To qualify as a REIT, we are required to pay distributions sufficient to satisfy the requirements for qualification as a REIT for tax purposes. We intend to distribute sufficient income so that we satisfy the requirements for qualification as a REIT. In order to qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute 90% of our annual REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends-paid deduction and excluding net capital gains, to our stockholders. See the “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Annual Distribution Requirements” sections of this prospectus. Generally, income distributed to stockholders will not be taxable to us under the Code if we distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends-paid deduction and excluding net capital gains.
Distributions will be authorized at the discretion of our board of directors, in accordance with our earnings, cash flows and general financial condition. The discretion of our board of directors will be directed, in substantial part, by its obligation to cause us to comply with the REIT requirements. Because we may receive income from interest or rents at various times during our fiscal year, distributions may not reflect our income earned in that particular distribution period but may be made in anticipation of cash flows which we expect to receive during a later quarter and may be made in advance of actual receipt of funds in an attempt to make distributions relatively uniform. Due to these timing differences, we may be required to borrow money, use proceeds from the issuance of securities (in this offering or subsequent offerings, if any) or sell assets in order to distribute amounts sufficient to satisfy the requirement that we distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income in order to qualify as a REIT. We have not established any limit on the amount of proceeds from this offering that may be used to fund distributions other than those limits imposed by Maryland law. See the “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” section of this prospectus for information concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of distributions paid by us.
There is no assurance we will pay distributions in any particular amount, if at all. We may fund any distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations, including, without limitation, the sale of assets, borrowings, return of capital or offering proceeds (including from sales of our common stock or Operating Partnership units to the Special Limited Partner, an affiliate of Apollo), and we have no limits on the amounts we may pay from such sources. The extent to which we pay distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations will depend on various factors, including the level of participation in our distribution reinvestment plan, the extent to which the Adviser elects to receive its management fee in Class E shares or Class E units and the Special Limited Partner elects to receive distributions on its performance participation interest in Class E units, how quickly we invest the proceeds from this and any future offering and the performance of our investments, including our real estate-related securities portfolio. Funding distributions from the sales of assets, borrowings, return of capital or proceeds of this offering will result in us having less funds available to acquire properties or other real estate-related investments. As a result, the return you realize on your investment may be reduced. Doing so may also negatively impact our ability to generate cash flows. Likewise, funding distributions from the sale of additional securities will dilute your interest in us on a percentage basis and may impact the value of your investment especially if we sell these securities at prices less than the price you paid for your shares. We believe the likelihood that we pay distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations will be higher in the early stages of the offering.
Under the MGCL, our board of directors may delegate to a committee of directors the power to fix the amount and other terms of a distribution. In addition, if our board of directors gives general authorization for a distribution and provides for or establishes a method or procedure for determining the maximum amount of the distribution, our board of directors may delegate to one of our officers the power, in accordance with the general authorization, to fix the amount and other terms of the distribution.
Distributions in kind will not be permitted, except for distributions of readily marketable securities, distributions of beneficial interests in a liquidating trust established for our dissolution and the liquidation of our assets in accordance with the terms of our charter or distributions in which (a) our board of directors advises each stockholder of the risks associated with direct ownership of the property, (b) our board of directors offers each stockholder the election of receiving such in-kind distributions, and (c) in-kind distributions are made only to those stockholders that accept such offer. Our stockholders who receive distributions in kind of marketable securities may incur transaction expenses in liquidating the securities.
Distribution Reinvestment Plan
We have adopted a distribution reinvestment plan whereby stockholders (other than Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont and Washington investors) will have their cash distributions
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