COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK

10.      COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK

The Company’s authorized shares of capital stock, par value of $0.01 per share, consists of 1,956,937,500 shares classified as common stock, 7,412,500 shares classified as 7.875% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, 4,600,000 shares classified as 6.00% Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, 12,650,000 shares classified as 7.625% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and 18,400,000 shares classified as 7.50% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.

(A) Common Stock

At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had issued and outstanding 947,826,176 and 947,643,079 shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share.

No options were exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company raised $1.7 million and $1.8 million by issuing 168,000 shares and 159,000 shares, respectively, through the Direct Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Program.

In March 2012, the Company entered into six separate Distribution Agency Agreements (“Distribution Agency Agreements”) with each of Merrill Lynch; Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated; Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC; Goldman, Sachs & Co.; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC; and RCap Securities, Inc. (together, the Agents). Pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agency Agreements, the Company may sell from time to time through the Agents, as its sales agents, up to 125,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company did not make any sales under the Distribution Agency Agreements during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

(B) Preferred Stock

At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had issued and outstanding 7,412,500 shares of Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”), with a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared). The Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to a dividend at a rate of 7.875% per year based on the $25.00 liquidation preference before the common stock is entitled to receive any dividends. The Series A Preferred Stock is redeemable at $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) exclusively at the Company's option commencing on April 5, 2009 (subject to the Company's right under limited circumstances to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock earlier in order to preserve its qualification as a (REIT).

Through September 30, 2015, the Company had declared and paid all required quarterly dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock.

At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had issued and outstanding 12,000,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared). The Series C Preferred Stock is entitled to a dividend at a rate of 7.625% per year based on the $25.00 liquidation preference before the common stock is entitled to receive any dividends. The Series C Preferred Stock is redeemable at $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) exclusively at the Company’s option commencing on May 16, 2017 (subject to the Company’s right under limited circumstances to redeem the Series C Preferred Stock earlier in order to preserve its qualification as a REIT or under limited circumstances related to a change of control of the Company). Through September 30, 2015, the Company had declared and paid all required quarterly dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock.

At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had issued and outstanding 18,400,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared). The Series D Preferred Stock is entitled to a dividend at a rate of 7.50% per year based on the $25.00 liquidation preference before the common stock is entitled to receive any dividends. The Series D Preferred Stock is redeemable at $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) exclusively at the Company’s option commencing on September 13, 2017 (subject to the Company’s right under limited circumstances to redeem the Series D Preferred Stock earlier in order to preserve its qualification as a REIT or under limited circumstances related to a change of control of the Company). Through September 30, 2015, the Company had declared and paid all required quarterly dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock.

The 7.875% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, 7.625% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and 7.50% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock rank senior to the common stock of the Company.

(C) Distributions to Stockholders

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company declared dividends to common stockholders totaling $853.0 million, or $0.90 per common share, of which $284.3 million, or $0.30 per common share, was paid to common stockholders on October 30, 2015. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company declared and paid dividends to Series A Preferred Stock stockholders totaling approximately $10.9 million, or $1.477 per preferred share, Series C Preferred Stock stockholders totaling approximately $17.2 million, or $1.430 per preferred share and Series D Preferred Stock stockholders totaling approximately $25.9 million, or $1.406 per preferred share.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company declared dividends to common stockholders totaling $852.8 million, or $0.90 per common share, of which $284.3, or $0.30 per common share, was paid to common stockholders on October 31, 2014. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company declared and paid dividends to Series A Preferred stockholders totaling approximately $10.9 million, or $1.477 per preferred share, Series C Preferred stockholders totaling approximately $17.2 million, or $1.430 per preferred share, Series D Preferred stockholders totaling approximately $25.9 million, or $1.406 per preferred share.