Mergers and Significant Acquisitions and Sales

American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc. Merger

On December 14, 2012, ARCP entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “ARCT III Merger Agreement”) with ARCT III and certain subsidiaries of each company. The ARCT III Merger Agreement provided for the merger of ARCT III with and into a subsidiary of ARCP (the “ARCT III Merger”). The ARCT III Merger was consummated on February 28, 2013 (the “ARCT III Merger Date”).

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the ARCT III Merger Agreement, each outstanding share of common stock of ARCT III, including restricted shares that became vested, was converted into the right to receive (i) 0.95 of a share of ARCP’s common stock (the “ARCT III Exchange Ratio”) or (ii) $12.00 in cash. In addition, each outstanding unit of equity ownership of ARCT III’s operating partnership (the “ARCT III OP”) was converted into the right to receive 0.95 of the same class of unit of equity ownership in the OP.

Upon the closing of the ARCT III Merger on February 28, 2013, the Company paid an aggregate of $350 million in cash for 29.2 million shares that elected cash consideration, or 16.5% of the then outstanding shares of ARCT III’s common stock (which is equivalent to 27.7 million shares of ARCP’s common stock based on the ARCT III Exchange Ratio). In addition, 140.7 million shares of ARCP’s common stock were issued in exchange for 148.1 million shares of ARCT III’s common stock adjusted for the ARCT III Exchange Ratio. In accordance with the LPA, the OP issued a corresponding number of General Partner OP Units to ARCP when ARCP issued common stock to former common stockholders of ARCT III.

Upon the consummation of the ARCT III Merger, American Realty Capital Trust III Special Limited Partner, LLC (the “ARCT III Special Limited Partner”), the holder of the special limited partner interest in the ARCT III OP, was entitled to subordinated distributions of net sales proceeds from the ARCT III OP, which resulted in the issuance of units of limited partner interests in the ARCT III OP. After applying the ARCT III Exchange Ratio, this distribution resulted in the issuance of an additional 7.3 million OP Units to affiliates of the Former Manager. The parties had agreed that such OP Units would be subject to a minimum one-year holding period from the date of issuance before being redeemable by the holder for cash or, at the option of ARCP, common stock of ARCP.

Also in connection with the ARCT III Merger, the Company entered into an agreement with the Former Manager and its affiliates to internalize certain functions performed by them prior to the ARCT III Merger, reduce certain fees paid to affiliates and pay certain merger related fees. See Note 20 – Related Party Transactions and Arrangements.

Accounting Treatment for the ARCT III Merger

The Company and ARCT III, from inception to the ARCT III Merger Date, were considered to be entities under common control. Both entities’ advisors were wholly owned subsidiaries of ARC. ARC and its related parties had significant ownership interests in the Company and ARCT III through the ownership of shares of common stock and other equity interests. In addition, the advisors of the Company and ARCT III were contractually eligible to receive potential fees for their services to both companies, including asset management fees, incentive fees and other fees, and continued to receive fees from the Operating Partnership, on behalf of ARCP, prior to ARCP’s transition to self-management. Due to the significance of these fees, the advisors and ultimately ARC were determined to have a significant economic interest in both companies in addition to having the power to direct the significant activities of the companies through advisory/management agreements, which qualified them as affiliated companies under common control in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The acquisition of an entity under common control is accounted for on the carryover basis of accounting, whereby the assets and liabilities of the companies are recorded upon the merger on the same basis as they were carried by the companies on the ARCT III Merger Date. In addition, U.S. GAAP requires the Company to present historical financial information as if the merger had occurred as of the earliest period of common control. Therefore, the accompanying consolidated financial statements including the notes thereto, are presented as if the ARCT III Merger had occurred at the earliest period presented.

GE Capital Portfolio Acquisitions

On June 27, 2013, the Company acquired, through subsidiaries of the OP, from certain affiliates of GE Capital Corp., the equity interests in the entities that own a real estate portfolio comprised of 447 properties (the “GE Capital Portfolio”) for a purchase price of $773.9 million, exclusive of closing costs, with no liabilities assumed. The 447 properties are subject to 409 property operating leases, as well as 38 direct financing leases.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, ARCT IV acquired, from certain affiliates of GE Capital Corp., the equity interests in the entities that own a real estate portfolio comprised of 924 properties (the “ARCT IV GE Capital Portfolio”) for a purchase price of $1.4 billion, exclusive of closing costs, with no liabilities assumed. The 924 properties are subject to 912 property operating leases, as well as 12 direct financing leases.

CapLease, Inc. Merger

On May 28, 2013, ARCP entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “CapLease Merger Agreement”) with CapLease Inc. (“CapLease”), a Maryland corporation, and certain subsidiaries of each company. The CapLease Merger Agreement provided for the merger of CapLease with and into a subsidiary of ARCP (the “CapLease Merger”).

On November 5, 2013, ARCP consummated the CapLease Merger. Pursuant to the terms of the CapLease Merger Agreement, each outstanding share of common stock of CapLease, other than shares owned by ARCP, CapLease or any of their respective wholly owned subsidiaries, was converted into the right to receive $8.50. Each outstanding share of preferred stock of CapLease, other than shares owned by ARCP, CapLease or any of their respective wholly owned subsidiaries, was converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the sum of $25.00 plus all accrued and unpaid dividends on such shares of preferred stock. In addition, in connection with the merger of Caplease, LP with and into the OP, each outstanding unit of equity ownership of CapLease’s operating partnership, other than units owned by CapLease, the OP, or any other of their respective wholly owned subsidiaries, was converted into the right to receive $8.50. Shares of CapLease’s outstanding restricted stock were accelerated and became fully vested, and restricted stock and any outstanding performance shares were fully earned and received $8.50 per share. In total, cash consideration of $920.7 million was paid to CapLease’s common and preferred shareholders.

Accounting Treatment for the CapLease Merger

The CapLease Merger has been accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from CapLease have been recorded, as of the acquisition date, at their respective fair values. Any excess of purchase price over the fair values is recorded as goodwill. Results of operations for CapLease are included in ARCP’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.

American Realty Capital Trust IV, Inc. Merger

On July 1, 2013, the General Partner entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended on October 6, 2013 and October 11, 2013 (the “ARCT IV Merger Agreement”), with ARCT IV, and certain subsidiaries of each company. The ARCT IV Merger Agreement provided for the merger of ARCT IV with and into a subsidiary of the OP (the “ARCT IV Merger”). The ARCT IV Merger was consummated on January 3, 2014 (the “ARCT IV Merger Date”).

Pursuant to the terms of the ARCT IV Merger Agreement, as amended, each outstanding share of common stock of ARCT IV, including unvested restricted shares that vested in conjunction with the ARCT IV Merger, was exchanged for (i) $9.00 in cash, (ii) 0.5190 of a share of ARCP’s common stock (the “ARCT IV Exchange Ratio”) and (iii) 0.5937 of a share of a new series of preferred stock designated as the 6.70% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series F Preferred Stock”) and each outstanding unit of ARCT IV’s operating partnership (each, an “ARCT IV OP Unit”), other than ARCT IV OP Units held by American Realty Capital Trust IV Special Limited Partner, LLC (the “ARCT IV Special Limited Partner”), and American Realty Capital Advisors IV, LLC (the “ARCT IV Advisor”) was exchanged for (i) $9.00 in cash, (ii) 0.5190 of a Limited Partner OP Unit and (iii) 0.5937 of a Limited Partner OP Unit designated as Series F Preferred Units (“Limited Partner Series F OP Units”). In total, the Operating Partnership, on ARCP’s behalf, paid $651.4 million in cash, ARCP issued 36.9 million shares of common stock and 42.2 million shares of Series F Preferred Stock to the former ARCT IV shareholders, and the Operating Partnership issued 0.7 million units of Limited Partner Series F OP units and 0.6 million Limited Partner OP Units to the former ARCT IV OP Unit holders in connection with the consummation of the ARCT IV Merger. In addition, each outstanding ARCT IV Class B Unit (as defined below) and each outstanding ARCT IV OP Unit held by the ARCT IV Special Limited Partner and the ARCT IV Advisor was converted into 2.3961 Limited Partner OP Units, resulting in the OP issuing 1.2 million Limited Partner OP Units. In accordance with the LPA, the OP issued a corresponding number of General Partner OP Units and General Partner Series F Preferred Units to ARCP when shares of ARCP’s common stock and Series F Preferred Stock were issued to former common stockholders of ARCT IV, respectively.

On January 3, 2014, the OP entered into a Contribution and Exchange Agreement (the “ARCT IV Contribution and Exchange Agreement”) with the ARCT IV OP, the ARCT IV Special Limited Partner and ARC Real Estate Partners, LLC (“ARC Real Estate”), an entity under common ownership with the Former Manager. The ARCT IV Special Limited Partner was entitled to receive certain distributions from the ARCT IV OP, including the subordinated distribution of net sales proceeds resulting from an “investment liquidity event” (as defined in the agreement of limited partnership of the ARCT IV OP). The ARCT IV Merger constituted an “investment liquidity event,” as a result of which the ARCT IV Special Limited Partner, in connection with management’s successful attainment of the 6.0% performance hurdle and the return to ARCT IV’s stockholders of $358.3 million in addition to their initial investment, received a subordinated distribution of net sales proceeds from the ARCT IV OP equal to $63.2 million. Pursuant to the ARCT IV Contribution and Exchange Agreement, the ARCT IV Special Limited Partner contributed its interest in the ARCT IV OP, inclusive of the subordinated distribution proceeds received, to the ARCT IV OP in exchange for 2.8 million equity units of the ARCT IV OP, based on a price per share of $22.50. The fair value of these units at date of issuance was $78.2 million and has been included in merger and other non-routine transactions in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014. Upon consummation of the ARCT IV Merger, these equity units were immediately converted to 6.7 million Limited Partner OP Units after application of the exchange ratio of 2.3961 per ARCT IV OP Unit. In conjunction with the ARCT IV Merger Agreement, the ARCT IV Special Limited Partner agreed to a minimum two-year holding period for these Limited Partner OP Units before being redeemable by the holder for cash or, at the option of the General Partner, the common stock of ARCP.

In addition, as part of the ARCT IV Contribution and Exchange Agreement, ARC Real Estate contributed $750,000 in cash to the ARCT IV OP, effective prior to the consummation of the ARCT IV Merger, in exchange for ARCT IV OP Units. Upon the consummation of the ARCT IV Merger, these equity units converted at an exchange ratio of 2.3961 Limited Partner OP Units per ARCT IV OP Unit, resulting in the Operating Partnership issuing 0.1 million Limited Partner OP Units to ARC Real Estate.

Accounting Treatment for the ARCT IV Merger

The Company and ARCT IV, from inception to the ARCT IV Merger Date, were considered to be entities under common control. Both entities’ advisors were wholly owned subsidiaries of ARC. ARC and its related parties had ownership interests in the Company and ARCT IV through the ownership of shares of common stock, OP Units and other equity interests. In addition, the advisors of both entities were contractually eligible to receive potential fees for their services to both of the companies including asset management fees, incentive fees and other fees and had continued to receive fees from the OP prior to ARCP’s transition to self-management. Due to the significance of these fees, the advisors and ultimately ARC were determined to have a significant economic interest in both companies in addition to having the power to direct the activities of the companies through advisory/management agreements, which qualified them as affiliated companies under common control in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The acquisition of an entity under common control is accounted for on the carryover basis of accounting, whereby the assets and liabilities of the companies are recorded upon the merger on the same basis as they were carried by the companies on the ARCT IV Merger Date. In addition, U.S. GAAP requires the Company to present historical financial information as of the earliest period of common control. Therefore, the accompanying consolidated financial statements including the notes thereto are presented as if the ARCT IV Merger, including the impact of the equity transactions entered into to consummate the merger, had occurred at the earliest period presented.

Fortress Portfolio Acquisition

On July 24, 2013, ARC and another related entity, on behalf of the Company and certain other entities sponsored directly or indirectly by ARC, entered into a purchase and sale agreement with affiliates of funds managed by Fortress Investment Group LLC (“Fortress”) for the purchase of 196 properties owned by Fortress, for an aggregate contract purchase price of $972.5 million, subject to adjustments set forth in the purchase and sale agreement and exclusive of closing costs, which were allocated to the Company based on the pro rata fair value of the properties acquired by the Company relative to the fair value of all 196 properties sold by Fortress. Of the 196 properties, 120 properties were allocated to the Company (the “Fortress Portfolio”). On October 1, 2013, the Company closed on 41 of the 120 properties with a total purchase price of $200.3 million, exclusive of closing costs. On January 8, 2014, the Company closed the acquisition of the remaining 79 properties in the Fortress Portfolio, for an aggregate contract purchase price of $400.9 million, exclusive of closing costs. The total purchase price of the Fortress Portfolio was $601.2 million, exclusive of closing costs.

Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. Merger

On October 22, 2013, ARCP and a wholly owned subsidiary entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Cole Merger Agreement”) with Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. (“Cole”), a publicly traded Maryland corporation. The Cole Merger Agreement provided for the merger of Cole with and into a wholly owned subsidiary of ARCP (the “Cole Merger”). The Cole Merger was consummated on February 7, 2014 (the “Cole Acquisition Date”).

Pursuant to the terms of the Cole Merger Agreement, each share of common stock of Cole issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Cole Merger, including unvested restricted stock units and performance stock units that vested in conjunction with the Cole Merger, other than shares owned by ARCP, any subsidiary of ARCP or any wholly owned subsidiary of Cole, was converted into the right to receive either (i) 1.0929 shares of ARCP’s common stock (the “Stock Consideration”) or (ii) $13.82 in cash (the “Cash Consideration” and together with the Stock Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”). Holders of approximately 98% of outstanding Cole shares elected to receive Stock Consideration and holders of approximately 2% of outstanding Cole shares elected to receive Cash Consideration, pursuant to the terms of the Cole Merger Agreement, resulting in ARCP issuing approximately 520.8 million shares of common stock and paying $181.8 million in cash to Cole’s shareholders based on their elections. In accordance with the LPA, the Operating Partnership issued a corresponding number of General Partner OP Units to ARCP when shares of ARCP’s common stock were issued to former common stockholders of Cole.

In addition, ARCP issued approximately 2.8 million shares of common stock, in the aggregate, to certain executives of Cole pursuant to letter agreements entered into between the Company and such individuals, concurrently with the execution of the Cole Merger Agreement. Additionally, effective as of the Cole Acquisition Date, ARCP issued, but had not yet allocated, 0.4 million shares with dividend equivalent rights commensurate with ARCP’s common stock. In accordance with the LPA, the Operating Partnership issued a corresponding number of General Partner OP Units to ARCP when shares of ARCP’s common stock were issued to former executives of Cole.

The fair value of the consideration transferred at the Cole Acquisition Date totaled $7.5 billion and consisted of the following (in thousands):



	As of Cole Acquisition Date
Fair value of consideration transferred:
Cash	$	181,775
Common stock	7,285,868
Total consideration transferred	$	7,467,643

The fair value of the 520.8 million shares of common stock issued, excluding those common shares transferred to former Cole executives, was determined based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the Cole Acquisition Date.

Accounting Treatment for the Cole Merger

The Cole Merger has been accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting under U.S. GAAP. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from Cole have been recorded as of the acquisition date at their respective fair values. Any excess of purchase price over the fair values is recorded as goodwill. Results of operations for Cole are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements subsequent to the Cole Acquisition Date. During the three months ended December 31, 2014, we recorded significant impairment charges. See Note 3 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for discussion on impairment charges.

Inland Portfolio Acquisition

On August 8, 2013, ARC and another related entity, on behalf of the Company and certain other entities sponsored directly or indirectly by ARC, entered into a purchase and sale agreement with Inland American Real Estate Trust, Inc. (“Inland”) for the purchase of the equity interests of 67 companies owned by Inland for an aggregate contract purchase price of $2.3 billion, subject to adjustments set forth in the purchase and sale agreement and exclusive of closing costs. Of the 67 companies, the equity interests of 10 companies holding in the aggregate 33 properties (the “Inland Portfolio”) were allocated to the Company for a purchase price of $501.0 million, subject to adjustments set forth in the purchase and sale agreement and exclusive of closing costs, which were allocated to the Company based on the pro rata fair value of the Inland Portfolio relative to the fair value of all 67 companies sold by Inland. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had closed on 32 of the 33 properties for a total purchase price of $288.2 million, exclusive of closing costs. The Company will not close on the remaining one property.

Cole Credit Property Trust, Inc. Merger

On March 17, 2014, the General Partner and a wholly owned subsidiary entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “CCPT Merger Agreement”) with Cole Credit Property Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“CCPT”). The CCPT Merger Agreement provided for the merger of CCPT with and into a direct subsidiary of the General Partner (the “CCPT Merger”). The CCPT Merger was consummated on May 19, 2014 (the “CCPT Acquisition Date”). The fair value of the consideration transferred at the CCPT Acquisition Date totaled $73.2 million, which was paid in cash.

Pursuant to the CCPT Merger Agreement, the General Partner commenced a cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of CCPT (the “CCPT Common Stock”) (other than shares owned by CCPT, the General Partner or any subsidiary of the Company), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated March 31, 2014, and the related Letter of Transmittal (together with any amendments or supplements to the foregoing, the “Offer”), at a price of $7.25 per share (the “Offer Price”), net to the seller in cash, without interest, less any applicable withholding tax. On May 19, 2014, the General Partner accepted for payment and paid for all shares of CCPT Common Stock that were validly tendered in the Offer. As of the expiration of the Offer, a total of 7,735,069 shares of CCPT Common Stock were validly tendered and not withdrawn, representing approximately 77% of the shares of CCPT Common Stock outstanding.

Immediately following the acceptance for payment and payment for the shares of CCPT Common Stock that were validly tendered in the Offer, ARCP exercised its option (the “Top-Up Option”), granted pursuant to the CCPT Merger Agreement, to purchase, at a price per share equal to the Offer Price, 13,457,874 newly issued shares of CCPT Common Stock (collectively, the “Top-Up Shares”). The Top-Up Shares, taken together with the shares of CCPT Common Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by ARCP and its subsidiaries immediately following the acceptance for payment and payment for the shares of CCPT Common Stock that were validly tendered in the Offer, constituted one share more than 90% of the outstanding shares of CCPT Common Stock (after giving effect to the issuance of all shares subject to the Top-Up Option), the applicable threshold required to effect a short-form merger under applicable Maryland law without stockholder approval.

Following the consummation of the Offer and the exercise of the Top-Up Option, in accordance with the CCPT Merger Agreement, ARCP completed its acquisition of CCPT by effecting of a short-form merger under Maryland law, pursuant to which CCPT was merged with and into a subsidiary of ARCP, with the subsidiary surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ARCP. The CCPT Merger became effective following the filing of the Articles of Merger with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland and the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with an effective date of May 19, 2014 (the “Effective Time”).

At the Effective Time, each share of CCPT Common Stock not purchased in the Offer (other than shares held by the CCPT, ARCP or any subsidiary of ARCP, which were automatically canceled and retired and ceased to exist) was converted into the right to receive an amount, in cash and without interest, equal to the Offer Price.

Accounting Treatment for the CCPT Merger

The CCPT Merger has been accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting under U.S. GAAP. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from CCPT have been recorded as of the acquisition date at their respective fair values. Any excess of purchase price over the fair values is recorded as goodwill. Results of operations for CCPT are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements subsequent to the CCPT Acquisition Date.

Red Lobster Portfolio Acquisition

On May 15, 2014, the Operating Partnership, through a wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a master purchase agreement to acquire over 500 properties, substantially all of which are operating as Red Lobster^® restaurants (the “Red Lobster Portfolio”) from a third party. The transaction was structured as a sale-leaseback in which the Operating Partnership agreed to purchase the Red Lobster Portfolio and would immediately lease the portfolio back to the third party pursuant to the terms of multiple master leases (the “Master Leases”). The overall sale-leaseback transaction consisted of 522 Red Lobster^® restaurants and 20 other branded restaurant properties for a purchase price of $1.7 billion. The Company closed the Red Lobster Portfolio acquisition in the third quarter of 2014. The Red Lobster Portfolio acquisition is included in the 2014 Acquisitions (as defined in Note 7 – Real Estate Investments).

Abandoned Spin-off of Multi-Tenant Shopping Center Portfolio; Sale to Blackstone/DDR Joint Venture

On March 13, 2014, the Company announced its intention to spin off its multi-tenant shopping center business (the “MT Spin-off”) into a publicly traded REIT, American Realty Capital Centers, Inc., which was expected to operate under the name “ARCenters” and to trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “ARCM.” The OP was expected to retain 25% ownership of ARCM. The MT Spin-off was expected to be effectuated through a pro rata taxable special distribution of one share of ARCM common stock for every 10 shares of the Company’s common stock and every 10 OP Units held by third parties in the OP. On April 4, 2014, ARCM filed a Registration Statement on Form 10 to register ARCM’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act so that, upon consummation of the MT Spin-off, shares of ARCM received by holders of the Company’s common stock, or OP Units, as applicable, could freely trade their newly received ARCM common stock. ARCM was expected to be externally managed by the Company. On May 21, 2014, the Company announced that it had reassessed its plans for the multi-tenant shopping center portfolio and entered into a letter of intent to sell such portfolio to Blackstone, expecting to finalize pertinent documentation related thereto within 30 days of such date. The properties included in such sale were the same properties that would have been spun off into ARCM and, consequently, the Company abandoned its proposed spin-off at such time. On June 11, 2014, indirect subsidiaries of the Company entered into an Agreement of Purchase and Sale with BRE DDR Retail Holdings III LLC (the “Blackstone/DDR Joint Venture”), an entity indirectly jointly owned by affiliates of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII L.P. and DDR Corp. (“DDR”), pursuant to which the parties consummated the sale of the Company’s multi-tenant shopping center portfolio. See Note 22 – Property Dispositions for further discussion on the sale of the properties, which closed on October 17, 2014.