In December 2021, the Company completed a follow-on public offering of 5,750,000 shares of common stock, including the full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional 750,000 shares, in connection with forward sale agreements. The offering resulted in net proceeds to the Company of approximately $368.7 million after deducting fees and expenses and making certain other adjustments as provided in the forward sale agreement.
In May 2022, the Company completed a follow-on public offering of 5,750,000 shares of common stock, including the full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase an additional 750,000 shares, in connection with forward sale agreements. Upon settlement, the offering is anticipated to raise net proceeds of approximately $388.0 million after deducting fees and expenses and making certain other adjustments as provided in the equity distribution agreements. As of June 30, 2022, the Company has not settled any shares of these May 2022 forward sale agreements.
Preferred Stock Offering
In September 2021, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”), each representing 1/1,000th of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, which resulted in net proceeds to the Company of approximately $170.3 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and costs payable by the Company. At the closing, the Company issued 7,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Shares”) to the depositary, resulting in the issuance of 7,000,000 Depositary Shares. The Company contributed the net proceeds from the sale of the Depositary Shares to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 7,000 Series A Preferred Units corresponding to the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares.
Dividends on the Series A Preferred Shares will be payable monthly in arrears on the first day of each month (or, if not on a business day, on the next succeeding business day). The dividend rate is 4.25% per annum of the $25,000 (equivalent to $25.00 per Depositary Share) liquidation preference. The first pro-rated dividend on the Series A Preferred Shares was paid on October 1, 2021, and was in an amount equivalent to $0.04132 per Depositary Share. Subsequent dividends on the Series A Preferred Shares have been and will be in the amount of $0.08854 per Depositary Share, equivalent to $1.0625 per annum.
The Company may not redeem the Series A Preferred Shares before September 2026, except in limited circumstances to preserve its status as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes and except in certain circumstances upon the occurrence of a change of control of the Company. Beginning in September 2026, the Company, at its option, may redeem the Series A Preferred Shares, in whole or from time to time in part, by paying $25.00 per Depositary Share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. Upon the occurrence of a change in control of the Company, if the Company does not otherwise redeem the Series A Preferred Shares, the holders have a right to convert their shares into common stock of the Company at the $25.00 per share liquidation value, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. This conversion value is limited by a share cap if the Company’s stock price falls below a certain threshold.
2021 ATM Program
In February 2021, the Company entered into a $500.0 million ATM program (the “2021 ATM Program”) through which the Company, from time to time, may sell shares of common stock. In addition to selling shares of common stock, the Company has entered into forward sale agreements through the 2021 ATM Program, as described below.
As of June 30, 2022, the Company had entered into forward sale agreements to sell an aggregate of 4,011,176 shares of common stock. During 2022, the Company settled 2,709,814 of these forward sale agreements for net proceeds of approximately $182.4 million. The Company is required to settle the remaining outstanding shares of common stock under the 2021 ATM Program by various dates in May 2023.
Note 7 – Dividends and Distribution Payable
During the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Company declared monthly dividends of $0.234 per common share for April, May and June 2022. Holders of Operating Partnership Common Units are entitled to an equal distribution per Operating Partnership Common Unit held. The dividends and distributions payable for April and May were paid during