Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this report to “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company,” “the company” or “Digital Realty” refer to Digital Realty Trust, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including Digital Realty Trust, L.P., our “operating partnership.”
On September 8, 2021, Digital Realty Trust, Inc. entered into (a) forward sale agreements with each of Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (collectively, the “forward purchasers”), and (b) together with the operating partnership, an underwriting agreement with BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the “underwriters”) and as forward sellers (in such capacity, collectively, the “forward sellers”), and the forward purchasers, relating to the forward issuance and sale of up to 7,187,500 shares (including 937,500 shares that the underwriters have the option to purchase) of our common stock at a public offering price of $160.50 per share (the “offering”).
On September 13, 2021, the forward purchasers or their affiliates borrowed and sold an aggregate of 6,250,000 shares of our common stock to the underwriters in connection with the closing of the offering. We intend (subject to our right to elect cash or net share settlement subject to certain conditions) to deliver, upon physical settlement of the forward sale agreements on one or more dates specified by us occurring no later than March 13, 2023, an aggregate of 6,250,000 shares of our common stock to the forward purchasers in exchange for cash proceeds per share equal to the applicable forward sale price, which will be the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, subject to certain adjustments as provided in the forward sale agreements.
The forward sellers have granted the underwriters a
30-day
option from September 8, 2021, exercisable in whole or in part from time to time, to purchase up to an additional 937,500 shares of our common stock at the initial price to the public less the underwriting discount. Upon any exercise of such option, the number of shares of our common stock underlying each forward sale agreement will be increased by the number of shares sold by the applicable forward purchaser or its affiliate in respect of such option exercise. In such event, if any forward purchaser or its affiliates does not deliver and sell all of the shares of our common stock to be sold by it in connection with the exercise of such option, Digital Realty Trust, Inc. will issue and sell to the underwriters a number of shares of our common stock equal to the number of shares that the forward purchaser or its affiliates does not deliver and sell, and the number of shares underlying the relevant forward sale agreement will not be increased in respect of the number of shares that Digital Realty Trust, Inc. issues and sells.
The shares were offered and sold under a prospectus supplement and related prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to our effective shelf registration statement on Form
S-3
(File Nos.
333-237232
and
Copies of the underwriting agreement and each forward sale agreement are attached as exhibits to this Current Report on Form
8-K
and are incorporated herein by reference. The summary set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibits.
In connection with the filing of the prospectus supplement, we are filing as Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report on Form
8-K
an opinion of our counsel, Venable LLP, regarding certain Maryland law issues regarding our common stock.