a portion of our outstanding debt as it matures. There is a risk that we may not be able to refinance existing debt or that a refinancing will not be done on as favorable terms; either of these outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Rising interest rates could increase interest costs and could affect the market price of our common stock.
We currently have, and may in the future incur, contractual variable interest rate debt. In addition, we regularly seek access to both fixed and variable rate debt financing to repay maturing debt and to finance our development and redevelopment activity. Accordingly, if interest rates increase, our interest costs will also rise, unless we have made arrangements that hedge the risk of rising interest rates. In addition, an increase in market interest rates may lead purchasers of our common stock to demand a greater annual dividend yield, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
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Bond financing and zoning compliance requirements could limit our income, restrict the use of communities and cause favorable financing to become unavailable.
We have financed some of our apartment communities with obligations issued by local government agencies because the interest paid to the holders of this debt is generally exempt from federal income taxes and, therefore, the interest rate is generally more favorable to us. These obligations are commonly referred to as "tax-exempt bonds" and generally must be secured by mortgages on our communities. As a condition to obtaining tax-exempt financing, or on occasion as a condition to obtaining favorable zoning in some jurisdictions, we will commit to make some of the apartments in a community available to households whose income does not exceed certain thresholds (e.g., 50% or 80% of area median income), or who meet other qualifying tests. As of December 31, 2017, 5.9% of our apartment homes at current operating communities were under income limitations such as these. These commitments, which may run without expiration or may expire after a period of time (such as 15 or 20 years), may limit our ability to raise rents and, as a consequence, may also adversely affect the value of the communities subject to these restrictions.
In addition, some of our tax-exempt bond financing documents require us to obtain a guarantee from a financial institution of payment of the principal of, and interest on, the bonds. The guarantee may take the form of a letter of credit, surety bond, guarantee agreement or other additional collateral. If the financial institution defaults in its guarantee obligations, or if we are unable to renew the applicable guarantee or otherwise post satisfactory collateral, a default will occur under the applicable tax-exempt bonds and the community could be foreclosed upon if we do not redeem the bonds.
Risks related to indebtedness.
We have a Credit Facility with a syndicate of commercial banks. Our organizational documents do not limit the amount or percentage of indebtedness that may be incurred. Accordingly, subject to compliance with outstanding debt covenants, we could incur more debt, resulting in an increased risk of default on our obligations and an increase in debt service requirements that could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
The mortgages on properties that are subject to secured debt, our Credit Facility and the indenture under which a substantial portion of our debt was issued contain customary restrictions, requirements and other limitations, as well as certain financial and operating covenants, including maintenance of certain financial ratios. Maintaining compliance with these restrictions could limit our flexibility. A default in these requirements, if uncured, could result in a requirement that we repay indebtedness, which could materially adversely affect our liquidity and increase our financing costs.
The mortgages on properties that are subject to secured debt generally include provisions which stipulate a prepayment penalty or payment that we will be obligated to pay in the event that we elect to repay the mortgage note prior to the earlier of (i) the stated maturity of the note, or (ii) the date at which the mortgage note is prepayable without such penalty or payment. If we elect to repay some or all of the outstanding principal balance for our mortgage notes, we may incur prepayment penalties or payments under these provisions which could adversely affect our results of operations.
Failure to maintain our current credit ratings could adversely affect our cost of funds, related margins, liquidity and access to capital markets.
There are two major debt rating agencies that routinely evaluate and rate our debt. Their ratings are based on a number of factors, which include their assessment of our financial strength, liquidity, capital structure, asset quality, amount of real estate under development, and sustainability of cash flow and earnings, among other factors. If market conditions change, we may not be able to maintain our current credit ratings, which could adversely affect our cost of funds and related margins, liquidity and access to capital markets.
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Debt financing may not be available and equity issuances could be dilutive to our stockholders.
Our ability to execute our business strategy depends on our access to cost effective debt and equity financing. Debt financing may not be available in sufficient amounts or on favorable terms. If we issue additional equity securities, the interests of existing stockholders could be diluted.
Failure to generate sufficient revenue or other liquidity needs could limit cash flow available for distributions to stockholders.
A decrease in rental revenue, or liquidity needs such as the repayment of indebtedness or funding of our development activities, could have an adverse effect on our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders. Significant expenditures associated with each community such as debt service payments, if any, real estate taxes, insurance and maintenance costs are generally not reduced when circumstances cause a reduction in income from a community.
The form, timing and/or amount of dividend distributions in future periods may vary and be impacted by economic and other considerations.
The form, timing and/or amount of dividend distributions will be declared at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on actual cash from operations, our financial condition, capital requirements, the annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and other factors as the Board of Directors may consider relevant. The Board of Directors may modify our dividend policy from time to time.
We may choose to pay dividends in our own stock, in which case stockholders may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash they receive.
We may distribute taxable dividends that are payable in part in our stock, as we did in the fourth quarter of 2008. Taxable stockholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend as income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be required to pay tax with respect to such dividends in excess of the cash dividend received. If a U.S. stockholder 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 stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. stockholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in stock. In addition, the trading price of our stock would experience downward pressure if a significant number of our stockholders sell shares of our stock in order to pay taxes owed on dividends.
We may experience regulatory or economic barriers to selling apartment communities that could limit liquidity and financial flexibility.
Potential difficulties in selling real estate in our markets may limit our ability to change or reduce the apartment communities in our portfolio promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions. Federal tax laws may limit our ability to earn a gain on the sale of a community (unless we own it through a subsidiary which will incur a taxable gain upon sale) if we are found to have held, acquired or developed the community primarily with the intent to resell the community, and this limitation may affect our ability to sell communities without adversely affecting returns to our stockholders. In addition, real estate in our markets can at times be difficult to sell quickly at prices we find acceptable.
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Acquisitions may not yield anticipated results.
Our business strategy includes acquiring as well as developing communities. Our acquisition activities may be exposed to the following risks:
- •
- an acquired property may fail to perform as we expected in analyzing our investment; and
- •
- our estimate of the costs of operating, repositioning or redeveloping an acquired property may prove inaccurate.
Failure to succeed in new markets, or with new brands and community formats, or in activities other than the development, ownership and operation of residential rental communities may have adverse consequences.
We may from time to time commence development activity or make acquisitions outside of our existing market areas if appropriate opportunities arise. Our historical experience in our existing markets in developing, owning and operating rental communities does not ensure that we will be able to operate successfully in new markets, should we choose to enter them. We may be exposed to a variety of risks if we choose to enter new markets, including an inability to accurately evaluate local apartment market conditions; an inability to obtain land for development or to identify appropriate acquisition opportunities; an inability to hire and retain key personnel; and a lack of familiarity with local governmental and permitting procedures.
Although we are primarily in the multifamily business, we also own and lease ancillary retail space when retail represents the best use of the space, as is often the case with large urban in-fill developments. We also may engage or have an interest in for-sale activity. We may be unsuccessful in owning and leasing retail space at our communities or in developing real estate with the intent to sell, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
Land we hold with no current intent to develop may be subject to future impairment charges.
We own parcels of land that we do not currently intend to develop. In the event that the fair market value of a parcel changes such that we determine that the carrying basis of the parcel reflected in our financial statements is greater than the parcel's then current fair value, less costs to dispose, we would be subject to an impairment charge, which would reduce our net income.
We are exposed to various risks from our real estate activity through joint ventures.
Instead of acquiring or developing apartment communities as a wholly-owned investment, at times we may invest in real estate as a partner or a co-venturer with other investors. Joint venture investments (including investments through partnerships or limited liability companies) involve risks, including the possibility that our partner might become insolvent or otherwise refuse to make capital contributions when due; that we may be responsible to our partner for indemnifiable losses; that our partner might at any time have business goals that are inconsistent with ours; and that our partner may be in a position to take action or withhold consent contrary to our instructions or requests. Frequently, we and our partner may each have the right to trigger a buy-sell arrangement that could cause us to sell our interest, or acquire our partner's interest, at a time when we otherwise would not have initiated such a transaction.
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We are exposed to risks associated with investment in and management of discretionary real estate investment funds and joint ventures.
We have investment interests in several investment funds and joint ventures (collectively, the "ventures") ranging from 20.0% to 94.0%. The ventures present risks, including the following:
- •
- our subsidiaries that are the general partner or managing member of the ventures are generally liable, under applicable law or the governing
agreement of a venture, for the debts and obligations of the respective venture, subject to certain exculpation and indemnification rights pursuant to the terms of the governing agreement;
- •
- investors in the ventures holding a majority of the equity interests may remove us as the general partner or managing member in certain cases
involving cause;
- •
- while we have broad discretion to manage the ventures, the investors or an advisory committee comprised of representatives of the investors
must approve certain matters, and as a result we may be unable to cause the ventures to implement certain decisions that we consider beneficial; and
- •
- we may be liable and/or our status as a REIT may be jeopardized if either the ventures, or the REIT entities associated with the ventures, fail to comply with various tax or other regulatory matters.
The governance provisions of our joint ventures with Equity Residential could adversely affect our flexibility in dealing with such joint venture assets and liabilities.
In connection with the Archstone Acquisition, we created joint ventures with Equity Residential that manage or have an interest in certain of the acquired assets and liabilities. These structures involve participation in the ventures by Equity Residential whose interests and rights may not be the same as ours. Joint ownership of an investment in real estate involves risks not associated with direct ownership of real estate, including the risk that Equity Residential may at any time have economic or other business interests or goals which become inconsistent with our business interests or goals, including inconsistent goals relating to the sale of properties held in the joint ventures or the timing of the termination and liquidation of the joint ventures. Under the form for the joint venture arrangements, neither we nor Equity Residential expect to individually have the sole power to control the ventures, and an impasse could occur, which could adversely affect the applicable joint venture and decrease potential returns to us and our investors.
We rely on information technology in our operations, and any breach, interruption or security failure of that technology could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or reputation.
Information security risks have generally increased in recent years due to the rise in new technologies and the increased sophistication and activities of perpetrators of cyber attacks.
We collect and hold personally identifiable information of our residents and prospective residents in connection with our leasing and property management activities, and we collect and hold personally identifiable information of our associates in connection with their employment. In addition, we engage third party service providers that may have access to such personally identifiable information in connection with providing necessary information technology and security and other business services to us.
We address potential breaches or disclosure of this confidential personally identifiable information by implementing a variety of security measures intended to protect the confidentiality and security of this information including (among others) engaging reputable, recognized firms to help us design and
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maintain our information technology and data security systems, including testing and verification of their proper and secure operations on a periodic basis. We also maintain cyber risk insurance to provide some coverage for certain risks arising out of data and network breaches.
However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to prevent unauthorized access to this information. Any failure in or breach of our operational or information security systems, or those of our third party service providers, as a result of cyber attacks or information security breaches could result in a wide range of potentially serious harm to our business operations and financial prospects, including (among others) disruption of our business and operations, disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information (including personal information of our residents and/or associates), damage to our reputation, and/or potentially significant legal and/or financial liabilities and penalties.
We are exposed to risks that are either uninsurable, not economically insurable or in excess of our insurance coverage, including risks discussed below.
Earthquake risk. Many of our West Coast communities are located in the general vicinity of active earthquake faults. We cannot assure you that an earthquake would not cause damage or losses greater than insured levels. In the event of a loss in excess of insured limits, we could lose our capital invested in the affected community, as well as anticipated future revenue from that community. We would also continue to be obligated to repay any mortgage indebtedness or other obligations related to the community. Any such loss could materially and adversely affect our business and our financial condition and results of operations.
Insurance coverage for earthquakes can be costly and in limited supply. As a result, we may experience shortages in desired coverage levels if market conditions are such that insurance is not available or the cost of insurance makes it, in the Company's view, economically impractical.
Severe or inclement weather risk. Particularly in New England and the Metro New York/New Jersey area, we are exposed to risks associated with inclement or severe weather, including hurricanes, severe winter storms and coastal flooding. Severe or inclement weather may result in increased costs resulting from increased maintenance, repair of water and wind damage, removal of snow and ice, and, in the case of our development communities, delays in construction that result in increased construction costs and delays in realizing rental revenues from a community.
A single catastrophe that affects one of our regions, such as an earthquake, that affects the West Coast or a hurricane or severe winter storm that affects the Mid-Atlantic, Metro New York/New Jersey or New England regions, may have a significant negative effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Climate change risk. To the extent that significant changes in the climate occur in areas where our communities are located, we may experience extreme weather and changes in precipitation and temperature, all of which may result in physical damage to or a decrease in demand for properties located in these areas or affected by these conditions. Should the impact of climate change be material in nature, including significant property damage to or destruction of our communities, or occur for lengthy periods of time, our financial condition or results of operations may be adversely affected. In addition, changes in federal, state and local legislation and regulation based on concerns about climate change could result in increased capital expenditures on our existing properties and our new development properties (for example, to improve their energy efficiency and/or resistance to inclement weather) without a corresponding increase in revenue, resulting in adverse impacts to our net income.
Terrorism risk. We have significant investments in large metropolitan markets, such as Metro New York/New Jersey and Washington, D.C., which markets have in the past been or may in the future be the target of actual or threatened terrorist attacks. Future terrorist attacks in these markets could directly or indirectly damage our communities, both physically and financially, or cause losses that
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exceed our insurance coverage and that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
A significant uninsured property or liability loss could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
In addition to the earthquake insurance discussed above, we carry commercial general liability insurance, property insurance and terrorism insurance with respect to our communities on terms and in amounts we consider commercially reasonable. There are, however, certain types of losses (such as losses arising from acts of war) that are not insured, in full or in part, because they are either uninsurable or the cost of insurance makes it, in the Company's view, economically impractical. If an uninsured property loss or a property loss in excess of insured limits were to occur, we could lose our capital invested in a community, as well as the anticipated future revenues from such community. We would also continue to be obligated to repay any mortgage indebtedness or other obligations related to the community. If an uninsured liability to a third party were to occur, we would incur the cost of defense and settlement with, or court ordered damages to, that third party. A significant uninsured property or liability loss could have a material adverse effect on our business and our financial condition and results of operations.
We may incur costs due to environmental contamination or non-compliance.
Under various federal, state and local environmental and public health laws, regulations and ordinances, we may be required, regardless of knowledge or responsibility, to investigate and remediate the effects of hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum product releases at our properties (including in some cases natural substances such as methane and radon gas) and may be held liable under these laws or common law to a governmental entity or to third parties for property, personal injury or natural resources damages and for investigation and remediation costs incurred as a result of the contamination. These damages and costs may be substantial and may exceed any insurance coverage we have for such events. The presence of these substances, or the failure to properly remediate the contamination, may adversely affect our ability to borrow against, develop, sell or rent the affected property. In addition, some environmental laws create or allow a government agency to impose a lien on the contaminated site in favor of the government for damages and costs it incurs as a result of the contamination.
The development, construction and operation of our communities are subject to regulations and permitting under various federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances, which regulate matters including wetlands protection, storm water runoff and wastewater discharge. These laws and regulations may impose restrictions on the manner in which our communities may be developed, and noncompliance with these laws and regulations may subject us to fines and penalties.
Certain federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances govern the removal, encapsulation or disturbance of asbestos containing materials ("ACMs") when such materials are in poor condition or in the event of renovation or demolition of a building. These laws and the common law may impose liability for release of ACMs and may allow third parties to seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injury associated with exposure to ACMs. We are not aware that any ACMs were used in the construction of the communities we developed. ACMs were, however, used in the construction of a number of the communities that we have acquired. We implement an operations and maintenance program at each of the communities at which ACMs are detected.
We are aware that some of our communities have lead paint and have implemented an operations and maintenance program at each of those communities.
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Environmental agencies and third parties may assert claims for remediation or personal injury based on the alleged actual or potential intrusion into buildings of chemical vapors from soils or groundwater underlying or in the vicinity of those buildings or on nearby properties.
All of our stabilized operating communities, and all of the communities that we are currently developing, have been subjected to at least a Phase I or similar environmental assessment, which generally does not involve invasive techniques such as soil or groundwater sampling. These assessments, together with subsurface assessments conducted on some properties, have not revealed, and we are not otherwise aware of, any environmental conditions that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our business, assets, financial condition or results of operations. In connection with our ownership, operation and development of communities, from time to time we undertake substantial remedial action in response to the presence of subsurface or other contaminants, including contaminants in soil, groundwater and soil vapor beneath or affecting our buildings. In some cases, an indemnity exists upon which we may be able to rely if environmental liability arises from the contamination or remediation costs exceed estimates. There can be no assurance, however, that all necessary remediation actions have been or will be undertaken at our properties or that we will be indemnified, in full or at all, in the event that environmental liability arises.
Mold growth may occur when excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or is not addressed over a period of time. Certain molds may in some instances lead to adverse health effects, including allergic or other reactions. To help limit mold growth, we educate residents about the importance of adequate ventilation and request or require that they notify us when they see mold or excessive moisture. We have established procedures for promptly addressing and remediating mold or excessive moisture from apartment homes when we become aware of its presence regardless of whether we or the resident believe a health risk is presented. However, we cannot provide assurance that mold or excessive moisture will be detected and remediated in a timely manner. If a significant mold problem arises at one of our communities, we could be required to undertake a costly remediation program to contain or remove the mold from the affected community and could be exposed to other liabilities that may exceed any applicable insurance coverage.
Additionally, we have occasionally been involved in developing, managing, leasing and operating various properties for third parties. Consequently, we may be considered to have been an operator of such properties and, therefore, potentially liable for removal or remediation costs or other potential costs which relate to the release or presence of hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum products at such properties.
We cannot assure you that:
- •
- the environmental assessments described above have identified all potential environmental liabilities;
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- no prior owner created any material environmental condition not known to us or the consultants who prepared the assessments;
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- no environmental liabilities have developed since the environmental assessments were prepared;
- •
- the condition of land or operations in the vicinity of our communities, such as the presence of underground storage tanks, will not affect the
environmental condition of our communities;
- •
- future uses or conditions, including, without limitation, changes in applicable environmental laws and regulations, will not result in the
imposition of environmental liability; and
- •
- no environmental liabilities will arise at communities that we have sold for which we may have liability.
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Our success depends on key personnel whose continued service is not guaranteed.
Our success depends in part on our ability to attract and retain the services of executive officers and other personnel. Our executive officers make important capital allocation decisions or recommendations to our Board of Directors from among the opportunities identified by our regional offices. There is substantial competition for qualified personnel in the real estate industry, and the loss of our key personnel could adversely affect the Company.
Failure to qualify as a REIT would cause us to be taxed as a corporation, which would significantly reduce funds available for distribution to stockholders.
If we fail to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we will be subject to regular U.S. federal corporate income tax on our taxable income. In addition, unless we are entitled to relief under applicable statutory provisions, we would be ineligible to make an election for treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which we lose our qualification. The additional tax liability resulting from the failure to qualify as a REIT would significantly reduce or eliminate the amount of funds available for distribution to our stockholders. Furthermore, we would no longer be required to make distributions to our stockholders. Thus, our failure to qualify as a REIT could also impair our ability to expand our business and raise capital, and would adversely affect the value of our common stock.
We believe that we are organized and qualified as a REIT, and we intend to operate in a manner that will allow us to continue to qualify as a REIT. However, we cannot assure you that we are qualified as a REIT, or that we will remain qualified in the future. This is because qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Code for which there are only limited judicial and administrative interpretations and involves the determination of a variety of factual matters and circumstances not entirely within our control. Our qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, shareholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis. In addition, future legislation, new regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions may significantly change the tax laws or the application of the tax laws with respect to qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes or the federal income tax consequences of this qualification.
Even if we qualify as a REIT, we will be subject to certain federal, state and local taxes on our income and property and on taxable income that we do not distribute to our stockholders. In addition, we may through our taxable REIT subsidiaries hold certain assets and engage in certain activities that a REIT could not engage in directly. We also use taxable REIT subsidiaries to hold certain assets that we believe would be subject to the 100% prohibited transaction tax if sold at a gain outside of a taxable REIT subsidiary. Our taxable REIT subsidiaries are subject to U.S. tax as regular corporations. The Archstone Acquisition increased the amount of assets held through our taxable REIT subsidiaries.
Legislative or regulatory action related to federal income tax laws could adversely affect our stockholders, holders of debt securities and/or our business.
On December 22, 2017, H.R. 1, informally titled the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "TCJA"), was enacted. The TCJA makes major changes to the Code, including a number of provisions of the Code that affect the taxation of REITs and their stockholders. Among the changes made by the TCJA are (i) permanently reducing the generally applicable corporate tax rate, (ii) generally reducing the tax rate applicable to individuals and other non-corporate taxpayers for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, (iii) eliminating or modifying certain previously allowed deductions (including substantially limiting interest deductibility and, for individuals, the deduction for non-business state and local taxes), and (iv) for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, providing for preferential rates of taxation through a deduction of up to 20%
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(subject to certain limitations) on most ordinary REIT dividends and certain trade or business income of non-corporate taxpayers. The TCJA also imposes new limitations on the deduction of net operating losses, which may result in us having to make additional taxable distributions to our stockholders in order to comply with REIT distribution requirements or avoid taxes on retained income and gains. The effect of the significant changes made by the TCJA is highly uncertain, and administrative guidance will be required in order to fully evaluate the effect of many provisions. The effect of any technical corrections with respect to the TCJA could have an adverse effect on us or our stockholders or holders of our debt securities. Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the implications of the TCJA on their investment in our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities.
In addition, in recent years, numerous legislative, judicial and administrative changes have been made to the federal income tax laws applicable to investments in REITs and similar entities. Additional changes to tax laws are likely to continue to occur in the future, and we cannot assure our stockholders that any such changes will not adversely affect the taxation of a stockholder. We cannot assure you that future changes to tax laws and regulations will not have an adverse effect on an investment in our common stock.
The ability of our stockholders to control our policies and effect a change of control of our company is limited by certain provisions of our charter and bylaws and by Maryland law.
There are provisions in our charter and bylaws that may discourage a third party from making a proposal to acquire us, even if some of our stockholders might consider the proposal to be in their best interests. These provisions include the following:
Our charter authorizes our Board of Directors to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock without stockholder approval and to establish the preferences and rights, including voting rights, of any series of preferred stock issued. The Board of Directors may issue preferred stock without stockholder approval, which could allow the Board to issue one or more classes or series of preferred stock that could discourage or delay a tender offer or a change in control.
To maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by or for five or fewer individuals at any time during the last half of any taxable year. To maintain this qualification, and/or to address other concerns about concentrations of ownership of our stock, our charter generally prohibits ownership (directly, indirectly by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, or beneficially as defined in Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act) by any single stockholder of more than 9.8% of the issued and outstanding shares of any class or series of our stock. In general, under our charter, pension plans and mutual funds may directly and beneficially own up to 15% of the outstanding shares of any class or series of stock. Under our charter, our Board of Directors may in its sole discretion waive or modify the ownership limit for one or more persons, but it is not required to do so even if such waiver would not affect our qualification as a REIT. These ownership limits may prevent or delay a change in control and, as a result, could adversely affect our stockholders' ability to realize a premium for their shares of common stock.
As a Maryland corporation, we are subject to the provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law. Maryland law imposes restrictions on some business combinations and requires compliance with statutory procedures before some mergers and acquisitions may occur, which may delay or prevent offers to acquire us or increase the difficulty of completing any offers, even if they are in our stockholders' best interests. In addition, other provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law permit the Board of Directors to make elections and to take actions without stockholder approval (such as classifying our Board such that the entire Board is not up for re-election annually) that, if made or taken, could have the effect of discouraging or delaying a change in control.
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This prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference, contain statements that are 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"). You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "assume," "project," "plan," "may," "shall," "will," "outlook" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events and trends and which do not relate to historical matters. These statements include, among other things, statements regarding our intent, belief or expectations with respect to:
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- our potential development, redevelopment, acquisition or disposition of communities;
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- the timing and cost of completion of apartment communities under construction, reconstruction, development or redevelopment;
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- the timing of lease-up, occupancy and stabilization of apartment communities;
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- the pursuit of land on which we are considering future development;
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- the anticipated operating performance of our communities;
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- cost, yield, revenue, NOI and earnings estimates;
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- our declaration or payment of dividends;
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- our joint venture and investment fund activities;
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- our policies regarding investments, indebtedness, acquisitions, dispositions, financings and other matters;
- •
- our qualification as a REIT under the Code;
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- the real estate markets in Northern and Southern California and markets in selected states in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, Metro New York/New
Jersey and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States and in general;
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- the availability of debt and equity financing;
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- interest rates;
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- general economic conditions including the potential impacts from the economic conditions;
- •
- trends affecting our financial condition or results of operations; and
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- the impact of legal proceedings relating to casualty losses and related matters, including liability to third parties resulting therefrom.
We cannot assure the future results or outcome of the matters described in these statements; rather, these statements merely reflect our current expectations of the approximate outcomes of the matters discussed. You should not rely on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this prospectus. We do not undertake a duty to update these forward-looking statements, and therefore they may not represent our estimates and assumptions after the date of this prospectus. These risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are described below and under "Risk Factors" elsewhere in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
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Some of the factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
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- we may fail to secure development opportunities due to an inability to reach agreements with third parties to obtain land at attractive prices
or to obtain desired zoning and other local approvals;
- •
- we may abandon or defer development opportunities for a number of reasons, including changes in local market conditions which make development
less desirable, increases in costs of development, increases in the cost of capital or lack of capital availability, resulting in losses;
- •
- construction costs of a community may exceed our original estimates;
- •
- we may not complete construction and lease-up of communities under development or redevelopment on schedule, resulting in increased interest
costs and construction costs and a decrease in our expected rental revenues;
- •
- occupancy rates and market rents may be adversely affected by competition and local economic and market conditions which are beyond our
control;
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- financing may not be available on favorable terms or at all, and our cash flows from operations and access to cost effective capital may be
insufficient for the development of our pipeline which could limit our pursuit of opportunities;
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- our cash flows may be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest, and we may be unable to refinance existing indebtedness
or the terms of such refinancing may not be as favorable as the terms of existing indebtedness;
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- we may be unsuccessful in our management of investment funds and joint ventures, or any REIT vehicles that are used with any specific fund or
joint venture, described in greater detail in our reports filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus;
- •
- we may be unsuccessful in managing changes in our portfolio composition; and
- •
- our expectations, estimates and assumptions as of the date of this filing prospectus regarding the outcome of investigations and/or legal proceedings resulting from any pending casualty losses, are subject to change.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell an indeterminate number or amount of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with additional information described below under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."
Where You Can Find More Information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or the "Commission"). Our SEC filings are available to the public free of charge from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov or on our website located at http://www.avalonbay.com. The information on our website is not a part of this prospectus.
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In accordance with Section 2-210 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, our board of directors may authorize the issuance of some or all of the shares of any or all of our classes or series of stock without certificates. In addition, we have the authority to designate and issue more than one class or series of stock having various preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption. See "Description of Preferred Stock" and "Description of Common Stock." Our charter imposes limitations on the ownership and transfer of our stock. See "Limits on Ownership of Stock." We will furnish a full statement of the relative rights and preferences of each class or series of our stock which has been so designated and any restrictions on the ownership or transfer of our stock to any stockholder upon request and without charge. Written requests for such copies should be directed to: AvalonBay Communities, Inc., 671 N. Glebe Road, Suite 800, Arlington, Virginia 22203, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information already incorporated by reference. AvalonBay's SEC file number is 001-12672. We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below, which were previously filed by us with the SEC:
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- Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed on February 23, 2018;
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- Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 22, 2018;
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- the description of the AvalonBay Communities, Inc. common stock in AvalonBay Communities, Inc.'s Registration Statement on
Form 8-B, filed on June 8, 1995; and
- •
- all documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this offering memorandum and prior to the termination of this offering, except as to any portion of any future report or document that is not deemed filed under such provisions.
You may request a copy of these filings, and any exhibits we have specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus, at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following: AvalonBay Communities, Inc., 671 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 800, Arlington, Virginia 22203, Attention: Chief Financial Officer. Our telephone number is 703-329-6300.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. We have incorporated exhibits into this registration statement. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus or those documents.
About AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. is a REIT and an S&P 500 Index company that owns one of the largest portfolios of high-quality multifamily communities in the United States. We develop, redevelop, acquire, own and operate multifamily communities primarily in New England, the New York/New Jersey metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California. We
16
focus on leading metropolitan areas in these regions that we believe are characterized by growing employment in high wage sectors of the economy, higher cost of home ownership and a diverse and vibrant quality of life. We believe these market characteristics offer the opportunity for superior risk-adjusted returns over the long term on apartment community investments relative to other markets that do not have these characteristics. In selecting sites for development or acquisition, we favor locations that are near expanding employment centers and convenient to transportation, recreation areas, entertainment, shopping and dining.
Our principal financial goal is to increase long-term shareholder value through the development, redevelopment, acquisition, ownership and, when appropriate, disposition of apartment communities in our markets. To help meet this goal, we regularly (i) monitor our investment allocation by geographic market and product type, (ii) develop, redevelop and acquire interests in apartment communities in our selected markets, (iii) selectively sell apartment communities that no longer meet our long-term strategy or when opportunities are presented to realize a portion of the value created through our investment and redeploy the proceeds from those sales and (iv) endeavor to maintain a capital structure that is aligned with our business risks with a view to maintaining continuous access to cost-effective capital. We pursue our development, redevelopment, investment and operating activities with the purpose of Creating a Better Way to Live. Our strategic vision is to be the leading apartment company in select US markets, providing a range of distinctive living experiences that customers value. We pursue this vision by targeting what we believe are among the best markets and submarkets, leveraging our strategic capabilities in market research and consumer insight and being disciplined in our capital allocation and balance sheet management. We pursue our development and redevelopment activities primarily through in-house development and in-house redevelopment teams, which are complemented by our in-house acquisition platform. We believe that our organizational structure, which includes dedicated development and operational teams in each of our regions, and strong culture are key differentiators, providing us with highly talented, dedicated and capable associates.
We operate our apartment communities under three core brands Avalon, AVA and Eaves by Avalon. We believe that this branding differentiation allows us to target our product offerings to multiple customer groups and submarkets within our existing geographic footprint. The Avalon brand is our core offering, focusing on upscale apartment living and high end amenities and services in urban and suburban markets. Our AVA brand is designed for people who want to live in or near urban neighborhoods and in close proximity to public transportation, services, shopping and night-life. AVA apartments are generally smaller, many engineered for roommate living and feature modern design and a technology focus. Our Eaves by Avalon brand is designed for renters who seek good quality apartment living, often in a suburban setting, with practical amenities and services at a more modest price point.
AvalonBay elected to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for the taxable year ended December 31, 1994, and has not terminated or revoked that election. As a REIT, with limited exceptions, we will not be taxed under federal and certain state income tax laws at the corporate level on our net income to the extent net income is distributed to our stockholders. We have historically made sufficient distributions to avoid tax on retained income, and we intend to make sufficient distributions to avoid income tax at the corporate level. While we believe that we are organized and qualified as a REIT and we intend to operate in a manner that will allow us to continue to qualify as a REIT, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in this regard. Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Code, for which there are limited judicial and administrative interpretations and involves the determination of a variety of factual matters and circumstances not entirely within our control.
Our principal executive offices are located at Ballston Tower, 671 N. Glebe Road, Suite 800, Arlington, Virginia 22203, Attention: Chief Financial Officer. Our telephone number is 703-329-6300. Our website is located at www.avalonbay.com. Information on our website is not deemed to be a part of this prospectus. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "AVB."
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Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
Our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for each of the periods indicated is as follows:
| |
Year Ended December 31, 2017 |
Year Ended December 31, 2016 |
Year Ended December 31, 2015 |
Year Ended December 31, 2014 |
Year Ended December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ratios |
4.20x | 4.79x | 3.94x | 3.63x | 1.35x | |||||||||||
The ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends were computed by dividing earnings by combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends. For this purpose, earnings consist of pre-tax income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries plus fixed charges less capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of interest expense (including the amortization of debt issuance costs) and capitalized interest.
There were no shares of preferred stock outstanding during the five year period covered by the table above.
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:
| |
Year Ended December 31, 2017 |
Year Ended December 31, 2016 |
Year Ended December 31, 2015 |
Year Ended December 31, 2014 |
Year Ended December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ratios |
4.20x | 4.79x | 3.94x | 3.63x | 1.35x | |||||||||||
The ratios of earnings to fixed charges were computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For this purpose, earnings consist of pre-tax income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries plus fixed charges less capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of interest expense (including the amortization of debt issuance costs) and capitalized interest.
How We Intend to Use the Proceeds
Unless we provide otherwise in a supplement to this prospectus, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for one or more of the following:
- •
- capital expenditures, including for the acquisition, development and redevelopment of apartment communities;
- •
- potential acquisitions;
- •
- working capital;
- •
- repayment and refinancing of debt or, to the extent applicable, redemption of prior issuances of preferred stock; and
- •
- other general corporate purposes.
Description of Debt Securities
We may issue debt securities, which we sometimes refer to in this prospectus as notes, in one or more series under one or more indentures, including debt securities that we may issue under an indenture, dated as of February 23, 2018, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. References herein to the "Indenture" refer to such indenture and references to the "Trustee" refer to such trustee or any other trustee for any particular series of debt securities issued under the Indenture. The terms of the debt securities of any series will be those specified in or pursuant to the
18
Indenture and in the applicable debt securities of that series, and those made part of the Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act").
The following description of selected provisions of the Indenture and the debt securities that may be issued thereunder is not complete, and the description of selected terms of the debt securities of a particular series included in the applicable prospectus supplement also will not be complete. You should review the Indenture, any supplemental indenture and the form of the applicable debt securities, which forms have been or will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or as exhibits to documents which have been or will be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. To obtain a copy of the form of the Indenture or the form of the applicable debt securities, see "Where You Can Find More Information" in this prospectus. The following description of debt securities and the description of the debt securities of the particular series in the applicable prospectus supplement are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the Indenture, any supplemental indentures and the applicable debt securities, which provisions, including defined terms, are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this section shall have the meanings assigned to those terms in the Indenture.
The following description of debt securities describes general terms and provisions of the series of debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. When the debt securities of a particular series are offered for sale, the specific terms of such debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any particular terms of such debt securities described in a prospectus supplement are inconsistent with any of the terms of the debt securities generally described in this prospectus, then the terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supersede the terms described in this prospectus.
Reopening of Prior Issues of Notes. We may, from time to time, on one or more occasions and without the consent of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, reopen one or more issues of debt securities we have previously issued under the Prior Indenture, as defined below. In each such instance, the debt securities that we issue would have the same terms and conditions (including maturity, interest payment terms and CUSIP number) as the then-outstanding debt securities of that series that we had issued on an earlier date, except for the issue date, issue price and, if applicable, the first interest payment date. After we issue such additional debt securities, they will be fungible with the other debt securities of that series issued on such earlier date or dates. If we issue any such debt securities, we will file a prospectus supplement that describes the terms of the debt securities of that series then-outstanding and any additional terms applicable to the debt securities that we will issue in connection with the reopening of that series of debt securities.
When we refer to the "Prior Indenture," we are referring collectively to (1) the original Indenture dated as of January 16, 1998, referred to as the Original Indenture, (2) a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 20, 1998, (3) a Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 7, 1998, (3) an Amended and Restated Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 10, 2000 (the "Third Supplemental Indenture"), (4) a Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 18, 2006, and (5) a Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2014, each between AvalonBay and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor trustee), as Trustee. We have filed the Original Indenture and each of the supplemental indentures referred to above as exhibits to this registration statement, and any description of the particular terms of any series of debt securities issued under the Prior Indenture that we offer as part of the reopening of that series is qualified by reference to the text of the Prior Indenture as filed.
General
We may issue an unlimited principal amount of debt securities under the Indenture. The Indenture provides that debt securities of any series may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount which
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may be authorized from time to time by us. Please read the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of the particular series being offered thereby for the specific terms of such debt securities, including, where applicable:
- •
- the title of the series of debt securities and whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated;
- •
- the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the series and any limit thereon;
- •
- whether such debt securities are to be issuable in global form or in registered securities;
- •
- the date or dates, or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates shall be determined, on which we will pay the principal of and
premium, if any, on debt securities of the series, or the method used to determine such date or dates;
- •
- the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which debt securities of the series will bear interest, if any, or the method or methods,
if any, used to determine such rate or rates;
- •
- the basis used to calculate interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series if other than a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
- •
- the date or dates, if any, from which interest on the debt securities of the series will accrue, or the method or methods, if any, used to
determine such date or dates;
- •
- the date or dates, if any, on which the interest on the debt securities of the series will be payable and the record dates for any such payment
of interest;
- •
- the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we are required to, or may, at our option, redeem debt securities of the series;
- •
- the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will be required to repurchase debt securities of the series at the option of the holders of
debt securities of the series;
- •
- the terms of any sinking fund or analogous provision;
- •
- if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities of the series which will be
payable upon acceleration if other than the full principal amount;
- •
- the authorized denominations in which debt securities of the series will be issued, if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and any
integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;
- •
- the place or places where (1) amounts due on the debt securities of the series will be payable, (2) the debt securities of the
series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, (3) the debt securities of the series may be surrendered for conversion or exchange and (4) notices or demands to or
upon us in respect of the debt securities of the series or the Indenture may be served, if different than the corporate trust office of the Trustee;
- •
- the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities will be convertible into and/or exchangeable into equity of us or any other
Person or into any other securities;
- •
- if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies in which purchases of, and payments on, the debt securities of the series must be made, the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars for any purpose, and the ability, if any, of us or the holders of debt securities of the series to elect for payments to be made in any other currency or currencies and the terms and conditions upon which such election may be made;
20
- •
- whether the amount of payments on the debt securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula, or other method or
methods (any of those debt securities being referred to as "Indexed Securities") and the manner used to determine those amounts;
- •
- any addition to, modification of, or deletion of, any covenant or Event of Default with respect to debt securities of the series or any
guarantee;
- •
- whether the securities will be secured;
- •
- the covenants subject to covenant defeasance;
- •
- the terms and conditions, if any, upon which debt securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants;
- •
- the identity of the depositary for the global debt securities;
- •
- the circumstances under which we will or any guarantor will pay Additional Amounts on the debt securities of the series in respect of any tax,
assessment, or other governmental charge and whether we will have the option to redeem such debt securities rather than pay the Additional Amounts;
- •
- if there is more than one trustee, the identity of the trustee that has any obligations, duties and remedies with respect to the debt
securities and, if not the trustee, the identity of each security registrar, paying agent or authenticating agent with respect to the debt securities;
- •
- the terms of any guarantee of the debt securities and the identity of any guarantor or guarantors of the debt securities;
- •
- if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of the debt securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more
dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such debt securities as of any date;
- •
- whether the debt securities will not be issued in a transaction registered under the Securities Act and any restriction or condition on the
transferability of the debt securities of such series;
- •
- the exchanges, if any, on which the debt securities of the series may be listed;
- •
- the price or prices at which the debt securities of the series will be sold;
- •
- if debt securities issuable in global form are to be issuable in definitive form, then the forms and terms related to such issuance;
- •
- the Person to whom any interest on any registered security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name such security is registered
at the close of business on the regular record date for such payment and the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary global security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in
the Indenture;
- •
- any additional covenants subject to waiver by the act of the holders of debt securities pursuant to the Indenture; and
- •
- any other terms of debt securities of the series and any deletions from or modifications or additions to the Indenture in respect of such securities.
As used in this prospectus, references to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of a series include Additional Amounts, if any, payable on the debt securities of such series in that context.
We may issue debt securities as original issue discount securities to be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. In the event of an acceleration of the maturity of any original issue discount security, the amount payable to the holder upon acceleration will be determined in the
21
manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Important federal income tax and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The terms of the debt securities of any series may be inconsistent with the terms of the debt securities of any other series. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may, without the consent of, or notice to, the holders of the debt securities of any series, reopen an existing series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series.
Other than to the extent provided with respect to the debt securities of a particular series and described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Indenture will not contain any provisions that would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or to substantially reduce or eliminate our consolidated assets, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to service our indebtedness (including the debt securities) or that would afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of:
- (1)
- a
highly leveraged or similar transaction involving our management, or any affiliate of any of those parties;
- (2)
- a
change of control; or
- (3)
- a reorganization, restructuring, merger, or similar transaction involving us or our affiliates.
Registration, Transfer, Payment and Paying Agent
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of debt securities will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be payable and may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange at our office or at the office of our agent in the continental United States. However, we may, at our option, make payments of interest on any interest payment date on any debt security by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to receive that payment or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States.
Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date with respect to the debt securities of any series will forthwith cease to be payable to the holders of those debt securities on the applicable regular record date and may either be paid to the persons in whose names those debt securities are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of the interest not punctually paid or duly provided for to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the holders of those debt securities not less than 10 days prior to the special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as completely described in the Indenture.
Subject to certain limitations imposed on debt securities issued in book-entry form, the debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor of different authorized denominations upon surrender of those debt securities at the designated place or places. In addition, subject to certain limitations imposed upon debt securities issued in book-entry form, the debt securities of any series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange thereof at the designated place or places if duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, redemption or repayment of debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with certain of those transactions.
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not be required to:
- •
- issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days
before any selection of debt securities of that series of like tenor and terms to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of that selection;
- •
- register the transfer of or exchange any debt security, or portion of any debt security, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion
of any debt security being redeemed in part; or
- •
- issue, register the transfer of or exchange a debt security which has been surrendered for repurchase at the option of the holder, except the portion, if any, of the debt security not to be repurchased.
Outstanding Debt Securities
In determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding debt securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver under the Indenture:
- •
- the principal amount of an original issue discount security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for these purposes shall be that portion of
the principal amount of the original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the original issue discount security as of the date of the determination;
- •
- the principal amount of any Indexed Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for these purposes shall be the principal amount of the
Indexed Security determined on the date of its original issuance, unless otherwise provided in the Indenture;
- •
- the principal amount of a debt security denominated in a foreign currency shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on the date of its
original issuance, of the principal amount of the debt security; and
- •
- a debt security owned by us or any obligor on the debt security or any of our affiliates or the affiliates of such other obligor shall be deemed not to be outstanding.
Redemption and Repurchase
The debt securities of any series may be redeemable at our option, or may be subject to mandatory redemption by us as required by a sinking fund or otherwise. In addition, the debt securities of any series may be subject to repurchase by us at the option of the holders. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions regarding any optional or mandatory redemption or option to repurchase the debt securities of the related series.
Covenants
Existence
Except as described under "—Merger, Consolidation or Sale" below, we, and any guarantor, will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect our, or its, existence, rights (by charter and statutory) and franchises. However, neither we, nor any guarantor, will be required to preserve any such right or franchise if we determine that the preservation of the right or franchise is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business.
Maintenance of Properties
We will cause all of our material properties used or useful in the conduct of our business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order,
23
normal wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted, and supplied with all necessary equipment. Our obligations with respect to the maintenance of these properties is subject to our judgment as to what may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection with these properties may be properly conducted in all material respects at all times. We and our Subsidiaries will not be prevented from (1) removing permanently any property that has been condemned or suffered a casualty loss, if it is in our best interests, (2) discontinuing maintenance or operation of any property if, in our judgment, doing so is in our best interest and is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the holders of the debt securities, or (3) selling or otherwise disposing of any properties for value in the ordinary course of business.
Insurance
We will, and will cause each of our Subsidiaries to, keep in force insurance policies on all our insurable properties. The insurance policies will be issued by responsible companies in such amounts and covering all such risks as is reasonable as determined by us in accordance with prevailing market conditions and availability.
Payment of Taxes and Other Claims
We will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent:
- •
- all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon us or any Subsidiary or upon our or any Subsidiary's income,
profits or property;
- •
- all material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a material lien upon our property or the
property of any Subsidiary; and
- •
- excluding, however, any tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith.
Additional Covenants
The following covenants and related definitions will apply to the notes:
Aggregate Debt Test. We will not, and will not permit any of our Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt and any other Debt incurred or repaid since the end of the most recent Reporting Date prior to the incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds from such Debt and such other Debt on a pro forma basis, the aggregate principal amount of our Debt would exceed 65% of the sum of the following (without duplication): (1) our Total Assets as of such Reporting Date; (2) the aggregate purchase price of any assets acquired, and the aggregate amount of proceeds received from any incurrence of other Debt and any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire assets or used to reduce Debt), by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of the most recent Reporting Date prior to the incurrence of such Debt; and (3) the proceeds or assets obtained from the incurrence of such Debt and other securities issued as part of the same transaction on a pro forma basis (including assets to be acquired in exchange for debt assumption and security issuance as in the case of a merger).
Secured Debt Test. We will not, and will not permit any of our Subsidiaries to, incur any Secured Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Secured Debt and any other Secured Debt incurred or repaid since the end of the most recent Reporting Date prior to the incurrence of such Secured Debt and the application of the proceeds from such Secured Debt and such other Secured Debt on a pro forma basis, the aggregate principal amount of our Secured Debt would exceed forty percent (40%) of the sum of the following (without duplication): (1) our Total Assets as of such Reporting Date; (2) the aggregate purchase price of any assets acquired, and the aggregate amount of
24
proceeds received from any incurrence of other Debt and any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire assets or used to reduce Debt), by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of the most recent Reporting Date prior to the incurrence of such Debt; and (3) the proceeds or assets obtained from the incurrence of such Secured Debt and other securities issued as part of the same transaction on a pro forma basis (including assets to be acquired in exchange for debt assumption and security issuance as in the case of a merger).
Debt Service Test. We will not, and will not permit any of our Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds from such Debt on a pro forma basis, the ratio of EBITDA to Interest Expense for the four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ended on the most recent Reporting Date prior to the incurrence of such Debt would be less than 1.25 to 1.00, and calculated on the following assumptions (without duplication): (1) such Debt and any other Debt incurred since such Reporting Date and outstanding on the date of determination had been incurred, and the application of the proceeds from such Debt (including to repay or retire other Debt) had occurred, on the first day of such four-quarter period; (2) the repayment or retirement of any other Debt since such Reporting Date had occurred on the first day of such four-quarter period; and (3) in the case of any acquisition or disposition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any asset or group of assets since such Reporting Date, whether by merger, stock purchase or sale or asset purchase or sale or otherwise, such acquisition or disposition had occurred as of the first day of such four-quarter period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition or disposition being included in such pro forma calculation. If any Debt incurred during the period from such Reporting Date to the date of determination bears interest at a floating rate, then, for purposes of calculating the Interest Expense, the interest rate on such Debt will be computed on a pro forma basis as if the average daily rate during such interim period had been the applicable rate for entire relevant four-quarter period. For purposes of the foregoing, Debt will be deemed to be incurred by a Person whenever such Person creates, assumes, guarantees or otherwise becomes liable in respect thereof.
Maintenance of Total Unencumbered Assets. As of each Reporting Date, our Unencumbered Assets will not be less than 125% of our Unsecured Debt.
Provision of Financial Information. For so long as any notes are outstanding, if we are subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision, we will deliver to the Trustee the annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents which we are required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) or any successor provision, within 15 days after the date that we file the same with the Commission. If we are not subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision, and for so long as any notes are outstanding, we will deliver to the Trustee the quarterly and annual financial statements and accompanying Item 303 of Regulation S-K disclosure ("management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations") that would be required to be contained in annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, respectively, required to be filed with the Commission if we were subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision, within 15 days of the filing date that would be applicable to a non-accelerated filer at that time pursuant to applicable Commission rules and regulations.
Reports and other documents filed by the Company with the Commission and publicly available via the EDGAR system or our website will be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee as of the time such filing is publicly available via EDGAR or our website for purposes of this covenant; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed or are publicly available via EDGAR or our website. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including its compliance with any of its covenants relating to the notes (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an officer's certificate).
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Definitions. As used in this "Description of Notes," the following defined terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquisition Property" means a Property acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company during the most recent four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters.
"Capitalized Property Value" means, with respect to any Person, (a) Property EBITDA of such Person for the four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ended on a Reporting Date divided by (b) the Capitalization Rate.
"Capitalization Rate" means 6.75%.
"Corporation" includes corporations, partnerships, associations, limited liability companies and other companies, and business trusts (which term shall expressly include real estate investment trusts). The term "corporation" means a corporation and does not include partnerships, associations, limited liability companies or other companies or business trusts. Except to the extent expressly provided to the contrary, Corporation does not include joint ventures.
"Debt" means, without duplication, our aggregate principal amount of indebtedness in respect of (i) borrowed money evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, as determined in accordance with GAAP, (ii) indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance or any security interest existing on Property or other assets owned by the Company, as determined in accordance with GAAP, (iii) reimbursement obligations in connection with any letters of credit actually issued and called, (iv) any lease of property by the Company or any Subsidiary as lessee which is reflected in our balance sheet as a capitalized lease, in accordance with GAAP; provided, that Debt also includes, to the extent not otherwise set forth above, any obligation by the Company or any Subsidiary to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, items of indebtedness of another Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary) described in clauses (i) through (iv) above (or, in the case of any such obligation made jointly with another Person, the Company's or the Subsidiary's allocable portion of such obligation based on its ownership interest in the related real estate assets or such other applicable assets); and provided, further, that Debt excludes Intercompany Debt.
"Development Property" means a Property currently under development on which the improvements have not been completed, or a Property where development has been completed as evidenced by a certificate of occupancy for the entire Property for the 36 month period following the issuance of such certificate of occupancy (provided that we may at our option elect to remove a Property from the category of Development Properties prior to the completion of the 36 month period, but any such Property may not be reclassified as a Development Property). The term "Development Property" shall include Property of the type described in the immediately preceding sentence to be (but not yet) acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary upon completion of construction pursuant to a contract in which the seller of such Property is required to develop or renovate prior to, and as a condition precedent to, such acquisition.
"EBITDA" means, with respect to any Person, for any period and without duplication, net earnings (loss) of such Person for such period excluding the impact of the following amounts with respect to any Person (but only to the extent included in determining net earnings (loss) for such period): (i) depreciation and amortization expense and other non-cash charges of such Person for such period, as such Person shall determine in good faith; (ii) interest expense, including prepayment penalties, of such Person for such period; (iii) income tax expense of such Person in respect of such period; (iv) extraordinary and nonrecurring gains and losses, as such Person shall determine in good faith, of such Person for such period, including without limitation, gains and losses from the sale of assets, write-offs and forgiveness of debt, foreign currency translation gains or losses; and (v) non-controlling interests. In each case for such period, such Person will
26
reasonably determine the amounts in accordance with GAAP, except to the extent GAAP is not applicable with respect to the determination of non-cash and non-recurring items.
"Encumbered Asset Value" means, with respect to any Person, for any date, the portion of Total Assets serving as collateral for Secured Debt as of such date.
"GAAP" and "generally accepted accounting principles" means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, consistently applied, as in effect from time to time; provided that if, as of a particular date as of which compliance with the covenants contained in the Indenture is being determined, there have been changes in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America from those that applied to our consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, we may, in our sole discretion, determine compliance with the covenants contained in the Indenture using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, consistently applied, as in effect as of the end of any calendar quarter selected by us, in our sole discretion, that is on or after December 31, 2017 and prior to the date as of which compliance with the covenants in the Indenture is being determined ("Fixed GAAP"), and, solely for purposes of calculating the covenants as of such date, "GAAP" shall mean Fixed GAAP.
"Intercompany Debt" means, as of any date, Debt to which the only parties are the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, but only so long as that Debt is held solely by any of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries as of that date and, provided that, in the case of Debt owed by the Company to any Subsidiary, the Debt is subordinated in right of payment to the holders of the Securities.
"Interest Expense" means, for any period, our interest expense for such period, with other adjustments as are necessary to exclude: (i) the effect of items classified as extraordinary items in accordance with GAAP; (ii) amortization of debt issuance costs; (iii) prepayment penalties; and (iv) non-cash swap ineffectiveness charges.
"Property" means a parcel (or group of related parcels) of real property.
"Property EBITDA" means, for any period, our EBITDA for such period adjusted to add back the impact of corporate level general and administrative expenses.
"Reporting Date" means the date ending the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Company for which our consolidated financial statements are publicly available, it being understood that at any time when the Company is not subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, the term "Reporting Date" shall be deemed to refer to the date ending the fiscal quarter covered by our most recent quarterly financial statements delivered to the Trustee or, in the case of the last fiscal quarter of the year, our annual financial statements delivered to the Trustee.
"Secured Debt" means Debt secured by any mortgage, lien, pledge, encumbrance or security interest of any kind upon any of our Property or other assets or the Property or other assets of any Subsidiary.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to the Company or any other Person, any Person (excluding an individual), a majority of the outstanding voting stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interests, as the case may be, of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company. For the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock having voting power for the election of directors, trustees or managers, as the case may be, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock or equity interest has such voting power by reason of any contingency. Unless the context otherwise requires, "Subsidiary" refers to a Subsidiary of the Company.
27
"Total Assets" means, as of any date, the sum (without duplication) of: (a) the Capitalized Property Value of the Company and its Subsidiaries, excluding Capitalized Property Value attributable to Properties acquired or disposed of by the Company or any Subsidiary during the four consecutive quarters ending on such date and Development Properties; (b) all cash and cash equivalents (excluding tenant deposits and other cash and cash equivalents the disposition of which is restricted) of the Company and its Subsidiaries at such time; (c) the current undepreciated book value of Development Properties and all land held for development; (d) the purchase price paid by the Company or any Subsidiary for any Acquisition Property; and (e) all other assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company shall have the option to include Capitalized Property Value under clause (a) above from any such Properties that are otherwise subject to valuation under clause (c) or (d) above; provided, however, that if such election is made, any value attributable to such Properties under clause (c) or (d) above shall be excluded from the determination of the amount under clause (c) or (d). The value of any assets under clauses (b), (c), (d) and (e) above (excluding any assets classified as intangible under GAAP) shall be determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Unencumbered Assets" means, as of any date, Total Assets as of such date less Encumbered Asset Value as of such date.
"Unsecured Debt" means Debt that is not secured by any mortgage, lien, pledge, encumbrance or security interest of any kind upon any of our Property or other assets or the Property or other assets of any Subsidiary.
Events of Default
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of any series is defined in the Indenture and used in "Description of Debt Securities" to mean any of the following:
(1) default for thirty (30) days in the payment of any installment of interest or Additional Amounts payable with respect to such interest under the debt securities of that series;
(2) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on or, any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on the debt securities of that series, when the same becomes due and payable or default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment with respect to the debt securities of that series when due;
(3) failure to comply with any of our other agreements contained in the debt securities or the Indenture (other than an agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere specifically dealt with in the Indenture or which has expressly been included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series) upon receipt by us of notice of such default by the Trustee or receipt by us and the Trustee of written notice of such default by holders of not less than twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding and we fail to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default within ninety (90) days after we receive such notice;
(4) failure to pay any recourse indebtedness for monies borrowed by us in an outstanding principal amount in excess of $150,000,000 at final maturity or upon acceleration after the expiration of any applicable notice and grace period, which recourse indebtedness is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within thirty (30) days after written notice of such failure to us from the Trustee (or to us and the Trustee from holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series);
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(5) specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization with respect to us, any guarantor, any Significant Subsidiary or any of their respective properties.
No Event of Default with respect to any particular series of debt securities necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The Trustee is required to give notice to holders of the debt securities of the applicable series within 90 days after the Trustee has actual knowledge (as such knowledge is described in the Indenture) of a default relating to such debt securities; provided, however, that the Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of such series of any default, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment, if and so long as specified responsible officers of the Trustee determine in good faith that the withholding of the notice is in the interest of the holders; and provided further that in the case of an Event of Default as described in (3) above, the Trustee will not give notice to the holders until at least 90 days after the occurrence thereof.
If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) above occurs, then the principal of, and premium, if any, on all the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series and unpaid interest, if any, accrued thereon shall automatically become immediately due and payable. If any other Event of Default with respect to the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding may declare the principal of, and premium, if any, on, or if debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of that series of debt securities, and unpaid interest, if any, accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately. However, upon specified conditions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding may rescind and annul any such declaration of acceleration and its consequences if:
- •
- we have paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay all required payments as specified in the Indenture, including
payments of the principal of, any premium and interest on the debt securities of such series, and specified compensation, expenses, disbursement and advances of the Trustee; and
- •
- all Events of Default with respect to the debt securities of such series, other than the non-payment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to the debt securities of such series which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in the Indenture.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may waive any past default with respect to the debt securities of such series and its consequences, except:
- •
- a continuing default in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any debt
security of such series; or
- •
- in the case of any debt securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for common equity or other securities or property, a continuing
default in any such conversion or exchange; or
- •
- a continuing default in respect of a covenant or provision contained in the Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of such series affected.
The Indenture provides that no holders of debt securities of any series may institute any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture or the debt securities of such series, or for the appointment of a receiver or Trustee, or for any remedy thereunder, except in the case of failure of the Trustee, for 60 days, to act after it has received written notice of an Event of Default
29
with respect to such series from a holder of a debt security of such series, a written request to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default from the holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, as well as an offer of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it, and no inconsistent direction has been given to the Trustee during such 60 day period by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, each holder of a debt security will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, and any Additional Amounts on that debt security on the respective due dates for those payments, and in the case of any debt security which is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, to convert or exchange as the case may be, such debt security in accordance with its terms, and to institute suit for the enforcement of those payments and any such right to convert or exchange, and this right shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.
Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act requiring the Trustee, during the continuance of an Event of Default under the Indenture, to act with the requisite standard of care, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities of any series unless those holders have offered the Trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, provided that the direction would not conflict with any rule or law or with the Indenture or with any series of debt securities or involve the Trustee in personal liability, such direction would not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder of debt securities of that series (or the debt securities of any other series) not joining in such action, it being understood that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction is unduly prejudicial to any other holder, and the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
Within 120 calendar days after the close of each fiscal year, we must deliver to the Trustee an officer's certificate, signed by one of our specified officers, stating whether or not such officer has knowledge of any default under the Indenture and, if so, specifying each such default and the nature and status thereof.
Modification and Waivers
The Indenture permits us and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series issued under the Indenture and affected by a modification or amendment (voting as separate classes), to modify or amend any of the provisions of the Indenture or of the debt securities of the applicable series or the rights of the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series under the Indenture. However, no modification or amendment shall, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:
- •
- change the stated maturity of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts, if
any, with respect to, any debt securities; or
- •
- reduce the principal of or any premium on any debt securities or reduce the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest on or the
redemption or repurchase price of any debt securities, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect to any debt securities or related guarantee or change our or any guarantor's obligation to pay
Additional Amounts; or
- •
- reduce the amount of principal of any original issue discount securities that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity of any debt security; or
30
- •
- adversely affect any right of repayment or repurchase at the option of any holder; or
- •
- change any place where, or the currency in which, the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to any
debt securities or guarantees are payable (or, in the case of redemption on or after the redemption date, or on or after the date for repayment or repurchase); or
- •
- in the case of any debt security which is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, impair the right to institute suit
to enforce the right to convert or exchange such debt securities in accordance with its terms; or
- •
- impair the holder's right to institute suit to enforce the payment of any debt securities or guarantee on or after their stated maturity; or
- •
- reduce the percentage of the outstanding debt securities of any series whose holders must consent to any modification or amendment or any
waiver of compliance with specific provisions of the Indenture or specified defaults under the Indenture and their consequences; or
- •
- modify the sections of the Indenture setting forth the provisions of the Indenture that may not be amended without the consent of holders, or
providing for the waiver of past defaults and the waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or
waived without the consent of holder of each outstanding debt security of such series; or
- •
- release a guarantor from any of the obligations under a guarantee except as permitted under the Indenture;
- •
- make any change that adversely affects the right, if any, to convert or exchange any debt security for common equity or other securities or
property; or
- •
- change the ranking of the debt securities of any series.
The Indenture also contains provisions permitting us and any guarantor, as applicable, and the Trustee, without the consent of the holders of any debt securities, to modify or amend the Indenture, among other things:
- •
- to evidence a successor to us or any guarantor, if applicable, as under the Indenture, or successive successions, and the assumption by any
such successor of the covenants of us or any guarantor;
- •
- to add to our covenants or the covenants of any guarantor for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities or to
surrender any right or power conferred upon us or any guarantor in the Indenture;
- •
- to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to
any debt securities or any guarantee, provided any such action does not adversely affect the interest of the holders of debt securities of any series;
- •
- to add to the Events of Default in a manner that benefits the holders of all or any series of debt securities issued under the Indenture;
- •
- to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series, and the form of the guarantee of debt securities of any series (provided that
any such deletions, additions and changes shall not be applicable to any other series of debt securities then outstanding);
- •
- to make any change necessary to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
31
- •
- to provide for any guarantee of the holders of debt securities of a series, to secure the debt securities or to confirm and evidence the
release, termination or discharge of any guarantee of or lien securing the debt securities which such release, termination or discharge is permitted by the Indenture;
- •
- to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the Indenture by more
than one trustee;
- •
- to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture;
- •
- to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of debt securities or that does not adversely affect the
legal rights under the Indenture of any holder in any material respect;
- •
- to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate defeasance and discharge of any series of
debt securities; provided, that the action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities in any material respect;
- •
- to provide for the issuance of additional debt securities, subject to the limitations established in the Indenture;
- •
- to comply with the rules of any applicable depository or the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on
which any of the debt securities may be listed or traded;
- •
- to add to or change any provisions of the Indenture to such extent as is necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in
uncertificated form;
- •
- to amend or supplement any provision contained in the Indenture, in any supplemental indenture or in any debt securities, provided that the
amendment or supplement (i) does not (a) apply to any outstanding debt securities issued before the date of the amendment or supplement and entitled to the benefits of that provision, or
(b) modify the rights of holders of any such debt securities with respect to such provision, or (ii) becomes effective only when no security described in clause (i)(a) is
outstanding; or
- •
- to conform the terms of the Indenture or the debt securities of a series, as applicable, to the description thereof contained in any prospectus, prospectus supplement or other offering document relating to the offer and sale of such debt securities.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive our compliance with some of the restrictive provisions of the Indenture, which may include covenants, if any, which are specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive any past default under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series and its consequences, except a default which is continuing (i) in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the debt securities of that series, (ii) with respect to the conversion or exchange of a series of debt securities convertible or exchangeable into our common equity, or (iii) in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the affected series.
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Merger, Consolidation and Sale
We may merge or consolidate with or into, or sell, assign, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our property and assets to, any other entity, provided that the following conditions are met:
- •
- we are the continuing entity, or the successor entity (if other than us) formed by or resulting from such consolidation or merger or which
shall have received such sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease of property and assets shall be domiciled in the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall
expressly assume by supplemental indenture payment of the principal of and interest on all of the debt securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and
conditions in the Indenture;
- •
- immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default under the Indenture, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of
time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and
- •
- either we or the successor entity, in either case, shall have delivered to the trustee an officer's certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture complies with the Indenture and that all conditions precedent provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
In the event of any transaction described in and complying with the conditions listed in the immediately preceding paragraphs in which we are not the continuing entity, the successor person formed or remaining shall succeed, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of ours, and (except in the case of a lease) We shall be discharged from our obligations under the debt securities and the Indenture.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Satisfaction and Discharge
Upon our direction, the Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the debt securities of any series specified by us, subject to the survival of specified provisions of the Indenture (except for provisions that survive pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and the debt securities of such series), including (unless the accompanying prospectus supplement provides otherwise) our obligation to repurchase such debt securities at the option of the holders thereof, if applicable, and our, or any guarantor's, if applicable, obligation to pay Additional Amounts in respect of such debt securities to the extent described below, when:
- •
- either
- (A)
- all
outstanding debt securities of that series have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, subject to exceptions, or
- (B)
- all debt securities of that series have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and we have irrevocably deposited with the Trustee, in trust, funds in the currency in which the debt securities of that series are payable in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of that series, including the principal thereof and, premium, if any, and interest, if any, thereon, and, to the extent that (x) the debt securities of that series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts and (y) the amount of any Additional Amounts which are or will be payable is at the time of deposit reasonably determinable by us, in the exercise of its sole discretion, those Additional Amounts, to the date of such deposit, if the debt securities of that series have become due
33
and payable, or to the maturity or redemption date of the debt securities of that series, as the case may be;
and, in either case
- •
- we have paid all other sums payable under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series (including amounts payable to the
Trustee); and
- •
- the Trustee has received an officer's certificate and an opinion of counsel to the effect that all conditions precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture in respect of the debt securities of such series have been satisfied.
If the debt securities of any series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, we or any guarantor, as applicable, will remain obligated, following the deposit described above, to pay Additional Amounts on those debt securities to the extent that they exceed the amount deposited in respect of those Additional Amounts as described above.
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect with respect to the debt securities of the particular series either:
- •
- to defease and discharge itself and any guarantor from any and all obligations with respect to those debt securities ("legal defeasance"),
except for, among other things:
- (A)
- the
obligation to pay Additional Amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of specified events of taxation, assessment, or governmental charge with respect to payments on
those debt securities to the extent that those Additional Amounts exceed the amount deposited in respect of those amounts as provided below;
- (B)
- the
obligations to register the transfer or exchange of those debt securities;
- (C)
- the
obligation to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen debt securities;
- (D)
- the
obligation to maintain an office or agent in the continental United States, in respect of those debt securities;
- (E)
- the
rights of holders of such outstanding debt securities to receive payments from moneys held in trust when such payments are due;
- (F)
- the
obligation, if applicable, to repurchase those debt securities at the option of the holders thereof; and
- (G)
- the
rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee; or
- •
- to be released from its obligations and the obligations of any guarantor with respect to those debt securities under (A) certain covenants in the Indenture related to the preservation of our rights (by declaration of trust and statute) and franchises and (B) if applicable, other covenants as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, and any omission to comply with those obligations shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default with respect to those debt securities ("covenant defeasance"),
in either case upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee, in trust for that purpose, of an amount in the currency in which those debt securities are payable at maturity or, if applicable, upon redemption, and/or government obligations (as defined in the Indenture) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms 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 and any premium and any interest on, and, to the extent that (x) those debt securities provide for
34
the payment of Additional Amounts and (y) the amount of the Additional Amounts which are or will be payable is at the time of deposit reasonably determinable by us, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, the Additional Amounts with respect to, those debt securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments on those debt securities, on the due dates for those payments. If the cash and government obligations deposited are sufficient to pay the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series on a particular redemption date, we shall have given the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem those debt securities on that date.
- •
- it shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to
which we are a party or are bound;
- •
- in the case of legal defeasance, we shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel acceptable to the Trustee confirming
that:
- (A)
- we
have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
- (B)
- since the date of the Indenture, there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law,
The legal defeasance or covenant defeasance described above shall only be effective if, among other things:
in either case to the effect that, and based on this ruling or change the opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the legal defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the legal defeasance had not occurred;
- •
- in the case of covenant defeasance, we shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the covenant
defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the covenant defeasance had not occurred;
- •
- no Event of Default or default which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of
the applicable series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of the deposit into trust;
- •
- solely in the case of legal defeasance, no Event of Default arising from specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization with
respect to us or any guarantor or default which with notice or lapse of time or both would become such an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing during the period ending on the
91st day after the date of the deposit into trust; and
- •
- we shall have delivered to the Trustee an officer's certificate and legal opinion to the effect that all conditions precedent to the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, have been satisfied.
In the event we effect covenant defeasance with respect to debt securities of any series and those debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default other than an Event of Default with respect to the covenants as to which covenant defeasance has been effected, which covenants would no longer be applicable to the debt securities of that series after covenant defeasance, the amount of monies and/or government obligations deposited with the Trustee to effect covenant defeasance may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that
35
series at the time of any acceleration resulting from that Event of Default. However, we would remain liable to make payment of those amounts due at the time of acceleration.
The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, permitting or restricting legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to the debt securities of a particular series.
Further Issuances
We may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to existing note holders, create and issue further notes having the same terms and conditions as the notes of any outstanding series in all respects, except for the issue date and, to the extent applicable, the issue price, the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date and the first payment of interest. Additional notes issued in this manner will be consolidated with, and will form a single series of debt securities with, the previously outstanding notes of the related series.
Concerning the Trustee
The Indenture provides that there may be more than one Trustee under the Indenture, each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. If there are different Trustees for different series of debt securities, each Trustee will be a Trustee of a trust or trusts separate and apart from the trust or trusts administered by any other Trustee under the Indenture. Unless otherwise indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a Trustee may be taken by such Trustee only with respect to the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the Trustee under the Indenture. Any Trustee under the Indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery (including authentication and delivery on original issuance of the debt securities) of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the Trustee with respect to that series at an office designated by the Trustee.
The Bank of New York Mellon has been appointed to act as the trustee under the Indenture. We may maintain corporate trust relationships in the ordinary course of business with the Trustee. The Trustee shall have and be subject to all the duties and responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities, unless offered indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it by the holder against the losses, damages, costs, expense and liabilities which might be incurred thereby.
Under the Trust Indenture Act, the Indenture is deemed to contain limitations on the right of the Trustee, should it become our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in some cases or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee may engage in other transactions with us. If it acquires any conflicting interest under the Trust Indenture Act relating to any of its duties with respect to the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as Trustee.
Governing Law
The Indenture, the debt securities and any related guarantees will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles of such State other than New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401.
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Notices
All notices to holders of debt securities shall be validly given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or delivered electronically pursuant to the applicable procedures of the depositary, to them at their respective addresses in the register maintained by the trustee.
Book-Entry Securities
The securities offered by means of this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement may be issued in whole or in part in book-entry form, meaning that beneficial owners of the securities may not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the securities, except in the event the book-entry system for the securities is discontinued. Securities issued in book-entry form will be evidenced by one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depository identified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual securities represented thereby, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository for the global security to a nominee of such depository or by a nominee of such depository to such depository or another nominee of such depository or by the depository or any nominee of such depository to a successor depository or a nominee of such successor. Global securities may be issued in registered form, in either temporary or permanent form. The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a class or series of securities that differ from the terms described here will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Delivery and Form
The notes of each series will be represented initially by one or more permanent notes of such series in registered, global form without interest coupons (the "global notes"). These global notes will be deposited upon issuance with the Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (the "depositary"), and registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee, in each case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant as described below. Except as set forth below, the global notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to the depositary, a nominee of the depositary or to a successor of the depositary or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the global notes may not be exchanged for notes in certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below. The Trustee will initially act as registrar.
Book-Entry Procedures
The Depository Trust Company. The depositary has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the "participants") and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of participants. The participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to the depositary's system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, "indirect participants"). Persons who are not participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of the depositary only through participants or indirect participants. The ownership interest and transfer of ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each security held by or on behalf of the depositary are recorded on the records of the participants and indirect participants.
The depositary also has advised us that pursuant to procedures established by it:
- •
- upon deposit of the global notes, the depositary will credit the accounts of participants designated by the underwriters with portions of the principal amount of global notes; and
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- •
- ownership of interests in the global notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary with respect to participants or by participants and the indirect participants with respect to other owners of beneficial interest in the global notes.
Investors in the global notes who are participants may hold their interests therein directly through the depositary. Investors in the global notes who are not participants may hold their interests therein indirectly through organizations (including Euroclear and Clearstream) which are participants. All interests in a global note, including those held through Euroclear or Clearstream, may be subject to the procedures and requirements of the depositary. Those interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream may also be subject to the procedures and requirements of such systems. The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interest in a global note to such persons may be limited to that extent. Because the depositary can act only on behalf of participants, which in turn act on behalf of indirect participants, the ability of a person having a beneficial interest in a global note to pledge such interest to persons or entities that do not participate in the depositary system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of physical certificate evidencing such interests.
Except as described below, owners of interests in the global notes will not have notes registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of notes in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or holders thereof under the Indenture for any purpose.
Payments in respect of the principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on a global note registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee will be payable by the paying agent to the depositary or its nominee in its capacity as the registered holder of a global note under the Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, we and the Trustee will treat the persons in whose names the global notes are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever.
Consequently, neither we, the Trustee, nor any of our respective agents have or will have any responsibility or liability for:
- •
- any aspect of the depositary's records or any participant's or indirect participant's records relating to, or payments made on account of,
beneficial ownership interests in the global notes, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the depositary's records or any participant's or indirect participant's records relating to the
beneficial ownership interests in the global notes; or
- •
- any other matter relating to the actions and practices of the depositary or any of its participants or indirect participants.
The depositary has advised us that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant participants with the payment on the payment date, unless the depositary has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on such payment date, in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interests in the relevant security, such as the global notes, as shown on the records of the depositary. Payments by participants and the indirect participants to the beneficial owners of notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of the participants or the indirect participants, and will not be the responsibility of the depositary, the Trustee or us. Neither we nor the Trustee will be liable for any delay by the depositary or its participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the notes, and we and the Trustee may rely conclusively on and will be protected in relying on instructions from the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of the global notes for all purposes.
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If less than all of the global notes of a series are being redeemed, the depositary's practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each participant in such global notes to be redeemed.
Interests in the global notes will trade in the depositary's same-day funds settlement system, and secondary market trading activity in such interest will, therefore, settle in immediately available funds, subject in all cases to the rules and procedures of the depositary and its participants. Transfers between participants in the depositary will be effective in accordance with the depositary's procedures and will be settled in same-day funds.
The depositary has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account the interests in the global notes are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the notes as to which such participant or participants has or have given direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the notes of a series, the depositary reserves the right to exchange such notes for legended notes in certificated form, and to distribute such notes to its participants.
Clearstream. Clearstream Banking S.A. ("Clearstream") is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations ("Clearstream Participants") and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides Clearstream Participants with, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and establishment of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly.
Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures to the extent received by the depositary for Clearstream.
Euroclear. Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. ("Euroclear") was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear ("Euroclear Participants") and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several markets in several countries. Euroclear operates its system under contract with Euroclear plc, a U.K. corporation. All operations are conducted by Euroclear, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with Euroclear, not Euroclear plc. Euroclear plc establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.
Euroclear is a Belgian bank. As such, it is regulated by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission.
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Links have been established among the depositary, Clearstream and Euroclear to facilitate the initial issuance of the notes sold outside the United States and cross-market transfers of the notes associated with secondary market trading.
Although the depositary, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the procedures provided below in order to facilitate transfers, they are under no obligation to perform these procedures, and these procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time.
Clearstream and Euroclear will record the ownership interests of their participants in much the same way as the depositary, and the depositary will record the total ownership of each of the U.S. agents of Clearstream and Euroclear, as participants in the depositary. When notes are to be transferred from the account of a depositary participant to the account of a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant, the purchaser must send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a participant at least one day prior to settlement. Clearstream or Euroclear, as the case may be, will instruct its U.S. agent to receive notes against payment. After settlement, Clearstream or Euroclear will credit its participant's account. Credit for the notes will appear on the next day (European time).
Because settlement is taking place during New York business hours, depositary participants will be able to employ their usual procedures for sending notes to the relevant U.S. agent acting for the benefit of Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the depositary seller on the settlement date. As a result, to the depositary participant, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two depositary participants.
When a Clearstream Participant or Euroclear Participant wishes to transfer notes to a depositary participant, the seller will be required to send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a participant at least one business day prior to settlement. In these cases, Clearstream or Euroclear will instruct its U.S. agent to transfer these notes against payment for them. The payment will then be reflected in the account of the Clearstream Participant or Euroclear Participant the following day, with the proceeds back valued to the value date, which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York. If settlement is not completed on the intended value date, that is, the trade fails, proceeds credited to the Clearstream Participant's or Euroclear Participant's account will instead be valued as of the actual settlement date.
You should be aware that you will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes through Clearstream and Euroclear on the days when those clearing systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time zone differences there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States.
The information in this section concerning the depositary, Clearstream and Euroclear and their book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but neither we nor any underwriter takes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness thereof. None of us, the underwriters or the Trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by the depositary, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes
A global note is exchangeable for definitive notes in registered certificated form of the same series:
- •
- if the depositary: (i) notifies us that it is unwilling or unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for the global note or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, and we thereupon fail to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after this notice; or
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- •
- upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default under the Indenture in respect of the notes of such series; or
- •
- if we, at our option and subject to the procedures of the depositary, notify the Trustee in writing that we elect to cause issuance of such notes in certificated form.
In addition, beneficial interests in a global note may be exchanged for certificated notes of the same series upon request but only upon at least 30 days' prior written notice given to the Trustee by or on behalf of the depositary in accordance with customary procedures. In all cases, certificated notes delivered in exchange for any global note or beneficial interest therein will be registered in names, and issued of the same series in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).
Exchange of Certificated Notes for Global Notes
Certificated notes, if any, may be exchanged for beneficial interests in global notes.
Description of Preferred Stock
The following is a description of the material terms and provisions of our preferred stock. It may not contain all of the information that is important to you. Therefore, you should read our charter and bylaws before you purchase any shares of our preferred stock.
General
Under our charter, AvalonBay is authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which are currently outstanding.
Shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time, in one or more series, as authorized by our board of directors. Prior to the issuance of shares of each series, the board of directors is required by the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter to fix for each series, subject to the provisions of the charter regarding excess stock, the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption, as are permitted by Maryland law. The preferred stock will, when issued following the receipt of full consideration therefor, be fully paid and nonassessable and will have no preemptive rights. Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transactions that holders of common stock might believe to be in their best interests or in which holders of some, or a majority, of the shares of common stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then market price of such shares of common stock.
Terms
You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of a series of preferred stock for the specific terms of that series, including:
- •
- its title and stated value;
- •
- the number of shares of preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share, if applicable, and the offering price;
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- the applicable dividend rate(s) or amount(s), period(s) and payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation thereof;
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- the date from which dividends on the preferred stock shall accumulate, if applicable;
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- any procedures for auction and remarketing;
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- •
- any provision for a sinking fund;
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- any applicable provision for redemption;
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- any securities exchange listing;
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- the terms and conditions of conversion into common stock, including the conversion price or rate or manner of calculation thereof;
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- any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions;
- •
- a discussion of applicable federal income tax considerations;
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- the relative ranking and preference as to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or the winding up of our affairs;
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- any limitations on issuance of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with such series of preferred stock as to
dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or the winding up of our affairs; and
- •
- any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve our status as a REIT.
Rank
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred stock will, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, rank:
- •
- senior to all classes and series of our common stock, and to all equity securities ranking junior to such preferred stock with respect to
dividend rights or rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;
- •
- on a parity with all equity securities issued by us, the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank on a parity with
the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights or rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and
- •
- junior to all equity securities issued by us, the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights or rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs.
The term "equity securities" does not include convertible debt securities.
Dividends
Holders of the preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive cash dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors. We will pay dividends out of assets that are legally available for payment of dividends. We will specify the rate(s) or amount(s) of dividends and the dates that we will pay dividends in the applicable prospectus supplement. Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear on our stock transfer books on such record dates as fixed by our board of directors.
Dividends on any series of the preferred stock may be cumulative or non-cumulative, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Dividends, if cumulative, will be cumulative from and after the date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If our board of directors fails to declare a dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any series of the preferred stock for which dividends are non-cumulative, then the holders of that series of the preferred stock will have no right to receive a dividend in respect of the dividend period ending on that dividend payment date. Accordingly, we will
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have no obligation to pay the dividend accrued for that period, whether or not dividends on that series are declared payable on any future dividend payment date.
If preferred stock of any series is outstanding, we will not declare, pay or set aside funds to pay dividends on any other series of our stock ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the preferred stock of such series for any period unless:
- •
- if that series of preferred stock has a cumulative dividend, we have declared and paid or contemporaneously declare and pay or set aside funds
to pay full cumulative dividends on the preferred stock of such series for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period; or
- •
- if that series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, we have declared and paid or contemporaneously declare and pay or set aside funds to pay full dividends on the preferred stock of such series for the then current dividend period.
We must declare all dividends pro rata on all series of preferred stock that rank on a parity with the series of preferred stock upon which we paid dividends if we did not pay or set aside funds to pay dividends on the series of preferred stock in full. We must declare dividends pro rata to ensure that the amount of dividends declared per share of preferred stock bears in all cases the same ratio that accrued dividends per share of preferred stock bears to each other. We will not accumulate unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods with respect to accrued dividends on preferred stock that does not have cumulative dividends. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any payments that may be in arrears.
Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, unless:
- •
- if such series of preferred stock has a cumulative dividend, we have declared and paid or contemporaneously declare and pay or set aside funds
to pay full cumulative dividends for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period; or
- •
- if such series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, we have declared and paid or contemporaneously declare and pay or set aside funds to pay full dividends for the then current dividend period,
we will not: (1) declare, pay or set aside funds to pay dividends or declare or make any other distribution upon the common stock or any other shares of our stock ranking junior to or on a parity with the preferred stock of such series as to dividends or upon liquidation; (2) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for any consideration any common stock, or any other shares of our stock ranking junior to or on a parity with the preferred stock of such series as to dividends; nor (3) pay any monies to or make any monies available for a sinking fund to redeem any such shares, except by conversion into or exchange for other shares of our capital stock ranking junior to the preferred stock of such series as to dividends or liquidation. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, we may declare or set aside dividends in common stock or other shares of stock ranking junior to the preferred stock of such series as to dividends and upon liquidation.
Any dividend payment we make on a series of preferred stock shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to shares of such series which remains payable.
Redemption
If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred stock will be subject to mandatory redemption or redemption at our option, in whole or in part, upon the terms, at the times and at the redemption prices set forth in the prospectus supplement.
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The prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock that is subject to mandatory redemption will specify the number of shares that will be redeemed in each year commencing after a specified date at a specified redemption price per share, together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of redemption. Unless the shares have a cumulative dividend, such accrued dividends will not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods. We may pay the redemption price in cash or other property, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the redemption price for preferred stock of any series is payable only from the net proceeds of the issuance of shares of our stock, the terms of such preferred stock may provide that, if no such shares of our stock have been issued or to the extent the net proceeds from any issuance are insufficient to pay in full the aggregate redemption price then due, such preferred stock will automatically and mandatorily convert into the applicable shares of our stock under the conversion provisions specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will not redeem any preferred stock of a series unless:
- •
- if that series of preferred stock has a cumulative dividend, we have declared and paid or contemporaneously declare and pay or set aside funds
to pay full cumulative dividends on the preferred stock for the past and current dividend periods; or
- •
- if that series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, we have declared and paid or contemporaneously declare and pay or set aside funds to pay full dividends on the preferred stock for the current dividend period.
However, in no case will we redeem any preferred stock of a series unless we redeem all outstanding preferred stock of the series simultaneously.
In addition, except as described below, we will not acquire any preferred stock of a series unless:
- •
- if that series of preferred stock has a cumulative dividend, we have declared and paid or contemporaneously declare and pay or set aside funds
to pay full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of such series of preferred stock for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period; or
- •
- if that series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, we have declared and paid or contemporaneously declare and pay or set aside funds to pay full dividends on the preferred stock of such series for the then current dividend period.
However, at any time we may purchase or acquire preferred stock of that series (1) to preserve our status as a REIT, (2) in accordance with a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding preferred stock of such series or (3) by conversion into or exchange for shares of our capital stock ranking junior to the preferred stock of such series as to dividends and upon liquidation.
If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of preferred stock of any series are to be redeemed, we will determine the number of shares that may be redeemed pro rata from the holders of record of such shares in proportion to the number of such shares held or for which redemption is requested by such holder or by any other equitable manner that we determine. Such determination will reflect adjustments to avoid redemption of fractional shares.
We will mail notice of redemption at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of record of preferred stock to be redeemed at the address shown on our stock transfer books. Each notice shall state:
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- the redemption date;
- •
- the number of shares and series to be redeemed;
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- •
- the redemption price;
- •
- the place or places where certificates are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price;
- •
- that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue from and after the redemption date;
- •
- the date upon which the holder's conversion rights, if any, as to the shares shall terminate; and
- •
- the specific number of shares to be redeemed from each the holder if fewer than all the shares of any series are to be redeemed.
If notice of redemption has been given and we have set aside the funds necessary for the redemption in trust for the benefit of the holders of any shares so called for redemption, then from and after the redemption date, dividends will cease to accrue on those shares, and all rights of the holders of such shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price.
Liquidation preference
Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, then, before we make any distribution or payment to the holders of any common stock or any other class or series of our capital stock ranking junior to the preferred stock in the distribution of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, out of assets legally available for distribution to stockholders, liquidating distributions in the amount of the liquidation preference per share set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon. Such dividends will not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid noncumulative dividends for prior dividend periods. After full payment of their liquidating distributions, holders will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if our available assets are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding preferred stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all other classes or series of our capital stock ranking on a parity with the preferred stock in the distribution of assets, then the holders of the preferred stock and all other such classes or series of capital stock will share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be entitled.
Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up and if we have made liquidating distributions in full to all holders of preferred stock, we will distribute our remaining assets among the holders of any other classes or series of capital stock ranking junior to the preferred stock according to their respective rights and preferences and, in each case, according to their respective number of shares. For such purposes, our consolidation or merger with or into any other corporation, trust or entity, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of our assets or business will not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs.
Voting rights
Holders of preferred stock will have no voting rights, except as described in the next paragraph, as otherwise from time to time required by law or as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise provided for any series of preferred stock, so long as any preferred stock of a series remains outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the preferred stock of such series outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting with each of such series voting separately as a class:
- •
- authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of shares of capital stock ranking senior to such series of preferred stock with respect to payment of
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- •
- amend, alter or repeal the provisions of our charter or the amendment to our charter designating the terms for such series of preferred stock, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of such series of preferred stock or the holders thereof.
dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or reclassify any of our authorized shares of capital stock into such shares, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or
The occurrence of any of the events described above in the immediately preceding bullet shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting power of holders of preferred stock, provided that, the preferred stock remains outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged, or, if we are not the surviving entity in such transaction, the preferred stock is exchanged for a security of a surviving entity with terms that are materially the same as the preferred stock. In addition, any increase in the amount of (1) authorized preferred stock or the creation or issuance of any other series of preferred stock, or (2) authorized shares of such series or any other series of preferred stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the preferred stock of such series with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.
The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required will be effected, we have redeemed or called for redemption all outstanding shares of such series of preferred stock and, if called for redemption, have deposited sufficient funds in trust to effect such redemption.
Conversion rights
The terms and conditions upon which any series of preferred stock may be convertible into common stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering of the series of preferred stock. Such terms will include the number of shares of common stock into which the shares of preferred stock are convertible, the conversion price, rate or manner of calculation thereof, the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at our option or at the holders' option, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of the redemption.
Restrictions on ownership
For us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, no more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by or for five or fewer individuals at any time during the last half of a taxable year. To assist us in meeting this requirement, we may take actions to limit the beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, by a single person of our outstanding equity securities, including any of our preferred stock. Therefore, the amendment to our charter designating each series of preferred stock may contain provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of the preferred stock. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify any additional ownership limitation relating to a series of preferred stock. See "Limits on Ownership of Stock."
Transfer agent
The transfer agent and registrar for the preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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The following is a description of the material terms and provisions of our common stock. You should read our charter and bylaws in their entirety before you purchase any shares of our common stock.
General
Under our charter, we have authority to issue 280,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share. Under Maryland law, stockholders generally are not responsible for our debts or obligations. As of January 31, 2018, we had 138,095,504 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "AVB."
Dividends
Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock and to the provisions of our charter regarding excess stock, which are described below, holders of shares of our common stock will be entitled to receive dividends on shares of common stock out of assets that we may legally use to pay dividends, if and when they are authorized and declared by our board of directors.
Voting rights
Except as otherwise required by law and except as provided by the terms of any other class or series of stock, holders of common stock have the exclusive power to vote on all matters presented to our stockholders, including the election of directors. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share. There is no cumulative voting in the election of our directors, and, subject to any rights to elect directors that are granted to the holders of any class or series of preferred stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding shares of common stock is required to elect a director.
Liquidation/dissolution rights
Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock and to the provisions of our charter regarding excess stock, holders of shares of our common stock share in the same proportion as our other stockholders in the assets that we may legally use to pay distributions in the event we are liquidated, dissolved or our affairs are wound up after we pay or make adequate provision for all of our known debts and liabilities.
Other rights
Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock and to provisions of our charter regarding excess stock, all shares of our common stock have equal dividend, distribution, liquidation and other rights, and have no preference, appraisal or exchange rights. Furthermore, holders of shares of our common stock have no conversion, sinking fund or redemption rights, or preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities.
Under Maryland law, a 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, unless a different percentage is set forth in the corporation's charter, which percentage shall not in any event be less than a majority of all of the shares entitled to vote on such matter. Our charter provides that whenever any vote of the holders of voting stock is required to amend or repeal any provision of the charter, then in addition to any other vote of the holders of voting stock that is required by the charter, (1) the affirmative vote of the
47
holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class, and (2) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class are required. However, with respect to the amendment or repeal of any of the provisions of our charter relating to the resignation or removal of directors, vacancies on the board of directors, independent directors, the rights and powers of our company, the board of directors and officers, and the limitation of liability of directors and officers, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class, and the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class, shall be required.
Restrictions on ownership
For us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, no more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by or for five or fewer individuals at any time during the last half of a taxable year. To assist us in meeting this requirement, we may take actions such as the automatic conversion of shares in excess of this ownership restriction into shares of excess stock to limit the beneficial ownership of our outstanding equity securities, directly or indirectly, by one individual. See "Limits on Ownership of Stock."
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A., New York, New York.
Ownership limits
For us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, among other things, no more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by or for five or fewer individuals at any time during the last half of a taxable year. Additionally, the shares of our capital stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. To protect us against the risk of losing our status as a REIT due to a concentration of ownership among our stockholders, and to otherwise address concerns related to concentrated ownership of capital stock, our charter provides that no person may own (directly, indirectly by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, or beneficially under Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) more than 9.8% of any class or series of our stock (15% for some entities as described below). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the board of directors at its option and in its sole discretion may approve ownership greater than the applicable ownership limitation by selected persons or entities. Our board of directors does not expect that it would waive the applicable ownership limit unless the board of directors receives evidence to its satisfaction that the waiver of the limit will not jeopardize our status as a REIT, and the board of directors also decides that the waiver is in our stockholders' best interests. Any transfer of shares of stock, including any security convertible into shares of stock, shall be void and have no effect if it: (1) would create a direct or indirect ownership of shares of stock in excess of the applicable ownership limit, absent a valid waiver of this ownership limit or (2) would result in our disqualification as a REIT, including any transfer that would (a) result in the shares of stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons, (b) result in us being "closely held" within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code or (c) result in us constructively owning 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code. In addition, if any purported transfer of stock or any other event would otherwise result in any person violating the applicable ownership limit, then the purported transfer will be void and of no force or effect with respect to the intended transferee as to that number of shares in excess of the
48
ownership limit. The intended transferee will acquire no right or interest in the excess shares; or, in the case of any event other than a purported transfer, the person holding record title to any shares in excess of the ownership limit shall cease to own any right or interest in the excess shares. In both cases, neither the intended transferee nor the person holding record title to any shares in excess of the ownership limit shall have any right to: (1) transfer or otherwise dispose of the excess stock, (2) vote the excess stock or (3) receive any dividend or distribution paid with respect to the excess stock, as further explained below.
Under the Code, some types of entities, which includes pension plans described in Section 401(a) of the Code and mutual funds registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, will be looked through for purposes of the five or fewer test described above. Our charter limits these pension plans and mutual funds to owning no more than 15% of any class or series of our stock.
Shares owned in excess of the ownership limit
Stock owned, or deemed to be owned, or proposed to be transferred to a stockholder in excess of the ownership limit will be converted automatically into shares of excess stock and will be transferred, by operation of law, to a trust, the beneficiary of which shall be a qualified charitable organization selected by us. As soon as practicable after the transfer of shares to the trust, the trustee of the trust will be required to sell the shares of excess stock to a person who could own the shares without violating the ownership limit and distribute to the proposed transferee an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the price paid by the proposed transferee for the shares of excess stock or (2) the sales proceeds received by the trust for the shares of excess stock. In the case of any excess stock resulting from any event other than a transfer, or from a transfer for no consideration (such as a gift), the trustee will be required to sell the excess stock to a qualified person or entity and distribute to the person holding record title to the shares in excess of the ownership limit an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the fair market value of the excess stock as of the date of the event or (B) the sales proceeds received by the trust for the excess stock. In either case, any proceeds in excess of the amount distributable to the proposed transferee or person holding record title to the shares in excess of the ownership limit, as applicable, will be distributed to the beneficiary of the trust.
Upon the transfer of shares of excess stock by the trustee, the shares shall be converted automatically into an equal number of shares of the same class and series that were converted into the excess stock, and the shares of excess stock will be automatically retired and canceled and will thereupon be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of excess stock. Prior to a sale of any excess stock by the trustee, the trustee will be entitled to receive in trust for the beneficiary, all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to the excess stock. In addition, while the shares of excess stock are held in trust, the holder of shares will not be entitled to vote such shares, except when Maryland law mandates class voting rights. In the event voting rights are mandated by Maryland law, the trustee shall be entitled to vote the shares of excess stock.
Neither the proposed transferee nor any person holding record title to any excess stock shall have any right to receive any dividend or distribution paid with respect to the excess stock. Any dividend or distribution paid on excess stock prior to discovery by us of the violation of the applicable ownership limit shall be repaid to us. In addition, neither the proposed transferee nor any person holding record title to any excess stock shall have any voting rights with respect to the excess stock. Any vote of any excess stock prior to discovery by us of the violation of the applicable ownership limit shall, subject to applicable law, be rescinded and deemed void and shall be recast by the trustee acting for the benefit of the beneficiary; provided, however, that such vote shall not be rescinded and recast if we have already taken irreversible corporate action. Shares of excess stock are not treasury stock, but rather constitute a separate class of issued and outstanding stock.
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Right to purchase excess stock
In addition to the foregoing transfer restrictions, we have the right for a period of 90 days to purchase all or any portion of the excess stock from the proposed transferee or any person holding record title to any excess stock for a price per share equal to the lesser of:
- (1)
- the
price per share initially paid for the stock by the proposed transferee or, in the case of excess stock resulting from any event other than a transfer or from a
transfer for no consideration (such as a gift), the average of the closing price per share for the class of shares from which the shares of excess stock were converted for the five consecutive trading
days ending on the date of such event or transfer, as applicable; or
- (2)
- the average closing price per share for the class or series of shares from which the shares of excess stock were converted for the five consecutive trading days ending on the date we elect to purchase the shares.
The 90-day period begins on the date of the purported transfer or non-transfer event that violated the applicable ownership limit if the proposed transferee or person holding record title to any excess stock gives notice to us of the transfer or non-transfer event, as applicable, or if no notice is given, the date our board of directors determines that such a transfer has been made or such a non-transfer event has occurred.
General
The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT. The board may, in its sole discretion, waive the ownership limits if evidence is presented that such ownership of shares in excess of the ownership limit will not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT and the board otherwise decides in its sole discretion that such action is in our stockholders' best interest.
Our stockholders are required to disclose to us in writing any information with respect to their ownership of our stock that we may request in order to determine our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limits.
The ownership limits may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our company.
Federal Income Tax Considerations and Consequences of Your Investment
The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to (i) our qualification as a REIT, (ii) the ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock, and (iii) the ownership and disposition of certain of our debt securities. If we offer shares of preferred stock or debt securities pursuant to the prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of those shares of preferred stock or, to the extent not discussed below, debt securities.
Because this is a summary that is intended to address only certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations that generally will apply to all holders relating to (i) the ownership and disposition of our common stock, and (ii) the ownership and disposition of our debt securities, it may not contain all the information that may be important to you. As you review this discussion, you should keep in mind that:
- •
- the tax consequences to you may vary depending on your particular tax situation;
- •
- special rules that are not discussed below may apply to you if, for example, you are a tax-exempt organization, a broker-dealer, a non-U.S. person, a trust, an estate, a regulated investment
50
- •
- except to a limited extent noted below, this summary does not address state, local or non-U.S. tax considerations;
- •
- this summary deals only with common stock and debt securities held as "capital assets" within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code;
- •
- with respect to the debt securities, this summary addresses only fixed rate debt securities issued by us without original issue discount, or
OID (as defined below), and does not deal with holders other than those who purchase the debt securities on original issuance at the initial offering price
(i.e., the first price at which a substantial portion of the debt securities is sold to persons other than bond houses, brokers, or similar
persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers); and
- •
- this discussion is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, tax advice.
company, a real estate investment trust, a financial institution, an insurance company, a pass-through entity or investor in such entities, a person holding shares of our common stock and/or our debt securities as part of a short sale, hedge, conversion, straddle, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a non-corporate taxpayer subject to the alternative minimum tax, a "controlled foreign corporation," a "passive foreign investment company," a person eligible for benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party, a U.S. expatriate, a U.S. stockholder whose "functional currency" (as defined in Section 985 of the Code) is not the U.S. dollar, or otherwise subject to special tax treatment under the Code;
The information in this section is based on the current Code, applicable Treasury Regulations, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), including its practices and policies as endorsed in private letter rulings, which are not binding on the IRS except in the case of the taxpayer to whom a private letter ruling is addressed, and existing court decisions. Those authorities may be changed, possibly retroactively, or may be subject to differing interpretations, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those summarized below. Thus, it is possible that the IRS could challenge the statements in this discussion, which do not bind the IRS or the courts, and a court could agree with the IRS. The following discussion describes the tax rules applicable to REITs as in effect as of the date of this prospectus and, with limited exceptions, does not address any rules that may have applied to us during prior periods.
You are urged both to review the following discussion and to consult with your own tax advisor to determine the effect of (i) ownership and disposition of our common stock and/or (ii) ownership and disposition of our debt securities on your individual tax situation, including any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences.
Taxation of AvalonBay as a REIT
We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code. A REIT generally is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on the income that it distributes to stockholders if it meets the applicable REIT distribution requirements and other requirements for qualification.
We believe that we are organized and have operated, and we intend to continue to operate, in a manner allowing us to qualify as a REIT, but there can be no assurance that we have qualified or will remain qualified as a REIT. Qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet, through actual annual (or in some cases quarterly) operating results, requirements relating to income, asset ownership, distribution levels and diversity of share ownership, and the various other REIT qualification requirements imposed under the Code, as in effect for each applicable taxable period. Given the complex nature of the REIT qualification requirements, the ongoing importance of factual
51
determinations (including with respect to matters that we may not control or for which it is not possible to obtain all the relevant facts) and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, we cannot provide any assurance that our actual operating results have satisfied or will satisfy the requirements for taxation as a REIT under the Code for any particular taxable year.
Goodwin Procter LLP has acted as our tax counsel in connection with this registration statement. Goodwin Procter LLP is of the opinion that commencing with our taxable year ended on December 31, 1994, our form of organization and our prior, current, and proposed ownership and operations (as represented by us to Goodwin Procter LLP) are such as to have enabled us to qualify and continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code. This opinion has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Goodwin Procter LLP's opinion is based on representations made by us as to certain factual matters relating to our prior and intended and expected organization, ownership and method of operation. Goodwin Procter LLP has not verified those representations, and their opinion assumes that such representations and covenants are accurate and complete, that we have been owned, organized and operated and will continue to be owned, organized and will continue to operate in accordance with such representations and that we will take no action inconsistent with our status as a REIT. In addition, this opinion is based on the law existing and in effect as of its date. Our qualification and taxation as a REIT will depend on our ability to have met and to meet on a continuing basis, through actual operating results, the asset composition, distribution levels, diversity of share ownership and various other qualification tests imposed under the Code discussed below. Goodwin Procter LLP has not verified and will not verify our compliance with these tests on a continuing basis. Accordingly, the opinion of our tax counsel does not guarantee our ability to qualify as or remain qualified as a REIT, and no assurance can be given that we have satisfied and will satisfy such tests for our taxable year ended December 31, 1994 or for any subsequent period. Also, the opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP is not binding on the IRS, or any court, and could be subject to modification or withdrawal based on future legislative, judicial or administrative changes to U.S. federal income tax laws, any of which could be applied retroactively. Goodwin Procter LLP will have no obligation to advise us or the holders of our stock or debt of any subsequent change in the matters addressed in its opinion, the factual representations or assumptions on which the conclusions in the opinion are based, or of any subsequent change in applicable law.
So long as we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our net income that is distributed currently to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates "double taxation" (that is, taxation at both the corporate and stockholder levels) that generally results from an investment in a corporation. However, even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as follows:
- •
- We will be subject to regular U.S. federal corporate income tax on any undistributed "REIT taxable income." REIT taxable income is the taxable
income of the REIT, subject to specified adjustments, including a deduction for dividends paid.
- •
- If we have net income from the sale or other disposition of "foreclosure property" that is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary
course of business, or other nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest U.S. federal corporate rate on this income.
- •
- Our net income from "prohibited transactions" will be subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property (other than foreclosure property) held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business unless such property has been held by us for two years or more and certain other requirements are satisfied.
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- •
- If we fail to satisfy either the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test discussed below, but nonetheless maintain our qualification
as a REIT because other requirements are met, we will be subject to a tax equal to the greater of (1) the amount by which 75% of our gross income exceeds the amount of our income qualifying
under the 75% gross income test for the taxable year or (2) the amount by which 95% of our gross income exceeds the amount of our income qualifying for the 95% gross income test for the taxable
year, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.
- •
- If we fail to satisfy any of the asset tests (other than a failure of the 5% or 10% asset tests by a de minimis amount) and we qualify for and
satisfy certain cure provisions, then we will have to pay an excise tax equal to the greater of (1) $50,000 and (2) an amount determined by multiplying (x) the net income
generated during a specified period by the assets that caused the failure by (y) the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate.
- •
- If we fail to satisfy any REIT requirements other than the income test or asset test requirements and we qualify for a reasonable cause
exception, then we may retain our REIT qualification, but we will have to pay a penalty equal to $50,000 for each such failure.
- •
- We will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distributions over the sum of amounts actually distributed
and amounts retained for which U.S. federal income tax was paid, if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of:
- (1)
- 85%
of our REIT ordinary income for the year;
- (2)
- 95%
of our REIT capital gain net income for the year; and
- (3)
- any
undistributed taxable income from prior taxable years.
- •
- We will be subject to a 100% penalty tax on some payments we receive (or on certain expenses deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary) if
arrangements among us and our taxable REIT subsidiaries are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties.
- •
- If we should acquire any asset from a "C" corporation in a carry-over basis transaction and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition
of such asset during the applicable recognition period (currently, 5 years) beginning on the date on which we acquired the asset, then, to the extent of any built-in gain, such gain will be
subject to tax at the highest regular U.S. federal corporate income tax rate. Built-in gain is the excess of (x) the fair market value of the asset as of the beginning of the applicable
recognition period over (y) the adjusted basis in such asset as of the beginning of such recognition period.
- •
- Income earned by our taxable REIT subsidiaries (other than any non-U.S. taxable REIT subsidiaries) will be subject to regular U.S. federal
corporate income tax.
- •
- We may be required to pay penalties to the IRS in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet recordkeeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of our shareholders.
Requirements for qualification as a REIT. We elected to be taxable as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our taxable year ended December 31, 1994 and for all subsequent taxable years. In order to have so qualified, we must have met and continue to meet the requirements discussed below (or as in effect for prior years), relating to our organization, ownership, sources of income, nature of assets and distributions of income to stockholders.
The discussion below summarizes current law except where expressly noted otherwise. We do not believe any differences between the current requirements for qualification as a REIT and the requirements in effect for any prior year have prevented us from qualifying as a REIT for any period.
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The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:
- 1.
- that
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.
- that
would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code;
- 4.
- that
is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to applicable 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 shares of which is owned during the last half of each taxable year, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer
individuals, as defined in the Code to include specified entities;
- 7.
- that
makes an election to be taxable as a REIT, or has made this election for a previous taxable year which has not been revoked or terminated, and satisfies all
relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS that must be met to elect and maintain REIT status;
- 8.
- that
uses a calendar year for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and
- 9.
- that meets other applicable tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions.
Conditions (1), (2), (3) and (4) above must be met during the entire taxable year and condition (5) above must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. For purposes of determining stock ownership under condition (6) above, a supplemental unemployment compensation benefits plan, a private foundation and a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes generally are each considered an individual. A trust that is a qualified trust under Code Section 401(a) generally is not considered an individual, and beneficiaries of a qualified trust generally are treated as holding shares of a REIT in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for purposes of condition (6) above.
We believe that we have issued sufficient shares of common stock with sufficient diversity of ownership to allow us to satisfy conditions (5) and (6) above. In addition, our charter contains restrictions regarding the transfer of shares of our stock that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will be able to satisfy these share ownership requirements.
To monitor its compliance with condition (6) above, a REIT is required to send annual letters to its stockholders requesting information regarding the actual ownership of its shares. If we comply with the annual letters requirement and we do not know or, exercising reasonable diligence, would not have known of our failure to meet condition (6) above, then we will be treated as having met condition (6) above. Failure to comply with such requirements could subject us to monetary penalties.
To qualify as a REIT, we also cannot have at the end of any taxable year any undistributed earnings and profits that are attributable to a non-REIT taxable year. We do not believe that we have retained any non-REIT earnings and profits at year-end and therefore believe that we satisfy this requirement.
Qualified REIT Subsidiaries. If a REIT owns a corporate subsidiary that is a "qualified REIT subsidiary," the separate existence of that subsidiary will be disregarded for U.S. federal income tax
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purposes. Generally, a qualified REIT subsidiary is a corporation, other than a taxable REIT subsidiary (discussed below), all of the stock of which is owned by the REIT. All assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the qualified REIT subsidiary will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the REIT itself. A qualified REIT subsidiary of ours will not be subject to federal corporate income taxation, although it may be subject to state and local taxation in some states.
Taxable REIT Subsidiaries. A "taxable REIT subsidiary" of ours is a corporation in which we directly or indirectly own stock and that elects, together with us, to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary under Section 856(l) of the Code. In addition, if one of our taxable REIT subsidiaries owns, directly or indirectly, securities representing more than 35% or more of the vote or value of a subsidiary corporation, that subsidiary will also be treated as our taxable REIT subsidiary. A taxable REIT subsidiary is a corporation subject to U.S. federal income tax, and state and local income tax where applicable, as a regular "C" corporation.
Generally, a taxable REIT subsidiary can perform some impermissible tenant services without causing us to receive impermissible tenant services income under the REIT income tests. A taxable REIT subsidiary also can recognize income that would be subject to the 100% prohibited transaction tax, or income that would be nonqualifying income under the gross income tests, if earned by a REIT. However, several provisions regarding the arrangements between a REIT and its taxable REIT subsidiaries ensure that a taxable REIT subsidiary will be subject to an appropriate level of U.S. federal income tax. For example, we will be obligated to pay a 100% penalty tax on some payments that we receive or on certain expenses deducted by the taxable REIT subsidiary if the economic arrangements among us, our tenants and the taxable REIT subsidiary are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties.
Subsidiary REITs. We may from time to time own interests in other entities that intend to qualify as REITs for federal income tax purposes. If any such entity in which we own an interest fails to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, that failure could, depending on the circumstances, adversely affect our ability to satisfy the various asset and gross income requirements applicable to REITs, including the requirement that REITs generally may not own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the securities of another corporation that is not a REIT or a taxable REIT subsidiary, as further described below.
Ownership of Partnership Interests by a REIT. A REIT that is a partner in a partnership (or a member in a limited liability company or other entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and will be deemed to earn its proportionate share of the partnership's income for purposes of the REIT asset and income tests described below. The assets and gross income of the partnership retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of these tests. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of gross income of any entity taxable as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which we hold an interest will be treated as our assets and liabilities and our items of income for purposes of applying the REIT qualification requirements described in this prospectus. The assets, liabilities and items of income of any partnership in which we own an interest include such entity's share of the assets and liabilities and items of income with respect to any partnership in which it holds an interest.
The assets of one of our joint ventures with Equity Residential include indirect interests in partnerships controlled by Equity Residential, and thus for purposes of our compliance with the REIT asset and gross income requirements we will be treated as owning our proportionate share of the assets and as receiving our proportionate share of gross income of the Equity Residential partnerships in which the joint venture has an interest. Although Equity Residential has agreed to operate those partnerships in compliance with the REIT requirements, we cannot assure you that such Equity
55
Residential partnerships will be operated in compliance with the REIT requirements. Failure by those partnerships to comply with the REIT requirements could potentially jeopardize our REIT status.
The discussion above does not apply to our interest in any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If an entity that we treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes was determined instead to be taxed as a corporation, we could fail one or more of the REIT income and asset tests described below. Generally, a domestic unincorporated entity with two or more owners is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless it affirmatively elects to be treated as a corporation. However, certain "publicly traded partnerships" are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A "publicly traded partnership" is any partnership (i) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or (ii) the interests in which are readily tradable on a "secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof." However, under the relevant Treasury Regulations, interests in a partnership will not be considered readily tradable on a secondary market or on the substantial equivalent of a secondary market if the partnership qualifies for specified "safe harbors," which are based on the specific facts and circumstances relating to the partnership. Moreover, certain publicly traded partnerships will avoid being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes if the partnership derives at least 90% of its gross income from certain specified sources of "qualifying income." We do not believe that any of our direct or indirect subsidiary partnerships should be treated as corporations under the publicly traded partnership rules. However, a contrary determination could prevent us from qualifying as a REIT.
Under the Code, a partnership that is not treated as a corporation under the publicly traded partnership rules generally is not subject to U.S. federal income tax; instead, each partner is allocated its distributive share of the partnership's items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit and is required to take such items into account in determining the partner's income. However, new rules applicable to federal income tax audits of partnerships effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, require the partnership to pay the hypothetical increase in partner-level taxes (including interest and penalties) resulting from an adjustment of partnership tax items on audit or in other tax proceedings, unless the partnership elects an alternative method under which the taxes resulting from the adjustment (and interest and penalties) are assessed at the partner level. It is possible that partnerships in which we directly and indirectly invest may be subject to U.S. federal income tax, interest and penalties in the event of a U.S. federal income tax audit as a result of these law changes.
Income Tests Applicable to REITs. To qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income tests annually. First, at least 75% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain other income and gains described below, for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including "rents from real property," gains on the disposition of real estate assets other than certain non-qualified debt instruments of publicly offered REITs, dividends paid by another REIT and interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, income and gain derived from foreclosure property, or from some types of temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain other income and gains described below, for each taxable year must be derived from any combination of income qualifying under the 75% test and dividends, interest, and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities.
Rents received by us will qualify as rents from real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests described above only if several conditions are met. First, the amount of rents from real property must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits derived by any person from such real property. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term "rents from real property" solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second, rents received from a "related party tenant" (as defined below) will not qualify as rents from real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests unless the tenant is a
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taxable REIT subsidiary and (1) at least 90% of the property is leased to unrelated tenants and the rent paid by the taxable REIT subsidiary is substantially comparable to the rent paid by the unrelated tenants for comparable space, or (2) the property leased to the taxable REIT subsidiary is a hotel or a health care facility and certain other requirements are satisfied. A tenant is a related party tenant if the REIT, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of the REIT, actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the tenant. Third, if rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease (determined based on the fair market value as of the beginning and end of the taxable year), then the portion of rent attributable to the personal property will not qualify as rents from real property.
Generally, for rents to qualify as rents from real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests, we may provide directly only an insignificant amount of services, unless those services are "customarily furnished or rendered" in connection with the rental of real property and not otherwise considered "rendered to the occupant." Accordingly, we may not provide "impermissible tenant services" to tenants (except through an independent contractor from whom we derive no income and that meets other requirements or through a taxable REIT subsidiary) without giving rise to "impermissible tenant service income." Impermissible tenant service income is deemed to be at least 150% of our direct cost of providing the service. If the impermissible tenant service income exceeds 1% of our total income from a property, then all of the income from that property will fail to qualify as rents from real property. If the total amount of impermissible tenant service income from a property does not exceed 1% of our total income from the property, the services will not "taint" the other income from the property (that is, it will not cause the rent paid by tenants of that property to fail to qualify as rents from real property), but the impermissible tenant service income will not qualify as rents from real property.
We have provided and expect to continue to provide services at our multifamily apartment communities. We believe that the services with respect to our communities that have been and will be provided by us directly are usually or customarily rendered in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise rendered to particular tenants, or, if considered impermissible tenant services, income from the provision of such services with respect to a given property has not and will not jeopardize our status as a REIT. We believe that any services with respect to our communities that may not be provided by us directly without jeopardizing our status as a REIT have been, and, if applicable, will continue to be, performed by independent contractors or taxable REIT subsidiaries.
Taxable dividends from a taxable REIT subsidiary and gain from a sale or other taxable disposition of interests in a taxable REIT subsidiary will qualify under the 95% income test, but not the 75% income test. Our need to satisfy the 75% income test may adversely affect our ability to distribute earnings from, or dispose of our investment in, a taxable REIT subsidiary.
We have earned and continue to earn amounts of nonqualifying income. For example, we earn fees related to the development and management of properties that are not wholly-owned by us. We believe that the amount of nonqualifying income generated from these and certain other activities has not affected and will not affect our ability to meet the gross income tests.
Any gain we realize on the sale of any property held as inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax, unless such property has been held by us for two years and certain other requirements are satisfied or the gain is realized in a taxable REIT subsidiary. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances of a particular transaction. We generally intend to hold our properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring, developing, owning and operating properties, and to make occasional sales of properties, consistent with our investment
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objectives. We cannot provide any assurance, however, that the IRS might not contend that one or more of these sales are subject to the 100% penalty tax. We intend to hold assets developed or held for sale in taxable REIT subsidiaries. Although a taxable REIT subsidiary is not subject to the 100% penalty tax, it does pay regular U.S. federal corporate income tax tax on its taxable income and gains.
If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for that year if we are entitled to relief under the Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if our failure to meet the tests is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and, following our identification of such failure for any taxable year, we file a schedule describing each item of our gross income for such taxable year described in the gross income tests in accordance with the applicable Treasury Regulations. It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. For example, if we fail to satisfy the gross income tests because nonqualifying income that we intentionally incur exceeds the limits on nonqualifying income, the IRS could conclude that the failure to satisfy the tests was not due to reasonable cause. If we are not entitled to relief under these provisions, we will fail to qualify as a REIT. As discussed under "—Taxation of AvalonBay as a REIT" even if these relief provisions apply, we would be subject to tax to the extent we fail to meet the REIT gross income tests.
Asset Tests Applicable to REITs. At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we must satisfy five tests relating to the nature of our assets:
- 1.
- at
least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets, cash, cash items and government securities. Real estate assets include
interests in real property (such as land, buildings, leasehold interest in real property and personal property leased with real property if the rents attributable to the personal property would be
rents from real property under the income tests discussed above), interests in mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, shares in other qualifying REITs, debt instruments issued by
publicly offered REITs, and stock or debt instruments held for less than one year that are purchased with the proceeds from an offering of shares of our stock or certain of our debt.
- 2.
- not
more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class;
- 3.
- except
for investments in qualified REIT subsidiaries, taxable REIT subsidiaries, equity interests in REITs or other securities that qualify as "real estate assets"
for purposes of the test described in clause (1): the value of any one issuer's securities owned by us may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets; we may not own securities possessing
more than 10% of the voting power of any one issuer's outstanding securities; and we generally may not own more than 10% of the value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer;
- 4.
- not
more than 20% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries; and
- 5.
- not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by debt instruments of publicly offered REITs that are not secured by mortgages on real property or interests in real property.
Shares in other qualifying REITs are treated as "real estate assets" for purposes of the REIT assets tests, while shares of our taxable REIT subsidiaries do not qualify as "real estate assets."
Securities for purposes of the asset tests may include debt securities. However, the 10% value test does not apply to certain "straight debt" and other excluded securities, as described in the Code including, but not limited to, any loan to an individual or estate, any obligation to pay rents from real property and any security issued by a REIT. In addition, (1) a REIT's interest as a partner in a partnership is not considered a security for purposes of applying the 10% value test to securities issued
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by the partnership; (2) any debt instrument issued by a partnership (other than straight debt or another excluded security) will not be considered a security issued by the partnership if at least 75% of the partnership's gross income is derived from sources that would qualify for the 75% gross income test; and (3) any debt instrument issued by a partnership (other than straight debt or another excluded security) will not be considered a security issued by the partnership to the extent of the REIT's interest as a partner in the partnership. In general, straight debt is defined as a written, unconditional promise to pay on demand or at a specific date a fixed principal amount, and the interest rate and payment dates on the debt must not be contingent on profits or the discretion of the debtor. In addition, straight debt may not contain a convertibility feature.
We believe that we have complied with the applicable asset tests with respect to each such issuer. In this regard, however, we cannot provide any assurance that the IRS might not disagree with our determinations.
After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our status as a REIT if we fail to satisfy any of the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in the relative values of our assets. If the failure to satisfy any such asset tests results from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, the failure generally can be cured by disposition of sufficient non-qualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We intend to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests and to take any available actions within 30 days after the close of any quarter as may be required to cure any noncompliance with the asset tests.
Moreover, if we fail to satisfy any of the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter during a taxable year and such failure is not cured within 30 days as described above, we will not lose our REIT status if one of the following additional exceptions applies: (1) the failure is due to a violation of the 5% or 10% asset tests and is "de minimis" (for this purpose, a "de minimis" failure is one that arises from our ownership of assets the total value of which does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the total value of our assets at the end of the quarter in which the failure occurred and $10 million) and we either dispose of the assets that caused the failure or otherwise satisfy any of the asset tests within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which our identification of the failure occurred; or (2) the failure is due to a violation of any of the asset tests (other than "de minimis" violations of the 5% or 10% asset tests) and all of the following requirements are satisfied: (i) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (ii) we file a schedule in accordance with Treasury Regulations providing a description of each asset that caused the failure, and (iii) we either dispose of the assets that caused the failure or otherwise satisfy the asset tests within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which our identification of the failure occurred. If we must rely on the reasonable cause exception for failures that are not "de minimis" failures of the 5% or 10% asset tests, we must pay an excise tax equal to the greater of (x) $50,000 and (y) an amount determined by multiplying the net income generated during a specified period by the assets that caused the failure by the highest U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to corporations.
Foreclosure Property. Foreclosure property is real property (including interests in real property) and any personal property incident to such real property (1) that is acquired by a REIT as a result of the REIT having bid in the property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced the property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after there was a default (or default was imminent) on a lease of the property or a mortgage loan held by the REIT and secured by the property, (2) for which the related loan or lease was made, entered into or acquired by the REIT at a time when default was not imminent or anticipated and (3) for which such REIT makes an election to treat the property as foreclosure property. REITs generally are subject to tax at the highest U.S. federal corporate income rate on any net income from foreclosure property, including any gain from the disposition of the foreclosure property, other than income that would otherwise be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Any gain from the sale of property for which a foreclosure
59
property election has been made will not be subject to the 100% tax on gains from prohibited transactions described above, even if the property is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business.
Hedging Transactions and Foreign Currency Gains. We may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Hedging transactions could take a variety of forms, including interest rate swaps or cap agreements, options, futures contracts, forward rate agreements or similar financial instruments. Except to the extent as may be provided by future Treasury Regulations, any income from a hedging transaction which is clearly identified as such before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated or entered into, including gain from the disposition or termination of such a transaction, will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 95% and 75% income tests, provided that the hedging transaction is entered into (1) in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of interest rate or price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to indebtedness incurred or to be incurred by us to acquire or carry real estate assets, (2) primarily to manage the risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% income tests (or any property which generates such income or gain), or (3) to hedge against transactions described in clause (1) or (2) and is entered into in connection with the extinguishment of debt or a sale of property that is being hedged against by the transaction described in clause (1) or (2). To the extent we enter into other types of hedging transactions, the income from those transactions is likely to be treated as nonqualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our ability to qualify as a REIT. No assurances can be given, however, that our hedging activities will not give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of either or both of the gross income tests and that such income will not adversely affect our ability to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements. In addition, certain foreign currency gains may be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of the REIT gross income tests, provided we do not deal in or engage in substantial and regular trading in securities.
Annual Distribution Requirements Applicable to REITs. To qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our stockholders each year in an amount at least equal to (1) the sum of (a) 90% of our REIT taxable income, computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain, and (b) 90% of the net income, after tax, from foreclosure property, minus (2) the sum of certain specified items of noncash income. For purposes of the distribution requirements, any built-in gain (net of the applicable tax) we recognize during the applicable recognition period that existed on an asset when we acquired it from a "C" corporation in a carry-over basis transaction will be included in our REIT taxable income. See "—Taxation of AvalonBay as a REIT" for a discussion of the possible recognition of built-in gain. These distributions must be paid either in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for the prior year and if paid with or before the first regular dividend payment date after the declaration is made.
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2015, in order for our distributions to be counted as satisfying the annual distribution requirements for REITs, and to provide us with a REIT-level tax deduction, the distributions must not be "preferential dividends." A dividend is not a preferential dividend if the distribution is (1) pro rata among all outstanding shares of stock within a particular class, and (2) in accordance with the preferences among different classes of stock as set forth in our organizational documents. Any non-publicly offered REIT in which we invest would be subject to the preferential dividend rule regardless of the date of the distribution.
We believe that we have made and intend to continue to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements.
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Generally, we anticipate having sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable us to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement. It is possible, however, that we, from time to time, may choose to retain cash to fund capital projects or future operations or may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet this distribution requirement or to distribute such greater amount as may be necessary to avoid income and excise taxation, in part due to timing differences between (a) the actual receipt of income and the actual payment of deductible expenses and (b) the inclusion of such income and the deduction of such expenses in arriving at our taxable income, or as a result of nondeductible expenses such as principal amortization or capital expenditures in excess of noncash deductions. In such event, we may find it necessary to arrange for borrowings or pay taxable stock dividends in order to meet the distribution requirement.
We may seek to satisfy our distribution requirements by making taxable stock dividends. Moreover, we may determine to utilize certain stock dividends the proper treatment of which is not entirely clear without obtaining a private letter ruling from the IRS confirming the treatment of the stock dividend as a taxable stock dividend. In that case, it is possible that the IRS could challenge our treatment of the stock dividend as a taxable stock dividend, and if such challenge were successful the stock dividend would not count towards satisfying our distribution requirements.
Under some circumstances, we may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying dividends to stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. We will refer to such dividends as "deficiency dividends." Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. We will, however, be required to pay interest based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.
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 regular U.S. federal corporate income tax on these retained amounts.
We will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distributions over the sum of amounts actually distributed and amounts retained for which U.S. federal income tax was paid, if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of:
- 1.
- 85%
of our REIT ordinary income for the year;
- 2.
- 95%
of our REIT capital gain net income for the year; and
- 3.
- any undistributed taxable income from prior taxable years.
A REIT may elect to retain rather than distribute all or a portion of its net capital gains and pay tax on the gains. In that case, a REIT may elect to have its stockholders include their proportionate share of the undistributed net capital gains in income as long-term capital gains and receive a credit for their share of the tax paid by the REIT. For purposes of the 4% excise tax described above, any such retained amounts would be treated as having been distributed.
Record-Keeping Requirements. We are required to comply with applicable record-keeping requirements. Failure to comply could result in monetary fines.
Failure of AvalonBay to Qualify as a REIT. If we fail to satisfy any REIT requirements (other than the income test or asset test requirements, to which specific cure provisions apply), we generally will avoid disqualification as a REIT if the failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and we pay a penalty of $50,000 with respect to such failure. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to such statutory relief.
If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year and the relief provisions do not apply, we will be subject to regular U.S. federal corporate income tax on our taxable income.
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Distributions to stockholders in any year in which we fail to qualify will not be deductible by us nor will they be required to be made. In such event, to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to stockholders will be taxable as dividend income. Subject to limitations of the Code, corporate stockholders may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction and non-corporate stockholders may be eligible to treat the dividends received from us as qualified dividend income taxable as net capital gains under the provisions of Section 1(h)(11) of the Code. Unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we also will be disqualified from electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost.
Taxation of U.S. Stockholders
When we refer to a U.S. stockholder, we mean a beneficial owner of our common stock that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
- 1.
- a
citizen or resident, as defined in Code Section 7701(b), of the United States;
- 2.
- a
corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state or
the District of Columbia;
- 3.
- an
estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
- 4.
- a trust that is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and the control of one or more U.S. persons or that has a valid election in effect under the applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person under the Code.
If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership acquiring our common stock, you should consult your tax advisors.
A "non-U.S. stockholder" is a holder that is a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Distributions by AvalonBay. So long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions to U.S. stockholders out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits that are not designated as capital gain dividends will be taxable as dividend income. In general, our dividends will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction generally available for corporations and will not qualify for treatment as qualified dividend income taxed as net capital gain by non-corporate stockholders.
In addition, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, non-corporate taxpayers (including individuals) generally may deduct 20% of dividends received from REITs, other than capital gain dividends or dividends treated as qualified dividend income, subject to certain limitations. If we fail to qualify as a REIT, such stockholders may not claim this deduction with respect to dividends paid by us.
Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a U.S. stockholder to the extent that the distributions do not exceed the adjusted tax basis of the stockholder's shares. Rather, such distributions will reduce the adjusted basis of such shares. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits that exceed a U.S. stockholder's adjusted basis in its shares will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such shares, taxable as capital gains in the amount of such excess if the shares are held as a capital asset. If we declare a dividend in October, November or December of any year with a record date in one of these months and pay the dividend on or before January 31 of the following year, we will be treated as having paid
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the dividend, and our stockholders will be treated as having received the dividend, on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.
The above applies regardless of whether the distributions by us are reinvested pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. This discussion applies equally to distributions payable in cash and taxable stock distributions.
We may elect to designate distributions of our net capital gain as "capital gain dividends." Capital gain dividends generally are taxed to U.S. stockholders as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset held for more than one year, without regard to how long the U.S. stockholder has held its shares. Designations made by us will be effective only to the extent that they comply with the principles of Revenue Ruling 89-81, which require that distributions made to different classes of shares be composed proportionately of dividends of a particular type. If we designate any portion of a dividend as a capital gain dividend, a U.S. stockholder will receive an IRS Form 1099-DIV indicating the amount that will be taxable to the stockholder as capital gain. Corporate stockholders, however, may be required to treat up to 20% of capital gain dividends as ordinary income.
Instead of paying capital gain dividends, we may choose to retain all or part of our net capital gain and designate such amount as "undistributed capital gain." We will be subject to regular U.S. federal corporate income tax on any undistributed capital gains and our earnings and profits will be adjusted appropriately. On such a designation, a U.S. stockholder:
- 1.
- will
include in its income as long-term capital gains its proportionate share of such undistributed capital gains;
- 2.
- will
be deemed to have paid its proportionate share of the tax paid by us on such undistributed capital gains and receive a credit or a refund to the extent that the
tax paid by us exceeds the U.S. stockholder's tax liability on the undistributed capital gains; and
- 3.
- will increase the basis in its common stock by the difference between the amount of capital gain included in its income and the amount of tax it is deemed to have paid.
We will classify portions of any designated capital gain dividend or undistributed capital gains as either (1) a 20% rate gain distribution, which would be taxable to non-corporate U.S. stockholders at a maximum rate of 20% or (2) an "unrecaptured Section 1250 gain" distribution, which would be taxable to non-corporate U.S. stockholders at a maximum rate of 25%. We must determine the maximum amounts that we may designate as 20% and 25% rate capital gain dividends by performing the computation required by the Code as if the REIT were an individual whose ordinary income were subject to a marginal tax rate in excess of 25%.
Distributions made by us and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. stockholder of shares of our common stock will not be treated as passive activity income, and as a result, U.S. stockholders generally will not be able to apply any "passive losses" against this income or gain. In addition, with respect to our non-corporate U.S. stockholders, dividends (other than capital gain dividends and dividends taxed at net capital gains rates) generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitations. A U.S. stockholder may elect to treat capital gain dividends and capital gains from the disposition of shares of our common stock as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitation, in which case such amounts otherwise taxable as capital gains will be taxed at ordinary income rates. We will notify stockholders regarding the portions of distributions for each year that constitute ordinary income, return of capital and capital gain.
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To the extent that we have available net operating losses and capital losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may, subject to limitations, reduce the amount of distributions that must be made in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. Such losses, however, are not passed through and U.S. stockholders may not include in their own income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.
Sales of Shares. Upon any taxable sale or other disposition of shares, a U.S. stockholder will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between (x) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received on the sale or other disposition and (y) the holder's adjusted basis in the shares for tax purposes. This gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss if the shares have been held by the U.S. stockholder as a capital asset. The applicable tax rate will depend on the stockholder's holding period in the shares (generally, if an asset has been held for more than one year it will produce long-term capital gain), the stockholder's tax bracket and the stockholder's status (i.e., as an individual or other noncorporate U.S. stockholder or as a corporate U.S. stockholder). The IRS has the authority to prescribe, but has not yet prescribed, regulations that would apply a capital gain tax rate of 25% (which is generally higher than the long-term capital gain tax rates for non-corporate U.S. stockholders) to a portion of capital gain realized by a non-corporate stockholder on the sale of REIT shares that would correspond to the REIT's "unrecaptured Section 1250 gain." Stockholders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors with respect to their capital gain tax liability. In general, any loss recognized by a U.S. stockholder upon the sale or other disposition of shares that have been held for six months or less, after applying the holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss, to the extent of distributions received by the U.S. stockholder from us that were required to be treated as long-term capital gains. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares may be disallowed if other shares are purchased within 30 days before or after the date of disposition.
Medicare Tax on Unearned Income. A U.S. stockholder that is an individual is subject to a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (1) his or her "net investment income" for the relevant taxable year or (2) the excess of his or her modified gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold (currently between $125,000 and $250,000 depending on the individual's U.S. federal income tax filing status). A similar regime applies to certain estates and trusts. Net investment income generally would include dividends on our common stock (without regard to the 20% deduction allowed by Section 199A of the Code) and gain from the sale of our common stock. If you are a U.S. investor that is an individual, an estate or a trust, you are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the applicability of this tax to your income and gains in respect of your investment in our common stock.
Treatment of Tax-Exempt Stockholders
Provided that a tax-exempt stockholder has not held its common stock as "debt financed property" within the meaning of the Code, the dividend income from our company will not be unrelated business taxable income, referred to as UBTI, to a tax-exempt stockholder. Similarly, gain from the sale of shares will not constitute UBTI unless the tax-exempt stockholder has held its shares as debt financed property within the meaning of the Code or is a dealer in the shares.
However, for tax-exempt stockholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, or supplemental unemployment benefit trusts exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9) or (c)(17) of the Code, respectively, income from an investment in our company will generally constitute UBTI; however, an organization exempt under Section 501(c)(9) or (c)(17) of the Code may reduce UBTI if it properly sets aside or reserves such amounts for purposes specified in the Code. These tax-exempt stockholders should consult their own tax advisors concerning these "set aside" and reserve requirements.
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Notwithstanding the above, however, a portion of the dividends paid by a "pension-held REIT" are treated as UBTI if received by any trust which is described in Section 401(a) of the Code, is tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code and holds more than 10%, by value, of the interests in the REIT.
Tax-exempt pension funds that are described in Section 401(a) of the Code are referred to below as "pension trusts."
A REIT is a pension-held REIT if it meets the following two tests:
- 1.
- it
qualified as a REIT only by reason of Section 856(h)(3) of the Code, which provides that stock owned by pension trusts will be treated, for purposes of
determining if the REIT is closely held, as owned by the beneficiaries of the trust rather than by the trust itself; and
- 2.
- either (a) at least one pension trust holds more than 25% of the value of the REIT's stock, or (b) a group of pension trusts each individually holding more than 10% of the value of the REIT's shares, collectively owns more than 50% of the value of the REIT's shares.
For pension-held REITs, the percentage of any REIT dividend treated as UBTI is equal to the ratio of the UBTI earned by the REIT, treating the REIT as if it were a pension trust and therefore subject to tax on UBTI, to the total gross income of the REIT. An exception applies, in which case no dividends are treated as UBTI, where this percentage is less than 5% for any taxable year. Before investing in our common stock, a tax-exempt stockholder should consult its tax advisors with regard to UBTI and the suitability of an investment in our common stock.
U.S. Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders
Distributions by AvalonBay. Distributions by us to a non-U.S. stockholder that are neither attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of "U.S. real property interests" nor designated by us as capital gain dividends will be treated as dividends taxed as ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. These distributions ordinarily will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax on a gross basis at a rate of 30%, or a lower rate as permitted under an applicable income tax treaty, unless the dividends are treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. stockholder of a U.S. trade or business. Under many treaties, however, lower withholding rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from REITs. Dividends that are effectively connected with a trade or business will be subject to tax on a net basis, that is, after allowance for deductions, at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. stockholders are taxed with respect to these dividends, and are generally not subject to withholding. Any dividends received by a corporate non-U.S. stockholder that is engaged in a U.S. trade or business also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate, or lower applicable treaty rate.
Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits (not attributable to gains from disposition of U.S. real property interests) that exceed the non-U.S. stockholder's basis in its common stock will be taxable to a non-U.S. stockholder as gain from the sale of its common stock, which is discussed below. Distributions in excess of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (not attributable to gains from disposition of U.S. real property interests) that do not exceed the adjusted basis of the non-U.S. stockholder in its common stock will reduce the non-U.S. stockholder's adjusted basis in its common stock and will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, but will be subject to U.S. withholding tax as described below.
Subject to the discussion below regarding capital gain dividends and FIRPTA, we expect to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on any dividend distributions (including distributions that
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later may be determined to have been in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits) made to a non-U.S. stockholder unless:
- 1.
- a
lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. stockholder files an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E evidencing eligibility for that reduced treaty rate with us; or
- 2.
- the non-U.S. stockholder files an IRS Form W-8ECI with us claiming that the distribution is income effectively connected with such non-U.S. stockholder's trade or business within the U.S.
We may be required to withhold at least 15% of any distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, even if a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. stockholder is not liable for tax on the receipt of that distribution. However, a non-U.S. stockholder may seek a refund of these amounts from the IRS if the non-U.S. stockholder's U.S. tax liability with respect to the distribution is less than the amount withheld.
Distributions to a non-U.S. stockholder that we designate as capital gain dividends, other than those arising from the disposition of a U.S. real property interest, generally should not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless:
- 1.
- the
investment in our common stock is effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder's U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. stockholder will be
subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders with respect to any gain, except that a stockholder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax, as discussed
above; or
- 2.
- the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a "tax home" in the U.S., in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on his or her net U.S. source capital gains.
Subject to the exception discussed below for 10% or smaller holders of regularly traded classes of stock and the special rules for "qualified foreign pension funds" or "qualified shareholders," under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, which is referred to as "FIRPTA," distributions to a non-U.S. stockholder that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests, whether or not designated as a capital gain dividend, will cause the non-U.S. stockholder to be treated as recognizing gain that is income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. The term "U.S. real property interests" includes interests in U.S. real property and shares in U.S. corporations at least 50% of whose real estate and business assets consist of U.S. real property interests. Non-U.S. stockholders will be taxed on this gain at the same rates applicable to U.S. stockholders, subject to a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals. Also, this gain may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation.
We will be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 21% of any distributions to non-U.S. stockholders attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of U.S. real property interests. Under long-standing regulations, we also may be required to withhold 35% of any distributions to non-U.S. stockholders that we designate as capital gain dividends, including any distributions that could have been designated as capital gain dividends. Distributions can be designated as capital gains to the extent of our net capital gain for the taxable year of the distribution. The amount withheld is creditable against the non-U.S. stockholder's U.S. federal income tax liability. A non-U.S. stockholder who receives distributions attributable to gain from a sale or exchange by us of U.S. real property interests will be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year.
A non-U.S. stockholder that owns, actually or constructively, no more than 10% of our common stock at all times during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution will not be subject
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to the 21% FIRPTA withholding tax with respect to distributions that are attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of U.S. real property interests, and also should not be subject to the 35% capital gain dividend withholding tax, provided that our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market. Instead, any distributions made to such non-U.S. stockholder will be subject to the general withholding rules discussed above which generally impose a withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of each dividend distribution (unless reduced by treaty).
Although the law is not clear on the matter, it appears that amounts designated by us as undistributed capital gains generally should be treated with respect to non-U.S. stockholders in the same manner as actual distributions by us of capital gain dividends. Under that approach, the non-U.S. stockholders would be able to offset as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability resulting therefrom an amount equal to their proportionate share of the tax paid by us on the undistributed capital gains, and to receive from the IRS a refund to the extent their proportionate share of this tax paid by us exceeds their actual U.S. federal income tax liability.
Sale of Common Stock. Gain recognized by a non-U.S. stockholder upon the sale or exchange of our common stock generally would not be subject to U.S. taxation unless:
- 1.
- the
investment in our common stock is effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder's U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. stockholder will be
subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders with respect to any gain, except that a stockholder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax, as discussed
above;
- 2.
- the
non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a tax home in the
U.S., in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual's net capital gains for the taxable year; or
- 3.
- our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest within the meaning of FIRPTA, as described below.
Our common stock will not constitute a U.S. real property interest if we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity. We will be a domestically controlled qualified investment entity if, at all times during a specified testing period, we are a REIT and less than 50% in value of our stock is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. stockholders. For these purposes, since December 18, 2015, a person holding less than 5% of our regularly traded classes of stock for five years has been, and will be, treated as a U.S. person unless we have actual knowledge that such person is not a U.S. person.
Because our common stock is publicly traded, we cannot guarantee that we are or will continue to be a domestically controlled qualified investment entity.
Even if we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, upon disposition of our stock, a non-U.S. stockholder may be treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest if the non-U.S. stockholder (1) disposes of an interest in our stock during the 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been treated as gain from sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest and (2) directly or indirectly acquires, enters into a contract or option to acquire, or is deemed to acquire, other shares of our stock within 30 days before or after such ex-dividend date. This rule does not apply if the exception for distributions to 10% or smaller holders of regularly traded classes of stock is satisfied.
Even if we do not qualify as a domestically controlled qualified investment entity at the time a non-U.S. stockholder sells its common stock, our stock sold by such stockholder would not be considered a U.S. real property interest if:
- 1.
- the class or series of stock sold is considered regularly traded under applicable Treasury Regulations on an established securities market, such as the NYSE; and
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- 2.
- the selling non-U.S. stockholder owned, actually or constructively, 10% or less in value of the outstanding class or series of stock being sold throughout the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange.
If gain on the sale or exchange of our common stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, a non-U.S. stockholder would be subject to regular U.S. income tax with respect to any gain in the same manner as a taxable U.S. stockholder, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax.
Special FIRPTA Rules. To the extent our stock is held directly (or indirectly through one or more partnerships) by a "qualified shareholder," it will not be treated as a U.S. real property interest for such qualified shareholder. Further, to the extent such treatment applies, any distribution to such shareholder will not be treated as gain recognized from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest. For these purposes, a qualified shareholder is generally a non-U.S. stockholder that (i)(A) is eligible for treaty benefits under an income tax treaty with the United States that includes an exchange of information program, and the principal class of interests of which is listed and regularly traded on one or more stock exchanges as defined by the treaty, or (B) is a foreign limited partnership organized in a jurisdiction with an exchange of information agreement with the United States and that has a class of regularly traded limited partnership units (having a value greater than 50% of the value of all partnership units) on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq, (ii) is a "qualified collective investment vehicle" (within the meaning of Section 897(k)(3)(B) of the Code) and (iii) maintains records of persons holding 5% or more of the class of interests described in clauses (i)(A) or (i)(B) above. However, in the case of a qualified shareholder having one or more "applicable investors," the exception described in the first sentence of this paragraph will not apply with respect to a portion of the qualified shareholder's stock (determined by applying the ratio of the value of the interests held by applicable investors in the qualified shareholder to the value of all interests in the qualified shareholder and applying certain constructive ownership rules). Such ratio applied to the amount realized by a qualified shareholder on the disposition of our stock or with respect to a distribution from us attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest will be treated as amounts realized from the disposition of U.S. real property interest. Such treatment shall also apply to applicable investors in respect of distributions treated as a sale or exchange of stock with respect to a qualified shareholder. For these purposes, an "applicable investor" is person (other than a qualified shareholder) who holds an interest in the qualified shareholder and holds more than 10% of our stock applying certain constructive ownership rules.
The FIRPTA rules do not apply to any U.S. real property interest held directly (or indirectly through one or more partnerships) by, or to any distribution received from a REIT by, a "qualified foreign pension fund" or any entity all of the interests of which are held by an qualified foreign pension fund. For these purposes, a "qualified foreign pension fund" is an organization or arrangement (i) created or organized in a foreign country, (ii) established to provide retirement or pension benefits to current or former employees (or their designees) of one or more employers for services rendered, (iii) which does not have a single participant or beneficiary that has a right to more than 5% of its assets or income, (iv) which is subject to government regulation and provides annual information reporting about its beneficiaries to relevant local tax authorities and (v) with respect to which, under its local laws, contributions that would otherwise be subject to tax are deductible or excluded from its gross income or taxed at a reduced rate, or taxation of its income is deferred or taxed at a reduced rate.
Taxation of U.S. Holders of Our Debt Securities
This summary addresses fixed rate debt securities issued by us without OID (as defined below), and does not deal with holders other than those who purchase the debt securities on original issuance at the initial offering price (i.e., the first price at which a substantial portion of the debt securities is
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sold to persons other than bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers).
When we refer to a "U.S. holder," we mean a beneficial owner of the debt securities that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
- (1)
- a
citizen or resident, as defined in Code Section 7701(b), of the United States;
- (2)
- a
corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state
thereof or the District of Columbia;
- (3)
- an
estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
- (4)
- a trust that is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and the control of one or more U.S. persons or that has a valid election in effect under the applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person under the Code.
If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds the debt securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership acquiring the debt securities, you should consult your tax advisors.
Payments of interest. Stated interest on our debt securities will be includable in income of a U.S. holder as ordinary interest income at the time such interest is received or accrued, in accordance with the U.S. holder's regular method of tax accounting.
Original issue discount. If the issue price of a debt security is less than its stated redemption price at maturity, then the debt security will be treated as being issued with original issue discount, or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless the difference between the debt security's issue price and its stated redemption price at maturity is less than the statutory de minimis amount. Unless the de minimis exception applies, the amount of OID on a debt security is equal to the difference and must be included in income as ordinary interest as it accrues under a constant yield method in advance of receipt of the cash payments attributable to such income, regardless of such U.S. holder's regular method of tax accounting. Generally, the "issue price" of a debt security is the first price at which a substantial amount of the debt securities is sold to purchasers other than bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers. The "stated redemption price at maturity" of a debt security is the total of all payments to be made under the debt security, other than "qualified stated interest," and, generally, is expected to equal the principal amount of the debt security. "Qualified stated interest" generally is stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or property at least annually at a single fixed rate that properly takes into account the length of the interval between stated interest payments. The amount of OID on the debt security will be de minimis if it is less than 0.0025 multiplied by the product of the stated redemption price at maturity and the number of complete years to maturity.
U.S. holders may, upon election, include in income all interest, including stated interest, de minimis OID, market discount, and de minimis market discount, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition premium, that accrues on the debt securities by using the constant yield method applicable to OID, subject to limitations and exceptions.
Disposition of Debt Securities. Except as discussed above, upon the sale, exchange, redemption, repurchase, or other taxable disposition of the debt securities, a U.S. holder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized (less an amount equal to any accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as such) on the sale, exchange, redemption, repurchase, retirement or other taxable disposition and the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in the debt security. A
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U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in the debt security generally will equal the amount the U.S. holder paid for the debt security, decreased by the amount of any payments received, other than stated interest payments. Such gain or loss on the sale, exchange, redemption, repurchase, or other taxable disposition of the debt security generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the debt security were held for more than one year. Non-corporate taxpayers are generally subject to reduced rates of U.S. federal income taxation on net long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is generally subject to limitations.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of Debt Securities
When we refer to a "non-U.S. holder" we mean a beneficial owner of the debt securities that is a foreign corporation or a nonresident alien individual for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The rules governing the U.S. federal income taxation of a non-U.S. holder are complex and no attempt will be made herein to provide more than a summary of such rules. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors to determine the effect of U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax laws, as well as tax treaties, with regard to an investment in the debt securities.
Payments of principal and interest (including OID) on the debt securities beneficially owned by a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, subject to the discussion below regarding the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, withholding; provided, in the case of interest (including OID), each of the following conditions is met:
- (1)
- the
non-U.S. holder does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;
- (2)
- the
non-U.S. holder is not a controlled foreign corporation, as defined in the Code, that is related, directly or indirectly, to us; and
- (3)
- the non-U.S. holder is not a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, as described in Code Section 881(c)(3)(A).
In order for a non-U.S. holder to qualify for the above exemption from taxation on interest (including OID), the "withholding agent" (generally, the last U.S. payor or a non-U.S. payor who is a qualified intermediary or withholding foreign partnership) must have received a statement on the appropriate IRS Form W-8 from the non-U.S. holder that: (i) is signed under penalties of perjury by the beneficial owner of the debt security, (ii) certifies that such owner is not a "United States person" within the meaning of the Code and (iii) provides the beneficial owner's name and address. Certain securities clearing organizations and other entities that are not beneficial owners may provide a signed statement accompanied by a copy of the beneficial owner's appropriate IRS Form W-8 to the withholding agent. An appropriate IRS Form W-8 is generally effective for the remainder of the year of signature plus three full calendar years unless a change in circumstances renders any information on the form incorrect. The beneficial owner must inform the withholding agent within 30 days of such change and furnish a new, appropriate IRS Form W-8.
A non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income and withholding taxes on any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the debt securities, subject to the discussion below regarding FATCA withholding, unless the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. holder in the United States or, in the case of an individual, such non-U.S. holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year in which the sale, exchange or other disposition occurs and certain other conditions are met.
If a non-U.S. holder engages in a trade or business in the United States, and if interest (including OID) on the debt security (or gain realized on its sale, exchange or other disposition) is effectively connected with the conduct by such non-U.S. holder of such trade or business (and where an applicable income tax treaty so provides, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment), the non-U.S. holder,
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although exempt from the withholding tax discussed in the preceding paragraphs, will generally be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax on that interest (or gain) on a net basis in the same manner as if such non-U.S. holder were a U.S. holder. In addition, if a non-U.S. holder is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such non-U.S. holder may also be subject to a branch profits tax at a 30% rate (unless reduced or eliminated by an applicable income tax treaty) on the non-U.S. holder's effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments. For purposes of the branch profits tax, interest on, and any gain recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of, a debt security will be included in the non-U.S. holder's effectively connected earnings and profits if such interest or gain, as the case may be, is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business in the United States.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax Applicable to Stockholders and Holders of Debt Securities
U.S. Stockholders and U.S. Holders of Debt Securities. In general, information reporting requirements will apply to (i) payments of distributions on our common stock and payments of the proceeds of the sale of our common stock to some stockholders, and (ii) payments on the debt securities (including payments of interest and of the proceeds of the sale, exchange, redemption, repurchase or other disposition of a the debt securities) to a U.S. holder, unless an exception applies. Further, the payor will be required to backup withhold on any payments at the current rate of 24% if:
- (1)
- the
payee fails to furnish a taxpayer identification number, or TIN, to the payor or to establish an exemption from backup withholding;
- (2)
- the
IRS notifies the payor that the TIN furnished by the payee is incorrect;
- (3)
- the
payee fails to certify under the penalty of perjury that the payee is not subject to backup withholding under the Code; or
- (4)
- in the case of interest on a debt security, there has been a notified payee under-reporting with respect to interest, dividends, or OID described in Code Section 3406(c).
Some U.S. stockholders and U.S. holders, including corporations and tax exempt organizations, will be exempt from backup withholding. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a stockholder or holder of debt securities will be allowed as a credit against the stockholder's or holder's U.S. federal income tax and may entitle the stockholder or holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS on a timely basis.
Non-U.S. Stockholders. Information reporting requirements and backup withholding may apply to payments of distributions on our common stock to a non-U.S. stockholder. Information reporting and backup withholding will generally not apply if an appropriate IRS Form W-8 is duly provided by such non-U.S. stockholder or the stockholder otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that the withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the stockholder is a U.S. person or that the claimed exemption is not in fact satisfied. Information reporting and backup withholding also may apply to proceeds a non-U.S. stockholder receives upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of our common stock unless the non-U.S. shareholder properly certifies to the applicable withholding agent its non-U.S. status on an applicable IRS Form W-8 or substantially similar form, provided that the withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the stockholder is a U.S. person or that the claimed exemption is not in fact satisfied. Even without having executed an applicable IRS Form W-8 or substantially similar form, however, in some cases information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to proceeds that a non-U.S. stockholder receives upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of our common stock if the non-U.S. stockholder receives those proceeds through a broker's foreign office. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules is allowable as a credit against such
71
holder's U.S. federal income tax liability (which might entitle such holder to a refund), provided that such holder furnishes the required information to the IRS. Payments not subject to information reporting requirements may nonetheless be subject to other reporting requirements.
Non-U.S. Holders of Debt Securities. Information reporting requirements and backup withholding may apply to interest payments on the debt securities to a non-U.S. holder. Information reporting and backup withholding will generally not apply if an appropriate IRS Form W-8 is duly provided by such holder or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that the withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the holder is a U.S. person or that the claimed exemption is not in fact satisfied. Information reporting and backup withholding also may apply to proceeds a non-U.S. holder receives upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of our debt securities unless the non-U.S. holder properly certifies to the applicable withholding agent its non-U.S. status on an applicable IRS Form W-8 or substantially similar form, provided that the withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the holder is a U.S. person or that the claimed exemption is not in fact satisfied. Even without having executed an applicable IRS Form W-8 or substantially similar form, however, in some cases information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to proceeds that a non-U.S. holder receives upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of our debt securities if the non-U.S. holder receives those proceeds through a broker's foreign office. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules is allowable as a credit against such holder's U.S. federal income tax liability (which might entitle such holder to a refund), provided that such holder furnishes the required information to the IRS. Payments not subject to information reporting requirements may nonetheless be subject to other reporting requirements.
Other Tax Consequences for AvalonBay, its Stockholders and Holders of Debt Securities
Other U.S. Federal Income Tax Withholding and Reporting Requirements; FATCA. The FATCA provisions of the Code, subject to administrative guidance and certain intergovernmental agreements entered into thereunder, impose a 30% withholding tax on certain types of payments made to "foreign financial institutions" and certain other non-U.S. entities unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations or (ii) the foreign non-financial entity either certifies it does not have any substantial United States owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner. If the payee is a foreign financial institution that is not subject to special treatment under certain intergovernmental agreements, it must enter into an agreement with the United States Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertakes to identify accounts held by certain United States persons or United States-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to account holders whose actions prevent them from complying with these reporting and other requirements. The compliance requirements under FATCA are complex and special requirements may apply to certain categories of payees. Withholding under this legislation will apply after December 31, 2018 with respect to the gross proceeds of a disposition of property that can produce U.S. source interest or dividends and currently applies with respect to other withholdable payments.
Recent Tax Legislation. The recently enacted TCJA, generally applicable for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, made significant changes to the Code, including a number of provisions of the Code that affect the taxation of businesses and their owners, including REITs, their stockholders and holders of their debt securities. Among other changes not reflected in the discussion above, the TCJA made the following changes:
- •
- For tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, (i) the U.S. federal income tax rates on ordinary income of individuals, trusts and estates have been generally reduced and (ii) non-corporate taxpayers are permitted to take a deduction for certain pass-through business income, including, as discussed above, a deduction equal to 20% of
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- •
- The maximum U.S. federal income tax rate for corporations has been reduced, and corporate alternative minimum tax has been eliminated for
corporations, which would generally reduce the amount of U.S. federal income tax payable by our taxable REIT subsidiaries and by us to the extent we were subject corporate U.S. federal income tax.
- •
- Certain new limitations on the deductibility of interest expense now apply, which limitations may affect the deductibility of interest paid or
accrued by us or our taxable REIT subsidiaries.
- •
- Certain new limitations on net operating losses now apply, which limitations may affect net operating losses generated by us or our taxable
REIT subsidiaries.
- •
- A U.S. tax-exempt stockholder that is subject to tax on its UBTI will be required to separately compute its taxable income and loss for each
unrelated trade or business activity for purposes of determining its UBTI.
- •
- New accounting rules generally require us to recognize income items for federal income tax purposes no later than when we take the item into account for financial statement purposes, which may accelerate our recognition of certain income items.
dividends received from REITs that are not designated as capital gain dividends or qualified dividend income, subject to certain limitations.
The effect of the TCJA on us, our stockholders, and holders of our debt securities is uncertain, and administrative guidance will be required in order to fully evaluate the effect of many provisions. Any technical corrections with respect to the TCJA could have an adverse effect on us, our stockholders or holders of our debt securities.
Additional Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs. The U.S. federal income tax rules are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department and it is possible that there could be future changes that could adversely impact our stockholders or holders of our debt securities. No assurance can be given as to whether, when, or in what form, the U.S. federal income tax laws applicable to us and our stockholders and our holders of debt securities may be enacted. Changes to the U.S. federal income tax laws and interpretations of U.S. federal income tax laws could adversely affect an investment in our common stock and/or our debt securities.
Certain State, Local, and Non-U.S. Taxes. AvalonBay, its subsidiaries, its stockholders and holders of the debt securities may be subject to state, local and foreign tax in states, localities or foreign countries, including those in which we or they transact business or reside. The state, local and foreign tax treatment of AvalonBay, its stockholders, and holders of the debt securities may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax consequences discussed above. Consequently, prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state, local and foreign tax laws on an investment in our common stock or debt securities. To the extent that we and our taxable REIT subsidiaries are required to pay federal, state, local or foreign taxes, we will have less cash available for distribution to stockholders.
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We may sell securities to or through underwriters, and we may also sell securities directly to other purchasers or through dealers or agents. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, the obligations of any underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to conditions precedent and these underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities if any are purchased.
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to these prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The prospectus supplement or other offering materials will describe the method of distribution of the securities.
In connection with the sale of securities, underwriters may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them and any profit on the resale of securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any underwriter, dealer or agent that will participate in the distribution of the securities will be identified, and any compensation it will receive will be described, in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials.
Under agreements which may be entered into by us, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of securities may be entitled to indemnification by us against some liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make relating to these liabilities. Any agreement in which we agree to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities will be described in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials.
If so indicated in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, we will authorize dealers or other persons acting as our agent to solicit offers by some institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which these contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others.
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements and schedule included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements and schedule are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Certain legal matters with respect to the securities to be offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.
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