PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPANY’S CHARTER
At its meeting on December 12, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted resolutions approving amendments to the Company’s Charter that would, if approved by the Company’s stockholders: (i) increase the number of shares of stock that the Company has authority to issue from 100,000,000 shares to 200,000,000 shares; (ii) authorize the Board of Directors to make future changes in the number of shares of stock that the Company has authority to issue without additional approval from stockholders; and (iii) reduce the percentage required for approval of certain stockholder votes from two-thirds to a majority. The proposed amendments, which are discussed below, are being presented as three separate Proposals for consideration by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Each Proposal is a separate and independent Proposal and no Proposal is conditioned upon adoption or approval of any other Proposal.
If any or all of the proposed amendments to the Company’s Charter are approved by the stockholders, the amendments so approved will become effective upon the filing of Articles of Amendment with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland. The Company anticipates completing such filing as soon as practicable following action by the stockholders.
PROPOSAL 3
TO AMEND THE COMPANY’S CHARTER
TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF STOCK
The Company’s Amended Articles of Incorporation (the “Charter”) currently provides that the total number of shares of stock that the Company is authorized to issue (the “Stock”) is 100,000,000 shares, which consists of 40,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (“Class A Common Stock”), 30,000,000 shares of common stock (“Common Stock”), 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock (“Preferred Stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of excess stock (“Excess Stock”). The resolution approved by the Board of Directors would amend the Charter to increase the number of authorized shares of Stock from 100,000,000 shares to 200,000,000 shares. If the amendment to the Charter is approved, the total number of shares of authorized Stock will consist of 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 30,000,000 shares of Common Stock, 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, and 20,000,000 shares of Excess Stock.
Of the 100,000,000 shares of Stock currently authorized, as of the close of business on January 14, 2013, there were 9,029,415 shares of Common Stock, 23,523,980 shares of Class A Common Stock, and 7,849,027 shares of Preferred Stock (224,027 shares of 8.50% Series C Preferred Stock, 2,450,000 shares of 7.50% Series D Preferred Stock and 5,175,000 shares of 7.125% Series F Preferred Stock) outstanding. In addition, 13,413,600 shares of Class A Common Stock were reserved in connection with conversion rights exercisable by holders of the Company’s Series F Preferred Stock following a change in control, 183,900 shares of Common Stock and 183,900 shares of Class A Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the Company’s Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Award Plan, and 373,849 shares of Common Stock and 429,809 shares of Class A Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan.
The Board believes that it is advisable and in the best interests of the Company to increase the number of authorized shares of Stock to provide the Company with greater flexibility in planning for future corporate needs including, but not limited to, transactions to raise capital, property acquisitions, stock dividends or stock splits, grants under equity compensation plans, potential strategic transactions including mergers, acquisitions and business combinations, as well as other corporate transactions. If this amendment is not approved, the Company’s growth and business strategies and its ability to raise additional capital may be limited by the lack of availability of unissued and unreserved Stock.
Additional Class A Common and Common Stock so authorized would have rights identical to the currently authorized Class A Common and Common Stock and would not affect the rights of holders of currently outstanding shares of Class A Common and Common Stock, except such effects as are incidental generally to an increase in the number of shares of Stock outstanding, such as dilution of voting rights and earnings per share. Under the Charter, the Board of Directors may, without further stockholder action, authorize the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in such classes or series, and with such preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions and limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors, subject to any limitations of applicable law or regulation or provisions of existing Preferred Stock series. Accordingly, the Board of Directors may, subject to such limitations, afford holders of any new series or class of Preferred Stock preferences, policies or rights, voting or otherwise, senior to the rights of holders of our Common Stock, Class A Common Stock or existing series of Preferred Stock. The Company’s stockholders do not have preemptive rights with respect to additional shares that may be issued by the Company. This means that current stockholders do not have a right of first option to purchase any new issuances of Stock in order to maintain their relative ownership and voting interest in the Company. Under certain circumstances, an increase in the number of shares of authorized Stock could make it more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a takeover proposal that the Board believes