Description of Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Description of Business

Description of Business

QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (“QTS”) through its controlling interest in QualityTech, LP (the “Operating Partnership” and collectively with QTS and its subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) and the subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership, is engaged in the business of owning, acquiring, constructing, redeveloping and managing multi-tenant data centers. As of December 31, 2020 our portfolio consisted of 28 owned and leased properties, including a property owned by an unconsolidated entity, with data centers located throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

QTS elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2013. As a REIT, QTS generally is not required to pay federal corporate income taxes on its taxable income to the extent it is currently distributed to its stockholders.

The Operating Partnership is a Delaware limited partnership formed on August 5, 2009 and is QTS’ historical predecessor. As of December 31, 2020, QTS owned approximately 90.8% of the interests in the Operating Partnership. Substantially all of QTS’ assets are held by, and all of QTS’ operations are conducted through, the Operating Partnership. QTS’ interest in the Operating Partnership entitles QTS to share in cash distributions from, and in the profits and losses of, the Operating Partnership in proportion to QTS’ percentage ownership. As the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, QTS generally has the exclusive power under the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership to manage and conduct the Operating Partnership’s business and QTS’ board of directors manages the Operating Partnership and the Company’s business and affairs.