EQUITY

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

EQUITY

EQUITY

As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, 55,597,855 and 53,715,569 shares, respectively, of common stock were issued and outstanding.

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company implemented an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Under the ESPP, qualified employees are permitted to purchase the Company’s common stock at 90% of the market value of the common stock on the specified stock purchase date. The ESPP is deemed compensatory and compensation costs will be accounted for under ASC 718, Stock Compensation. Employees’ payroll deductions for common stock purchases may not exceed 10% of their salaries. Employees may purchase up to 2,000 shares per period provided that the value of the shares purchased in any calendar year may not exceed $25,000, as calculated pursuant to the ESPP. The Company recorded expense of $0.2 million for 2022, 2021, and 2020. The Company issued 40,095, 37,460 and 43,332 shares of common stock related to the ESPP in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

On April 29, 2022, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement to sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $350.0 million from time to time depending on market conditions through an at-the-market equity program over the next three years. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from these sales, after deducting commissions on such sales and offering expenses, for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, construction and acquisition expenditures, investments and repurchases, and redemptions of securities. The Company sold 1,802,063 shares of common stock through its at-the-market equity program and raised proceeds of $104.6 million net of $1.1 million in commissions paid under the equity distribution agreement in 2022. The Company also incurred $0.1 million of equity issuance costs in 2022.

On October 31, 2019, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement to sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $300.0 million from time to time depending on market conditions through an at-the-market equity program. The equity distribution agreement concluded in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Company used the net proceeds from these sales, after deducting commissions on such sales and offering expenses, for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, construction and acquisition expenditures, investments and repurchases, and redemptions of securities. In 2021, the Company sold 3,286,865 shares of common stock through the at-the-market equity program and raised proceeds of $195.9 million net of $2.0 million in commissions paid under the equity distribution agreement. The Company also incurred $0.2 million of equity issuance costs in 2021.

As approved by the Company's stockholders at the 2022 Annual Meeting, effective July 26, 2022, the aggregate number of shares of common stock which the Company shall have authority to issue was increased from 68.0 million shares to 136.0 million shares. All of these shares are of one and the same series, namely shares of common stock with par value of $0.01 per share.

Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Repurchase Plan

The Company has a Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (DRIP Plan). Under the DRIP Plan, stockholders may reinvest dividends to purchase additional Company common stock without commission fees. The DRIP Plan also allows existing stockholders and other interested investors to purchase Company common stock through the transfer agent up to certain limits. The Company's transfer agent operates the DRIP Plan and purchases shares on the open market to provide shares for the DRIP Plan.