DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
The following description of our common stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the common stock to which any prospectus supplement may relate and will apply to the common stock offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The description of our common stock set forth below and in any prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable provisions of our charter and bylaws.
Distributions. Subject to the preferential rights of any shares of preferred stock currently outstanding or subsequently classified and to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on transfer and ownership of shares of common stock, a holder of our common stock is entitled to receive distributions, if, as and when authorized and declared by our Board of Directors, out of our assets that we may legally use for distributions to stockholders and to share ratably in our assets that we may legally distribute to our stockholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up after payment of, or adequate provision for, all of our known debts and liabilities. We currently pay regular quarterly distributions on our common stock.
Relationship to Preferred Stock and Other Shares of Common Stock. The rights of a holder of shares of common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of preferred stock that may be issued in the future. Our Board of Directors may cause preferred stock to be issued to obtain additional capital, in connection with acquisitions, to our officers, directors and employees pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise and for other corporate purposes.
A holder of our common stock has no preferences, conversion rights, sinking fund, redemption rights, appraisal rights or preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities. Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on ownership and transfer, all shares of common stock have equal distribution, liquidation, voting and other rights.
Voting Rights. Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on transfer and ownership of shares of common stock, a holder of common stock has one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors.
Under the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business, unless approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least two thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter. However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter provides that such actions need to be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, any merger, consolidation, share exchange, recapitalization, dissolution, sale of all or substantially all of our assets or any amendment to the provisions of our charter regarding the Board of Directors, indemnification of our directors and officers or amendment of the charter must be approved by at leasttwo-thirds of our Board of Directors. Additionally, no amendment to our charter may be made that would, (i) in the determination of our Board of Directors, cause us not to qualify as a REIT, (ii) amend the provisions of our charter regarding removal of directors, (iii) amend our bylaws, (iv) amend the provisions of our charter regarding the indemnification of directors and officers, (v) amend our charter, or (vi) impose cumulative voting in the election of directors, in each case, unless approved by the holders of not less than 80% of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Our charter and bylaws do not allow for cumulative voting in the election of directors, and a majority of the votes cast in an election for a director shall be sufficient to elect a director. However, if there are more candidates for director than there are board seats to be voted upon, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.
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