POS AM
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2016
Registration No. 333-192331
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.1 TO
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 6 TO
FORM S-11
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700
Newport Beach, California 92660
(949) 417-6500
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of the registrant’s principal executive offices)
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Keith D. Hall
Chief Executive Officer
KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.
800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700
Newport Beach, California 92660
(949) 417-6500
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
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Copies to:
Robert H. Bergdolt, Esq.
Laura K. Sirianni, Esq.
DLA Piper LLP (US)
4141 Parklake Avenue, Suite 300
Raleigh, North Carolina 27612-2350
(919) 786-2000
______________________________________________________
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: As soon as practicable after the effectiveness of the registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box. x
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check One):
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Large accelerated filer | | ¨ | | Accelerated filer | | ¨ |
Non-accelerated filer | | ¨ | | Smaller reporting company | | x |
(Do not check if smaller reporting company)
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Explanatory Note
This Pre-Effective Amendment No.1 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 consists of the following:
1. The Registrant’s final prospectus dated February 17, 2016.
2. Supplement no. 5 and Supplement no. 6, each dated April 26, 2016 to the Registrant’s prospectus dated February 17, 2016, included herewith, which will be delivered as unattached documents along with the prospectus.
3. Part II, included herewith.
4. Signature, included herewith.
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| KBS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC. |
Maximum Offering of up to |
180,000,000 Shares of Common Stock |
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KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. is a Maryland corporation that has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust beginning with the taxable year that ended December 31, 2014. We expect to use substantially all of the net proceeds from this offering to invest in and manage a diverse portfolio of real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments. We intend to acquire distressed debt, to originate and acquire mortgage, mezzanine, bridge and other real estate-related loans, to invest in various types of opportunistic real estate and to invest in real estate-related debt securities such as residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations. In addition, we may acquire equity securities of companies that make similar investments. We may make our investments through loan origination and the acquisition of individual assets or by acquiring portfolios of assets, mortgage REITs or companies with investment objectives similar to ours. We expect our investments to be in real estate and real estate-related assets located in the United States and Europe. As of February 17, 2016, we owned two hotel properties, one office building, and had originated a first mortgage loan.
We are offering up to $1,000,000,000 in shares of our common stock in the primary offering, consisting of two classes of shares: Class A shares at a price of $10.00 per share and Class T shares at a price of $9.59 per share. Both classes of shares have discounts available to certain categories of purchasers. We are also offering up to 76,366,006 in shares of our common stock pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan: Class A shares at a price of $9.50 per share and Class T shares at a price of $9.12 per share. The amount of selling commissions differs among Class A shares and Class T shares, and there is an ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering. We are offering to sell any combination of Class A and Class T shares in our primary offering and dividend reinvestment plan offering but in no event may we sell more than 180,000,000 of shares of our common stock pursuant to this offering. We reserve the right to reallocate shares between the primary offering and our dividend reinvestment plan offering. Based on our current estimates, as of the date of this prospectus, we have allocated 103,633,994 and 76,366,006 shares of our common stock to our primary and dividend reinvestment plan offerings, respectively. Our board of directors may adjust the offering prices of the primary offering shares or dividend reinvestment plan shares during the course of this offering by filing a post-effective amendment to this registration statement.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 32 to read about risks you should consider before buying shares of our common stock. These risks include the following: | |
• | If we do not raise significant proceeds in this offering, we may not be able to invest in a diverse portfolio of real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments and the value of your investment may vary more widely with the performance of specific assets. |
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• | No public market currently exists for our shares, and at this time we have no plans to list our shares on an exchange. Our charter does not require our directors to provide our stockholders with a liquidity event by a specified date or at all. If you are able to sell your shares, you would likely have to sell them at a substantial loss. |
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• | There are restrictions on the ownership and transferability of our shares of common stock. See “Description of Shares - Restriction on Ownership of Shares.” |
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• | We set the $10.00 primary offering price of our Class A shares arbitrarily, and based on that price, set the primary offering price of our Class T shares to account for differing selling commissions. The offering prices are unrelated to the value of our assets or to our expected operating income. |
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• | We depend on our advisor to conduct our operations. |
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• | We have a limited operating history and very few assets. Other than as described in a supplement to this prospectus, we have not identified any additional investments to acquire. |
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• | All of our executive officers, our affiliated directors and other key real estate and debt finance professionals are also officers, directors, managers, key professionals and/or holders of a controlling interest in our advisor, our dealer manager and/or other KBS-affiliated entities. As a result, they face conflicts of interest, including significant conflicts created by our advisor’s compensation arrangements with us and other KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors. Fees paid to our advisor in connection with transactions involving the origination, acquisition and management of our investments are based on the cost of the investment, not on the quality of the investment or services rendered to us. This arrangement could influence our advisor to recommend riskier transactions to us. |
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• | We pay substantial fees to and reimburse expenses of our advisor, its affiliates and participating broker-dealers. These fees increase your risk of loss. |
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• | We may fund distributions from any source, including, without limitation, from offering proceeds or borrowings. If we pay distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operations, we will have less funds available for investment in properties and other assets, the overall return to our stockholders may be reduced and subsequent investors will experience dilution. |
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• | We may incur debt causing our total liabilities to exceed 75% of the cost of our tangible assets with the approval of the conflicts committee. Higher debt levels increase the risk of your investment. |
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• | Disruptions in the financial markets and uncertain economic conditions could adversely affect our ability to implement our business strategy and generate returns to you. |
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• | We expect to make foreign investments and will be susceptible to changes in currency exchange rates, adverse political or economic developments, lack of uniform accounting standards and changes in foreign laws. |
Neither the SEC, the Attorney General of the State of New York nor any other state securities regulator has approved or disapproved of our common stock, determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete or passed on or endorsed the merits of this offering. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This investment involves a high degree of risk. You should purchase these securities only if you can afford a complete loss of your investment. The use of projections or forecasts in this offering is prohibited. No one is permitted to make any oral or written predictions about the cash benefits or tax consequences you will receive from your investment.
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| Price to Public(1)(2) | Selling Commissions(2)(3) | Dealer Manager Fee(2)(3) | Net Proceeds(3)(4) |
Maximum Primary Offering | $ | 1,000,000,000 |
| | $ | 35,250,000 |
| | $ | 20,598,000 |
| | $ | 944,152,000 |
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Class A Shares, Per Share | $ | 10.00 |
| | $ | 0.650 |
| | $ | 0.240 |
| | $ | 9.11 |
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Class T Shares, Per Share | $ | 9.59 |
| | $ | 0.288 |
| | $ | 0.192 |
| | $ | 9.11 |
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Dividend Reinvestment Plan | $ | 700,661,946 |
| | $ | 0.00 |
| | $ | 0.00 |
| | $ | 700,661,946 |
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Class A Shares, Per Share | $ | 9.50 |
| | $ | 0.00 |
| | $ | 0.00 |
| | $ | 9.50 |
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Class T Shares, Per Share | $ | 9.12 |
| | $ | 0.00 |
| | $ | 0.00 |
| | $ | 9.12 |
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Total Maximum | $ | 1,700,661,946 |
| | $ | 35,250,000 |
| | $ | 20,598,000 |
| | $ | 1,644,813,946 |
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(1) Volume and other discounts are available for certain categories of purchasers. Reductions in commissions and fees will result in corresponding reductions in the purchase price.
(2) The maximum offering price, selling commissions and dealer manager fee assume that 15% and 85% of the gross proceeds raised in the primary offering is from the sale of Class A and Class T shares of common stock, respectively. As we are registering any combination of the two classes of shares, this allocation is management’s best estimate based on the recommendation of our dealer manager and its perceived demand in the market for each respective class of shares. Further, based on our current estimates we have allocated 103,633,994 and 76,366,006 shares of our common stock to our primary and dividend reinvestment plan offerings, respectively.
(3) In addition to the selling commissions and dealer manager fee, we will pay additional underwriting compensation in the form of a stockholder servicing fee on the shares of Class T common stock sold in our primary offering. This fee is subject to certain limits and conditions, and with respect to a particular Class T share, will accrue until the fourth anniversary of the issuance of the share in an annual amount equal to 1.0% of the purchase price per share (ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers).
(4) There will also be additional items of value paid from offering proceeds in connection with this offering that are viewed by FINRA as underwriting compensation. Payment of this additional underwriting compensation will reduce the proceeds to us. See “Plan of Distribution.”
The dealer manager, KBS Capital Markets Group LLC, our affiliate, is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of shares but will use its best efforts to sell the shares offered. The minimum permitted purchase is $4,000. Benefit Plan investors subscribing to purchase Class T shares should follow the escrow procedures under “Plan of Distribution - Special Notice to Benefit Plan Investors.”
We currently expect to offer shares of common stock in our primary offering until approximately 90 days (as determined by our Chief Executive Officer) after we have announced that we have raised $650 million in our primary public offering. In no event may the primary offering continue beyond the time period permitted by the rules promulgated by the SEC, which rules provide that absent the filing of a registration statement for a follow-on offering, this primary offering shall terminate after a three-year period. If we decide to revise the threshold upon which we will terminate this primary offering, we will provide that information in a prospectus supplement. We may continue to offer shares under our dividend reinvestment plan after the primary offering terminates until we have sold up to 76,366,006 shares of Class A and Class T common stock through the reinvestment of distributions. In some states, we will need to renew the registration statement or file a new registration statement to continue this primary offering beyond the one-year registration period allowed in some states. We may terminate the primary offering or the dividend reinvestment plan offering at any time, and we will provide that information in a prospectus supplement.
The date of this prospectus is February 17, 2016.
SUITABILITY STANDARDS
The shares we are offering through this prospectus are suitable only as a long-term investment for persons of adequate financial means and who have no need for liquidity in this investment. Because there is no public market for our shares, you will have difficulty selling your shares.
In consideration of these factors, we have established suitability standards for investors in this offering and subsequent purchasers of our shares. These suitability standards require that a purchaser of our shares have either:
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• | a net worth of at least $250,000; or |
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• | gross annual income of at least $70,000 and a net worth of at least $70,000. |
In addition to the suitability standards referenced above, the states listed below have established additional suitability requirements that are more stringent than ours and investors in these states are directed to the following special suitability standards:
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• | Kansas and Maine – It is recommended by the office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner and the Maine Office of Securities that Kansas and Maine investors, respectively, not invest, in the aggregate, more than 10% of their liquid net worth in this and similar direct participation investments. |
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• | Massachusetts – Investors must have either (a) a net worth of at least $300,000 or (b) a gross annual income of at least $90,000 and a net worth of at least $90,000. In addition, shares will only be sold to Massachusetts residents that have a liquid net worth of at least ten times their investment in us and other illiquid direct participation programs. |
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• | California – Investors must have either (a) a net worth of at least $350,000 or (b) a gross annual income of at least $85,000 and a net worth of at least $250,000. In addition, shares will only be sold to California residents that have a net worth of at least ten times their investment in us. |
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• | Iowa – Investors must have either (a) a net worth of at least $350,000 or (b) a gross annual income of at least $70,000 and a net worth of at least $100,000. In addition, shares will only be sold to Iowa residents that have a liquid net worth of at least ten times their investment in us and our affiliates. |
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• | New Jersey – Investors must have either (a) a minimum liquid net worth of $350,000 or (b) a minimum gross annual income of not less than $85,000 and a minimum liquid net worth of at least $100,000. In addition, a New Jersey investor’s investment in us, our affiliates, and other non-publicly traded direct investment programs (including real estate investment trusts, business development companies, oil and gas programs, equipment leasing programs and commodity pools, but excluding unregistered, federally and state exempt private offerings) may not exceed ten percent (10%) of his or her liquid net worth. |
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• | Pennsylvania and Tennessee – Investors must have a liquid net worth of at least ten times their investment in us. |
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• | Alabama, Michigan and Oregon – Investors must have a liquid net worth of at least ten times their investment in us and our affiliates. |
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• | New Mexico and Ohio – Investors must have a liquid net worth of at least ten times their investment in us, our affiliates and any other non-traded real estate investment programs. |
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• | North Dakota – Investors must have a net worth of at least ten times their investment in us. |
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• | Nebraska – Investors must have a net worth of at least ten times their aggregate investment in us and in the securities of other non-publicly traded real estate investment trusts. |
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• | Kentucky – Investors must have a liquid net worth of at least ten times their investment in us and other same-sponsored non-publicly traded real estate investment trusts. |
In addition, because the minimum offering amount was less than $100,000,000, Pennsylvania investors are cautioned to carefully evaluate our ability to fully accomplish our stated objectives and to inquire as to the current dollar volume of subscriptions.
For purposes of determining the suitability of an investor, net worth in all cases should be calculated excluding the value of an investor’s home, home furnishings and automobiles. Liquid net worth is defined as that portion of net worth that consists of cash, cash equivalents and readily marketable investments. In the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, these suitability standards must be met by the fiduciary account, by the person who directly or indirectly supplied the funds for the purchase of the shares if such person is the fiduciary or by the beneficiary of the account.
Our sponsor, those selling shares on our behalf and participating broker-dealers and registered investment advisers recommending the purchase of shares in this offering must make every reasonable effort to determine that the purchase of shares in this offering is a suitable and appropriate investment for each stockholder based on information provided by the stockholder regarding the stockholder’s financial situation and investment objectives. See “Plan of Distribution – Suitability Standards” for a detailed discussion of the determinations regarding suitability that we require.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This prospectus summary highlights material information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. Because it is a summary, it may not contain all of the information that is important to you. To understand this offering fully, you should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors” section and the information incorporated by reference herein, including the financial statements, before making a decision to invest in our common stock.
What is KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.?
KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. is a Maryland corporation that has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, beginning with the taxable year that ended December 31, 2014. We expect to use substantially all of the net proceeds from this offering to invest in and manage a diverse portfolio of real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments. We intend to acquire distressed debt, to originate and acquire mortgage, mezzanine, bridge and other real estate-related loans, to invest in various types of opportunistic real estate and to invest in real estate-related debt securities such as residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations. We consider opportunistic real estate to be properties with significant possibilities for short-term capital appreciation, such as non-stabilized properties, properties with moderate vacancies or near-term lease rollovers, poorly managed and positioned properties, properties owned by distressed sellers and built-to-suit properties. These properties may include, but are not limited to, office, industrial and retail properties, hospitality properties and undeveloped residential lots. In addition, we may acquire equity and preferred equity securities of companies that make similar investments such as other real estate operating companies. We expect our investments to be in real estate and real estate-related assets located in the United States and Europe. We may make our investments through loan origination and the acquisition of individual assets or by acquiring portfolios of assets, mortgage REITs or companies with investment objectives similar to ours. We plan to diversify our portfolio by investment type, investment size and investment risk with the goal of attaining a portfolio of assets that provide opportunities for capital appreciation as well as potential for cash distributions through increased cash flow from operations and targeted asset sales. We intend to structure, underwrite and originate many of the debt products in which we invest. Except with respect to unimproved or non-income producing property, we are not limited in the percentage of net proceeds of this offering that we may allocate to a specific asset type. The number and mix of investments we make will depend upon real estate and market conditions and other circumstances existing at the time we make our investments and the amount of proceeds we raise in this offering.
We were incorporated in the State of Maryland on February 6, 2013. As of February 17, 2016, we owned two hotel properties, one office building, and had originated a first mortgage loan. Because we have a limited portfolio of investments and, except as described in a supplement to this prospectus, we have not yet identified any additional assets to acquire, we are considered to be a blind pool. We are an “emerging growth company” under federal securities laws.
We plan to own substantially all of our assets and conduct our operations through KBS Strategic Opportunity Limited Partnership II, which we refer to as our Operating Partnership in this prospectus. We are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of the date of this prospectus, our wholly owned subsidiary, KBS Strategic Opportunity Holdings II LLC, is the sole limited partner of the Operating Partnership. Except where the context suggests otherwise, the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and “our company” refer to KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries, and all assets held through such subsidiaries.
Our external advisor, KBS Capital Advisors LLC, a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), conducts our operations and manages our portfolio of investments. We have no paid employees.
Our office is located at 800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700, Newport Beach, California 92660. Our telephone number is (949) 417-6500. Our fax number is (949) 417-6501, and our web site address is www.kbssorii.com.
What is a REIT?
In general, a REIT is an entity that:
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• | combines the capital of many investors to acquire or provide financing for real estate and real estate-related investments; |
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• | allows individual investors to invest in a professionally managed, large-scale, diversified portfolio of real estate-related investments; |
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• | pays distributions to investors of at least 90% of its annual REIT taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding net capital gain); and |
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• | avoids the “double taxation” treatment of income that normally results from investments in a corporation because a REIT is not generally subject to federal corporate income taxes on that portion of its income distributed to its stockholders, provided certain income tax requirements are satisfied. |
However, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), REITs are subject to numerous organizational and operational requirements. If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any year after electing REIT status, our income will be taxed at regular corporate rates, and we may be precluded from qualifying for treatment as a REIT for the four-year period following our failure to qualify. Even if we qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we may still be subject to state and local taxes on our income and property and to federal income and excise taxes on our undistributed income.
What are your investment objectives?
We are focused on acquiring an investment portfolio with a total return profile that is composed of investments that provide capital appreciation potential and current operating income. To that end, our primary investment objectives are:
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• | to preserve and return your capital contribution; |
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• | to realize growth in the value of our investments; and |
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• | to provide increasing cash distributions to you through increased cash flow from operations or targeted asset sales. |
We may return all or a portion of your capital contribution in connection with the sale of the company or the assets we will acquire or upon maturity or payoff of our debt investments. Alternatively, while the sale of your shares may be difficult for the reasons discussed below, you may be able to obtain a return of all or a portion of your capital contribution in connection with the sale of your shares. No public trading market for our shares currently exists, and you may not sell your shares unless the buyer meets the applicable suitability and minimum purchase standards.
Are there any risks involved in an investment in your shares?
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus beginning on page 32, which contains a detailed discussion of the material risks that you should consider before you invest in our common stock. Some of the more significant risks relating to an investment in our shares include:
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• | There is no assurance that we will raise significant proceeds in this offering. If we do not raise significant proceeds in this offering, we may not be able to invest in a diverse portfolio of real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments and the value of your investment may vary more widely with the performance of specific assets and cause our general and administrative expenses to constitute a greater percentage of our revenue, increasing the risk that you will lose money in your investment. |
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• | No public market currently exists for our shares, and at this time we have no plans to list our shares on an exchange. Our charter does not require our directors to provide our stockholders with a liquidity event by a specified date or at all. If you are able to sell your shares, you would likely have to sell them at a substantial loss. In addition, there are restrictions on the ownership and transferability of our shares of common stock. See “Description of Shares – Restriction on Ownership of Shares.” Our shares cannot be readily sold and, if you are able to sell your shares, you would likely have to sell them at a substantial discount from their offering price. |
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• | We set the $10.00 primary offering price of our Class A shares arbitrarily, and based on that price, set the $9.59 primary offering price for our Class T shares to account for differing sales commissions. These prices may not be indicative of the prices at which our shares would trade if they were listed on an exchange or actively traded, and the prices bear no relationship to the value of our assets or to our expected operating |
income. Our board of directors may adjust the offering prices of the primary offering shares or dividend reinvestment plan shares during the course of this offering by filing a post-effective amendment.
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• | We depend on our advisor to select investments and conduct our operations. |
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• | We have a limited operating history and, as of February 17, 2016, we owned two hotel properties, one office building, and had originated a first mortgage loan. Other than as described in a supplement to this prospectus, we have not yet identified any additional real estate assets to originate or acquire with proceeds from this offering; we are considered a blind pool; and you will not have an opportunity to evaluate our investments before we make them, making an investment in us more speculative. |
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• | Except with respect to unimproved or non-income producing property, we are not limited in the percentage of net proceeds of this offering that we may allocate to a specific real estate asset type. Thus, we may make all of our investments in investments which present an increased risk of loss. In addition, we may change our targeted investments and investment guidelines at any time without the consent of our stockholders, which could result in our making investments that are different from, and possibly riskier than, the investments described in this prospectus. |
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• | All of our executive officers, our affiliated directors and other key real estate and debt finance professionals are also officers, directors, managers, key professionals and/or holders of a direct or indirect controlling interest in our advisor, our dealer manager and/or other KBS-affiliated entities. As a result, all of our executive officers, our affiliated directors and other key real estate and debt finance professionals and our advisor and its affiliates face conflicts of interest, including significant conflicts created by our advisor’s compensation arrangements with us and other KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors and conflicts in allocating time among us and these other programs and investors. Furthermore, these individuals may become employees of another KBS-sponsored program in an internalization transaction or, if we internalize our advisor, may not become our employees as a result of their relationship with other KBS-sponsored programs. These conflicts could result in action or inaction that is not in the best interests of our stockholders. |
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• | Our advisor and its affiliates receive fees in connection with transactions involving the origination, acquisition and management of our investments. These fees are based on the cost of the investment, and not based on the quality of the investment or the quality of the services rendered to us. This may influence our advisor to recommend riskier transactions to us and increase your risk of loss. |
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• | We pay substantial fees to and reimburse expenses of our advisor, its affiliates and participating broker-dealers, which payments increase the risk that you will not earn a profit on your investment. |
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• | We have issued and may continue to issue stock dividends which will dilute the returns per share for investors who purchase shares in this offering after we have issued a stock dividend. |
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• | Our distribution policy is not to use the proceeds of this offering to make distributions. However, we may pay distributions from any source, including, without limitation, from offering proceeds or borrowings (which may constitute a return of capital). If we pay distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operations, we will have less funds available for investment in properties and other assets, the overall return to our stockholders may be reduced and subsequent investors will experience dilution. |
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• | If we are unable to find suitable investments, we may not be able to achieve our investment objectives or pay distributions. |
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• | Our policies do not limit us from incurring debt until our total liabilities would exceed 75% of the cost of our tangible assets, and we may exceed this limit with the approval of the conflicts committee of our board of directors. During the early stages of this offering, and to the extent financing in excess of this limit is available on attractive terms, our conflicts committee may approve debt such that our total liabilities would exceed this limit. High debt levels could limit the amount of cash we have available to distribute and could result in a decline in the value of your investment. |
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• | Continued disruptions in the financial markets and uncertain economic conditions could adversely affect our ability to implement our business strategy and generate returns to you. |
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• | We expect to focus our investments in real estate-related loans and real estate-related debt securities in distressed debt, which involves more risk than in performing debt. |
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• | Our opportunistic property-acquisition strategy involves a higher risk of loss than would a strategy of investing in stabilized properties. |
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• | We depend on tenants for the revenue generated by our real estate investments and, accordingly, the revenue generated by our real estate investments is dependent upon the success and economic viability of our tenants. Revenues from our property investments could decrease due to a reduction in tenants (caused by factors including, but not limited to, tenant defaults, tenant insolvency, early termination of tenant leases and non-renewal of existing tenant leases) and/or lower rental rates, limiting our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders. |
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• | We expect to make foreign investments and will be susceptible to risks associated with such investments, including changes in currency exchange rates, adverse political or economic developments, lack of uniform accounting standards and changes in foreign laws. |
Have you conducted prior offerings for your shares?
Yes. Immediately prior to commencement of this offering, we offered up to $105,000,000 of shares of our common stock for sale in a best efforts private placement offering to accredited investors only pursuant to a confidential private placement memorandum, which we refer to as the “private offering.” Shares in the private offering were sold at a purchase price of either $9.20 or $9.40 per share based on the amount of gross proceeds we had raised in the offering, with discounts available to certain categories of purchasers. We ceased offering shares in our private offering on August 11, 2014 and raised approximately $32.2 million related to the sale of 3,619,851 shares of common stock in the primary portion of the private offering.
What is the role of the board of directors?
We operate under the direction of our board of directors, the members of which are accountable to us and our stockholders as fiduciaries. Our board of directors is composed of five members, three of whom are independent of KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates. Our charter requires that a majority of our directors be independent of KBS Capital Advisors and creates a committee of our board consisting solely of all of our independent directors. This committee, which we call the conflicts committee, is responsible for reviewing the performance of KBS Capital Advisors and must approve other matters set forth in our charter. Our directors are elected annually by the stockholders.
Who is your advisor and what will the advisor do?
KBS Capital Advisors is our advisor. As our advisor, KBS Capital Advisors manages our day-to-day operations and our portfolio of real estate-related investments on our behalf, all subject to the supervision of our board of directors. Our sponsors, Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., and their team of real estate and debt finance professionals acting through KBS Capital Advisors make most of the decisions regarding the selection, negotiation, financing and disposition of investments. KBS Capital Advisors also has the authority to make all of the decisions regarding our investments, subject to the limitations in our charter and the direction and oversight of our board of directors. KBS Capital Advisors also provides asset-management, marketing, investor-relations and other administrative services on our behalf with the goal of maximizing our operating cash flow.
We have formed a strategic relationship with STAM Europe (“STAM”), a commercial real estate investment and asset management firm headquartered in Paris, France to support us and our advisor in connection with any investments we make in Europe. Our advisor has entered a sub-advisory agreement with STAM, pursuant to which STAM will provide real estate acquisition and portfolio management services to our advisor in connection with any investments we make in Europe. For investments in Europe we make directly and our ownership interest is 100%, our advisor will compensate STAM for its services in sourcing and managing these investments from the fees it earns from us under the advisory agreement with us and we will pay STAM no additional compensation. We, along with our advisor, expect to enter a letter agreement with STAM that sets forth general compensation terms with respect to investments we make through STAM, other than through our direct investment in value-added real estate and distressed debt in Europe (which are governed by the sub-advisory agreement between STAM and our advisor). We can give no assurances as to the number, if any, of investments we may make in Europe.
What is the experience of your sponsors and the real estate and debt finance professionals of your advisor?
Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. control and indirectly own our advisor and the dealer manager of this offering. We refer to these individuals as our sponsors. All four of our sponsors actively participate in the management and operations of our advisor, and our advisor has three managers: an entity owned and controlled by Mr. Bren; an entity owned and controlled by Messrs. Hall and McMillan; and an entity owned and controlled by Mr. Schreiber.
Our sponsors work together at KBS Capital Advisors with their team of key real estate and debt finance professionals. These senior real estate and debt finance professionals have been through multiple real estate cycles in their careers and have the expertise gained through hands-on experience in acquisitions, originations, asset management, dispositions, development, leasing and property and portfolio management. Together with our four sponsors, Geoffrey Hawkins, Brian Ragsdale, Jeffrey Waldvogel and Jim Chiboucas comprise the investment committee of KBS Capital Advisors that is responsible for our investment decisions related to our investments in the United States. Our advisor has established a separate investment committee to consider our investments in Europe. Our advisor’s European investment committee is comprised of Peter McMillan, Keith Hall, Jeffrey Waldvogel, Brian Ragsdale, James Rodgers, Geoffrey Hawkins, Jim Chiboucas, and Antoine de Broglie, as well as two additional individuals to be named by STAM. Subject to any limitations in our charter and the oversight of our board of directors, the investment committees of KBS Capital Advisors evaluate and approve our investments and financings. Mr. Chiboucas is a member of the investment committees for the limited purpose of approving potential investments from a legal and regulatory compliance standpoint.
On January 27, 2006, our four sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc., which we refer to as “KBS REIT I.” KBS REIT I accepted gross offering proceeds of approximately $1.7 billion in its primary initial public offering and accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of $233.7 million from shares issued pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS REIT I ceased offering shares in its primary initial public offering on May 30, 2008 and terminated its dividend reinvestment plan effective April 10, 2012. As of December 31, 2014, KBS REIT I had used $85.4 million to fund share redemptions pursuant to its share redemption program.
On April 22, 2008, our four sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS Real Estate Investment Trust II, Inc., which we refer to as “KBS REIT II.” KBS REIT II accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of approximately $1.8 billion in its primary initial public offering and accepted $298.2 million from shares issued pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS REIT II ceased offering shares in its primary initial public offering on December 31, 2010 and terminated its dividend reinvestment plan effective May 29, 2014. As of December 31, 2014, KBS REIT II had used $229.5 million to fund share redemptions pursuant to its share redemption program.
On November 20, 2009, our four sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, Inc., which we refer to as “KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT.” KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of approximately $561.7 million in its primary initial public offering and, as of December 31, 2014, had accepted $39.2 million from shares issued pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT ceased offering shares in its primary initial public offering on November 14, 2012. As of December 31, 2014, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT had used $8.3 million to fund share redemptions pursuant to its share redemption program.
On March 12, 2010, together with Legacy Partners Residential Realty LLC and certain of its affiliates, our four sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, Inc., which we refer to as “KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT.” KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT ceased offering shares of common stock in its primary initial public offering on March 12, 2013. On March 13, 2013, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT commenced a follow-on public offering. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT ceased offering shares of common stock in its follow-on public offering, effective as of March 31, 2014. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of approximately $204.4 million in its public offerings including $12.9 million from shares issued pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. As of December 31, 2014, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT had used $4.2 million to fund share redemptions pursuant to its share redemption program.
On October 26, 2010, our four sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, which we refer to as KBS REIT III. As of December 31, 2014, KBS REIT III had accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of $1.2 billion, including $47.7 million from shares sold pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. As of December 31, 2014, KBS REIT III had used $7.2 million to fund share redemptions pursuant to its share redemption program. KBS REIT III ceased offering shares in its primary initial public offering on May 29, 2015.
Our four sponsors are also sponsoring KBS Growth & Income REIT, Inc., which we refer to as “KBS Growth & Income REIT.” KBS Growth & Income REIT is currently conducting a private offering to accredited investors only and has filed a registration statement with the SEC for an initial public offering.
Our advisor, KBS Capital Advisors, is the external advisor of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT. Some or all of our sponsors are directors and/or executive officers of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, and KBS Growth & Income REIT. Through their affiliations with us, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Capital Advisors, as of December 31, 2014, our sponsors had overseen the investment in and management of approximately $11.9 billion of real estate and real estate-related investments on behalf of the investors in us, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT.
Since 1992, Messrs. Bren and Schreiber have teamed to invest in, manage, develop and sell high-quality U.S. commercial real estate and real estate-related investments on behalf of institutional investors. Together, they founded KBS Realty Advisors LLC, a registered investment adviser with the SEC, and a nationally recognized real estate investment advisor. When we refer to a “KBS-sponsored program,” we are referring to the private entities sponsored by an investment advisor affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber and to the non-traded REITs, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Growth & Income REIT and our company, that are currently being sponsored by Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber. As noted above, our sponsors are sponsoring KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT together with Legacy Partners Residential Realty LLC and certain of its affiliates. When we refer to a “KBS-advised investor,” we are referring to institutional investors that have engaged an investment advisor affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber to provide real estate investment advice. These investment advisors are also affiliated with our advisor.
Messrs. Bren and Schreiber each has been involved in real estate development, management, acquisition, disposition and financing for more than 40 years. Over that time, Messrs. Bren and Schreiber have developed extensive experience investing in and managing a broad range of real estate asset classes. Since 1992, the experience of the investment advisors affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber includes (as of December 31, 2014) sponsoring 14 private real estate programs that had invested over $4.2 billion (including equity, debt and investment of income and sales proceeds) in 301 real estate assets. In addition to their experience with these 14 private KBS-sponsored programs, investment advisors affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber have also been engaged by four other KBS-advised investors to recommend real estate acquisitions and manage some of their investments. The investment proceeds of these KBS-advised investors were not commingled. The investments made on behalf of these four KBS-advised investors were made pursuant to management agreements or partnership agreements that permitted the KBS-advised investors to reject acquisitions recommended by the KBS-affiliated investment advisor. Because the KBS-advised investors were not as passive as those in the 14 private KBS-sponsored programs described above or as those who invest in this offering, we have not described the real estate assets acquired or managed for these four KBS-advised investors. The amounts paid for the assets acquired and/or managed and for subsequent capital expenditures for these four KBS-advised investors totaled over $4.1 billion.
Each of Messrs. Hall and McMillan has over 20 years of experience in real estate-related investments. Mr. McMillan is a Partner and co-owner of Temescal Canyon Partners LP, an investment advisor formed in 2013 to manage a multi-strategy hedge fund on behalf of investors. Mr. McMillan is also a co-founder and the Managing Partner of Willowbrook Capital Group, LLC which, from August 2003 until December 2012, was an asset management company. Before forming Willowbrook with Mr. Hall, Mr. McMillan served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of SunAmerica Investments, Inc., which was later acquired by AIG. As Chief Investment Officer, he was responsible for over $75 billion in assets, including residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, public and private investment grade and non-investment grade corporate bonds and commercial mortgage loans and real estate investments.
Prior to forming Willowbrook, Mr. Hall was a Managing Director at CS First Boston, where he managed the distribution strategy and business development for the Principal Transaction Group’s $18 billion real estate securities portfolio. Before joining CS First Boston in 1996, he served as a Director in the Real Estate Products Group at Nomura Securities, with responsibility for the company’s $6 billion annual pipeline of fixed-income commercial mortgage-backed securities. During the 1980s, Mr. Hall was a Senior Vice President in the High Yield Department of Drexel Burnham Lambert’s Beverly Hills office, where he was responsible for distribution of the group’s high-yield real estate securities.
Will you use leverage?
Yes. We expect that once we have fully invested the proceeds of this offering, our debt financing and other liabilities will be 60% or less of the cost of our tangible assets (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves), although it may exceed this level during our offering stage. This is our target leverage as established by our board of directors. Our charter limits our total liabilities to 75% of the cost of our tangible assets (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves); however, we may exceed that limit if a majority of the conflicts committee approves each borrowing in excess of our charter limitation and we disclose such borrowing to our stockholders in our next quarterly report with an explanation from the conflicts committee of the justification for the excess borrowing. During the early stages of this offering, and to the extent financing in excess of this limit is available on attractive terms, our conflicts committee may approve debt such that our total liabilities would exceed this limit. There is no limitation on the amount we may borrow for the purchase of any single asset.
We intend to target a leverage ratio of 60% and do not intend to exceed the leverage limit in our charter. Careful use of debt will help us to achieve our diversification goals because we will have more funds available for investment. However, high levels of debt could cause us to incur higher interest charges and higher debt service payments, which would decrease the amount of cash available for distribution to our investors, and could also be accompanied by restrictive covenants. High levels of debt could also increase the risk of being unable to refinance when loans become due, or of being unable to refinance on favorable terms, and the risk of loss with respect to assets pledged as collateral for loans.
What conflicts of interest does your advisor face?
KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates experience conflicts of interest in connection with the management of our business. Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber, who indirectly own and control KBS Capital Advisors, are our sponsors, and Messrs. Hall and McMillan are two of our executive officers and directors. KBS Capital Advisors is also the external advisor to KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT. Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber are executive officers of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III and KBS Growth & Income REIT, and Messrs. McMillan and Schreiber are also directors of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III and KBS Growth & Income REIT. Messrs. Hall and McMillan are also executive officers and directors of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT. In addition, Messrs. Bren and McMillan are executive officers of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, and Mr. Bren is a director of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT. Messrs. Bren and Schreiber are also key real estate and debt finance professionals at KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliates, the advisors to the private KBS-sponsored programs and the investment advisors to KBS-advised investors in real estate and real estate-related assets. In addition, Geoffrey Hawkins and Brian Ragsdale play a key role at KBS Capital Advisors in identifying, structuring and managing the debt-related investments for KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Growth & Income REIT, and KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT. Some of the material conflicts that KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates face include the following:
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• | Our sponsors and their team of real estate and debt finance professionals must determine which investment opportunities to recommend to us and the other KBS-sponsored programs that are raising funds for investment for whom KBS serves as an advisor as well as any programs KBS affiliates may sponsor in the future; |
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• | Our sponsors and their team of professionals at KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates (including our dealer manager, KBS Capital Markets Group) have to allocate their time between us and other programs and activities in which they are involved; |
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• | KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates receive fees in connection with transactions involving the purchase, origination, management and sale of our assets regardless of the quality of the asset acquired or the services provided to us; |
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• | KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates, including our dealer manager, KBS Capital Markets Group, receive fees in connection with our offerings of equity securities; |
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• | The negotiations of the advisory agreement and the dealer manager agreement (including the substantial fees KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates receive thereunder) were not at arm’s length; |
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• | KBS Capital Advisors may terminate the advisory agreement without cause or penalty upon 60 days’ written notice and, upon termination of the advisory agreement, KBS Capital Advisors may be entitled to a |
termination fee if (based upon an independent appraised value of the portfolio) it would have been entitled to a subordinated participation in net cash flows had the portfolio been liquidated on the termination date. The termination fee would be payable in the form of an interest-bearing promissory note that becomes due only upon the sale of one or more assets or upon maturity or payoff of our debt investments, and the fee is payable solely from the proceeds from the sale, maturity or payoff of an asset and future asset sales, maturities or payoffs;
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• | KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates may structure the terms of joint ventures between us and other KBS-sponsored programs or KBS-advised entities. |
Will your directors face any conflicts of interest?
Four of our directors, including two of our independent directors, Messrs. Meyer and Petak, are also directors of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT. Mr. Meyer is also a director of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT. One of our affiliated directors is also a director of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III and KBS Growth & Income REIT. The loyalties of our directors serving on the boards of directors of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT, or possibly on the board of directors of future KBS-sponsored programs, may influence the judgment of our board when considering issues for us that also may affect other KBS-sponsored programs, such as the following:
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• | The conflicts committee of our board must evaluate the performance of KBS Capital Advisors with respect to whether KBS Capital Advisors is presenting to us our fair share of investment opportunities. If our advisor is not presenting a sufficient number of investment opportunities to us because it is presenting many opportunities to other KBS-sponsored programs or if our advisor is giving preferential treatment to other KBS-sponsored programs in this regard, our conflicts committee may not be well suited to enforce our rights under the terms of the advisory agreement or to seek a new advisor. |
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• | We could enter into transactions with other KBS-sponsored programs, such as property sales, acquisitions or financing arrangements. Such transactions might entitle KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates to fees and other compensation from both parties to the transaction. Decisions of our board and the conflicts committee regarding the terms of those transactions may be influenced by our board’s and the conflicts committee’s loyalties to such other KBS-sponsored programs. |
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• | A decision of our board or the conflicts committee regarding the timing of a debt or equity offering could be influenced by concerns that the offering would compete with an offering of other KBS-sponsored programs. |
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• | A decision of our board or the conflicts committee regarding the timing of property sales could be influenced by concerns that the sales would compete with those of other KBS-sponsored programs. |
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• | A decision of our board or the conflicts committee regarding whether and when we seek to list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange could be influenced by concerns that such listing could adversely affect the sales efforts for other KBS-sponsored programs, depending on the price at which our shares trade. |
Who owns and controls the advisor?
The following chart shows the ownership structure of KBS Capital Advisors and entities affiliated with KBS Capital Advisors that perform services for us:
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(1) Peter McMillan III is our President and the chairman of our board of directors.
(2) Keith D. Hall is our Chief Executive Officer and a director.
(3) Other than de minimis amounts owned by family members or family trusts, Mr. Bren indirectly owns and controls PBren Investments, L.P.
(4) Other than de minimis amounts owned by family members or trusts, Mr. Schreiber indirectly owns and controls Schreiber Real Estate Investments, L.P.
(5) We are the sole member and manager of KBS Strategic Opportunity Holdings II LLC. KBS Strategic Opportunity Holdings II LLC is the sole limited partner of, and owns a 99.9% partnership interest in, KBS Strategic Opportunity Limited Partnership II. We are the sole general partner of, and own the remaining 0.1% partnership interest in, KBS Strategic Opportunity Limited Partnership II.
As of the date of this prospectus, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber have not received any compensation from us for services provided in their capacity as principals of KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates. In connection with this offering, we pay or reimburse our advisor and its affiliates for the services described below.
What are the fees that you pay to the advisor and its affiliates and your directors?
KBS Capital Advisors and/or its affiliates receive compensation and reimbursement for services related to this offering and the investment, management and disposition of our assets. We also compensate our independent directors for their service to us. The most significant items of compensation are included in the table below. Compensation to be paid to KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Capital Markets Group may be increased without stockholder approval.
The amount of selling commissions differs among Class A shares and Class T shares, and there is an ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering. Both classes of shares have discounts available to certain categories of purchasers. The table below assumes that (a) 15% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares and 85% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class T shares, (b) we do not further reallocate shares being offered between our primary offering and dividend reinvestment plan, (c) based on this allocation we sell all shares at the highest possible selling commissions and dealer manager fees (with no discounts to any categories of purchasers), and (d) solely with respect to the estimated stockholder servicing fee, 4% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares through distribution channels that do not pay selling commissions of 6.5%. No selling commissions or dealer manager fees are payable on shares sold through our dividend reinvestment plan. No stockholder servicing fee will be paid with respect to Class T shares purchased through the dividend reinvestment plan or issued pursuant to a stock dividend; however, the stockholder servicing fee payable with respect to Class T shares purchased in the primary offering will be allocated to all the Class T shares as a class expense. The stockholder servicing fee therefore will impact the distributions payable on all Class T shares and may impact the net asset value (“NAV”) of all Class T shares if the amount of the stockholder servicing fee payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceeds amounts available for distribution to holders of Class A shares.
Effective February 17, 2016, in connection with adding a Class T share to our offering, we amended and restated our advisory and dealer manager agreements to revise certain fees payable to our advisor and dealer manager and to limit the organization and other offering expenses that we are obligated to pay in connection with this offering. Specifically, the acquisition fee that is payable to our advisor increased from 1.5% to 2.6%. Our acquisition fee reflects the increased level of due diligence required to evaluate and acquire the types of opportunistic investments that we intend to acquire as part of our investment strategy, and as a result, the fee is at the higher end of the prevailing acquisition fee range for non-traded REITs.
The descriptions of the fees and expenses presented in the table below reflect the terms of our advisory and dealer manager agreements in effect as of the date of this prospectus. Our estimates of the compensation and fees that we pay to our advisor and the dealer manager are based on a weighted average (determined from the approximate amount of primary offering proceeds raised on or prior to February 16, 2016) of the fees in effect prior the amendment and restatement of our advisory and dealer manager agreements and the terms of these agreements as currently in effect. The limit adopted with respect to our obligation to pay organization and other offering expenses in connection with this primary offering will apply to all organization and other offering expenses incurred, regardless of when incurred. For a description of how these estimates were calculated, please see our estimated use of proceeds table.
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Type of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering ($1,000,000,000 in shares) |
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Selling Commissions | KBS Capital Markets Group | Up to 6.5% of the price per share of Class A common stock sold and up to 3.0% of the price per share of Class T common stock sold; no selling commissions are payable on shares of common stock sold under our dividend reinvestment plan; all selling commissions are reallowed to participating broker dealers. | $35,250,000 |
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Type of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering ($1,000,000,000 in shares) |
| | Organization and Offering Stage | |
Dealer Manager Fee | KBS Capital Markets Group | Up to 2.0% of the price per share of Class A and Class T common stock sold. Our dealer manager may generally reallow to any participating broker dealer up to 1.0% of the gross primary offering proceeds attributable to that participating broker dealer as a marketing fee; in select cases up to 1.5% of the gross primary offering proceeds may be reallowed; this reallow will be based upon such factors as the projected sales volume by such participating broker-dealer, access to conferences and meetings and the general level of assistance of such participating broker-dealer in marketing this offering; no dealer manager fee is payable on shares of common stock sold under our dividend reinvestment plan. | $20,598,000 |
Organization and Other Offering Expenses | KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Capital Markets Group | We reimburse our advisor and dealer manager for commercially reasonable organization and other offering expenses they incur on our behalf in connection with this offering; however, no reimbursements made by us to our advisor or our dealer manager may cause total organization and offering expenses incurred by us (including selling commissions, dealer manager fees, the stockholder servicing fee and all other items of organization and offering expenses) to exceed 15% of the aggregate gross proceeds from this primary offering and the offering under our dividend reinvestment plan as of the date of reimbursement. We also pay organization and other offering expenses directly. At the termination of our primary offering, our advisor and its affiliates will reimburse us to the extent that the organization and other offering expenses paid directly or reimbursed by us in connection with this primary offering, regardless of when incurred, exceed 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds. Our advisor and its affiliates will be responsible for any organization and other offering expenses related to the primary offering to the extent they exceed 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds as of the termination of the primary offering. Prior to the termination of the primary offering, at which time the advisor will reimburse us as described above, we will be responsible for the payment of all organization and other offering expenses we incur directly and the reimbursement of organization and other offering expenses our advisor and dealer manager incur on our behalf in connection with this offering subject to the 15% limit on reimbursements discussed above. Organization and other offering expenses include all expenses to be paid or reimbursed by us in connection with this offering, excluding selling commissions, the dealer manager fee and the ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering. Organization and other offering expenses include our legal, accounting, printing, mailing and filing fees, charges of our escrow holder and transfer agent, charges of our advisor for administrative services related to the issuance of shares in this offering, reimbursement of bona fide due diligence expenses of broker-dealers, reimbursement of our advisor for costs in connection with preparing supplemental sales materials, the cost of bona fide training and education meetings | $10,000,000 |
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Type of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering ($1,000,000,000 in shares) |
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| | held by us (primarily the travel, meal and lodging costs of registered representatives of broker-dealers), attendance and sponsorship fees payable to participating broker-dealers hosting retail seminars and travel, meal and lodging costs for registered persons associated with our dealer manager and officers and employees of our affiliates to attend retail seminars conducted by broker-dealers, legal fees of our dealer manager, and promotional items. We will not reimburse our dealer manager for wholesaling compensation expenses. | |
| | Acquisition and Development Stage | |
Acquisition and Origination Fees | KBS Capital Advisors | 2.6% of the cost of investments acquired or originated by us, or the amount to be funded by us to acquire or originate loans, including acquisition and origination expenses and any debt attributable to such investments plus significant capital expenditures related to the development, construction or improvement of the investment budgeted as of the date of acquisition. Under our charter, a majority of the independent directors would have to approve any increase in the acquisition and origination fee payable to our advisor. Acquisition fees that are calculated based on capital expenditures budgeted as of the date of acquisition shall be paid at the time funds are disbursed pursuant to a final approved budget upon receipt of an invoice by us. Our charter limits our ability to make an investment if the total of all acquisition and origination fees and expenses relating to the investment exceeds 6% of the contract purchase price or 6% of the total funds advanced. This limit may only be exceeded if a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves the fees and expenses and finds the transaction to be commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to us. | $23,045,362 (maximum offering and no debt)/ $55,070,034 (maximum offering and leverage such that our total liabilities do not exceed 60% of the cost of our tangible assets, which is our target leverage).
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Acquisition and Origination Expenses
| KBS Capital Advisors | Reimbursement of customary acquisition and origination expenses (including expenses relating to potential investments that we do not close), such as legal fees and expenses (including fees of independent contractor in-house counsel that are not employees of the advisor), costs of due diligence (including, as necessary, updated appraisals, surveys and environmental site assessments), travel and communication expenses, accounting fees and expenses and other closing costs and miscellaneous expenses relating to the acquisition or origination of real estate properties and real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments. We estimate that these expenses will average approximately 0.6% of the purchase prices of our investments, excluding fees and expenses associated with such investments. | $5,419,125 (maximum offering and no debt)/ $12,954,413 (maximum offering and leverage such that our total liabilities do not exceed 60% of the cost of our tangible assets, which is our target leverage). |
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Type of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering ($1,000,000,000 in shares) |
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| | Operational Stage | |
Stockholder Servicing Fee | KBS Capital Markets Group | An annual fee of 1.0% of the purchase price per share (ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers) of Class T common stock sold in the primary offering for services rendered to Class T stockholders by the broker dealer of record after the initial sale of the Class T share. For a description of the services required from the broker dealer of record, see the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus. Except as described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus, the stockholder servicing fee will accrue daily and be paid monthly in arrears and our dealer manager will reallow all of the stockholder servicing fee to such broker dealer of record. The stockholder servicing fee with respect to a Class T share will cease accruing upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the date at which aggregate underwriting compensation from all sources equals 10% of the gross proceeds from the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold, as calculated by us with the assistance of the dealer manager after the termination of the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold, (ii) with respect to a particular Class T share, on the fourth anniversary of the issuance of the share, (iii) a listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange, (iv) a merger or other extraordinary transaction, and (v) the date the Class T share associated with the stockholder servicing fee is no longer outstanding such as upon its redemption or our dissolution. Underwriting compensation includes selling commissions, dealer manager fees, and stockholder servicing fees being paid in connection with an offering as well as other items of value paid in connection with an offering, including amounts not paid directly or reimbursed by us, that are viewed by FINRA as underwriting compensation. No stockholder servicing fee is payable on shares of Class T common stock sold under our dividend reinvestment plan or issued as a stock dividend. | $34,000,000 |
Asset Management Fees | KBS Capital Advisors | A monthly fee equal to the lesser of one-twelfth of (i) 1.0% of the cost of our investments and (ii) 2.0% of the sum of the cost of our investments, less any debt secured by or attributable to the investments. The cost of our real property investments will be calculated as the amount paid or allocated to acquire the real property, including the cost of any subsequent development, construction or improvements to the property and including fees and expenses related thereto (but excluding acquisition fees paid or payable to our advisor). The cost of our loans and any investments other than real property will be calculated as the lesser of (x) the amount actually paid or allocated to acquire or fund the loan or other investment, including fees and expenses related thereto (but excluding acquisition fees paid or payable to our advisor), and (y) the outstanding principal amount of such loan or other investment, including fees and | Actual amounts are dependent upon the total equity and debt capital we raise, the cost of our investments and the results of our operations; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time. |
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Type of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering ($1,000,000,000 in shares) |
| | expenses related to the acquisition or funding of such investment (but excluding acquisition fees paid or payable to our advisor), as of the time of calculation. In the case of investments made through joint ventures, the asset management fee will be determined based on our proportionate share of the underlying investment. | |
Other Operating Expenses | KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Capital Markets Group | We reimburse the expenses incurred by our advisor in connection with its provision of services to us, including our allocable share of the advisor’s overhead, such as rent, employee costs, utilities and IT costs. Our advisor may seek reimbursement for employee costs under the advisory agreement. At this time we only expect to reimburse our advisor for our allocable portion of the salaries, benefits and overhead of internal audit department personnel providing services to us; however, in the future, our advisor may seek reimbursement for additional employee costs. If our advisor were to seek reimbursement for additional employee costs, such costs may include our proportionate share of the salaries of persons involved in the preparation of documents to meet SEC reporting requirements. We do not reimburse our advisor or its affiliates for employee costs in connection with services for which our advisor earns acquisition, origination or disposition fees (other than reimbursement of travel and communication expenses) or for the salaries and benefits our advisor or its affiliates may pay to our executive officers. We reimburse our dealer manager for certain fees and expenses it incurs for administering our participation in the DTCC Alternative Investment Product Platform, or the AIP Platform, with respect to certain accounts of our investors serviced through the AIP Platform. Additionally, we, together with KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Growth & Income REIT, KBS Capital Markets Group, KBS Capital Advisors and other KBS-affiliated entities, have entered into an errors and omissions and directors and officers liability insurance program where the lower tiers of coverage are shared. The cost of these lower tiers is allocated by our advisor and its insurance broker among each of the various entities covered by the program, and is billed directly to each entity. The allocation of these shared coverage costs is proportionate to the pricing by the insurance marketplace for the first tiers of directors and officers liability coverage purchased individually by each REIT. Our advisor’s and our dealer manager’s portion of the shared lower tiers’ cost is proportionate to the respective entities’ prior cost for the errors and omissions insurance. | Actual amounts are dependent upon the total equity and debt capital we raise, the cost of our investments and the results of our operations; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time. |
Independent Director Compensation | Independent Directors | We pay each of our independent directors an annual retainer of $40,000. We also pay our independent directors for attending meetings as follows: (i) $2,500 for each board meeting attended, (ii) $2,500 for each committee meeting attended (except that the committee chairman is paid $3,000 for each meeting attended), (iii) $2,000 for each teleconference board meeting attended, | Actual amounts are dependent upon the total number of board and committee meetings that each independent |
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Type of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering ($1,000,000,000 in shares) |
| | and (iv) $2,000 for each teleconference committee meeting attended (except that the committee chairman is paid $3,000 for each teleconference committee meeting attended). All directors receive reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the board of directors. | director attends; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time |
| | Operational and Liquidation Stage | |
Subordinated Participation in Net Cash Flows | KBS Capital Advisors | After our common stockholders have received, together as a collective group, aggregate distributions (regardless of the source used to fund such distributions and including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes) sufficient to provide (i) a return of their gross investment amount, which is the amount calculated by multiplying the total number of shares purchased by stockholders by the issue price, reduced by the total number of shares repurchased by us (excluding shares received as a stock dividend which we subsequently repurchased) multiplied by the weighted average issue price of the shares sold in the primary offering, and (ii) a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return on such gross investment amount, KBS Capital Advisors is entitled to receive 15% of our net cash flows, whether from continuing operations, net sales proceeds, net financing proceeds, or otherwise. Net sales proceeds means the net cash proceeds realized by us after deduction of all expenses incurred (i) in connection with a disposition of our assets, or (ii) from the prepayment, maturity, workout or other settlement of any loan or other investment. Net financing proceeds means the net cash proceeds realized from the financing of our assets or refinancing of our debt. The 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return on gross investment amount is calculated on a daily basis. In making this calculation, gross investment amount is determined for each day during the period for which the 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return is being calculated, including a daily adjustment to reflect shares repurchased by us (excluding shares received as a stock dividend which we subsequently repurchased). In addition, gross investment amount is reduced by the following: (i) distributions from net sales proceeds, (ii) distributions from net financing proceeds, and (iii) distributions paid from operating cash flow in excess of a cumulative, noncompounded, annual return of 7.0%. Gross investment amount is only reduced as described above; it is not reduced simply because a distribution constitutes a return of capital for federal income tax purposes. The 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return is not based on the return provided to any individual stockholder but rather is based on total distributions paid on all outstanding shares relative to total gross investment amount invested by all stockholders. Accordingly, it is not necessary for each of our stockholders to have received any minimum return in order for KBS Capital Advisors to participate in our net cash flows. In fact, if KBS Capital Advisors is entitled to participate in our net cash flows, the returns of our | Actual amounts are dependent upon the results of our operations; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time. |
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Type of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering ($1,000,000,000 in shares) |
| | stockholders will differ, and some may be less than a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return. This fee is payable only while we are not listed on an exchange. In addition, before we will be able to pay distributions to our stockholders equal to a return of their gross investment amount plus a 7% cumulative, non-compounded, annual return on such gross investment amount, we will need to sell a portion of our assets. Thus, the sale of one or more assets will be a practical prerequisite for our advisor to receive this fee and we will likely be in our liquidation stage if the advisor is eligible to begin earning this fee. | |
| | Liquidation/Listing Stage | |
Disposition Fees | KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates | For substantial assistance in connection with the sale of investments, we will pay our advisor or its affiliates a percentage of the contract sales price of each loan, debt-related security, real property or other investment sold (including residential or commercial mortgage-backed securities or collateralized debt obligations issued by a subsidiary of ours as part of a securitization transaction) as a disposition fee. For dispositions with a contract sales price less than or equal to $50 million, the disposition fee will equal 1.5% of the contract sales price. For dispositions with a contract sales price greater than $50 million, the disposition fee will equal the sum of $750,000 (which amount is 1.5% of $50 million), plus 1.0% of the amount of the contract sales price in excess of $50 million. The disposition fee is determined on a per transaction basis and is not cumulative. If, in connection with such disposition, commissions are paid to third parties unaffiliated with our advisor, the fee paid to our advisor and its affiliates may not exceed the commissions paid to such unaffiliated third parties, and provided further that the disposition fees paid to our advisor, its affiliates and unaffiliated third parties may not exceed 6.0% of the contract sales price. The conflicts committee will determine whether the advisor or its affiliates has provided substantial assistance to us in connection with the sale of an asset. We will not pay a disposition fee upon the maturity, prepayment or workout of a loan or other debt-related investment, provided that if we negotiate a discounted payoff with the borrower we will pay a disposition fee and if we take ownership of a property as a result of a workout or foreclosure of a loan, we will pay a disposition fee upon the sale of such property. We do not intend to sell assets to affiliates. However, if we do sell an asset to an affiliate, our organizational documents would not prohibit us from paying our advisor a disposition fee. Before we sold an asset to an affiliate, our charter would require that a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction conclude that the transaction is fair and reasonable to us. Although we are most likely to pay disposition fees to our advisor or an affiliate | Actual amounts are dependent upon the results of our operations; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time.
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Type of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering ($1,000,000,000 in shares) |
| | during our liquidation stage, these fees may also be incurred during our operational stage. | |
Subordinated Incentive Fee | KBS Capital Advisors | Upon a merger or listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange, we will pay our advisor an incentive fee. Upon a listing this fee will equal 15% of the amount by which (i) the market value of our outstanding stock plus the total of all distributions paid by us to stockholders from inception until the date market value is determined (regardless of the source used to fund such distributions and including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes and excluding any stock dividend) exceeds (ii) the sum of our stockholders’ gross investment amount, which is the amount calculated by multiplying the total number of shares purchased by stockholders by the issue price, reduced by the total number of shares repurchased by us (excluding shares received as a stock dividend which we subsequently repurchased) multiplied by the weighted average issue price of the shares sold in the primary offering, and the amount of cash flow necessary to generate a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return on our stockholders’ gross investment amount from our inception through the date the market value is determined. Upon a merger this fee will equal 15% of the amount by which (i) the merger consideration amount plus the total of all distributions paid or declared by us to stockholders from inception until the closing of the merger (regardless of the source used to fund such distributions and including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes and excluding any stock dividend) exceeds (ii) the sum of our stockholders’ gross investment amount, which is the amount calculated by multiplying the total number of shares purchased by stockholders by the issue price, reduced by the total number of shares repurchased by us (excluding shares received as a stock dividend which we subsequently repurchased) multiplied by the weighted average issue price of the shares sold in the primary offering, and the amount necessary to generate a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return on our stockholders’ gross investment amount from our inception through the closing of the merger. If our advisor receives a subordinated incentive fee, the fee will not be separately reduced by the prior payment to our advisor of a participation in our net cash flows as the calculation of the subordinated incentive fee takes into account any prior payment to our advisor of this participation. In addition, if KBS Capital Advisors is entitled to receive the subordinated incentive fee upon a listing, KBS Capital Advisors will no longer participate in our net cash flows as described above. The 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return on gross investment amount is calculated on a daily basis. In making this calculation, gross investment amount is determined for each day during the period for | Actual amounts are dependent upon the results of our operations; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time
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Type of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering ($1,000,000,000 in shares) |
| | which the 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return is being calculated, including a daily adjustment to reflect shares repurchased by us (excluding shares received as a stock dividend which we subsequently repurchased). In addition, gross investment amount is reduced by the following: (i) distributions from net sales proceeds, (ii) distributions from net financing proceeds, and (iii) distributions paid from operating cash flow in excess of a cumulative, noncompounded, annual return of 7.0%. Gross investment amount is only reduced as described above; it is not reduced simply because a distribution constitutes a return of capital for federal income tax purposes. The 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return is not based on the return provided to any individual stockholder but rather is based on total distributions paid on all outstanding shares relative to total gross investment amount invested by all stockholders. Accordingly, it is not necessary for each of our stockholders to have received any minimum return in order for KBS Capital Advisors to participate in our net cash flows. In fact, if KBS Capital Advisors is entitled to participate in our net cash flows, the returns of our stockholders will differ, and some may be less than a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return. | |
How many investments do you currently own?
As of February 17, 2016 we owned two hotel properties, one office building, and had originated a first mortgage loan. Because we have a limited portfolio of investments and, except as described in a supplement to this prospectus, we have not yet identified any additional assets to acquire, we are considered to be a blind pool. As significant investments become probable, we will supplement this prospectus to provide information regarding the likely investment. We will also supplement this prospectus to provide information regarding material changes to our portfolio, including the closing of significant asset originations or acquisitions.
If I buy shares, will I receive distributions and how often?
Our board of directors has authorized stock dividends and a cash distribution on our shares of outstanding Class A common stock, which, as of the date of each declaration, was the only class of common stock issued and outstanding. On each of March 24, April 7, August 6, and November 10 of 2015, our board of directors authorized a quarterly stock dividend of 0.01 shares of Class A common stock (or 1% of a share of Class A common stock) on each outstanding share of Class A common stock issuable to all of our Class A common stockholders of record as of the close of business on each of March 25, June 24, September 22, and December 16 of 2015, respectively. We issued these quarterly stock dividends on March 27, June 29, September 29, and December 22 of 2015.
On December 10, 2015, our board of directors declared a stock dividend of 0.06 shares of Class A common stock (or 6% of a share of Class A common stock) on each outstanding share of Class A common stock to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 16, 2015. We issued this stock dividend on December 21, 2015.
On December 10, 2015, our board of directors also declared a cash distribution in the amount of $0.12 per share of Class A common stock to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 16, 2015. We paid this distribution on December 18, 2015. The distribution amount was generally determined based on both our estimated undistributed taxable income and the results of operations. The distribution was paid in cash or, for investors enrolled in our dividend reinvestment plan, reinvested in additional shares. Until our board of directors determine we have
sufficient cash flow from operations to authorize regular, monthly cash distributions based on daily record dates, we expect our board of directors will declare distributions from time to time based on our income, cash flow and investing and financing activities. As such, we can give no assurances as to the timing, amount or notice with respect to any future cash distribution declarations.
During our offering stage, we currently expect our board of directors to declare stock dividends on a set quarterly basis based on quarterly record dates. Especially during the early stages of our operations and until our cash flows stabilize, our board of directors believes the declaration of stock dividends is in our best interest because it will allow us to focus on our investment strategy of investing in opportunistic real estate investments that may generate limited cash flow but have the potential for appreciation. These stock dividends may reflect in part an increase or anticipated increase in portfolio value to the extent our board of directors believes assets in our portfolio have appreciated or will appreciate in value after acquisition or after we have taken control of the assets. In addition, these stock dividends may reflect in part cash flow from operations. However, we can provide no assurances that our stock dividends will reflect appreciation in our portfolio or cash flow from operations. Unless our assets appreciate in an amount sufficient to offset the dilutive effect of any stock dividends, the return per share for later investors purchasing our stock will be below the return per share of earlier investors. With respect to any non-performing assets that we acquire, we believe that within a relatively short time after acquisition or taking control of such investments via foreclosure or deed-in-lieu proceedings, we will often experience an increase in their value. For example, in most instances, we bring financial stability to the property, which reduces uncertainty in the market and alleviates concerns regarding the property’s management, ownership and future. We also may have more capital available for investment in these properties than their prior owners and operators were willing to invest, and as such, we are able to invest in tenant improvements and capital expenditures with respect to such properties, which enables us to attract substantially increased interest from brokers and tenants.
We expect that once our board of directors determines we have sufficient cash flow from operations, our board of director will authorize and declare cash distributions based on daily record dates and pay these distributions on a monthly basis. We expect that we will fund these cash distributions from interest income on our debt investments, rental and other income on our real property investments and to the extent we acquire investments with short maturities or investments that are close to maturity, we may fund distributions with the proceeds received at the maturity, payoff or settlement of those investments. We may also utilize strategic refinancings to fund cash distributions for investments that have appreciated in value after our acquisition. Generally, our distribution policy is not to pay cash distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations, investment activities and strategic financings. However, we may fund cash distributions from any source and there are no limits to the amount of distributions that we may pay from any source, including proceeds from this offering or the proceeds from the issuance of securities in the future, other third party borrowings, advances from our advisor or sponsors or from our advisor’s deferral of its fees under the advisory agreement. Distributions paid from sources other than current or accumulated earnings and profits may constitute a return of capital. From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our taxable income for financial reporting purposes, or our taxable income may be greater than our cash flow available for distribution to stockholders. In these situations we may make distributions in excess of our cash flow from operations, investment activities and strategic financings to satisfy the REIT distribution requirement described above. In such an event, we would look first to other third party borrowings to fund these distributions.
Upon completion of our offering stage, we expect to fund cash distributions from interest and rental and other income on investments, the maturity, payoff or settlement of investments and from strategic sales of loans, debt securities, properties and other assets as well as the strategic use of debt financing as described above. We do not expect to make significant asset sales (and related cash distributions from net sales proceeds) during our offering stage because, as a REIT, we will generally have to hold our assets for two years in order to meet the safe harbor to avoid a 100% prohibited transactions tax, unless such assets are held through a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) or other taxable corporation. At such time as we have assets that we have held for at least two years, we anticipate that we may authorize and declare distributions based on gains on asset sales monthly, to the extent we close on the sale of one or more assets and the board of directors does not determine to reinvest the proceeds of such sales.
Cash distributions on Class T shares will be lower than cash distributions on Class A shares because of the ongoing stockholder servicing fee to be paid with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering. We will not pay the stockholder servicing fee on Class T shares issued as a stock dividend or purchased in our dividend reinvestment plan offering; however, the stockholder servicing fee payable with respect to Class T shares purchased in the primary offering will be allocated to all the Class T shares as a class expense. The stockholder servicing fee therefore will impact the
distributions payable on all Class T shares and may impact the NAV of all Class T shares if the amount of the stockholder servicing fee payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceeds amounts available for distribution to holders of Class A shares.
To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must make aggregate annual distributions to our stockholders of at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (which is computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction or net capital gain and which does not necessarily equal net income as calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)). If we meet the REIT qualification requirements, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on the income that we distribute to our stockholders each year. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations - Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. - Annual Distribution Requirements.” In general, we anticipate making distributions to our stockholders of at least 100% of our REIT taxable income so that none of our income is subject to federal income tax. Our board of directors may authorize distributions in excess of those required for us to maintain REIT status depending on our financial condition and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant.
We have not established a minimum distribution level, and our charter does not require that we make distributions to our stockholders.
May I reinvest my distributions in shares of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.?
Yes. Our stockholders may participate in our dividend reinvestment plan by checking the appropriate box on the subscription agreement or by filling out an enrollment form we will provide upon request. Stockholders of either class of our shares may elect to have all or a portion of their dividends and other distributions, exclusive of dividends and other distributions that our board of directors designates as ineligible for reinvestment through the plan, reinvested in additional shares of our common stock in lieu of receiving cash distributions. Purchases pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan will be in the same class of shares as the shares for which such stockholder received the distributions that are being reinvested. Until we announce an estimated NAV per share, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will acquire shares of our common stock at a price per share equal to 95% of the then-current offering price for shares purchased in the primary portion of an offering (ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers). These dividend reinvestment plan offering prices are initially $9.50 per Class A share and $9.12 per Class T share.
Once we establish an estimated NAV per share, shares issued pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan will be priced at 95% of the estimated NAV per share of our common stock, as determined by our board of directors. We expect to establish an estimated NAV per share no later than June 6, 2017, which date is 150 days following the second anniversary of the date we broke escrow in this offering. Our board of directors may adjust the offering prices of the primary offering shares or dividend reinvestment plan shares during the course of the offering by filing a post-effective amendment.
No selling commissions or dealer manager fees are payable on shares sold under our dividend reinvestment plan. In addition, no stockholder servicing fee is payable with respect to Class T shares purchased through the dividend reinvestment plan or issued pursuant to a stock dividend; however, the stockholder servicing fee payable with respect to Class T shares purchased in the primary offering will be allocated to the Class T shares as a class expense. The stockholder servicing fee therefore will impact the distributions payable on all Class T shares and may impact the NAV of all Class T shares if the amount of the stockholder servicing fee payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceeds amounts available for distribution to holders of Class A shares.
We may amend or terminate our dividend reinvestment plan for any reason at any time upon ten days’ notice to the participants. We may provide notice by including such information (i) in a Current Report on Form 8‑K or in our annual or quarterly reports, all publicly filed with the SEC or (ii) in a separate mailing to the participants.
Will the cash distributions I receive be taxable as ordinary income?
Yes and No. Generally, distributions that you receive, including distributions that are reinvested pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan, will be taxed as ordinary income to the extent they are from current or accumulated earnings and profits. However, if we recognize a long-term capital gain upon the sale of one of our assets, a portion of our dividends may be designated and treated in your hands as a long-term capital gain. Participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will also be treated for tax purposes as having received an additional distribution to the extent that they
purchase shares under the dividend reinvestment plan at a discount to fair market value, if any. As a result, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan may have tax liability with respect to their share of our taxable income, but they will not receive cash distributions to pay such liability.
To the extent any portion of your distribution is not from current or accumulated earnings and profits, it will not be subject to tax immediately; it will be considered a return of capital for tax purposes and will reduce the tax basis of your investment (and potentially result in taxable gain). Distributions that constitute a return of capital, in effect, defer a portion of your tax until your investment is sold or we are liquidated, at which time you will be taxed at capital gains rates. However, because each investor’s tax considerations are different, we suggest that you consult with your tax advisor.
Will the stock dividends I receive be taxable?
We believe that any stock dividends should be tax-free transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 305(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the adjusted tax basis of each share of “old” and “new” common stock should be computed by dividing the adjusted tax basis of the old common stock by the total number of shares, old and new. The holding period of the common stock received in such non-taxable distribution is expected to begin on the date the taxpayer acquired the common stock which is the date that each dividend is issued. Stockholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of any stock dividends.
Will you register as an investment company?
We intend to conduct our operations so that neither we nor any of our subsidiaries will be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act. Under the relevant provisions of Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act, an investment company is any issuer that:
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• | pursuant to Section 3(a)(1)(A), is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities (the “primarily engaged test”); or |
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• | pursuant to Section 3(a)(1)(C) is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire “investment securities” having a value exceeding 40% of the value of such issuer’s total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis (the “40% test”). “Investment securities” excludes U.S. government securities and securities of majority-owned subsidiaries that are not themselves investment companies and are not relying on the exception from the definition of investment company under Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) (relating to private investment companies). |
We believe that neither we nor our Operating Partnership will be required to register as an investment company based on the following analyses. With respect to the 40% test, most of the entities through which we and our Operating Partnership own our assets will be majority-owned subsidiaries that will not themselves be investment companies and will not be relying on the exceptions from the definition of investment company under Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7).
With respect to the primarily engaged test, we and our Operating Partnership will be holding companies and do not intend to invest or trade in securities ourselves. Rather, through the majority-owned subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership, we and our Operating Partnership will be primarily engaged in the non-investment company businesses of these subsidiaries, namely the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring real estate and real estate-related assets.
If any of the subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership fail to meet the 40% test, we believe they will usually, if not always, be able to rely on Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act for an exception from the definition of an investment company. (Otherwise, they should be able to rely on the exceptions for private investment companies pursuant to Section 3(c)(1) and Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act.) As reflected in no-action letters, the SEC staff’s position on Section 3(c)(5)(C) generally requires that an issuer maintain at least 55% of its assets in “mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate,” or qualifying assets; at least 80% of its assets in qualifying assets plus real estate-related assets; and no more than 20% of the value of its assets in other than qualifying assets and real estate-related assets, which we refer to as miscellaneous assets. To constitute a qualifying asset under this 55% requirement, a real estate interest must meet various criteria based on no-action letters. We expect that any of the subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership relying on Section 3(c)(5)(C) will invest at least 55% of its assets in qualifying assets, and approximately an additional 25% of its assets in other types of real estate-related assets. If any subsidiary relies on Section 3(a)(5)(C), we expect to rely on guidance published by the SEC staff or on our analyses of guidance
published with respect to types of assets to determine which assets are qualifying real estate assets and real estate-related assets. For more information related to compliance with the Investment Company Act, see “Investment Objectives and Criteria - Investment Limitations Under the Investment Company Act of 1940.”
What is the impact of being an “emerging growth company”?
We do not believe that being an “emerging growth company,” as defined by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), will have a significant impact on our business or this offering. We have elected to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act. This election is irrevocable. Also, because we are not a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer under Section 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and will not be for so long as our shares of common stock are not traded on a securities exchange, we are not subject to auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In addition, so long as we are externally managed by our advisor, we do not expect to be required to seek stockholder approval of executive compensation and “golden parachute” compensation arrangements pursuant to Section 14A(a) and (b) of the Exchange Act. We will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years, although we will lose that status sooner if our revenues exceed $1 billion, if we issue more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt in a three year period or if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30.
How will you use the proceeds raised in this offering?
The following table sets forth information about how we intend to use the proceeds raised in our primary offering assuming that we sell up to $1,000,000,000 of shares of common stock in the primary offering. Many of the amounts set forth below represent management’s best estimate since they cannot be precisely calculated at this time. The following table assumes that (a) 15% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares and 85% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class T shares, (b) we do not further reallocate shares being offered between our primary offering and dividend reinvestment plan, and (c) based on this allocation we sell all shares at the highest possible selling commissions and dealer manager fees (with no discounts to any categories of purchasers).
We estimate that we will use $9.01 per Class A and Class T share to acquire real estate and real estate-related investments, to maintain a working capital reserve, to pay acquisition and origination expenses and, upon the acquisition or origination of real estate investments, to pay a fee to our advisor for its services in connection with the selection and acquisition or origination of such real estate investments. We will use the remainder of the gross proceeds from the primary offering to pay selling commissions, the dealer manager fee and organization and other offering expenses (as described below).
We may fund distributions from any source, including, without limitation, offering proceeds or borrowings (which may constitute a return of capital). However, our distribution policy is generally not to use proceeds from an offering to pay distributions, though our board of directors may authorize such distributions under our organizational documents. If we pay distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operations, we will have less funds available to make real estate investments, the overall return to our stockholders may be reduced and subsequent investors will experience dilution.
The following table presents information regarding the use of proceeds if we raise the maximum offering amount in this primary offering.
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| Maximum Primary Offering(1) | |
| $150,000,000 in Class A Shares ($10.00 per share) | | $850,000,000 in Class T Shares ($9.59 per share) |
| $ | | % of Offering Proceeds | | $ | | % of Offering Proceeds |
Gross Offering Proceeds | 150,000,000 | | 15.00 | | 850,000,000 | | 85.00 |
Less Offering Expenses: | | | | | | | |
Selling Commissions(2) | 9,750,000 | | 6.50 | | 25,500,000 | | 3.00 |
Dealer Manager Fee(2) | 3,598,000 | | 2.40(3) | | 17,000,000 | | 2.00 |
Organization and Other Offering Expenses(4) | 1,500,000 | | 1.00 | | 8,500,000 | | 1.00 |
Amount Available for Investment/ Net Investment Amount | 135,152,000 | | 90.10 | | 799,000,000 | | 94.00 |
Acquisition and Origination Fees(5) | 2,851,649 | | 1.90 | | 20,193,713 | | 2.38 |
Acquisition and Origination Expenses | 786,831 | | 0.53 | | 4,632,294 | | 0.55 |
Initial Working Capital Reserve | 375,000 | | 0.25 | | 2,125,000 | | 0.25 |
Targeted Investment Capital | 131,138,520 | | 87.42 | | 772,048,993 | | 90.83 |
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(1) As we are registering any combination of the two classes of shares, this allocation is management’s best estimate based on the recommendation of our dealer manager and its perceived demand in the market for each respective class of shares. If the demand for the Class A and Class T shares varies materially from our assumptions as of the date of this prospectus, we will provide an updated estimated use of proceeds table to reflect a revised allocation between the Class A and Class T shares in this offering.
(2) Except as described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus, an annual stockholder servicing fee of 1.0% of the purchase price per share (ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers) for the Class T shares sold in the primary offering will be paid to our dealer manager and will accrue daily and be paid monthly in arrears. Our dealer manager will reallow all of the stockholder servicing fee paid to it. The stockholder servicing fee is an ongoing fee that is not paid at the time of purchase and is not intended to be a principal use of offering proceeds; it is therefore not included in the table above.
(3) Effective for subscriptions admitted after February 16, 2016, we reduced the dealer manager fee payable in this offering from 3% of gross offering proceeds to 2% of gross offering proceeds. Prior to the reduction in the dealer manager fee, we had raised approximately $59.8 million in gross offering proceeds. The amount of dealer manager fees shown reflects a weighted average fee assuming we paid the maximum possible amount in dealer manager fees of $1.79 million with respect to the approximately $59.8 million of Class A shares sold in the primary offering prior to the reduction in the dealer manager fee.
(4) Organization and other offering expenses includes all expenses to be paid or reimbursed by us in connection with this offering, excluding selling commissions, the dealer manager fee and the ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering. Organization and other offering expenses include our legal, accounting, printing, mailing and filing fees, charges of our escrow holder and transfer agent, charges of our advisor for administrative services related to the issuance of shares in this offering, reimbursement of bona fide due diligence expenses of broker-dealers, reimbursement of our advisor for costs in connection with preparing supplemental sales materials, the cost of bona fide training and education meetings held by us (primarily the travel, meal and lodging costs of registered representatives of broker-dealers), attendance and sponsorship fees payable to participating broker-dealers hosting retail seminars and travel, meal and lodging costs for registered persons associated with our dealer manager and officers and employees of our affiliates to attend retail seminars conducted by broker-dealers, legal fees of our dealer manager, and promotional items.
We will not reimburse our dealer manager for wholesaling compensation expenses. Our advisor and its affiliates have agreed to reimburse us at the termination of our primary offering to the extent that organization and other offering expenses borne by us in connection with this primary offering, regardless of when incurred, exceed 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds.
(5) Effective February 17, 2016, we increased the acquisition and origination fees payable with respect to investments acquired or originated with proceeds raised in this offering after February 16, 2016, from 1.5% to 2.6%. The amount of acquisition and origination fees shown reflects a weighted average fee based on the 1.5% acquisition and origination fee in effect for investments made with the approximately $59.8 million in gross proceeds raised on or prior to February 16, 2016 when the acquisition and origination fee was increased.
This table excludes debt proceeds. To the extent we fund our investments with debt, as we expect, the targeted investment capital and the amount of acquisition and origination fees and acquisition and origination expenses will be proportionately greater. If we raise the maximum offering amount and our assumptions with respect to the amount of fees paid remain unchanged and our debt financing and other liabilities are equal to our maximum target leverage such that our total liabilities do not exceed 60% of the cost of our tangible assets (before deducting depreciation and other non-cash reserves), then we estimate that acquisition and origination fees would be $55,070,034 and acquisition and origination expenses would be $12,954,413.
We expect to use substantially all of the net proceeds from the sale of shares under our dividend reinvestment plan for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, the repurchase of shares under our share redemption program; reserves required by any financings of our investments; future funding obligations under any real estate loan receivable we acquire; the acquisition or origination of assets, which would include payment of acquisition and origination fees to our advisor; the repayment of debt; and expenses relating to our investments, such as purchasing a loan senior to ours to protect our junior position in the event of a default by the borrower on the senior loan, making protective advances to preserve collateral securing a loan, or making capital and tenant improvements or paying leasing costs and commissions related to real property.
What kind of offering is this?
We are offering, on a best efforts basis, up to $1,000,000,000 in shares of our common stock in the primary offering, consisting of two classes of shares: Class A shares at a price of $10.00 per share and Class T shares at a price of $9.59 per share. Both classes of shares have discounts available to certain categories of purchasers. We are also offering up to 76,366,006 shares of our common stock pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan: Class A shares at a price of $9.50 per share and Class T shares at a price of $9.12 per share. The amount of selling commissions differs among Class A shares and Class T shares, and there is an ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering. We are offering to sell any combination of Class A and Class T shares in our primary offering and dividend reinvestment plan offering but in no event may we sell more than 180,000,000 of shares of our common stock pursuant to this offering. We reserve the right to reallocate shares between the primary offering and our dividend reinvestment plan offering, and to reallocate shares among classes of common stock, if we elect to offer additional classes in the future. Our board of directors may adjust the offering prices of the primary offering shares or dividend reinvestment plan shares during the course of the offering by filing a post-effective amendment. Based on our current estimates, as of the date of this prospectus, we have allocated 103,633,994 and 76,366,006 shares of our common stock to our primary and dividend reinvestment plan offerings, respectively.
How does a “best efforts” offering work?
When shares are offered on a “best efforts” basis, the dealer manager is required to use only its best efforts to sell the shares and it has no firm commitment or obligation to purchase any of the shares. Therefore, we may sell substantially less than the all of the shares that we are offering.
How long will this offering last?
We currently expect to offer shares of common stock in our primary offering until approximately 90 days (as determined by our Chief Executive Officer) after we have announced that we have raised $650 million in our primary public offering. This offering period is based on a number of considerations, including our goal of raising sufficient proceeds to acquire a diverse portfolio of real estate investments prior to seeking a liquidity event, the expected pace of sales of our common stock, the anticipated composition of our portfolio and the current conditions of the commercial real estate and publicly-traded stock markets. We will continue to monitor these factors during the course of this offering, and may adjust our anticipated offering termination date as necessary should these factors change. In no event may the primary offering continue beyond the time period permitted by the rules promulgated by the SEC, which rules provide that absent the filing of a registration statement for a follow-on offering, this primary offering shall terminate after a three-year period. If we decide to revise the threshold upon which we will terminate this primary offering, we will provide that information in a prospectus supplement. We may continue to offer shares under our dividend reinvestment plan after the primary offering terminates until we have sold up to 76,366,006 shares of our common stock through the reinvestment of distributions. In some states, we will need to renew the registration statement or file a new registration statement to continue the primary offering beyond the one-year registration period allowed in such states. We may terminate this offering at any time.
If our board of directors determines that it is in our best interest, we may conduct a public offering upon the termination of this offering; however, we do not currently intend to commence any such follow-on public offering. Our charter does not restrict our ability to conduct offerings in the future.
Why are we offering two classes of our common stock?
The two classes of common stock offered in this offering are meant to provide broker dealers participating in this offering with more flexibility to facilitate investment in us and are offered partially in response to recent changes to the applicable FINRA and NASD Conduct Rules regarding the reporting of our estimated values per share. In addition, we believe offering Class A and Class T shares of our common stock provides investors with more flexibility in making their investment in us. Investors can choose to purchase shares of either or both classes of common stock in the primary offering. Each share of our common stock, regardless of class, will be entitled to one vote per share on matters presented to the common stockholders for approval.
How should you determine which class of common stock to invest in and what are the differences among the classes?
When selecting between our Class A and Class T shares, you should consult with your financial advisor and consider the following: whether you would prefer an investment with higher upfront fees and commissions and likely higher current distributions (Class A shares) versus an investment with lower upfront fees and commissions but likely lower current distributions due to the ongoing stockholder servicing fee (Class T shares). In addition, for the same investment amount, you will receive more Class T shares than you would if you purchased Class A shares, due to the differences in the purchase prices. Furthermore, you should consider whether you qualify for any volume or other discounts. Finally, some financial advisors may only sell one class of our shares. Please see the more detailed description of our classes of shares in the section entitled "Description of Shares" in this prospectus.
The amount of selling commissions differs among Class A shares and Class T shares, and there is an ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering. The following table summarizes the fees related to each class of our common stock sold in our primary offering and indicates the maximum fees payable on a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in each class of shares.
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| | Class A Shares | | | 1,000 Class A Shares | | Class T Shares | | 1,042.753 Class T Shares | |
Price Per Share/ Amount Invested | | $ | 10.00 |
| | | $ | 10,000 |
| | $ | 9.59 |
| | $ | 10,000 |
| |
Selling Commissions(1) | | | 6.5 |
| % | | $ | 650 |
| | | 3.0 | % | | $ | 300 |
| |
Dealer Manager Fees(1) | | | 2.0 |
| % | | $ | 200 |
| | | 2.0 | % | | $ | 200 |
| |
Annual Stockholder Servicing Fee | | | None |
| | | $ | 0 |
| | | 1.0%(2) |
| | $ | 400 |
| (3) |
________________________(1) The selling commissions and dealer manager fees associated with each class of shares of our common stock may be reduced for certain categories of purchasers. See “Plan of Distribution.”
(2) Except as described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus, an annual stockholder servicing fee of 1.0% of the purchase price per share (ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers) for the Class T shares sold in the primary offering will be paid to our dealer manager and will accrue daily and be paid monthly in arrears. The stockholder servicing fee will cease accruing with respect to a Class T share upon the occurrence of the following events: (i) the date at which aggregate underwriting compensation from all sources equals 10% of the gross proceeds from the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold, as calculated by us with the assistance of the dealer manager after the termination of the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold, (ii) with respect to a particular Class T share, on the fourth anniversary of the issuance of the share, (iii) a listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange, (iv) a merger or other extraordinary transaction, and (v) the date the Class T share associated with the stockholder servicing fee is no longer outstanding such as upon its redemption or our dissolution.
(3) See the discussion below for the assumptions used in determining the amount payable in stockholder servicing fees.
The stockholder servicing fee is only paid on Class T shares purchased in the primary offering; no stockholder servicing fee is paid on Class T shares purchased through the dividend reinvestment plan or issued pursuant to a stock dividend. The stockholder servicing fee is a class-specific expense, however, that will be allocated to all the Class T stockholders. The stockholder servicing fee therefore will impact the distributions payable on all Class T shares and may impact the NAV of all Class T shares if the amount of the stockholder servicing fee payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceeds amounts available for distribution to holders of Class A shares. The payment of the ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering will result in the payment of lower distributions on Class T shares relative to the distributions paid on Class A shares because the amount of the ongoing stockholder servicing fee will reduce the amount available for distribution to Class T stockholders. Distribution amounts paid on Class A and Class T shares will only vary due to the stockholder servicing fee; there are no additional class-specific expenses that will affect relative distribution amounts. In addition, as a result of the allocation of the stockholder servicing fees to the Class T shares, each share class could have a different NAV per share if distributions are not adjusted to take account of such fee.
Assuming that (a) the gross offering price of our Class T shares in the primary offering remains constant at $9.59, (b) 85% of the gross primary offering proceeds raised are from the sale of Class T shares, (c) 4% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares through distribution channels that do not pay selling commissions of 6.5%, and (d) none of the Class T shares purchased in the primary offering are redeemed and no extraordinary or other transaction affecting whether the share is outstanding occurs prior to the four year anniversary of the issuance of the T share, and because the stockholder servicing fee on a particular Class T share will cease to accrue on the fourth anniversary of the issuance of the share, we expect that with respect to a one-time $10,000 investment in
Class T shares, approximately $400 in servicing fees will be paid over 4.0 years and $500 in selling commissions and dealer manager fees will be paid at the time of the investment for a total of $900 in selling commissions, dealer manager fees and stockholder servicing fees, or 9.0% of the price per share of Class T common stock. For further clarity, with respect to any Class T share purchased in the primary offering at $9.59, under the same assumptions, we would pay approximately $0.3836 in servicing fees over 4.0 years and $0.4795 in selling commissions and dealer manager fees at the time of the investment for a total of $0.8631 in selling commissions, dealer manager fees and stockholder servicing fees, or 9.0% of the purchase price per share of Class T common stock. The selling commissions and dealer manager fees would be paid at the time of the investment from the offering proceeds we receive from the investor. The stockholder servicing fee is an ongoing fee that is not paid at the time of purchase and is not intended to be paid from the offering proceeds we receive from an individual investor; rather, it is an on-going class-specific expense that is allocated to all the Class T stockholders for services provided by the broker dealer of record, see the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus for a discussion of the stockholder services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the stockholder servicing fee will also cease to accrue with respect to Class T shares upon the date at which aggregate underwriting compensation from all sources equals 10% of the gross proceeds from the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold, as calculated by us with the assistance of the dealer manager after the termination of the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold. Underwriting compensation includes selling commissions, dealer manager fees, and stockholder servicing fees being paid in connection with an offering as well as other items of value paid in connection with an offering, including amounts not paid or reimbursed by us, that are viewed by FINRA as underwriting compensation. See the “Plan of Distribution” for a discussion of the underwriting compensation expected to be paid in connection with this offering.
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, or any liquidating distribution of our assets, then such assets, or the proceeds therefrom, will be distributed between the holders of Class A shares and Class T shares ratably in proportion to the respective NAV for each class until the NAV for each class has been paid. We will calculate the NAV per share as a whole for all Class A shares and Class T shares and then will determine any differences attributable to each class. As noted above, except in the unlikely event that the stockholder servicing fees payable on Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceed the amount otherwise available for distribution to Class A stockholders in a particular period, we expect the NAV per share of each Class A share and Class T share to be the same. Each holder of shares of a particular class of common stock will be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of shares of such class, that portion of such aggregate assets available for distribution as the number of outstanding shares of such class held by such holder bears to the total number of outstanding shares of such class then outstanding. In the event that we have not previously calculated an NAV for our Class A and Class T shares prior to a liquidation, we will calculate the NAV for our Class A and Class T shares in connection with such a liquidation specifically to facilitate the equitable distribution of assets or proceeds to the share classes.
How did you determine the offering prices of the Class A and Class T shares?
We set the $10.00 primary offering price of our Class A shares arbitrarily, and based on that price, set the $9.59 primary offering price of our Class T shares to account for differing sales commissions. These prices are unrelated to the value of our assets and to our expected operating income.
We set the initial offering price of the shares sold through the dividend reinvestment plan at a level equal to 95% of the primary offering price of each respective class of shares (ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers). No selling commissions or dealer manager fees will be paid with respect to shares purchased through the dividend reinvestment plan. In addition, no stockholder servicing fee will be paid with respect to Class T shares purchased through the dividend reinvestment plan or issued pursuant to a stock dividend; however, the stockholder servicing fee payable with respect to Class T shares purchased in the primary offering will be allocated to all the Class T shares as a class expense. The stockholder servicing fee therefore will impact the distributions payable on all Class T shares and may impact the NAV of all Class T shares if the amount of the stockholder servicing fee payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceeds amounts available for distribution to holders of Class A shares.
Who can buy shares?
An investment in our shares is only suitable for persons who have adequate financial means and who will not need immediate liquidity from their investment. Residents of most states may buy shares in this offering provided that they have either (i) a net worth of at least $70,000 and an annual gross income of at least $70,000 or (ii) a net worth of at
least $250,000. For the purpose of determining suitability, net worth does not include an investor’s home, home furnishings or personal automobiles. The minimum suitability standards are more stringent for investors in Alabama, California, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
Who might benefit from an investment in our shares?
An investment in our shares may be beneficial for you if you meet the minimum suitability standards described in this prospectus, seek to diversify your personal portfolio with a REIT investment focused on real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments, seek to receive some current income, seek to preserve capital, seek to obtain the benefits of potential long-term capital appreciation and are able to hold your investment for a time period consistent with our liquidity strategy. On the other hand, we caution persons who require immediate liquidity or guaranteed income, or who seek a short-term investment, that an investment in our shares will not meet those needs.
Is there any minimum investment required?
Yes. We require a minimum investment of $4,000. If you own the minimum investment applicable to this offering in shares of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Growth & Income REIT or any future KBS-sponsored public program, you may invest less than the minimum amount set forth above, but in no event less than $100. After you have satisfied the minimum investment requirement, any additional purchases must be in increments of at least $100. The investment minimum for subsequent purchases does not apply to shares purchased pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan.
Are there any special restrictions on the ownership or transfer of shares?
Yes. Our charter contains restrictions on the ownership of our shares that prevent any one person from owning more than 9.8% of our aggregate outstanding shares unless exempted by our board of directors. These restrictions are designed to enable us to comply with ownership restrictions imposed on REITs by the Internal Revenue Code.
Our charter also limits your ability to sell your shares. Subsequent purchasers, i.e., potential purchasers of your shares, must also meet the net worth or income standards, and unless you are transferring all of your shares, you may not transfer your shares in a manner that causes you or your transferee to own fewer than the number of shares required to meet the minimum purchase requirements, except for the following transfers without consideration: transfer by gift, transfer by inheritance, intrafamily transfer, dissolutions, transfers to affiliates and transfers by operation of law.
Are there any special considerations that apply to employee benefit plans subject to ERISA or other retirement plans that are investing in shares?
Yes. The section of this prospectus entitled “ERISA Considerations” describes the effect the purchase of shares will have on individual retirement accounts and retirement plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and/or the Internal Revenue Code. ERISA is a federal law that regulates the operation of certain tax-advantaged retirement plans. Any retirement plan trustee or individual considering purchasing shares for a retirement plan or an individual retirement account should carefully read this section of the prospectus.
We may make some investments that generate “excess inclusion income” which, when passed through to our tax-exempt stockholders, can be taxed as unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) or, in certain circumstances, can result in a tax being imposed on us. Although we do not expect the amount of such income to be significant, there can be no assurance in this regard.
As a result of plan asset considerations related to ERISA, we expect that all subscription payments for the purchase of Class T shares received from Benefit Plan investors initially will be placed in an account held by the escrow agent, UMB Bank, N.A., in trust for Benefit Plan investors’ benefit pending release to us. The term “Benefit Plan investors” is defined for this purpose under ERISA Section 3(42) and includes any employee Benefit Plan subject to Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, any plan subject Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code, and any entity whose underlying assets include plan assets by reasons of a plan’s investment in such entity. Once we have received
subscriptions for Class T shares which would result in ownership of the Class T shares by 100 or more persons who are independent of us and one another we will request that our escrow agent release to us any funds received from Benefit Plan investors for the purchase of Class T shares.
May I make an investment through my IRA, SEP or other tax-deferred account?
Yes. You may make an investment through your individual retirement account (IRA), a simplified employee pension (SEP) plan or other tax-deferred account. In making these investment decisions, you should consider, at a minimum, (i) whether the investment is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing your IRA, plan or other account, (ii) whether the investment satisfies the fiduciary requirements associated with your IRA, plan or other account, (iii) whether the investment will generate UBTI to your IRA, plan or other account, (iv) whether there is sufficient liquidity for such investment under your IRA, plan or other account, (v) the need to value the assets of your IRA, plan or other account annually or more frequently, and (vi) whether the investment would constitute a prohibited transaction under applicable law.
How do I subscribe for shares?
If you choose to purchase shares in this offering, you will need to complete and sign a subscription agreement (in the form attached to this prospectus as Appendix A) for a specific class and number of shares and pay for the shares at the time of your subscription.
If I buy shares in this offering, how may I sell them later?
At the time you purchase the shares, they will not be listed for trading on any national securities exchange or over-the-counter market. In fact, we do not expect any public market to develop for the shares. In addition, our charter imposes restrictions on the ownership of our common stock that will apply to potential purchasers of your shares. As a result, if you wish to sell your shares, you may not be able to do so promptly or at all, and you may only be able to sell them at a substantial discount from the price you paid.
After you have held your shares for at least one year, you may be able to have your shares repurchased by us pursuant to our share redemption program. However, our share redemption program includes numerous restrictions that limit our stockholders’ ability to sell their shares. If and when we do have funds available for redemption under our share redemption program, unless the shares are being redeemed in connection with a stockholder’s death, qualifying disability or determination of incompetence (“Special Redemption”), the prices at which we will redeem shares are as follows.
Until we announce an estimated NAV per share of our common stock, the price at which we will redeem the shares is as follows:
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least one year, 92.5% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least two years, 95.0% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least three years, 97.5% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us; and |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least four years, 100% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, stock dividends will initially be redeemed at the “net investment amount” per share, which will be based on the “amount available for investment/net investment amount” percentage shown in our estimated use of proceeds table. For each class of shares, this amount will initially equal $9.01 per share for redemptions of shares received as a result of a stock dividend.
After we establish an estimated NAV per share of our common stock, the price at which we will redeem the shares is as follows:
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least one year, 92.5% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least two years, 95.0% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least three years, 97.5% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date; and |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least four years, 100% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date. |
For purposes of determining the time period a redeeming stockholder has held each share submitted for redemption, the time period begins as of the date the stockholder acquired the shares; provided further, that shares purchased by the redeeming stockholder pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan or received as a stock dividend will be deemed to have been acquired on the same date as the initial share to which the dividend reinvestment plan shares or stock dividend shares relate. The date of the share’s original issuance by us is not determinative. In addition, as described above, the shares owned by a stockholder may be redeemed at different prices depending on how long the stockholder has held each share submitted for redemption.
We expect to establish an estimated NAV per share no later than June 6, 2017, which date is 150 days following the second anniversary of the date we broke escrow in this offering.
The terms of our share redemption program are more generous with respect to redemptions sought in connection with a Special Redemption:
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• | There is no one-year holding requirement; |
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• | Additional funds in an amount of up to $500,000 are available for redemption; |
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• | Until we announce an estimated NAV per share, the redemption price is the amount paid to acquire the shares from us; provided that, stock dividends will initially be redeemed at the “net investment amount” per share, which will be based on the “amount available for investment/net investment amount” percentage shown in our estimated use of proceeds table. For each class of shares, this amount will initially equal $9.01 per share for redemptions of shares received as a result of a stock dividend; and |
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• | Once we have announced an estimated NAV per share, the redemption price for all shares would be the estimated NAV of the shares, as determined by our board of directors. |
In order for a determination of disability or incompetence to entitle a stockholder to these special redemption terms, the determination of disability or incompetence must be made by the government entities specified in the share redemption program.
The share redemption program contains numerous other restrictions on your ability to sell your shares to us. During each calendar year, redemptions are limited to the amount of net proceeds from the sale of shares under our dividend reinvestment plan during the prior calendar year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the share redemption program provides up to $500,000 in additional funds to redeem a qualifying stockholder’s shares if the shares are being redeemed in connection with a Special Redemption. For purposes of determining the amount of funds available for redemption under the share redemption program, redemptions for a Special Redemption are to be made first from this $500,000. This restriction may significantly limit your ability to have your shares redeemed pursuant to our share redemption program because initial distributions have been in the form of stock dividends and, particularly during our offering stage, we do not expect to have cash flow sufficient to pay significant cash distributions, which would in turn severely limit redemptions during the next calendar year.
Further, during any calendar year, we may redeem no more than 5% of the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year. We also have no obligation to redeem shares if the redemption would violate the restrictions on distributions under Maryland law, which prohibits distributions that would cause a corporation to fail to meet statutory tests of solvency. We may amend, suspend or terminate the program for any reason upon 30 days’ notice, provided that we may increase or decrease the funding available for the redemption of shares pursuant to our share redemption program upon ten business days’ notice to our stockholders.
When will the company seek to provide a liquidity event for its stockholders?
We may seek to list our shares of common stock if our independent directors believe listing would be in the best interests of our stockholders. If we do not list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange within ten years from commencement of this offering, our charter requires that we either:
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• | seek stockholder approval of the liquidation of the company; or |
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• | postpone the decision of whether to liquidate the company, if a majority of the conflicts committee determines that liquidation is not then in the best interests of the stockholders. |
If a majority of the conflicts committee does determine that liquidation is not then in the best interests of our stockholders, our charter requires that the conflicts committee revisit the issue of liquidation at least annually. Further postponement of listing or stockholder action regarding liquidation would only be permitted if a majority of the conflicts committee again determined that liquidation would not be in the best interest of our stockholders. If we sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of our liquidation, our charter would not require us to list or liquidate and would not require the conflicts committee to revisit the issue of liquidation, and we could continue to operate as before. If we sought and obtained stockholder approval of our liquidation, we would begin an orderly sale of our assets. The precise timing of such sales would take account of the prevailing real estate finance markets and the debt markets generally as well as the federal income tax consequences to our stockholders. In making the decision to apply for listing of our shares, our directors will try to determine whether listing our shares or liquidating our assets will result in greater value for stockholders.
One of the factors our board of directors will consider when making this determination is the liquidity needs of our stockholders. In assessing whether to list or liquidate, our board of directors would likely solicit input from financial advisors as to the likely demand for our shares upon listing. If, after listing, the board believed that it would be difficult for stockholders to dispose of their shares, then that factor would weigh against listing. However, this would not be the only factor considered by the board. If listing still appeared to be in the best long-term interest of our stockholders, despite the prospects of a relatively small market for our shares upon the initial listing, the board may still opt to list our shares of common stock in keeping with its obligations under Maryland law. The board would also likely consider whether there was a large demand to sell our shares when making decisions regarding listing or liquidation. The degree of participation in our dividend reinvestment plan and the number of requests for redemptions under the share redemption program at this time could be an indicator of stockholder demand to liquidate their investment.
Will I be notified of how my investment is doing?
Yes, we will provide you with periodic updates on the performance of your investment in us, including:
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• | detailed quarterly dividend reports; |
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• | supplements to the prospectus; and |
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• | three quarterly financial reports. |
We will provide this information to you via one or more of the following methods, in our discretion and with your consent, if necessary:
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• | U.S. mail or other courier; |
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• | posting on our web site at www.kbssorii.com. |
To assist the FINRA members and their associated persons that participate in this offering in meeting their customer account statement reporting obligations pursuant to FINRA and NASD Conduct Rules, we will disclose in each annual report distributed to stockholders a per share estimated value of our shares, the method by which it was developed, and the date of the data used to develop the estimated value. In addition, our advisor will prepare annual statements of estimated share values to assist fiduciaries of retirement plans subject to the annual reporting requirements of ERISA in the preparation of their reports relating to an investment in our shares.
We intend to report the net investment amount of our shares as our estimated value per share, which net investment amount will be based on the “amount available for investment/net investment amount” percentage shown in our estimated use of proceeds table. This estimated per share value will be accompanied by any disclosures required under the FINRA and NASD Conduct Rules. No later than 150 days after the second anniversary of the date on which we broke escrow in our initial public offering, we will provide an estimated NAV per share that we will use as our estimated value per share. This value will be based on valuations of our assets and liabilities performed at least annually, by, or with the material assistance or confirmation of, a third-party valuation expert or service and will comply with the Practice Guideline 2013-01, Valuations of Publicly Registered, Non-Listed REITs issued by the Investment Program in April 2013 (the “IPA Valuation Guidelines”).
In connection with determining an estimated NAV per share, we will obtain independent third-party appraisals for our real estate investments and certain real-estate related investments as appropriate. With respect to our cash, real estate loans receivable, other assets, mortgage debt and other liabilities, we will obtain valuations from our advisor as we expect these will equal GAAP fair value as reported in our publicly filed financial statements. These valuations will be reviewed by the independent third-party engaged to assist in the determination of our estimated NAV per share. We will value our other assets in a manner we deem most suitable under the circumstances consistent with the IPA Valuation Guidelines. Once we announce an estimated NAV per share we generally expect to update the estimated NAV per share in December of each year.
Until we report an estimated NAV per share, this initial reported value will likely differ from the price at which a stockholder could resell his or her shares primarily because (i) there is no public trading market for the shares at this time; (ii) when derived from the primary offering price, the estimated value will not reflect, and will not be derived from, the fair market value of our assets nor will it represent the amount of net proceeds that would result from an immediate liquidation of our assets, (iii) the purchase prices at which shares of our Class A common stock were sold prior to commencement of this offering were significantly below the purchase prices for shares in this offering and we paid significant organization and offering expenses in connection with our private offering; (iv) the estimated value does not take into account how market fluctuations affect the value of our investments; and (v) the estimated value does not take into account how developments related to individual assets may have increased or decreased the value of our portfolio.
When will I get my detailed tax information?
Your Form 1099-DIV tax information, if required, will be mailed by January 31 of each year.
Who can help answer my questions about the offering?
If you have more questions about the offering, or if you would like additional copies of this prospectus, you should contact your registered representative or contact:
KBS Capital Markets Group LLC
800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700
Newport Beach, California 92660
Telephone: (866) KBS-4CMG or (866) 527-4264
Fax: (949) 417-6501
www.kbs-cmg.com
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves various risks and uncertainties. You should carefully consider the following risk factors in conjunction with the other information contained in this prospectus, as supplemented, before purchasing our common stock. The risks discussed in this prospectus, as supplemented, could adversely affect our business, operating results, prospects and financial condition. This could cause the value of our common stock to decline and could cause you to lose all or part of your investment. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face but do represent those risks and uncertainties that we believe are material to us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also harm our business.
Risks Related to an Investment in Us
If we do not raise significant proceeds in this offering, we will be limited in the number and type of investments we make and the value of our stockholders’ investment in us will fluctuate with the performance of the specific assets we acquire.
Our common stock is being offered on a “best efforts” basis, meaning that our dealer manager is only required to use its best efforts to sell our shares and has no firm commitment or obligation to purchase any of our shares. As a result, there is no assurance that we will raise significant proceeds in this offering, and the amount of proceeds we raise in this offering may be substantially less than the amount we would need to achieve a fully diversified portfolio of investments. If we are unable to raise substantial proceeds, we will make fewer investments resulting in less diversification in terms of the type, number, size and geographic location of investments that we make. In that case, the likelihood that any single property’s performance would adversely affect our profitability will increase. If most of our properties are located in a single geographic area, our operating results and ability to make distributions are likely to be impacted by economic changes affecting the real estate market in that area. Our stockholders’ investment in our shares will be subject to greater risk to the extent that we lack a diversified portfolio of investments. Further, we will have certain fixed operating expenses regardless of whether we are able to raise substantial funds in this offering. Our inability to raise substantial proceeds would increase our fixed operating expenses as a percentage of gross income, reducing our net income and cash flow and limiting our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.
Because no public trading market for your shares currently exists, it will be difficult for you to sell your shares and, if you are able to sell your shares, you will likely sell them at a substantial discount to the offering price.
No public market currently exists for our shares, and at this time we have no plans to list our shares on an exchange. Our charter does not require our directors to provide our stockholders with a liquidity event by a specified date or at all. Until our shares are listed, if ever, you may not sell your shares unless the buyer meets the applicable suitability and minimum purchase standards. In addition, our charter prohibits the ownership of more than 9.8% of our stock, unless exempted by our board of directors, which may inhibit large investors from purchasing your shares. In its sole discretion, our board of directors could amend, suspend or terminate our share redemption program upon 30 days’ notice, provided that we may increase or decrease the funding available for the redemption of shares pursuant to our share redemption program upon ten business days’ notice to our stockholders. Further, the share redemption program includes numerous restrictions that will severely limit your ability to sell your shares. We describe these restrictions in more detail under “Description of Shares—Share Redemption Program.” Therefore, it will be difficult for you to sell your shares promptly or at all. If you are able to sell your shares, you would likely have to sell them at a substantial discount to their public offering price. It is also likely that your shares would not be accepted as the primary collateral for a loan. Because of the illiquid nature of our shares, you should purchase our shares only as a long-term investment and be prepared to hold them for an indefinite period of time.
If we are unable to find suitable investments, we may not be able to achieve our investment objectives or pay distributions.
Our ability to achieve our investment objectives and to pay distributions depends upon the performance of KBS Capital Advisors, our advisor, in the acquisition of our investments, including the determination of any financing arrangements, and the ability of our advisor to source loan origination opportunities for us. With respect to any investments we may make in Europe, we must also depend upon the performance of STAM, the third party with whom our advisor has entered into a sub-advisory agreement. Competition from competing entities may reduce the number of suitable investment opportunities offered to us or increase the bargaining power of counterparties in transactions. We will also depend upon the performance of third-party loan servicers and property managers in connection with managing our investments. The more shares we sell in this offering, the greater our challenge will be to invest all of the net offering proceeds on attractive terms. Except for investments that may be described in supplements to this prospectus, you will have no opportunity to evaluate the economic merits or the terms of our investments. You must rely entirely on the management abilities of KBS Capital Advisors, the loan servicers and property managers KBS Capital Advisors
selects and the oversight of our board of directors. We can give you no assurance that KBS Capital Advisors will be successful in obtaining suitable investments on financially attractive terms or that, if KBS Capital Advisors makes investments on our behalf, our objectives will be achieved. If we, through KBS Capital Advisors, are unable to find suitable investments promptly, we will hold the proceeds from this offering in an interest-bearing account or invest the proceeds in short-term assets. In the event we are unable to timely locate suitable investments, we may be unable or limited in our ability to pay distributions and we may not be able to meet our investment objectives.
Disruptions in the financial markets and uncertain economic conditions could continue to adversely impact the commercial mortgage market as well as the market for real estate-related debt investments generally, which could hinder our ability to implement our business strategy and generate returns to you.
The returns available to investors generated by real estate-related investments are determined by: (i) the supply and demand for such investments; (ii) the terms we are able to negotiate for our investments; (iii) the performance of the assets underlying the investments; and (iv) the existence of a market for such investments, which includes the ability to sell or finance such investments.
During periods of volatility, the number of investors participating in the market may change at an accelerated pace. As liquidity or “demand” increases, the returns available to investors on new investments will decrease. Conversely, a lack of liquidity will cause the returns available to investors on new investments to increase.
The Federal Reserve has maintained an accommodative monetary policy since the beginning of the 2008 financial crisis. Through a variety of monetary tools and programs, the Federal Reserve injected trillions of U.S. dollars into the global financial markets. The U.S. quantitative easing (“QE”) program focused on the purchase of U.S. treasury bonds and mortgage backed securities. Currently it is unclear what the final cost or impact of this program will be. In October of 2014, the Federal Reserve concluded the current phase of QE. While it is unclear whether such an increase will happen in 2015 or 2016, it now appears likely that an increase is in the Federal Reserve's plans.
In the United States, recent economic data has been mixed. Slow and steady growth in the labor markets has driven unemployment to 5.0% as of October 2015. The labor force participation rate continues to be low and personal income growth has remained muted. Consumer spending in the United States has increased, and is being driven by lower debt service burdens, record high stock market valuations, rebounding home prices and a dramatic decrease in the cost of gasoline. Consumer confidence levels are starting to reach levels last seen in the mid-2000’s. U.S. gross domestic product (“U.S. GDP”) has continued to grow at a moderate annualized rate. On an annual basis, U.S. GDP growth in 2014 was 2.4%, which was an improvement over 2013’s growth rate of 1.5%. In the first quarter of 2015, growth was well below expectations at 0.6%. The second quarter of 2015 rebounded strongly with 3.9%, and the third quarter of 2015 has come in at an initial level of 1.5%. The muted third quarter growth is being explained as the result of a strong dollar and a decrease in demand for U.S. exports. Throughout 2015 corporate revenues and earnings have experienced a reduced level of growth.
The U.S. dollar has remained a safe haven currency and the U.S. commercial real estate market has benefited from an inflow of foreign capital. Initially, gateway markets such as New York City and San Francisco benefited from a high demand for commercial properties. In 2014, the commercial real estate market recovery spread to secondary and tertiary markets, and most asset classes. The U.S. commercial real estate market has gained favor as an alternative investment class and capital flows continue to improve. In 2015, commercial property values have continued to rise and the U.S. commercial real estate market is currently on pace to set a record in transaction volume. However, the recovery in commercial real estate is expected to remain uneven across geographies and among property types.
Disruptions in the financial markets and uncertain economic conditions could adversely affect market rental rates, commercial real estate values and our ability to secure debt financing, service future debt obligations, or pay distributions to our stockholders.
Currently, both the investing and leasing environments are highly competitive. While there has been an increase in the amount of capital flowing into the U.S. real estate markets, which resulted in an increase in real estate values in certain markets, the uncertainty regarding the economic environment has made businesses reluctant to make long-term commitments or changes in their business plans. Possible future declines in rental rates, slower or potentially negative net absorption of leased space and expectations of future rental concessions, including free rent to renew tenants early, to retain tenants who are up for renewal or to attract new tenants, may result in decreases in cash flows. Historically low interest rates could help offset some of the impact of these potential decreases in operating cash flow for properties financed with variable rate mortgages; however, interest rates likely will not remain at these historically low levels for the remaining life of many of our investments. Recently, interest rates have become more volatile as the global capital markets react to increasing economic and geopolitical risks.
After several years of improving market conditions, the recovery in the U.S. residential real estate market has slowed. The initial recovery was driven by low interest rates, pent-up demand from the consumer sector and institutional investors in the form of buy-to-rent portfolios. In 2015, investor demand for homes has slowed and the housing market appears to be heading into a consolidation phase as several institutional investors seek an exit to repay investors. All cash purchases of homes, an indicator of institutional investor activity, has dropped dramatically. New home construction numbers have been driven largely by the construction of multifamily projects.
From a global standpoint, the U.S. economy is considered to be a bright spot. Recently the International Monetary Fund (“IMF”) lowered its global growth forecast from 3.7% to 3.3%. Lower than expected growth in the European Union (“EU”) and Chinese economies are the primary factors in the forecast change. Geopolitical events in the Ukraine and Middle East and the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa, and its possible spread to the rest of the world, have all been impediments to global economic growth.
Overall, despite indications of recovery in the United States, uncertainties abound. China’s export-based economy has slowed and the Japanese government continues to experiment with QE. The EU is faced with the economic collapse of Greece, another recession and military conflict in the Ukraine. In the United States, the Federal Reserve completed the latest phase of QE in 2014 and is now faced with the impact of a strong dollar and the anticipation of increasing interest rates. In the short-term, we anticipate that market conditions will continue to remain strong and volatile. When combined with a challenging global macro-economic environment, these conditions may interfere with the implementation of our business strategy and/or force us to modify it.
We have relied on debt financing to finance our real estate properties and we may have difficulty refinancing some of our debt obligations prior to or at maturity or we may not be able to refinance these obligations at terms as favorable as the terms of our existing indebtedness and we also may be unable to obtain additional debt financing on attractive terms or at all. If we are not able to refinance our existing indebtedness on attractive terms at the various maturity dates, we may be forced to dispose of some of our assets. Recent financial market conditions have improved from the bottom of the economic cycle, but material risks are still present. Market conditions can change quickly, which could negatively impact the value of our assets.
Disruptions in the financial markets and continued uncertain economic conditions could adversely affect the values of our investments. Lending activity only recently increased; however, it remains uncertain whether the capital markets can sustain the current transaction levels. Any disruption to the debt and capital markets could result in fewer buyers seeking to acquire commercial properties and possible increases in capitalization rates and lower property values. Furthermore, declining economic conditions could negatively impact commercial real estate fundamentals and result in lower occupancy, lower rental rates and declining values in our real estate portfolio and in the collateral securing our loan investments, which could have the following negative effects on us:
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• | the values of our investments in commercial properties could decrease below the amounts paid for such investments; |
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• | the value of collateral securing our loan investments could decrease below the outstanding principal amounts of such loans; |
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• | revenues from our properties could decrease due to fewer tenants and/or lower rental rates, making it more difficult for us to pay distributions or meet our debt service obligations on debt financing; and/or |
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• | revenues generated by the properties and other assets underlying our loan investments could decrease, making it more difficult for the borrowers to meet their payment obligations to us, which could in turn make it more difficult for us to pay distributions or meet our debt service obligations on debt financing. |
All of these factors could reduce our stockholders’ return and decrease the value of an investment in us.
We may suffer from delays in locating suitable investments, which could limit our ability to make distributions and lower the overall return on your investment.
We rely upon our sponsors and the other real estate and debt finance professionals at our advisor, including Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., to identify suitable investments. The private KBS-sponsored programs, especially those that are currently raising offering proceeds, as well as the KBS-advised investors, also rely upon Messrs. Bren and Schreiber for investment opportunities. In addition, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT, which are also externally advised by our advisor, rely upon Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber to identify potential investments and actively manage their assets. To the extent that our sponsors and the other real
estate and debt finance professionals at our advisor face competing demands upon their time at times when we have capital ready for investment, we may face delays in locating suitable investments. Further, the more money we raise in this offering, the more difficult it will be to invest the net offering proceeds promptly and on attractive terms. Therefore, the size of this offering and the competition from other entities that may be better positioned to acquire the types of investments we desire to make increase the risk of delays in investing our net offering proceeds. Delays we encounter in the selection and acquisition or origination of income-producing assets would likely limit our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders and lower their overall returns.
To the extent we incur expenses in connection with the identification, evaluation, and negotiation of potential investments that we ultimately do not acquire or originate, we will have fewer funds available for investment and your overall return may be reduced.
Our advisor follows a tightly managed process to examine all elements of our potential investments, the objective of which is to identify suitable acquisition and origination targets that meet our investment and underwriting criteria. The pursuit of investments may pose certain risks to us. We may not be able to identify acquisition or origination candidates that fit our criteria. Even if we are able to identify such candidates, we may not be able to acquire or originate them on terms satisfactory to us. Our advisor will incur expenses on our behalf and will dedicate attention and resources associated with the evaluation and negotiation of acquisition and origination opportunities, whether or not we ultimately consummate these transactions. For example, before we make any investment, our advisor may engage third parties to perform appraisals, surveys, property condition reports, environmental site assessments and other analyses with respect to a potential investment. In addition, our advisor may incur legal and other professional costs on our behalf in connection with the negotiation of potential investments. We will be responsible for reimbursing our advisor for the third party costs associated with the pursuit of an investment target, regardless of whether we ultimately acquire or originate the investment. To the extent we incur expenses in connection with the identification, evaluation, and negotiation of potential investments that we ultimately do not acquire or originate, for whatever reason, we will have fewer funds available for investment and your overall return may be reduced.
Because this is a blind-pool offering, you will not have the opportunity to evaluate our investments before we make them, which makes your investment more speculative.
We will seek to invest substantially all of the net proceeds from the primary offering after the payment of fees and expenses, in real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments. However, because you will be unable to evaluate the economic merit of assets before we invest in them, you will have to rely entirely on the ability of our advisor to select suitable and successful investment opportunities. Furthermore, our board of directors will have broad discretion in implementing policies regarding mortgagor or tenant creditworthiness and you will not have the opportunity to evaluate potential borrowers, tenants or managers. These factors increase the risk that your investment may not generate returns comparable to our competitors.
We have a limited operating history which makes our future performance difficult to predict.
We have a limited operating history. We were incorporated in the State of Maryland on February 6, 2013 and commenced a private placement offering in July 2013. We terminated offering shares in our private offering immediately prior to commencement of this offering in August 2014. As of February 17, 2016, we owned two hotel properties, one office building, and one first mortgage loan. We cannot assure you that we will be able to operate our business successfully or implement our operating policies and strategies described in this prospectus. We can provide no assurance that our performance will replicate the past performance of other KBS-sponsored programs. Our investment returns could be substantially lower than the returns achieved by other KBS-sponsored programs. The results of our operations depend on several factors, including the availability of opportunities for the acquisition of target assets, the level and volatility of interest rates, the availability of short and long-term financing, and conditions in the financial markets and economic conditions.
Because we depend upon our advisor and its affiliates to conduct our operations, adverse changes in the financial health of our advisor or its affiliates could cause our operations to suffer.
We depend on KBS Capital Advisors, its affiliates and the key real estate and debt finance professionals at KBS Capital Advisors to manage our operations and our portfolio of real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments. Our advisor depends upon the fees and other compensation that it receives from us and other KBS-sponsored public programs in connection with the origination, purchase, management and sale of assets to conduct its operations. Any adverse changes in the financial condition of KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates or our relationship with KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates could hinder their ability to successfully manage our operations and our portfolio of investments.
Our ability to implement our investment strategy is dependent, in part, upon the ability of KBS Capital Markets Group, our dealer manager, to successfully conduct this offering, which makes an investment in us more speculative.
We have retained KBS Capital Markets Group, an affiliate of our advisor, to conduct this offering. The success of this offering, and our ability to implement our business strategy, is dependent upon the ability of KBS Capital Markets Group to build and maintain a network of broker-dealers to sell our shares to their clients. Some or all of the broker dealers in this network have a choice of numerous competing real estate investment trust offerings, many with similar investment objectives, to recommend to their clients, which may make selling our shares to their clients more difficult. If KBS Capital Markets Group is not successful in growing, operating and managing this network of broker-dealers, our ability to raise proceeds through this offering will be limited and we may not have adequate capital to implement our investment strategy. If we are unsuccessful in implementing our investment strategy, you could lose all or a part of your investment.
Investors in this offering will experience immediate dilution of their investment in us primarily because we paid upfront fees in connection with the sale of our shares, we sold shares of our Class A common stock in our private offering at purchase prices that were significantly below the $10.00 purchase price for Class A shares in this offering, and we incurred significant organization and other offering expenses in connection with our private offering.
Stockholders who purchase shares in this offering will incur immediate dilution of their investment in us. This is primarily because of the upfront fees, including selling commissions, dealer manager fees and organization and other offering expenses, paid in connection with this offering that are not available for investment in real estate. In addition, immediately prior to commencement of this offering, we sold shares of our Class A common stock at purchase prices between $9.20 and $9.40, which are substantially below the purchase price of our Class A common stock in this offering, and we paid significant organization and offering expenses in connection with our private offering. To date, we have only made a limited number of investments that may not be sufficient to offset the dilutive effect of the incurrence of significant organization and other offering expenses in this and our private offering and the sale of Class A shares in our private offering at a purchase price of less than the purchase price in this offering; therefore, the current value per share for investors purchasing our stock in this offering will likely be below the current offering price.
Because the offering price in this offering exceeds our net tangible book value per share, investors in this offering will experience immediate dilution in the net tangible book value of their shares.
We are currently offering shares of our Class A common stock and our Class T common stock in this initial public offering at $10.00 and $9.59 per share, respectively, with discounts available to certain categories of purchasers. Our current offering price exceeds our net tangible book value per share. Our net tangible book value per share is a rough approximation of value calculated as total book value of assets minus total book value of liabilities, divided by the total number of shares of common stock outstanding. Net tangible book value is used generally as a conservative measure of net worth that we do not believe reflects our estimated value per share. It is not intended to reflect the value of our assets upon an orderly liquidation of the company in accordance with our investment objectives. However, net tangible book value does reflect certain dilution in value of our common stock from the issue price in this offering as a result of (i) the substantial fees paid in connection with this offering and our now terminated private offering, including selling commissions and marketing fees re-allowed by our dealer manager to participating broker-dealers, (ii) the fees and expenses paid to our advisor and its affiliates in connection with the selection, acquisition, management and sale of our investments, (iii) general and administrative expenses, (iv) accumulated depreciation and amortization of real estate investments, and (v) the issuance of shares in our now-terminated private offering at a purchase price of less than $10.00.
As of December 31, 2014, our net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock, which was the only class of common stock outstanding, was $7.87. To the extent we are able to raise additional proceeds in this offering, some of the expenses that cause dilution of the net tangible book value per share are expected to decrease on a per share basis, resulting in increases in the net tangible book value per share. This increase would be partially offset by increases in depreciation and amortization expenses related to our real estate investments.
The return per share for investors in this offering will be diluted if we issue stock dividends prior to their investment in us.
Our investment objectives include investing in assets with potential for long term appreciation; however, they may have reduced operating cash flows initially. As a result, we may issue stock dividends to supplement our payment of cash distributions, especially in the early stages of our operations before our value-creating investments have stabilized and started generating stable cash flows from operations. While our objective is to acquire assets that appreciate in value, there can be no assurance that assets we acquire will appreciate in value. Furthermore, we do not currently intend to change our offering price during the term of this offering. Therefore, investors who purchase our
shares early in this offering, as compared with later investors, will receive more shares for the same cash investment as a result of any stock dividends not received by later investors. Because they would own more shares, upon a sale or liquidation of the company, these early investors will receive more sales proceeds or liquidating distributions relative to their gross investment amount compared to later investors.
If we are incorrect in our assessment of asset appreciation or anticipated asset appreciation that has been used to justify a cash distribution or stock dividend, the return for later investors purchasing our stock after payment of these cash distributions or stock dividends will be lower than the return for earlier investors.
We do not currently intend to change our offering price during the term of this offering. However, under our distribution policy, to the extent that we believe assets in our portfolio have appreciated in value after acquisition or will appreciate in value, we may determine to issue a stock dividend or use the proceeds from real estate financings to fund cash distributions to our stockholders. Therefore, investors who purchase our shares early in this offering, as compared with later investors, may receive more distributions for the same cash investment as a result of any distributions that are made based on our assessment of asset appreciation or anticipated asset appreciation. Furthermore, if we are incorrect in our assessment of asset appreciation that is used to justify a cash or stock dividend, the return for later investors purchasing our stock may be further reduced relative to the return for earlier investors.
If we pay cash distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operations, we will have less funds available for investments and your overall return may be reduced.
Generally, our distribution policy is not to pay cash distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations, investment activities and strategic financings. However, we may fund cash distributions from any source and there are no limits to the amount of distributions that we may pay from any source, including proceeds from this offering or the proceeds from the issuance of securities in the future, other third party borrowings, advances from our advisor or sponsors or from our advisor’s deferral of its fees under the advisory agreement. Distributions paid from sources other than current or accumulated earnings and profits may constitute a return of capital. From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our taxable income for financial reporting purposes, or our taxable income may be greater than our cash flow available for distribution to stockholders. In these situations we may make distributions in excess of our cash flow from operations, investment activities and strategic financings to satisfy the REIT distribution requirement. In such an event, we would look first to other third party borrowings to fund these distributions. If we fund distributions from financings, the net proceeds from this offering or sources other than our cash flow from operations, we will have less funds available for investment in real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments and your overall return may be reduced.
The loss of or the inability to obtain key real estate and debt finance professionals at our advisor and key employees at our dealer manager could delay or hinder implementation of our investment strategies, which could limit our ability to make distributions and decrease the value of your investment.
Our success depends to a significant degree upon the contributions of Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III, and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., each of whom would be difficult to replace. Neither we nor our affiliates have employment agreements with Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan or Schreiber. Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber may not remain associated with us. If any of these persons were to cease their association with us, our operating results could suffer. We do not intend to maintain key person life insurance on any person. We believe that our future success depends, in large part, upon our advisor’s and its affiliates’ ability to attract and retain highly skilled managerial, operational and marketing professionals. Competition for such professionals is intense, and our advisor and its affiliates may be unsuccessful in attracting and retaining such skilled individuals. If we lose or are unable to obtain the services of highly skilled professionals our ability to implement our investment strategies could be delayed or hindered, and the value of your investment may decline. Furthermore, if some or all of the key real estate and debt finance professionals at KBS Capital Advisors are internalized by KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT or KBS Growth & Income REIT, KBS Capital Advisors may need to replace such professionals, or we may need to find employees or an advisor to replace the management services KBS Capital Advisors provides to us. In such event our operating performance and the return on your investment could suffer.
Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to recover claims against our independent directors are limited, which could reduce your and our recovery against our independent directors if they negligently cause us to incur losses.
Maryland law provides that a director has no liability in that capacity if he performs his duties in good faith, in a manner he reasonably believes to be in our best interests and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. Our charter provides that no independent director shall be liable to us or
our stockholders for monetary damages and that we will generally indemnify them for losses unless they are grossly negligent or engage in willful misconduct. As a result, you and we may have more limited rights against our independent directors than might otherwise exist under common law, which could reduce your and our recovery from these persons if they act in a negligent manner. In addition, we may be obligated to fund the defense costs incurred by our independent directors (as well as by our other directors, officers, employees (if we ever have employees) and agents) in some cases, which would decrease the cash otherwise available for distribution to you.
We have limited experience with European investments.
Neither we nor our advisor or any of its affiliates has substantial experience investing in real estate-related assets located in Europe. With respect to any investments we may make in Europe, we will be largely dependent upon the acquisition and portfolio management performance of STAM, the third party with whom our advisor has entered into a sub-advisory agreement. Although we expect to acquire real estate-related assets located in the United States, we may also acquire real estate assets located in Europe and may make or purchase mortgage, bridge, mezzanine or other loans made by a buyer located in Europe or secured by property located in Europe. We may not have the expertise necessary to maximize the return on our European investments.
Your investment may be subject to additional risks if we make international investments.
We may purchase real estate assets located in Europe and may make or purchase mortgage, bridge, mezzanine or other loans or participations in mortgage, bridge, mezzanine or other loans made by a borrower located in Europe or secured by property located in Europe. These investments may be affected by factors peculiar to the laws of the jurisdiction in which the borrower or the property is located. These laws may expose us to risks that are different from and in addition to those commonly found in the United States. Foreign investments could be subject to the following risks:
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• | governmental laws, rules and policies including laws relating to the foreign ownership of real property or mortgages and laws relating to the ability of foreign persons or corporations to remove profits earned from activities within the country to the person’s or corporation’s country of origin; |
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• | variations in currency exchange rates; |
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• | adverse market conditions caused by inflation or other changes in national or local economic conditions; |
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• | changes in relative interest rates; |
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• | changes in the availability, cost and terms of mortgage funds resulting from varying national economic policies; |
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• | changes in real estate and other tax rates, the tax treatment of transaction structures and other changes in operating expenses in a particular country where we have an investment; |
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• | our REIT tax status not being respected under foreign laws, in which case any income or gains from foreign sources would likely be subject to foreign taxes, withholding taxes, transfer taxes, and value added taxes; |
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• | lack of uniform accounting standards (including availability of information in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles); |
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• | changes in land use and zoning laws; |
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• | more stringent environmental laws or changes in such laws; |
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• | changes in the social stability or other political, economic or diplomatic developments in or affecting a country where we have an investment; |
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• | we, our sponsor and its affiliates have relatively less experience with respect to investing in real property or other investments in Europe as compared to domestic investments; and |
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• | legal and logistical barriers to enforcing our contractual rights. |
Any of these risks could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.
We have no target investment allocation and we may change our targeted investments without stockholder consent.
Except with respect to unimproved or non-income producing property, we are not limited in the percentage of net proceeds of this offering that we may allocate to a specific real estate asset type. Thus, we may make all of our investments in investments which present an increased risk of loss. In addition, we may change our targeted investments and investment guidelines at any time without the consent of our stockholders, which could result in our making investments that are different from, and possibly riskier than, our targeted investments described in this prospectus. In
particular, we may not make investments in Europe if our advisor determines that the returns associated with such investments do not justify the costs associated with such investments. A change in our targeted investments or investment guidelines may increase our exposure to interest rate risk, default risk and real estate market fluctuations, all of which could adversely affect the value of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to you.
Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest
KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates, including all of our executive officers and our affiliated directors and other key real estate and debt finance professionals, face conflicts of interest caused by their compensation arrangements with us, which could result in actions that are not in the long-term best interests of our stockholders.
All of our executive officers and our affiliated directors and other key real estate and debt finance professionals are also officers, directors, managers, key professionals and/or holders of a direct or indirect controlling interest in our advisor, our dealer manager and other affiliated KBS entities. KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates receive substantial fees from us. These fees could influence our advisor’s advice to us as well as the judgment of affiliates of KBS Capital Advisors. Among other matters, these compensation arrangements could affect their judgment with respect to:
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• | the continuation, renewal or enforcement of our agreements with KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates, including the advisory agreement and the dealer manager agreement; |
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• | offerings of equity by us, which entitle KBS Capital Markets Group to dealer-manager fees and will likely entitle KBS Capital Advisors to increased acquisition and origination fees and asset management fees; |
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• | sales of investments, which entitle KBS Capital Advisors to disposition fees and possible subordinated incentive fees; |
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• | acquisitions of investments and originations of loans, which entitle KBS Capital Advisors to acquisition and origination fees based on the cost of the investment and asset management fees and, in the case of acquisitions of investments from other KBS-sponsored programs, might entitle affiliates of KBS Capital Advisors to disposition fees and possible subordinated incentive fees in connection with its services for the seller; |
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• | borrowings to acquire investments and to originate loans, which borrowings increase the acquisition and origination fees payable to KBS Capital Advisors; |
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• | whether and when we seek to list our common stock on a national securities exchange, which listing could entitle KBS Capital Advisors to a subordinated incentive fee; and |
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• | whether and when we seek to sell the company or its assets, which sale could entitle KBS Capital Advisors to a disposition fee and/or a subordinated incentive fee. |
The fees our advisor receives in connection with transactions involving the acquisition or origination of an asset are based on the cost of the investment, and not based on the quality of the investment or the quality of the services rendered to us. This may influence our advisor to recommend riskier transactions to us and increase your risk of loss.
KBS Capital Advisors faces conflicts of interest relating to the origination and acquisition of investments and such conflicts may not be resolved in our favor, meaning that we could invest in less attractive assets, which could limit our ability to make distributions and reduce your overall investment return.
We rely on our sponsors and other key real estate and debt finance professionals at our advisor, including Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., to identify suitable investment opportunities for us. KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT are also advised by KBS Capital Advisors and rely on our sponsors and many of the same real estate and debt finance professionals as will future KBS-sponsored programs advised by our advisor. Messrs. Bren and Schreiber and several of the other key real estate and debt finance professionals at KBS Capital Advisors are also the key real estate and debt finance professionals at KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliates, the advisors to the private KBS-sponsored programs and the investment advisors to KBS-advised investors in real estate and real estate-related assets. As such, the other KBS-sponsored programs that are currently raising funds for investment rely on many of the same real estate and debt finance professionals. Many investment opportunities that are suitable for us may also be suitable for other KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors. When these real estate and debt finance professionals direct an investment opportunity to any KBS-sponsored program or KBS-advised investor, they, in their sole discretion, will offer the opportunity to the program or investor for which the investment opportunity is most suitable based on the investment objectives, portfolio and criteria of each program or investor. For so long as we are externally advised, our charter provides that it shall not be a proper purpose of the corporation for us to purchase any
significant asset unless the advisor has recommended the investment to us. Thus, the real estate and debt finance professionals of KBS Capital Advisors could direct attractive investment opportunities to other entities or investors. Such events could result in us investing in assets that provide less attractive returns, reducing the level of distributions we may be able to pay to you.
Further, existing and future KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors and Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber generally are not and will not be prohibited from engaging, directly or indirectly, in any business or from possessing interests in any other business venture or ventures, including businesses and ventures involved in the acquisition, origination or sale of real estate-related investments. For a detailed description of the conflicts of interest that our advisor faces, see “Conflicts of Interest.”
KBS Capital Advisors will face conflicts of interest relating to joint ventures that we may form with affiliates of KBS Capital Advisors, which conflicts could result in a disproportionate benefit to the other venture partners at our expense.
If approved by a majority of our independent directors, we may enter into joint venture agreements with other KBS-sponsored programs or affiliated entities for the acquisition, development or improvement of properties or other investments. KBS Capital Advisors, our advisor, and KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliates, the advisors to the other KBS-sponsored programs and the investment advisers to institutional investors in real estate and real estate-related assets, have some of the same executive officers, directors and other key real estate and debt finance professionals; and these persons will face conflicts of interest in determining which KBS program or investor should enter into any particular joint venture agreement. These persons may also face a conflict in structuring the terms of the relationship between our interests and the interests of the KBS-affiliated co-venturer and in managing the joint venture. Any joint venture agreement or transaction between us and a KBS-affiliated co-venturer will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiation of the type normally conducted between unrelated co-venturers. The KBS-affiliated co-venturer may have economic or business interests or goals that are or may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. These co-venturers may thus benefit to our and your detriment.
KBS Capital Advisors, the real estate and debt finance professionals assembled by our advisor, their affiliates and our officers face competing demands on their time and this may cause our operations and your investment to suffer.
We rely on KBS Capital Advisors and the real estate and debt finance professionals our advisor has assembled, including Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan, Schreiber and Waldvogel and Ms. Yamane, for the day-to-day operation of our business. Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan, Schreiber and Waldvogel and Ms. Yamane are also executive officers of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III and KBS Growth & Income REIT; Messrs. Hall, McMillan and Waldvogel and Ms. Yamane are executive officers of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT; and Messrs. Bren, McMillan and Waldvogel and Ms. Yamane are executive officers of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT. In addition, Messrs. Bren and Schreiber are executive officers of KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliates, the advisors of the private KBS-sponsored programs and the investment advisors to KBS-advised investors in real estate and real estate-related assets. As a result of their interests in other KBS-sponsored programs, their obligations to other KBS-advised investors and the fact that they engage in and they will continue to engage in other business activities on behalf of themselves and others, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan, Schreiber and Waldvogel and Ms. Yamane face conflicts of interest in allocating their time among us, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Growth & Income REIT, KBS Capital Advisors and other KBS-sponsored programs and other KBS-affiliated investors, as well as other business activities in which they are involved. In addition, KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliates share many of the same key real estate and debt finance professionals. During times of intense activity in other programs and ventures, these individuals may devote less time and fewer resources to our business than are necessary or appropriate to manage our business. Furthermore, some or all of these individuals may become employees of another KBS-sponsored program in an internalization transaction or, if we internalize our advisor, may not become our employees as a result of their relationship with other KBS-sponsored programs. If these events occur, the returns on our investments, and the value of your investment, may decline.
All of our executive officers and our affiliated directors and the key real estate and debt finance professionals assembled by our advisor face conflicts of interest related to their positions and/or interests in KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates, including our dealer manager, which could hinder our ability to implement our business strategy and to generate returns to you.
All of our executive officers and our affiliated directors and other key real estate and debt finance professionals assembled by our advisor are also executive officers, directors, managers, key professionals and/or holders of a direct or indirect controlling interest in our advisor, our dealer manager and other affiliated KBS entities. Through KBS-affiliated entities, some of these persons also serve as the investment advisors to KBS-advised investors in real estate and real
estate-related assets and through KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates these persons serve as the advisor to KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Growth & Income REIT and other KBS-sponsored programs. As a result, they owe fiduciary duties to each of these entities, their members and limited partners and these investors, which fiduciary duties may from time to time conflict with the fiduciary duties that they owe to us and our stockholders. Their loyalties to these other entities and investors could result in action or inaction that is detrimental to our business, which could harm the implementation of our business strategy and our investment and leasing opportunities. Further, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber and existing and future KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors are not prohibited from engaging, directly or indirectly, in any business or from possessing interests in any other business venture or ventures, including businesses and ventures involved in the acquisition, development, ownership, leasing or sale of real estate investments. If we do not successfully implement our business strategy, we may be unable to generate the cash needed to make distributions to you and to maintain or increase the value of our assets.
Because other real estate programs offered through our dealer manager are conducting offerings concurrently with our offering, our dealer manager may face potential conflicts of interest arising from competition among us and these other programs for investors and investment capital, and such conflicts may not be resolved in our favor.
Our dealer manager, KBS Capital Markets Group, also acts as the dealer manager for the private offering of KBS Growth & Income REIT and is expected to be engaged to act as the dealer manager for its proposed public offering. KBS Growth & Income REIT will be raising capital in its private offering and is expected to be raising capital in its initial public offering concurrently with our offering. In addition, future KBS-sponsored programs may seek to raise capital through public offerings conducted concurrently with our offering. As a result, our dealer manager may face conflicts of interest arising from potential competition with these other programs for investors and investment capital. Our sponsors generally seek to avoid simultaneous offerings by programs that have a substantially similar mix of investment characteristics, including targeted investment types and key investment objectives. Nevertheless, there may be periods during which one or more programs sponsored by our sponsors will be raising capital and may compete with us for investment capital. Such conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and you will not have the opportunity to evaluate the manner in which these conflicts of interest are resolved before or after making your investment.
Our board of directors’ loyalties to KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth and Income REIT and possibly to future KBS-sponsored programs could influence its judgment, resulting in actions that may not be in our stockholders’ best interest or that result in a disproportionate benefit to another KBS-sponsored program at our expense.
Four of our directors, including two of our independent directors, Messrs. Meyer and Petak, are also directors of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT. Mr. Meyer is also a director of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT. One of our affiliated directors is also a director of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III and KBS Growth & Income REIT. The loyalties of our directors serving on the boards of directors of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth and Income REIT, or possibly on the board of directors of future KBS-sponsored programs, may influence the judgment of our board when considering issues for us that also may affect other KBS-sponsored programs, such as the following:
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• | The conflicts committee of our board must evaluate the performance of KBS Capital Advisors with respect to whether KBS Capital Advisors is presenting to us our fair share of investment opportunities. If our advisor is not presenting a sufficient number of investment opportunities to us because it is presenting many opportunities to other KBS-sponsored programs or if our advisor is giving preferential treatment to other KBS-sponsored programs in this regard, our conflicts committee may not be well suited to enforce our rights under the terms of the advisory agreement or to seek a new advisor. |
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• | We could enter into transactions with other KBS-sponsored programs, such as property sales, acquisitions or financing arrangements. Such transactions might entitle KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates to fees and other compensation from both parties to the transaction. For example, acquisitions from other KBS-sponsored programs might entitle KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates to disposition fees and possible subordinated incentive fees in connection with its services for the seller in addition to acquisition or origination fees and other fees that we might pay to KBS Capital Advisors in connection with such transaction. Similarly, property sales to other KBS-sponsored programs might entitle KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates to acquisition or origination fees in connection with its services to the purchaser in addition to disposition and other fees that we might pay to KBS Capital Advisors in connection with such transaction. Decisions of our board and the conflicts committee regarding the terms of those transactions |
may be influenced by our board’s and the conflicts committee’s loyalties to such other KBS-sponsored programs.
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• | A decision of our board or the conflicts committee regarding the timing of a debt or equity offering could be influenced by concerns that the offering would compete with an offering of other KBS-sponsored programs. |
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• | A decision of our board or the conflicts committee regarding the timing of property sales could be influenced by concerns that the sales would compete with those of other KBS-sponsored programs. |
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• | A decision of our board or the conflicts committee regarding whether and when we seek to list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange could be influenced by concerns that such listing could adversely affect the sales efforts for other KBS-sponsored programs, depending on the price at which our shares trade. |
Risks Related to This Offering and Our Corporate Structure
Our charter limits the number of shares a person may own, which may discourage a takeover that could otherwise result in a premium price to our stockholders.
Our charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes our directors to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to preserve our qualification as a REIT. To help us comply with the REIT ownership requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, our charter prohibits a person from directly or constructively owning more than 9.8% of our outstanding shares, unless exempted by our board of directors. This restriction may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium price for holders of our common stock.
Our charter permits our board of directors to issue stock with terms that may subordinate the rights of our common stockholders or discourage a third party from acquiring us in a manner that could result in a premium price to our stockholders.
Our board of directors may classify or reclassify any unissued common stock or preferred stock and establish the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption of any such stock. Thus, our board of directors could authorize the issuance of preferred stock with priority as to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation over the rights of the holders of our common stock. Such preferred stock could also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium price to holders of our common stock.
Your investment return may be reduced if we are required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act; if we or our subsidiaries become an unregistered investment company, we could not continue our business.
Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries intend to register as investment companies under the Investment Company Act. If we or our subsidiaries were obligated to register as investment companies, we would have to comply with a variety of substantive requirements under the Investment Company Act that impose, among other things:
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• | limitations on capital structure; |
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• | restrictions on specified investments; |
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• | prohibitions on transactions with affiliates; and |
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• | compliance with reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy disclosure and other rules and regulations that would significantly increase our operating expenses. |
Under the relevant provisions of Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act, an investment company is any issuer that:
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• | pursuant to Section 3(a)(1)(A) is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities (the “primarily engaged test”); or |
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• | pursuant to Section 3(a)(1)(C) is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire “investment securities” having a value exceeding 40% of the value of such issuer’s total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis (the “40% test”). “Investment securities” excludes U.S. government securities and securities of majority-owned subsidiaries that are not themselves investment companies and |
are not relying on the exception from the definition of investment company under Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) (relating to private investment companies).
We believe that neither we nor our Operating Partnership will be required to register as an investment company based on the following analyses. With respect to the 40% test, most of the entities through which we and our Operating Partnership own our assets will be majority-owned subsidiaries that will not themselves be investment companies and will not be relying on the exceptions from the definition of investment company under Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7).
With respect to the primarily engaged test, we and our Operating Partnership will be holding companies and do not intend to invest or trade in securities ourselves. Rather, through the majority-owned subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership, we and our Operating Partnership will be primarily engaged in the non-investment company businesses of these subsidiaries, namely the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring real estate and real estate-related assets.
If any of the subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership fail to meet the 40% test, we believe they will usually, if not always, be able to rely on Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act for an exception from the definition of an investment company. (Otherwise, they should be able to rely on the exceptions for private investment companies pursuant to Section 3(c)(1) and Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act.) As reflected in no-action letters, the SEC staff’s position on Section 3(c)(5)(C) generally requires that an issuer maintain at least 55% of its assets in “mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate,” or qualifying assets; at least 80% of its assets in qualifying assets plus real estate-related assets; and no more than 20% of the value of its assets in other than qualifying assets and real estate-related assets, which we refer to as miscellaneous assets. To constitute a qualifying asset under this 55% requirement, a real estate interest must meet various criteria based on no-action letters. We expect that any of the subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership relying on Section 3(c)(5)(C) will invest at least 55% of its assets in qualifying assets, and approximately an additional 25% of its assets in other types of real estate-related assets. If any subsidiary relies on Section 3(a)(5)(C), we expect to rely on guidance published by the SEC staff or on our analyses of guidance published with respect to types of assets to determine which assets are qualifying real estate assets and real estate-related assets. For more information related to compliance with the Investment Company Act, see “Investment Objectives and Criteria-Investment Limitations Under the Investment Company Act of 1940.”
Rapid changes in the values of our assets may make it more difficult for us to maintain our qualification as a REIT or our exception from the definition of an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
If the market value or income potential of our qualifying real estate assets changes as compared to the market value or income potential of our non-qualifying assets, or if the market value or income potential of our assets that are considered “real estate-related assets” under the Investment Company Act or REIT qualification tests changes as compared to the market value or income potential of our assets that are not considered “real estate-related assets” under the Investment Company Act or REIT qualification tests, whether as a result of increased interest rates, prepayment rates or other factors, we may need to modify our investment portfolio in order to maintain our REIT qualification or exception from the definition of an investment company. If the decline in asset values or income occurs quickly, this may be especially difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish. This difficulty may be exacerbated by the illiquid nature of many of the assets that we may own. We may have to make investment decisions that we otherwise would not make absent REIT and Investment Company Act considerations.
You will have limited control over changes in our policies and operations, which increases the uncertainty and risks you face as a stockholder.
Our board of directors determines our major policies, including our policies regarding financing, growth, debt capitalization, REIT qualification and distributions. Our board of directors may amend or revise these and other policies without a vote of the stockholders. Under Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter, our stockholders have a right to vote only on limited matters. Our board’s broad discretion in setting policies and our stockholders’ inability to exert control over those policies increases the uncertainty and risks you face as a stockholder.
Because our charter does not require our listing or liquidation by a specified date, or at all, you should only purchase our shares as a long-term investment and be prepared to hold them for an indefinite period of time.
We may seek to list our shares of common stock if our independent directors believe listing would be in the best interests of our stockholders. If we do not list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange within ten years from commencement of this offering, our charter requires that we either seek stockholder approval of the liquidation of the company; or postpone the decision of whether to liquidate the company, if a majority of the conflicts committee determines that liquidation is not then in the best interests of the stockholders. If a majority of the conflicts committee does determine that liquidation is not then in the best interests of our stockholders, our charter requires that
the conflicts committee revisit the issue of liquidation at least annually. Further postponement of listing or stockholder action regarding liquidation would only be permitted if a majority of the conflicts committee again determined that liquidation would not be in the best interest of our stockholders. If we sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of our liquidation, our charter would not require us to list or liquidate and would not require the conflicts committee to revisit the issue of liquidation, and we could continue to operate as before. Because our charter does not require our listing or liquidation by a specified date, or at all, you should only purchase our shares as a long-term investment and be prepared to hold them for an indefinite period of time.
You may not be able to sell your shares under our share redemption program and, if you are able to sell your shares under the program, you may not be able to recover the full amount of your investment in our shares.
Our share redemption program includes numerous restrictions that limit your ability to sell your shares. You must hold your shares for at least one year in order to participate in the share redemption program, except for redemptions sought upon a Special Redemption. We limit the number of shares redeemed pursuant to the share redemption program as follows: (i) during any calendar year, we may redeem no more than 5% of the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year and (ii) during each calendar year, redemptions will be limited to the amount of net proceeds from the sale of shares under our dividend reinvestment plan during the prior calendar year. Further, we have no obligation to redeem shares if the redemption would violate the restrictions on distributions under Maryland law, which prohibits distributions that would cause a corporation to fail to meet statutory tests of solvency. These limits may prevent us from accommodating all redemption requests made in any year. In particular, the limitation on redemptions to the amount of net proceeds from the sale of shares under our dividend reinvestment plan during the prior calendar year may significantly limit your ability to have your shares redeemed pursuant to our share redemption program because initial distributions have been in the form of stock dividends and we expect our initial cash distributions to be declared when our board of directors determines we have sufficient cash flow or appreciation in asset values. Particularly during our offering stage, we do not expect to have sufficient cash flow to pay significant cash distributions, which would in turn severely limit redemptions during the next calendar year. Our board is free to amend, suspend or terminate the share redemption program upon 30 days’ notice, provided that we may increase or decrease the funding available for the redemption of shares pursuant to our share redemption program upon ten business days’ notice to our stockholders. Unless the shares are being redeemed in connection with a Special Redemption, and until such time as we establish an estimated NAV per share, the prices at which we will redeem shares are as follows:
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least one year, 92.5% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least two years, 95.0% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least three years, 97.5% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us; and |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least four years, 100% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, stock dividends will be redeemed at the “net investment amount” per share, which will be based on the “amount available for investment/net investment amount” percentage shown in our estimated use of proceeds table. For each class of shares, this amount will initially equal $9.01 per share for redemptions of shares received as a result of a stock dividend.
Once we establish an estimated NAV per share of our common stock, and unless the shares are being redeemed in connection with a Special Redemption, the price at which we will redeem the shares is as follows:
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least one year, 92.5% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least two years, 95.0% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least three years, 97.5% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date; and |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least four years, 100% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date. |
For purposes of determining the time period a redeeming stockholder has held each share, the time period begins as of the date the stockholder acquired the shares; provided, that shares purchased by the redeeming stockholder pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan or shares received as a stock dividend will be deemed to have been acquired on the same date as the initial share to which the dividend reinvestment plan shares or stock dividend shares relate. The date of the share’s original issuance by us is not determinative. In addition, as described above, the shares owned by a stockholder may be redeemed at different prices depending on how long the stockholder has held each share submitted for redemption.
In March 2009, in order to preserve capital and value for all stockholders during the economic crisis, KBS REIT I amended its share redemption program to limit redemptions (other than redemptions sought upon a Special Redemption) during any calendar year to the amount of the net proceeds from the sale of shares under its dividend reinvestment plan from the prior calendar year less amounts KBS REIT I deemed necessary from such proceeds to fund current and future funding obligations and needs of the company. Pursuant to this limitation, KBS REIT I suspended ordinary redemptions for the remainder of 2009 and from 2010 through March 2012. KBS REIT I provided notice of this amendment in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 27, 2009, and the amendment was effective upon 30 days’ notice. The amendment became effective before the April 30, 2009 redemption date. As a result, investors did not have a final opportunity to submit redemptions. In March 2012, KBS REIT I amended and restated its share redemption program to provide only for redemptions sought upon a Special Redemption (each as defined in the share redemption program). These redemptions will be limited to an annual amount determined by KBS REIT I’s board of directors which may be reviewed and adjusted from time to time during the year.
On January 24, 2014, in consideration of the cash requirements necessary to effectively manage KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s assets, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT amended and restated its share redemption program to limit redemptions to $2.0 million of shares in the aggregate during any calendar year. Additionally, during any calendar year, once KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT has redeemed $1.5 million of shares under its share redemption program, including redemptions in connection with a Special Redemption, the remaining $0.5 million of the $2.0 million annual limit shall be reserved exclusively for shares being redeemed in connection with a Special Redemption. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT provided notice of this amendment and restatement of its share redemption program in its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2014 and the amended and restated share redemption program became effective for redemptions under the program on or after February 27, 2014. Because of these limitations in the dollar value of shares that may be redeemed under its share redemption program, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT exhausted funds available for all redemptions, other than special redemptions, for 2014 in August 2014. The $2.0 million annual limitation was reset beginning January 1, 2015 and the outstanding unfulfilled redemption requests as of December 31, 2014 were fulfilled in January 2015. Because of limitations on the dollar value of shares that may be redeemed under its share redemption program as described above, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT exhausted funds available for all redemptions other than Special Redemptions for the remainder of 2015 in March 2015.
On May 15, 2014, KBS REIT II amended and restated its share redemption program to provide only for redemptions in connection with a Special Redemption. These redemptions are limited to an annual amount determined by KBS REIT II’s board of directors which may be reviewed and adjusted from time to time during the year. KBS REIT II provided notice of this amendment and restatement of its share redemption program in its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 19, 2014 and its amended and restated share redemption program became effective for redemptions under the program on June 18, 2014.
We expect to establish an estimated NAV per share no later than June 6, 2017, which date is150 days after the second anniversary of the date on which we broke escrow in this offering. The restrictions of our share redemption program will severely limit your ability to sell your shares should you require liquidity and will limit your ability to recover the value you invest in us.
The offering price of shares of our common stock to be sold in the primary offering was not established on an independent basis and bears no relationship to the net value of our assets. The offering price is likely to be higher than the amount our stockholders would receive per share if we were to liquidate at this time primarily because of the upfront fees paid in connection with the sale of our shares, the purchase prices at which shares of our Class A common stock were sold in our private offering prior to commencement of this offering were significantly below the purchase prices for shares in this offering and the significant organization and other offering expenses paid in connection with our private offering. We will use our “amount available for investment/net investment amount,” which value is the offering price of our shares reduced by certain upfront expenses, as the estimated value of our shares until we provide an estimated NAV based on
the value of our assets. Even when we begin to use a NAV per share method to estimate the value of our shares, the value of our shares will be based upon a number of assumptions that may not be accurate or complete.
We set the $10.00 primary offering price of our Class A shares arbitrarily, and based on that price, set the primary offering price of our Class T share to account for differing selling commissions. The primary offering price of our shares bears no relationship to our book or asset values or to any other established criteria for valuing shares. Because the offering price is not based upon any independent valuation, the offering price is likely to be higher than the proceeds that our stockholders would receive upon liquidation or a resale of their shares if they were to be listed on an exchange or actively traded by broker-dealers, primarily because of the upfront fees paid in connection with the sale of our shares, the purchase prices at which shares of our Class A common stock were sold in our private offering prior to commencement of this offering were significantly below the purchase prices for shares in this offering and the significant organization and other offering expenses paid in connection with our private offering.
To assist FINRA members and their associated persons that participate in this offering of common stock in meeting their customer account statement reporting obligations pursuant to applicable FINRA and NASD Conduct Rules, we will disclose in each annual report distributed to stockholders a per share estimated value of our shares, the method by which it was developed, and the date of the estimated valuation.
Initially we will report the net investment amount of our shares as our estimated value per share, which net investment amount will be based on the “amount available for investment/net investment amount” percentage shown in our estimated use of proceeds table. This amount is 90.15% of the $10.00 primary offering price of our Class A shares of common stock and 94.0% of the $9.59 primary offering price of our Class T shares of common stock. For each class of shares, this amount will equal $9.01, which is the purchase price of our primary offering shares, less the associated selling commission, dealer manager fee, and estimated organization and other offering expenses as shown in our estimated use of proceeds table. This amount does not take into account the stockholder servicing fee that we pay with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering. This estimated per share value will be accompanied by any disclosures required under the FINRA and NASD Conduct Rules. No later than 150 days after the second anniversary of the date on which we commence this offering, we will provide an estimated NAV per share that we will use as our estimated value per share. This value will be based on valuations of our assets and liabilities performed at least annually, by, or with the material assistance or confirmation of, a third-party valuation expert or service and will comply with the IPA Valuation Guidelines. Once we announce an estimated NAV per share we generally expect to update the estimated NAV per share in December of each year.
Until we report an estimated NAV per share, this initial reported value will likely differ from the price at which a stockholder could resell his or her shares primarily because (i) there is no public trading market for the shares at this time; (ii) when derived from the primary offering price, the estimated value will not reflect, and will not be derived from, the fair market value of our assets nor will it represent the amount of net proceeds that would result from an immediate liquidation of our assets, (iii) the purchase prices at which shares of our Class A common stock were sold prior to commencement of this offering were significantly below the purchase prices for shares in this offering and we paid significant organization and offering expenses in connection with our private offering; (iv) the estimated value does not take into account how market fluctuations affect the value of our investments; and (v) the estimated value does not take into account how developments related to individual assets may have increased or decreased the value of our portfolio.
Even when determining the estimated value of our shares by estimating an NAV per share, we will estimate the value of our shares based upon a number of assumptions that may not be accurate or complete. Accordingly, these estimates may not be an accurate reflection of the fair market value of our investments and will not likely represent the amount of net proceeds that would result from an immediate sale of our assets.
The actual value of shares that we repurchase under our share redemption program may be substantially less than what we pay.
Under our share redemption program, shares may be repurchased at varying prices depending on (a) the number of years the shares have been held, (b) the purchase price paid for the shares (c) whether the redemptions are sought upon a Special Redemption and (d) whether we have announced an estimated value per share of our common stock. The current maximum price that may be paid under the program is $10.00 per share of Class A common stock and $9.59 per share of Class T common stock, which are the current offering prices for our Class A and Class T shares of common stock in the primary offering (ignoring purchase price discounts for certain categories of purchasers). Although these values represent the most recent prices at which most investors are willing to purchase shares in this primary offering, these values are likely to differ from the price at which a stockholder could resell his or her shares for the reasons discussed in the risk factor above. Thus, when we repurchase shares of our Class A common stock at $10.00 per share
and Class T common stock at $9.59 per share, the actual value of the respective shares that we repurchase is likely to be less and the repurchase is likely to be dilutive to our remaining stockholders. Moreover, until we announce an estimated NAV per share of our common stock, shares received as a stock dividend will be redeemed at the per share value we report on an account statement or $9.01, even though we received no consideration for the shares. Even at lower repurchase prices, the actual value of the shares may be substantially less than what we pay and the repurchase may be dilutive to our remaining stockholders.
Because the dealer manager is one of our affiliates, you will not have the benefit of an independent due diligence review of us, which is customarily performed in underwritten offerings; the absence of an independent due diligence review increases the risks and uncertainty you face as a stockholder.
Our dealer manager, KBS Capital Markets Group, is one of our affiliates. Because KBS Capital Markets Group is an affiliate, its due diligence review and investigation of us and the prospectus cannot be considered to be an independent review. Therefore, you do not have the benefit of an independent review and investigation of this offering of the type normally performed by an unaffiliated, independent underwriter in a public securities offering.
Your interest in us will be diluted if we issue additional shares, which could reduce the overall value of your investment.
Potential investors in this offering do not have preemptive rights to any shares we issue in the future. Our charter authorizes us to issue 1,010,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 1,000,000,000 shares are designated as common stock, with 500,000,000 shares being designated as Class A common stock and 500,000,000 shares being designated as Class T common stock, and 10,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock. Our board of directors may increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock without stockholder approval. After your purchase in this offering, our board may elect to (i) sell additional shares in this or future offerings, including through the dividend reinvestment plan, (ii) issue shares to our advisor, or its successors or assigns, in payment of an outstanding fee obligation or (iii) issue shares of our common stock to sellers of assets we acquire in connection with an exchange of limited partnership interests of the Operating Partnership. To the extent we issue additional equity interests after your purchase in this offering, whether in a primary offering, the dividend reinvestment plan or otherwise, your percentage ownership interest in us will be diluted. In addition, depending upon the terms and pricing of any additional offerings, the use of the proceeds and the value of our investments, you may also experience dilution in the book value and fair value of your shares and in the earnings and distributions per share.
Payment of fees to KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates reduces cash available for investment and distribution and increases the risk that you will not be able to recover the amount of your investment in our shares.
KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates perform services for us in connection with the selection, acquisition, origination, management, and administration of our investments. We pay them substantial fees for these services, which will result in immediate dilution to the value of your investment and reduce the amount of cash available for investment or distribution to stockholders. Compensation to be paid to our advisor may be increased without stockholder approval, which would further dilute your investment and reduce the amount of cash available for investment or distribution to stockholders. We estimate that we will use $9.01 per Class A and Class T share to acquire real estate and real estate-related investments, to maintain a working capital reserve, to pay acquisition and origination expenses and, upon the acquisition or origination of real estate investments, to pay a fee to our advisor for its services in connection with the selection and acquisition or origination of such real estate investments. We will use the remainder of the gross proceeds from the primary offering to pay selling commissions, the dealer manager fee and up to 1.0% of the organization and other offering expenses as described in footnote 4 to our estimated use of proceeds table.
These fees increase the risk that the amount available for distribution to common stockholders upon a liquidation of our portfolio would be less than the purchase price of the shares in this offering. These substantial fees and other payments also increase the risk that you will not be able to resell your shares at a profit, even if our shares are listed on a national securities exchange. For a discussion of our fee arrangement with KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates, see “Management Compensation.”
Failure to procure adequate capital and funding would negatively impact our results and may, in turn, negatively affect our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
We will depend upon the availability of adequate funding and capital for our operations. The failure to secure acceptable financing could reduce our taxable income, as our investments would no longer generate the same level of net interest income due to the lack of funding or increase in funding costs. A reduction in our net income could reduce our liquidity and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. We cannot assure you that any, or sufficient, funding or capital will be available to us in the future on terms that are acceptable to us. Therefore, in the event that we cannot obtain sufficient funding on acceptable terms, there may be a negative impact on our ability to make distributions.
You may be more likely to sustain a loss on your investment because our sponsors do not have as strong an economic incentive to avoid losses as do sponsors who have made significant equity investments in their companies.
Our four sponsors, through their ownership interest in KBS Capital Advisors, have only invested $200,000 in us through the purchase of 21,739 shares of our Class A common stock at $9.20 per share. In addition, Messrs. Hall and McMillan, through their ownership interest in Willowbrook Capital Group LLC have invested $2,000,000 in us through the purchase of 240,211 shares of our Class A common stock at $8.33 per share. Therefore, if we are successful in raising enough proceeds to reimburse our sponsors for our significant organization and offering expenses, our sponsors will have little exposure to loss in the value of our shares. Without this exposure, our investors may be at a greater risk of loss because our sponsors do not have as much to lose from a decrease in the value of our shares as do those sponsors who make more significant equity investments in their companies.
Although we will not currently be afforded the protection of the Maryland General Corporation Law relating to deterring or defending hostile takeovers, our board of directors could opt into these provisions of Maryland law in the future, which may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and may prevent our stockholders from receiving a premium price for their stock in connection with a business combination.
Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and certain interested stockholders or affiliates of interested stockholders are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. Also under Maryland law, control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquirer, an officer of the corporation or an employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation are excluded from the vote on whether to accord voting rights to the control shares. Should our board of directors opt into these provisions of Maryland law, it may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer. Similarly, provisions of Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the Maryland General Corporation Law could provide similar anti-takeover protection. For more information about the business combination, control share acquisition and Subtitle 8 provisions of Maryland law, see “Description of Shares - Business Combinations,” “Description of Shares - Control Share Acquisitions” and “Description of Shares - Subtitle 8.”
Our charter includes an anti-takeover provision that may discourage a stockholder from launching a tender offer for our shares.
Our charter provides that any tender offer made by a stockholder, including any “mini-tender” offer, must comply with most provisions of Regulation 14D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The offering stockholder must provide our company notice of such tender offer at least 10 business days before initiating the tender offer. If the offering stockholder does not comply with these requirements, all tendering stockholders will have the ability to rescind the tender of their shares. In addition, the noncomplying stockholder shall be responsible for all of our company’s expenses in connection with that stockholder’s noncompliance. This provision of our charter may discourage a stockholder from initiating a tender offer for our shares and prevent you from receiving a premium price for your shares in such a transaction.
Risks Related to Our Investments
Our investments will be subject to the risks typically associated with real estate.
We intend to invest in a diverse portfolio of real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments, including direct investments in opportunistic real estate. Each of these investments will be subject to the risks typically associated with real estate. Our loans held for investment will generally be directly or indirectly secured by a lien on real property (or the equity interests in an entity that owns real property) that, upon the occurrence of a default on the loan, could result in our acquiring ownership of the property. We will not know whether the values of the properties ultimately securing our loans will remain at the levels existing on the dates of origination or acquisition of those loans. If the values of the underlying properties drop, our risk will increase because of the lower value of the security associated with such loans. In this manner, real estate values could impact the values of our loan investments. Our investments in residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations and other real estate-related investments may be similarly affected by real estate property values. The value of real estate may be adversely affected by a number of risks, including:
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• | natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods; |
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• | acts of war or terrorism, including the consequences of terrorist attacks, such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001; |
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• | adverse changes in national and local economic and real estate conditions; |
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• | an oversupply of (or a reduction in demand for) space in the areas where particular properties are located and the attractiveness of particular properties to prospective tenants; |
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• | changes in governmental laws and regulations, fiscal policies and zoning ordinances and the related costs of compliance therewith and the potential for liability under applicable laws; |
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• | costs of remediation and liabilities associated with environmental conditions affecting properties; and |
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• | the potential for uninsured or underinsured property losses. |
The value of each property is affected significantly by its ability to generate cash flow and net income, which in turn depends on the amount of rental or other income that can be generated net of expenses required to be incurred with respect to the property. Many expenditures associated with properties (such as operating expenses and capital expenditures) cannot be reduced when there is a reduction in income from the properties. These factors may have a material adverse effect on the ability of our borrowers to pay their loans and our tenants to pay their rent, as well as on the value that we can realize from other real estate-related assets we originate, own or acquire.
Any investments in real estate-related loans and real estate-related debt securities in distressed debt will involve more risk than in performing debt.
Distressed debt may include sub- and non-performing real estate loans acquired from financial institutions and performing loans acquired from distressed sellers.
Traditional performance metrics of real estate-related loans are generally not meaningful for non-performing real estate-related loans. Similarly, non-performing loans do not have a consistent stream of loan servicing or interest payments to provide a useful measure of revenue. In addition, for non-performing loans, often there is no expectation that the face amount of the note will be paid in full. Appraisals may provide a sense of the value of the investment, but any appraisal of the property or underlying property will be based on numerous estimates, judgments and assumptions that significantly affect the appraised value of the underlying property. Properties securing non-performing loan investments are typically non-stabilized or otherwise not performing optimally. An appraisal of such a property involves a high degree of subjectivity due to high vacancy levels and uncertainties with respect to future market rental rates and timing of lease-up and stabilization. Accordingly, different assumptions may materially change the appraised value of the property. In addition, the value of the property will change over time.
In addition, we may pursue more than one strategy to create value in a non-performing loan. These strategies may include negotiating with the borrower for a reduced payoff, restructuring the terms of the loan or enforcing our rights as lender under the loan and foreclosing on the collateral securing the loan.
The factors described above make it challenging to evaluate non-performing loans and make investments in such loans riskier than investments in performing debt.
Our opportunistic property-acquisition strategy involves a higher risk of loss than would a strategy of investing in other properties.
We expect that our portfolio will consist of direct investments in opportunistic real estate, excluding real property that we take title to (i) as part of a portfolio of debt investments, (ii) through a loan workout, foreclosure or similar circumstances or (iii) through convertible debt investments. We consider opportunistic or enhanced-return properties to be properties with significant possibilities for short-term capital appreciation, such as non-stabilized properties, properties with moderate vacancies or near-term lease rollovers, poorly managed and positioned properties, properties owned by distressed sellers and built-to-suit properties. These properties may include, but are not limited to, office, industrial and retail properties, hospitality properties and undeveloped residential lots.
Traditional performance metrics of real estate assets may not be meaningful for opportunistic real estate. Non-stabilized properties, for example, do not have stabilized occupancy rates to provide a useful measure of revenue. Appraisals may provide a sense of the value of the investment, but any appraisal of the property will be based on numerous estimates, judgments and assumptions that significantly affect the appraised value of the underlying property. Further, an appraisal of a non-stabilized property, in particular, involves a high degree of subjectivity due to high vacancy levels and uncertainties with respect to future market rental rates and timing of lease-up and stabilization. Accordingly, different assumptions may materially change the appraised value of the property. In addition, the value of the property will change over time.
In addition, we may pursue more than one strategy to create value in an opportunistic real estate investment. These strategies may include development, redevelopment, or lease-up of such property. Our ability to generate a return on these investments will depend on numerous factors, some or all of which may be out of our control, such as (i) our ability to correctly price an asset that is not generating an optimal level of revenue or otherwise performing under its potential, (ii) our ability to choose and execute on a successful value-creating strategy, (iii) our ability to avoid delays, regulatory hurdles, and other potential impediments, (iv) local market conditions, and (v) competition for similar properties in the same market. The factors described above make it challenging to evaluate opportunistic real estate investments and make investments in such properties riskier than investments in other properties.
We are dependent on the third-party manager of the hotels we acquire.
We currently own two hotel properties. In order to qualify as a REIT, we are not able to operate any hotel properties or participate in the decisions affecting the daily operations of our hotels. We will lease any hotels we acquire to a TRS in which we may own up to a 100% interest. Our TRS will enter into management agreements with eligible independent contractors that are not our subsidiaries or otherwise controlled by us to manage the hotels. Thus, independent hotel operators, under management agreements with our TRS, will control the daily operations of our hotels.
We depend on these independent management companies to adequately operate our hotels as provided in the management agreements. We will not have the authority to require any hotel to be operated in a particular manner or to govern any particular aspect of the daily operations of any hotel (for instance, setting room rates). Thus, even if we believe our hotels are being operated inefficiently or in a manner that does not result in satisfactory occupancy rates, revenue per available room and average daily rates, we may not be able to force the management company to change its method of operation of our hotels. We can only seek redress if a management company violates the terms of the applicable management agreement with the TRS, and then only to the extent of the remedies provided for under the terms of the management agreement. In the event that we need to replace our management company, we may be required by the terms of the management agreement to pay substantial termination fees and may experience significant disruptions at the affected hotel.
We may have to make significant capital expenditures to maintain any hotels we may acquire.
Hotels have an ongoing need for renovations and other capital improvements, including replacements of furniture, fixtures and equipment. Generally, we will be responsible for the costs of these capital improvements, which gives rise to the following risks:
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• | cost overruns and delays; |
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• | renovations can be disruptive to operations and can displace revenue at the hotels, including revenue lost while rooms under renovation are out of service; |
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• | the cost of funding renovations and the possibility that financing for these renovations may not be available on attractive terms; and |
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• | the risk that the return on our investment in these capital improvements will not be what we expect. |
If we have insufficient cash flow from operations to fund needed capital expenditures, then we will need to obtain financing or use proceeds from this offering to fund future capital improvements.
General economic conditions and discretionary consumer spending may affect the hotels we acquire and lower the return on your investment.
The operations of our hotels will depend upon a number of factors relating to discretionary consumer spending. Unfavorable local, regional or national economic developments or uncertainties regarding future economic prospects as a result of terrorist attacks, military activity or natural disasters could reduce consumer spending in the markets in which we own hotels and adversely affect the operation of any hotels we may acquire. Consumer spending on luxury goods, travel and other leisure may decline as a result of lower consumer confidence levels, even if prevailing economic conditions are favorable. In an economic downturn, consumer discretionary spending levels generally decline, at times resulting in disproportionately large reductions in expenditures on luxury goods, travel and other leisure activities. Certain of the classes of properties that we may acquire may be unable to maintain their profitability during periods of adverse economic conditions or low consumer confidence, which could in turn affect the ability of operators to make scheduled rent payments to us.
Seasonal revenue variations in any hotels we may acquire will require the operators of such assets to manage cash flow properly over time to meet their non-seasonal scheduled rent payments to us.
Certain of the hotels we may acquire may be seasonal in nature. For example, the typical beach season begins in early May and runs through August, during which time beach resorts generate the vast majority of their annual revenues. Revenues and profits at beach resorts and their related properties are substantially lower and historically result in losses during the winter months due to the weather. As a result of the seasonal nature of certain industries that may be conducted on properties we acquire, these businesses will experience seasonal variations in revenues that may require our operators to supplement revenue at their properties in order to be able to make scheduled rent payments to us. The failure of an operator or a tenant to manage its cash flow properly may result in such operator or tenant having insufficient cash on hand to make its scheduled payments to us during seasonally slow periods, which may adversely affect our cash available for distribution to stockholders.
Adverse weather conditions may affect operations of the hotels we may acquire or reduce our operators’ ability to make scheduled rent payments to us, which could reduce our cash flow from such investments.
Adverse weather conditions may influence revenues at the hotels we may acquire. These adverse weather conditions include heavy snowfall (or lack thereof), hurricanes, tropical storms, high winds, heat waves, frosts, drought (or merely reduced rainfall levels), excessive rain and floods. For example, adverse weather could reduce the number of people that visit hotels we acquire. Certain properties may be susceptible to damage from weather conditions such as hurricanes, which damage (including but not limited to property damage and loss of revenue) is not generally insurable at commercially reasonable rates. Poor weather conditions could also disrupt operations at hotels we acquire and may adversely affect both the value of our investment in a hotel and the ability of our tenants and operators to make their scheduled rent payments to us.
We may not have control over properties under construction.
We may acquire hotels under development, as well as hotels that require extensive renovation. If we acquire a hotel for development or renovation, we may be subject to the risk that we cannot control construction costs and the timing of completion of construction or a developer’s ability to build in conformity with plans, specifications and timetables.
We are subject to the risk of increased hotel operating expenses.
We are subject to the risk of increased hotel operating expenses, including, but not limited to, the following cost elements:
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• | repair and maintenance expenses; |
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• | other operating expenses; and |
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• | the risk that the return on our investment in these capital improvements will not be what we expect. |
Any increases in one or more of these operating expenses could have a significant adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flows and financial position.
We are subject to the risk of potentially significant tax penalties in case our leases with our TRS do not qualify for tax purposes as arm’s length.
Any TRSs we form will incur taxes or accrue tax benefits consistent with a “C” corporation. If the leases between us and any of our TRSs were deemed by the IRS to not reflect arm’s length transactions for tax purposes, we may be subject to severe tax penalties as the lessor that will increase our lodging operating expenses and adversely impact our profitability and cash flows.
There may be operational limitations associated with management and franchise agreements affecting any hotels we may acquire and these limitations may prevent us from using these properties to their best advantage for our stockholders.
Our TRSs will lease and hold some of the hotels we may acquire and may enter into franchise or license agreements with nationally recognized hotel brands. These franchise agreements may contain specific standards for, and restrictions and limitations on, the operation and maintenance of any hotels we may acquire in order to maintain uniformity within the franchiser system. We expect that franchisors will periodically inspect our properties to ensure that
we maintain their standards. We do not know whether those limitations may restrict our business plans tailored to each property and to each market.
The standards are subject to change over time, in some cases at the direction of the franchisor, and may restrict our TRS’s ability, as franchisee, to make improvements or modifications to a property without the consent of the franchisor. Conversely, as a condition to the maintenance of a franchise license, a franchisor could also require us to make capital expenditures, even if we do not believe the capital improvements are necessary, desirable, or likely to result in an acceptable return on our investment. Action or inaction on our part or by our TRS could result in a breach of those standards or other terms and conditions of the franchise agreements and could result in the loss or termination of a franchise license.
In connection with terminating or changing the franchise affiliation of a property, we may be required to incur significant expenses or capital expenditures. Moreover, the loss of a franchise license could have a material adverse effect upon the operations or the underlying value of the property covered by the franchise because of the loss of associated name recognition, marketing support and centralized reservation systems provided by the franchisor. A loss of a franchise license for one or more lodging properties could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, including our ability to service debt and make distributions to our stockholders.
The mortgage loans in which we invest and the mortgage loans underlying the mortgage securities in which we invest are subject to delinquency, foreclosure and loss, which could result in losses to us.
Commercial real estate loans are secured by multifamily or commercial properties and are subject to risks of delinquency and foreclosure. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan secured by an income-producing property typically is dependent primarily upon the successful operation of such property rather than upon the existence of independent income or assets of the borrower. If the net operating income of the property is reduced, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Net operating income of an income-producing property can be affected by, among other things: tenant mix, success of tenant businesses, property management decisions, property location and condition, competition from comparable types of properties, changes in laws that increase operating expenses or limit rents that may be charged, any need to address environmental contamination at the property, the occurrence of any uninsured casualty at the property, changes in national, regional or local economic conditions and/or specific industry segments, declines in regional or local real estate values, declines in regional or local rental or occupancy rates, increases in interest rates, real estate tax rates and other operating expenses, changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies, including environmental legislation, natural disasters, terrorism, social unrest and civil disturbances. We intend to invest in commercial mortgage loans directly and through CMBS.
Residential mortgage loans are secured by single-family residential property and are subject to risks of delinquency, foreclosure and loss. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan secured by a residential property is dependent upon the income or assets of the borrower. A number of factors, including a general economic downturn, natural disasters, terrorism, social unrest and civil disturbances, may impair borrowers’ abilities to repay their loans. Though we do not intend to invest directly in residential mortgage loans, we may invest in pools of residential mortgage loans or residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”).
In the event of any default under a mortgage loan held directly by us, we will bear a risk of loss of principal to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the collateral and the principal and accrued interest of the mortgage loan, which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow from operations. Foreclosure of a mortgage loan can be an expensive and lengthy process that could have a substantial negative effect on our anticipated return on the foreclosed mortgage loan. In the event of the bankruptcy of a mortgage loan borrower, the mortgage loan to such borrower will be deemed to be secured only to the extent of the value of the underlying collateral at the time of bankruptcy (as determined by the bankruptcy court), and the lien securing the mortgage loan will be subject to the avoidance powers of the bankruptcy trustee or debtor-in-possession to the extent the lien is unenforceable under state law.
CMBS evidence interests in or are secured by a single commercial mortgage loan or a pool of commercial real estate loans and RMBS evidence interests in or are secured by pools of residential mortgage loans. Accordingly, the residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities we invest in are subject to all of the risks of the underlying mortgage loans.
The B-Notes in which we may invest may be subject to additional risks relating to the privately negotiated structure and terms of the transaction, which may result in losses to us.
We may invest in B-Notes. A B-Note is a mortgage loan typically (i) secured by a first mortgage on a single large commercial property or group of related properties and (ii) subordinated to an A-Note secured by the same first mortgage on the same collateral. As a result, if a borrower defaults, there may not be sufficient funds remaining for B-Note holders after payment to the A-Note holders. Since each transaction is privately negotiated, B-Notes can vary in their structural characteristics and risks. For example, the rights of holders of B-Notes to control the process following a borrower default may be limited in certain investments. We cannot predict the terms of each B-Note investment. Further, B-Notes typically are secured by a single property, and so reflect the increased risks associated with a single property compared to a pool of properties.
The mezzanine loans which we may originate or in which we may invest would involve greater risks of loss than senior loans secured by the same properties.
We may originate or invest in mezzanine loans that take the form of subordinated loans secured by a pledge of the ownership interests of the entity owning the real property or an entity that owns (directly or indirectly) the interest in the entity owning the real property. These types of investments may involve a higher degree of risk than long-term senior mortgage lending secured by income-producing real property because the investment may become unsecured as a result of foreclosure by the senior lender. In the event of a bankruptcy of the entity providing the pledge of its ownership interests as security, we may not have full recourse to the assets of such entity, or the assets of the entity may not be sufficient to satisfy our mezzanine loan. If a borrower defaults on our mezzanine loan or debt senior to our loan, or in the event of a borrower bankruptcy, our mezzanine loan will be satisfied only after the senior debt. As a result, we may not recover some or all of our investment. In addition, mezzanine loans may have higher loan-to-value ratios than conventional mortgage loans, resulting in less equity in the real property and increasing the risk of loss of principal.
Bridge loans may involve a greater risk of loss than conventional mortgage loans.
We may provide bridge loans secured by first-lien mortgages on properties to borrowers who are typically seeking short-term capital to be used in an acquisition, development or refinancing of real estate. The borrower may have identified an undervalued asset that has been undermanaged or is located in a recovering market. If the market in which the asset is located fails to recover according to the borrower’s projections, or if the borrower fails to improve the quality of the asset’s management or the value of the asset, the borrower may not receive a sufficient return on the asset to satisfy the bridge loan, and we may not recover some or all of our investment.
In addition, owners usually borrow funds under a conventional mortgage loan to repay a bridge loan. We may, therefore, be dependent on a borrower’s ability to obtain permanent financing to repay our bridge loan, which could depend on market conditions and other factors. Bridge loans are also subject to risks of borrower defaults, bankruptcies, fraud, losses and special hazard losses that are not covered by standard hazard insurance. In the event of any default under bridge loans held by us, we bear the risk of loss of principal and nonpayment of interest and fees to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the mortgage collateral and the principal amount of the bridge loan. To the extent we suffer such losses with respect to our investments in bridge loans, the value of our company and of our common stock may be adversely affected.
Investment in non-conforming and non-investment grade loans may involve increased risk of loss.
Loans we may acquire or originate may not conform to conventional loan criteria applied by traditional lenders and may not be rated or may be rated as non-investment grade. Non-investment grade ratings for these loans typically result from the overall leverage of the loans, the lack of a strong operating history for the properties underlying the loans, the borrowers’ credit history, the properties’ underlying cash flow or other factors. As a result, non-conforming and non-investment grade loans we acquire or originate may have a higher risk of default and loss than conventional loans. Any loss we incur may reduce distributions to stockholders and adversely affect the value of our common stock.
Our investments in subordinated loans and subordinated residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities may be subject to losses.
We intend to acquire or originate subordinated loans and invest in subordinated residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities. In the event a borrower defaults on a subordinated loan and lacks sufficient assets to satisfy our loan, we may suffer a loss of principal or interest. In the event a borrower declares bankruptcy, we may not have full recourse to the assets of the borrower, or the assets of the borrower may not be sufficient to satisfy the loan. If a borrower defaults on our loan or on debt senior to our loan, or in the event of a borrower bankruptcy, our loan will be satisfied only after the senior debt is paid in full. Where debt senior to our loan exists, the presence of intercreditor arrangements may limit our ability to amend our loan documents, assign our loans, accept prepayments, exercise our remedies (through “standstill periods”), and control decisions made in bankruptcy proceedings relating to borrowers.
In general, losses on a mortgage loan included in a securitization will be borne first by the equity holder of the property, then by a cash reserve fund or letter of credit, if any, and then by the “first loss” subordinated security holder. In the event of default and the exhaustion of any equity support, reserve fund, letter of credit and any classes of securities junior to those in which we invest, we may not be able to recover all of our investment in the securities we purchase. In addition, if the underlying mortgage portfolio has been overvalued by the originator, or if the values subsequently decline and, as a result, less collateral is available to satisfy interest and principal payments due on the related residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, the securities in which we invest may effectively become the “first loss” position behind the more senior securities, which may result in significant losses to us.
Construction loans involve a high risk of loss if we are unsuccessful in raising the unfunded portion of the loan or if a borrower otherwise fails to complete the construction of a project. Land loans and pre-development loans involve similarly high risks of loss if construction financing cannot be obtained.
We may invest in construction loans. If we are unsuccessful in raising the unfunded portion of a construction loan, there could be adverse consequences associated with the loan, including a loss of the value of the property securing the loan if the construction is not completed and the borrower is unable to raise funds to complete it from other sources; a borrower claim against us for failure to perform under the loan documents; increased costs to the borrower that the borrower is unable to pay; a bankruptcy filing by the borrower; and abandonment by the borrower of the collateral for the loan. Further, other non-cash flowing assets such as land loans and pre-development loans may fail to qualify for construction financing and may need to be liquidated based on the “as-is” value as opposed to a valuation based on the ability to construct certain real property improvements. The occurrence of such events may have a negative impact on our results of operations. Other loan types may also include unfunded future obligations that could present similar risks.
Risks of cost overruns and non-completion of the construction or renovation of the properties underlying loans we make or acquire may materially and adversely affect our investment.
The renovation, refurbishment or expansion by a borrower under a mortgaged or leveraged property involves risks of cost overruns and non-completion. Costs of construction or improvements to bring a property up to standards established for the market position intended for that property may exceed original estimates, possibly making a project uneconomical. Other risks may include environmental risks and the possibility of construction, rehabilitation and subsequent leasing of the property not being completed on schedule. If such construction or renovation is not completed in a timely manner, or if it costs more than expected, the borrower may experience a prolonged impairment of net operating income and may not be able to make payments on our investment.
Investments that are not United States government insured involve risk of loss.
We may originate and acquire uninsured loans and assets as part of our investment strategy. Such loans and assets may include mortgage loans, mezzanine loans and bridge loans. While holding such interests, we are subject to risks of borrower defaults, bankruptcies, fraud, losses and special hazard losses that are not covered by standard hazard insurance. In the event of any default under loans, we bear the risk of loss of principal and nonpayment of interest and fees to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the collateral and the principal amount of the loan. To the extent we suffer such losses with respect to our investments in such loans, the value of our company and the price of our common stock may be adversely affected.
The residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities in which we may invest are subject to the risks of the mortgage securities market as a whole and risks of the securitization process.
The value of residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities may change due to shifts in the market’s perception of issuers and regulatory or tax changes adversely affecting the mortgage securities market as a whole. Residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities are also subject to several risks created through the securitization process. Subordinate residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities are paid interest only to the extent that there are funds available to make payments. To the extent the collateral pool includes delinquent loans, there is a risk that the interest payment on subordinate residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities will not be fully paid. Subordinate residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities are also subject to greater credit risk than those residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities that are more highly rated.
We may invest in RMBS backed by non-prime or sub-prime residential mortgage loans that are subject to higher delinquency, foreclosure and loss rates than prime residential mortgage loans, which could result in losses to us.
Non-prime and sub-prime residential mortgage loans are made to borrowers who have poor or limited credit histories and as a result they do not qualify for traditional mortgage products. Because of the poor, or lack of, credit history, non-prime and sub-prime borrowers have materially higher rates of delinquency, foreclosure and loss compared
to prime credit quality borrowers. There is limited history with respect to the performance of RMBS over multiple economic cycles. Investments in RMBS backed by sub-prime or non-prime residential mortgage loans have higher risk than investments in RMBS backed by prime residential mortgage loans. We may realize credit losses if we invest in RMBS backed by sub-prime and non-prime residential mortgage loans because such RMBS are subject to all of the risks of the underlying sub-prime and non-prime residential mortgage loans.
We may invest in non-agency RMBS and RMBS backed by non-conforming residential mortgage loans.
We may invest in non-agency RMBS. Agency-backed securities include RMBS that represent the entire ownership interest in pools of residential mortgage loans secured by residential real property and are guaranteed as to principal and interest by federally chartered entities such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and, in the case of Ginnie Mae, by the U.S. government. Non-agency RMBS are not guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, or the U.S. government; rather, their ratings are assigned by nationally recognized rating agencies such as Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. Non-agency RMBS have a higher risk of loss than agency RMBS. We may realize credit losses on our investment in non-agency RMBS.
We may also invest in RMBS backed by non-conforming residential mortgage loans. We expect that the residential mortgage loans will be non-conforming due to non-credit factors including, but not limited to, the fact that the (i) mortgage loan amounts exceed the maximum amount for such mortgage loan to qualify as a conforming mortgage loan, and (ii) underwriting documentation for the mortgage loan does not meet the criteria for qualification as a conforming mortgage loan. Non-conforming residential mortgage loans may have higher risk of delinquency and foreclosure and losses than conforming mortgage loans. We may realize credit losses on our investment in RMBS backed by non-conforming residential mortgage loans.
The types of structured debt securities and real estate-related loans in which we may invest have caused large financial losses for many investors and we can give no assurances that our investments in such securities will be successful.
We may invest in residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations and other structured debt securities as well as real estate-related loans. Many of these types of investments became illiquid and considerably less valuable following the subprime mortgage crisis that began in 2008. This reduced liquidity and decrease in value caused financial hardship for many investors in these assets. Many investors did not fully appreciate the risks of such investments. We can give you no assurances that our investments in these assets will be successful.
Changes in interest rates could negatively affect the value of our investments, which could result in reduced earnings or losses and negatively affect the cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
We may invest in fixed-rate residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and other fixed-rate debt investments. Under a normal yield curve, an investment in these instruments will decline in value if long-term interest rates increase. We will also invest in floating-rate debt investments, for which decreases in interest rates will have a negative effect on value and interest income. Declines in market value may ultimately reduce earnings or result in losses to us, which may negatively affect cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
Prepayments can adversely affect the yields on our investments.
In the case of residential mortgage loans, there are seldom any restrictions on borrowers’ abilities to prepay their loans. Homeowners tend to prepay mortgage loans faster when interest rates decline. Consequently, owners of the loans may reinvest the money received from the prepayments at the lower prevailing interest rates. Conversely, homeowners tend not to prepay mortgage loans when interest rates increase. Consequently, owners of the loans are unable to reinvest money that would have otherwise been received from prepayments at the higher prevailing interest rates. This volatility in prepayment rates may affect our ability to maintain targeted amounts of leverage on our RMBS portfolio and may result in reduced earnings or losses for us and negatively affect the cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
The yield of our other assets may be affected by the rate of prepayments differing from our projections. Prepayments on debt instruments, where permitted under the debt documents, are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic and other factors beyond our control, and consequently, such prepayment rates cannot be predicted with certainty. If we are unable to invest the proceeds of any prepayments we receive in assets with at least an equivalent yield, the yield on our portfolio will decline. In addition, we may acquire assets at a discount or premium and if the asset does not repay when expected, our anticipated yield may be impacted. Under certain interest rate and prepayment scenarios we may fail to recoup fully our cost of acquisition of certain investments.
If credit spreads widen before we obtain long-term financing for our assets, the value of our assets may suffer.
We will price our assets based on our assumptions about future credit spreads for financing of those assets. We expect to obtain longer-term financing for our assets using structured financing techniques in the future. In such financings, interest rates are typically set at a spread over a certain benchmark, such as the yield on United States Treasury obligations, swaps, or LIBOR. If the spread that borrowers will pay over the benchmark widens and the rates we charge on our assets to be securitized are not increased accordingly, our income may be reduced or we may suffer losses.
Hedging against interest rate exposure may adversely affect our earnings, limit our gains or result in losses, which could adversely affect cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
We may enter into interest rate swap agreements or pursue other interest rate hedging strategies. Our hedging activity will vary in scope based on the level of interest rates, the type of portfolio investments held, and other changing market conditions. Interest rate hedging may fail to protect or could adversely affect us because, among other things:
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• | interest rate hedging can be expensive, particularly during periods of rising and volatile interest rates; |
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• | available interest rate hedging products may not correspond directly with the interest rate risk for which protection is sought; |
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• | the duration of the hedge may not match the duration of the related liability or asset; |
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• | the amount of income that a REIT may earn from hedging transactions to offset losses due to fluctuations in interest rates is limited by federal tax provisions governing REITs; |
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• | the credit quality of the party owing money on the hedge may be downgraded to such an extent that it impairs our ability to sell or assign our side of the hedging transaction; |
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• | the party owing money in the hedging transaction may default on its obligation to pay; and |
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• | we may purchase a hedge that turns out not to be necessary, i.e., a hedge that is out of the money. |
Any hedging activity we engage in may adversely affect our earnings, which could adversely affect cash available for distribution to our stockholders. Therefore, while we may enter into such transactions to seek to reduce interest rate risks, unanticipated changes in interest rates may result in poorer overall investment performance than if we had not engaged in any such hedging transactions. In addition, the degree of correlation between price movements of the instruments used in a hedging strategy and price movements in the portfolio positions being hedged or liabilities being hedged may vary materially. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, we may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the interest rate risk sought to be hedged. Any such imperfect correlation may prevent us from achieving the intended accounting treatment and may expose us to risk of loss.
Hedging instruments often are not traded on regulated exchanges, guaranteed by an exchange or its clearing house, or regulated by any U.S. or foreign governmental authorities and involve risks and costs.
The cost of using hedging instruments increases as the period covered by the instrument increases and during periods of rising and volatile interest rates. We may increase our hedging activity and thus increase our hedging costs during periods when interest rates are volatile or rising and hedging costs have increased. In addition, hedging instruments involve risk since they often are not traded on regulated exchanges, guaranteed by an exchange or its clearing house, or regulated by any U.S. or foreign governmental authorities. Consequently, there are no requirements with respect to record keeping, financial responsibility or segregation of customer funds and positions. Furthermore, the enforceability of agreements underlying derivative transactions may depend on compliance with applicable statutory, commodity and other regulatory requirements and, depending on the identity of the counterparty, applicable international requirements. The business failure of a hedging counterparty with whom we enter into a hedging transaction will most likely result in a default. Default by a party with whom we enter into a hedging transaction may result in the loss of unrealized profits and force us to cover our resale commitments, if any, at the then current market price. Although generally we will seek to reserve the right to terminate our hedging positions, it may not always be possible to dispose of or close out a hedging position without the consent of the hedging counterparty, and we may not be able to enter into an offsetting contract in order to cover our risk. We cannot be certain that a liquid secondary market will exist for hedging instruments purchased or sold, and we may be required to maintain a position until exercise or expiration, which could result in losses.
There can be no assurance that the direct or indirect effects of the Dodd-Frank Act and other applicable non-U.S. regulations will not have an adverse effect on our interest rate hedging activities.
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) imposed additional regulations on derivatives markets and transactions. Such regulations and, to the extent we trade with
counterparties organized in non-US jurisdictions, any applicable regulations in those jurisdictions, are still being implemented, and will affect our interest rate hedging activities. While the full impact of regulation on our interest rate hedging activities cannot be fully assessed until all final rules and regulations are implemented, such regulation may affect our ability to enter into hedging or other risk management transactions, may increase our costs in entering into such transactions, and/or may result in us entering into such transactions on less favorable terms than prior to implementation of such regulation. For example, subject to an exception under the Dodd-Frank Act for end-users of swaps upon which we may seek to rely, we may be required to clear certain interest rate hedging transactions by submitting them to a derivatives clearing organization. In addition, to the extent we are required to clear any such transactions, we will be required to, among other things, post margin in connection with such transactions. The occurrence of any of the foregoing events may have an adverse effect on our business and our stockholders’ return.
Our investments in debt securities and preferred and common equity securities will be subject to the specific risks relating to the particular issuer of the securities and may involve greater risk of loss than secured debt financings.
Our investments in debt securities and preferred and common equity securities will involve special risks relating to the particular issuer of the securities, including the financial condition and business outlook of the issuer. Issuers that are REITs and other real estate companies are subject to the inherent risks associated with real estate and real estate-related investments discussed in this prospectus. Issuers that are debt finance companies are subject to the inherent risks associated with structured financing investments also discussed in this prospectus. Furthermore, debt securities and preferred and common equity securities may involve greater risk of loss than secured debt financings due to a variety of factors, including that such investments are generally unsecured and may also be subordinated to other obligations of the issuer. As a result, investments in debt securities and preferred and common equity securities are subject to risks of (i) limited liquidity in the secondary trading market, (ii) substantial market price volatility resulting from changes in prevailing interest rates, (iii) subordination to the senior claims of banks and other lenders to the issuer, (iv) the operation of mandatory sinking fund or call/redemption provisions during periods of declining interest rates that could cause the issuer to reinvest redemption proceeds in lower yielding assets, (v) the possibility that earnings of the issuer may be insufficient to meet its debt service and distribution obligations and (vi) the declining creditworthiness and potential for insolvency of the issuer during periods of rising interest rates and economic downturn. These risks may adversely affect the value of outstanding debt securities and preferred and common equity securities and the ability of the issuers thereof to make principal, interest and/or distribution payments to us.
We may make investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, which will be subject to currency rates exposure.
We may purchase real estate-related securities denominated in foreign currencies. A change in foreign currency exchange rates may have an adverse impact on returns on our non-U.S. dollar denominated investments. Although we may hedge our foreign currency risk subject to the REIT income qualification tests, we may not be able to do so successfully and may incur losses on these investments as a result of exchange rate fluctuations.
Investments in properties or other real estate investments outside the United States subject us to foreign currency risks, which may adversely affect distributions and our REIT status.
Revenues generated from any properties or other real estate investments we acquire or ventures we enter into relating to transactions involving assets located in markets outside the United States likely will be denominated in the local currency. Therefore, any investments we make outside the United States may subject us to foreign currency risk due to potential fluctuations in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. As a result, changes in exchange rates of any such foreign currency to U.S. dollars may affect our revenues, operating margins and distributions and may also affect the book value of our assets and the amount of stockholders’ equity.
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates used to value a REIT’s foreign assets may be considered changes in the value of the REIT’s assets. These changes may adversely affect our status as a REIT. Further, bank accounts in foreign currency which are not considered cash or cash equivalents may adversely affect our status as a REIT.
Inflation in foreign countries, along with government measures to curb inflation, may have an adverse effect on our investments.
Certain countries have in the past experienced extremely high rates of inflation. Inflation, along with governmental measures to curb inflation, coupled with public speculation about possible future governmental measures to be adopted, has had significant negative effects on these international economies in the past and this could occur again in the future. The introduction of governmental policies to curb inflation can have an adverse effect on our business. High inflation in the countries where we purchase real estate or make other investments could increase our expenses and we may not be able to pass these increased costs on to our tenants.
Concerns regarding the European debt crisis and market perceptions concerning the instability of the euro could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financing.
Concerns persist regarding the debt burden of certain Eurozone countries and their ability to meet future financial obligations, the overall stability of the euro and the suitability of the euro as a single currency given the diverse economic and political circumstances in individual Eurozone countries. These concerns could lead to the re-introduction of individual currencies in one or more Eurozone countries, or, in more extreme circumstances, the possible dissolution of the euro currency entirely. Should the euro dissolve entirely, the legal and contractual consequences for holders of euro-denominated obligations would be determined by laws in effect at such time. These potential developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could materially adversely affect the value of any euro-denominated assets and obligations we may acquire.
Our dependence on the management of other entities in which we invest may adversely affect our business.
We will not control the management, investment decisions or operations of the companies in which we may invest. Management of those enterprises may decide to change the nature of their assets, or management may otherwise change in a manner that is not satisfactory to us. We will have no ability to affect these management decisions and we may have only limited ability to dispose of our investments.
Many of our investments will be illiquid and we may not be able to vary our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions.
Certain of the securities that we may purchase in connection with privately negotiated transactions will not be registered under the relevant securities laws, resulting in a prohibition against their transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition except in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of, or is otherwise in accordance with, those laws. Some of the residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities that we may purchase may be traded in private, unregistered transactions and are therefore subject to restrictions on resale or otherwise have no established trading market. The mezzanine and bridge loans we may purchase will be particularly illiquid investments due to their short life, their unsuitability for securitization and the greater difficulty of recoupment in the event of a borrower’s default. As a result, our ability to vary our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions may be relatively limited.
Declines in the market values of our investments may adversely affect periodic reported results of operations and credit availability, which may reduce earnings and, in turn, cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
We expect that a substantial portion of our assets will be classified for accounting purposes as “available-for-sale.” These investments are carried at estimated fair value and temporary changes in the market values of those assets will be directly charged or credited to stockholders’ equity without impacting net income on the income statement. Moreover, if we determine that a decline in the estimated fair value of an available-for-sale security below its amortized value is other-than-temporary, we will recognize a loss on that security on the income statement, which will reduce our earnings in the period recognized.
A decline in the market value of our assets may adversely affect us particularly in instances where we have borrowed money based on the market value of those assets. If the market value of those assets declines, the lender may require us to post additional collateral to support the loan. If we were unable to post the additional collateral, we may have to sell assets at a time when we might not otherwise choose to do so. A reduction in credit available may reduce our earnings and, in turn, cash available for distribution to stockholders.
Further, credit facility providers may require us to maintain a certain amount of cash reserves or to set aside unlevered assets sufficient to maintain a specified liquidity position, which would allow us to satisfy our collateral obligations. As a result, we may not be able to leverage our assets as fully as we would choose, which could reduce our return on equity. In the event that we are unable to meet these contractual obligations, our financial condition could deteriorate rapidly.
Market values of our investments may decline for a number of reasons, such as changes in prevailing interest rates, increases in defaults, increases in voluntary prepayments for those investments that we have that are subject to prepayment risk, widening of credit spreads and downgrades of ratings of the securities by ratings agencies.
Some of our investments will be carried at an estimated fair value and we will be required to disclose the fair value of other investments quarterly. The estimated fair value will be determined by us and, as a result, there may be uncertainty as to the value of these investments.
Some of our investments will be in the form of securities that are recorded at fair value but that have limited liquidity or are not publicly traded. In addition, we must disclose the fair value of our investments in loans each quarter. Such estimates are inherently uncertain. The fair value of securities and other investments, including loans that have limited liquidity or are not publicly traded, may not be readily determinable. We will estimate the fair value of these investments on a quarterly basis. Because such valuations are inherently uncertain, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on numerous estimates, our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these securities existed. The value of our common stock could be adversely affected if our determinations regarding the fair value of these investments are materially higher than the values that we ultimately realize upon their disposal.
Competition with third parties in acquiring and originating investments may reduce our profitability and the return on your investment.
We have significant competition with respect to our acquisition and origination of assets with many other companies, including other REITs, insurance companies, commercial banks, private investment funds, hedge funds, specialty finance companies and other investors, many of which have greater resources than us. We may not be able to compete successfully for investments. In addition, the number of entities and the amount of funds competing for suitable investments may increase. If we pay higher prices for investments or originate loans on more generous terms than our competitors, our returns will be lower and the value of our assets may not increase or may decrease significantly below the amount we paid for such assets. If such events occur, you may experience a lower return on your investment.
Our joint venture partners could take actions that decrease the value of an investment to us and lower your overall return.
We have entered into, and may continue to enter into, joint ventures with third parties to make investments. We may also make investments in partnerships or other co-ownership arrangements or participations. Such investments may involve risks not otherwise present with other methods of investment, including, for example, the following risks:
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• | that our co-venturer or partner in an investment could become insolvent or bankrupt; |
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• | that such co-venturer or partner may at any time have economic or business interests or goals that are or that become inconsistent with our business interests or goals; |
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• | that such co-venturer or partner may be in a position to take action contrary to our instructions or requests or contrary to our policies or objectives; or |
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• | that disputes between us and our co-venturer or partner in an investment could result in litigation, thereby increasing our expenses and preventing our executive officers and directors from focusing available time and effort on our ongoing business operations. |
Any of the above might subject us to liabilities and thus reduce our returns on our investment with that co-venturer or partner.
Our due diligence may not reveal all of a borrower’s liabilities and may not reveal other weaknesses in its business.
Before making a loan to a borrower or acquiring debt or equity securities of a company, we will assess the strength and skills of such entity’s management and other factors that we believe are material to the performance of the investment. In making the assessment and otherwise conducting customary due diligence, we will rely on the resources available to us and, in some cases, an investigation by third parties. This process is particularly important and subjective with respect to newly organized or private entities because there may be little or no information publicly available about the entities. There can be no assurance that our due diligence processes will uncover all relevant facts or that any investment will be successful.
We will depend on debtors for our revenue, and, accordingly, our revenue and our ability to make distributions to you will be dependent upon the success and economic viability of such debtors.
The success of our investments in real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments materially depend on the financial stability of the debtors underlying such investments. The inability of a single major debtor or a number of smaller debtors to meet their payment obligations could result in reduced revenue or losses.
Delays in liquidating defaulted mortgage loans could reduce our investment returns.
If we make or invest in mortgage loans and there are defaults under those mortgage loans, we may not be able to repossess and sell the underlying properties quickly. Borrowers often resist foreclosure actions by asserting numerous
claims, counterclaims and defenses, including, without limitation, lender liability claims, in an effort to prolong the foreclosure action. In some states, foreclosure actions can take up to several years or more to litigate. At any time during the foreclosure proceedings, the borrower may file for bankruptcy, which would have the effect of staying the foreclosure action and further delaying the foreclosure process. Foreclosure litigation tends to create a negative public image of the collateral property and may result in disrupting ongoing leasing and management of the property. Foreclosure actions by senior lenders may substantially affect the amount that we may receive from an investment. These factors could reduce the value of our investment in the defaulted mortgage loans.
Delays in restructuring or liquidating non-performing debt-related securities could reduce the return on your investment.
Debt-related securities may become non-performing after acquisition for a wide variety of reasons. Such non-performing debt-related investments may require a substantial amount of workout negotiations and/or restructuring, which may entail, among other things, a substantial reduction in the interest rate and a substantial write-down of such loan or asset. However, even if a restructuring is successfully accomplished, upon maturity of such debt-related security, the borrower under the security may not be able to negotiate replacement “takeout” financing to repay the principal amount of the securities owed to us. We may find it necessary or desirable to foreclose on some of the collateral securing one or more of our investments. Intercreditor provisions may substantially interfere with our ability to do so. Even if foreclosure is an option, the foreclosure process can be lengthy and expensive as discussed above.
If we foreclose on the collateral that will secure our investments in loans receivable, we may incur significant liabilities for deferred repairs and maintenance, property taxes and other expenses, which would reduce cash available for distribution to stockholders.
Some of the properties we may acquire in foreclosure proceedings may face competition from newer, more updated properties. In addition, the overall condition of these properties may have been neglected prior to the time we would foreclose on them. In order to remain competitive, increase occupancy at these properties and/or make them more attractive to potential tenants and purchasers, we may have to make significant capital improvements and/or incur deferred maintenance costs with respect to these properties. Also, if we acquire properties through foreclosure, we will be responsible for property taxes and other expenses which will require more capital resources than if we held a secured interest in these properties. To the extent we have to make significant capital expenditures with respect to these properties, we will have less cash available to fund distributions and investor returns may be reduced.
Properties that have significant vacancies could be difficult to sell, which could diminish the return on these properties.
A property may incur vacancies either by the expiration of tenant leases or the continued default of tenants under their leases. If vacancies continue for a long period of time, we may suffer reduced revenues resulting in less cash available to distribute to our stockholders. In addition, because a property’s market value depends principally upon the value of the leases associated with that property, the resale value of a property with high or prolonged vacancies could suffer, which could further reduce our returns. Such a reduction in the resale value of a property could also reduce the value of our stockholders’ investment.
We depend on tenants for revenue, and lease defaults or terminations could reduce our net income and limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
The success of our real estate investments materially depends on the financial stability of our tenants. A default or termination by a significant tenant on its lease payments to us would cause us to lose the revenue associated with such lease and could require us to find an alternative source of revenue to meet mortgage payments and prevent a foreclosure, if the property is subject to a mortgage. In the event of a tenant default or bankruptcy, we may experience delays in enforcing our rights as landlord and may incur substantial costs in protecting our investment and re-leasing our property.
If a tenant defaults on or terminates a significant lease, we may be unable to lease the property for the rent previously received or sell the property without incurring a loss. These events could cause us to reduce the amount of distributions to our stockholders.
Our inability to sell a property at the time and on the terms we want could limit our ability to pay cash distributions to our stockholders.
Many factors that are beyond our control affect the real estate market and could affect our ability to sell properties for the price, on the terms or within the time frame that we desire. These factors include general economic conditions, the availability of financing, interest rates and other factors, including supply and demand. Because real estate investments are relatively illiquid, we have a limited ability to vary our portfolio in response to changes in economic or other conditions. Further, before we can sell a property on the terms we want, it may be necessary to expend funds to correct defects or to make improvements. However, we can give no assurance that we will have the
funds available to correct such defects or to make such improvements. We may be unable to sell our properties at a profit. Our inability to sell properties at the time and on the terms we want could reduce our cash flow and limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders and could reduce the value of our shares.
If we sell a property by providing financing to the purchaser, we will bear the risk of default by the purchaser, which could delay or reduce the distributions available to our stockholders.
In some instances, we may sell our properties by providing financing to purchasers. When we provide financing to a purchaser, we will bear the risk that the purchaser may default, which could reduce our cash distributions to stockholders. Even in the absence of a purchaser default, the distribution of the proceeds of the sale to our stockholders, or the reinvestment of the proceeds in other assets, will be delayed until the promissory note or other property we may accept upon a sale are actually paid, sold, refinanced or otherwise disposed.
Potential development and construction delays and resultant increased costs and risks may hinder our operating results and decrease our net income.
From time to time we may acquire unimproved real property or properties that are under development or construction. Investments in such properties will be subject to the uncertainties associated with the development and construction of real property, including those related to re-zoning land for development, environmental concerns of governmental entities and/or community groups and our builders’ ability to build in conformity with plans, specifications, budgeted costs and timetables. If a builder fails to perform, we may resort to legal action to rescind the purchase or the construction contract or to compel performance. A builder’s performance may also be affected or delayed by conditions beyond the builder’s control. Delays in completing construction could also give tenants the right to terminate preconstruction leases. We may incur additional risks when we make periodic progress payments or other advances to builders before they complete construction. These and other factors can result in increased costs of a project or loss of our investment. In addition, we will be subject to normal lease-up risks relating to newly constructed projects. We also must rely on rental income and expense projections and estimates of the fair market value of property upon completion of construction when agreeing upon a purchase price at the time we acquire the property. If our projections are inaccurate, we may pay too much for a property, and the return on our investment could suffer.
If the properties related to our investments are concentrated by type or geographic area, then we will be exposed to increased risk with respect to those property types or that geographic area.
Our investments may at times be concentrated in certain property types that are subject to a higher risk of foreclosure. In addition, our investments may be secured by properties concentrated in a limited number of geographic locations. Adverse conditions in the areas where the properties securing or otherwise underlying our investments are located (including business layoffs or downsizing, industry slowdowns, changing demographics and other factors) and local real estate conditions (such as oversupply or reduced demand) may have an adverse effect on the value of the properties underlying our investments. A material decline in demand or the ability of tenants to pay rent or of a buyer to consummate a purchase in these geographic areas may result in a material decline in our cash available for distribution.
Costs imposed pursuant to governmental laws and regulations may reduce our net income and the cash available for distributions to our stockholders.
Real property and the operations conducted on real property are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to protection of the environment and human health. We could be subject to liability in the form of fines, penalties or damages for noncompliance with these laws and regulations. These laws and regulations generally govern wastewater discharges, air emissions, the operation and removal of underground and above-ground storage tanks, the use, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of solid and hazardous materials, the remediation of contamination associated with the release or disposal of solid and hazardous materials, the presence of toxic building materials, and other health and safety-related concerns.
Some of these laws and regulations may impose joint and several liability on the tenants, owners or operators of real property for the costs to investigate or remediate contaminated properties, regardless of fault, whether the contamination occurred prior to purchase, or whether the acts causing the contamination were legal. Activities of our tenants, the condition of properties at the time we buy them, operations in the vicinity of our properties, such as the presence of underground storage tanks, or activities of unrelated third parties may affect our properties.
The presence of hazardous substances, or the failure to properly manage or remediate these substances, may hinder our ability to sell, rent or pledge such property as collateral for future borrowings. Any material expenditures, fines, penalties, or damages we must pay will reduce our ability to make distributions and may reduce the value of our shares.
The costs of defending against claims of environmental liability, of complying with environmental regulatory requirements, of remediating any contaminated property, or of paying personal injury claims could reduce the amounts available for distribution to our stockholders.
Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous real property owner or operator may be liable for the cost of removing or remediating hazardous or toxic substances on, under or in such property. These costs could be substantial. Such laws often impose liability whether or not the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. Environmental laws also may impose liens on property or restrictions on the manner in which property may be used or businesses may be operated, and these restrictions may require substantial expenditures or prevent us from entering into leases with prospective tenants that may be impacted by such laws. Environmental laws provide for sanctions for noncompliance and may be enforced by governmental agencies or, in certain circumstances, by private parties. Certain environmental laws and common law principles could be used to impose liability for the release of and exposure to hazardous substances, including asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint. Third parties may seek recovery from real property owners or operators for personal injury or property damage associated with exposure to released hazardous substances. The costs of defending against claims of environmental liability, of complying with environmental regulatory requirements, of remediating any contaminated property, or of paying personal injury claims could reduce the amounts available for distribution to our stockholders.
Costs associated with complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act may decrease cash available for distribution.
Our properties may be subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, or the Disabilities Act. Under the Disabilities Act, all places of public accommodation are required to comply with federal requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. The Disabilities Act has separate compliance requirements for “public accommodations” and “commercial facilities” that generally require that buildings and services be made accessible and available to people with disabilities. The Disabilities Act’s requirements could require removal of access barriers and could result in the imposition of injunctive relief, monetary penalties or, in some cases, an award of damages. Any funds used for Disabilities Act compliance will reduce our net income and the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
Uninsured losses relating to real property or excessively expensive premiums for insurance coverage could reduce our cash flow from operations and the return on our stockholders’ investment.
There are types of losses, generally catastrophic in nature, such as losses due to wars, acts of terrorism, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, pollution or environmental matters, that are uninsurable or not economically insurable, or may be insured subject to limitations, such as large deductibles or co-payments. Insurance risks associated with potential acts of terrorism could sharply increase the premiums we pay for coverage against property and casualty claims. Additionally, mortgage lenders in some cases have begun to insist that commercial property owners purchase coverage against terrorism as a condition for providing mortgage loans. Such insurance policies may not be available at reasonable costs, if at all, which could inhibit our ability to finance or refinance our properties. In such instances, we may be required to provide other financial support, either through financial assurances or self-insurance, to cover potential losses. We may not have adequate coverage for such losses. If any of our properties incurs a casualty loss that is not fully insured, the value of our assets will be reduced by any such uninsured loss, which may reduce the value of our shares. In addition, other than any working capital reserve or other reserves we may establish, we have no source of funding to repair or reconstruct any uninsured property. Also, to the extent we must pay unexpectedly large amounts for insurance, we could suffer reduced earnings that would result in lower distributions to our stockholders.
Terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war may affect the markets in which we plan to operate, which could delay or hinder our ability to meet our investment objectives and reduce our stockholders’ overall return.
Terrorist attacks or armed conflicts may directly impact the value of our properties through damage, destruction, loss or increased security costs. KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors have historically owned properties in major metropolitan areas. We expect that we will also invest in such markets. We may not be able to obtain insurance against the risk of terrorism because it may not be available or may not be available on terms that are economically feasible. The terrorism insurance that we obtain may not be sufficient to cover loss for damages to our properties as a result of terrorist attacks. The inability to obtain sufficient terrorism insurance or any terrorism insurance at all could limit our investment options as some mortgage lenders have begun to insist that specific coverage against terrorism be purchased by commercial owners as a condition of providing loans.
Risks Related to Our Financing Strategy
We expect to use leverage in connection with our investments, which increases the risk of loss associated with our investments.
We expect to finance the acquisition and origination of a portion of our investments with warehouse lines of credit, repurchase agreements, various types of securitizations, mortgages and other borrowings. Although the use of leverage may enhance returns and increase the number of investments that we can make, it may also substantially increase the risk of loss. Our ability to execute this strategy will depend on various conditions in the financing markets that are beyond our control, including liquidity and credit spreads. There can be no assurance that leveraged financing will be available to us on favorable terms or that, among other factors, the terms of such financing will parallel the maturities of the underlying assets acquired. If our strategy is not viable, we will have to find alternative forms of long-term financing for our assets, as secured revolving credit facilities and repurchase facilities may not accommodate long-term financing. This could subject us to more restrictive recourse indebtedness and the risk that debt service on less efficient forms of financing would require a larger portion of our cash flows, thereby reducing cash available for distribution to you, for our operations and for future business opportunities. If alternative financing is not available, we may have to liquidate assets at unfavorable prices to pay off such financing. Our return on our investments and cash available for distribution to our stockholders may be reduced to the extent that changes in market conditions cause the cost of our financing to increase relative to the income that we can derive from the assets we acquire.
Short-term borrowing through repurchase agreements, bank credit facilities and warehouse facilities may put our assets and financial condition at risk. Repurchase agreements economically resemble short-term, variable-rate financing and usually require the maintenance of specific loan-to-collateral value ratios. If the market value of the assets subject to a repurchase agreement decline, we may be required to provide additional collateral or make cash payments to maintain the loan to collateral value ratio. If we are unable to provide such collateral or cash repayments, we may lose our economic interest in the underlying assets. Further, credit facility providers and warehouse facility providers may require us to maintain a certain amount of cash reserves or to set aside unleveraged assets sufficient to maintain a specified liquidity position that would allow us to satisfy our collateral obligations. In addition, such short-term borrowing facilities may limit the length of time that any given asset may be used as eligible collateral. As a result, we may not be able to leverage our assets as fully as we would choose, which could reduce our return on assets. In the event that we are unable to meet these collateral obligations, our financial condition could deteriorate rapidly.
We may not be able to acquire eligible investments for a collateralized debt obligation or CDO issuance or may not be able to issue CDO securities on attractive terms, either of which may require us to seek more costly financing for our investments or to liquidate assets.
We may use short-term financing arrangements to finance the acquisition of instruments until a sufficient quantity is accumulated, at which time we may refinance these lines through a securitization, such as a CDO issuance, or other long-term financing. As a result, we are subject to the risk that we will not be able to acquire, during the period that our short-term financing is available, a sufficient amount of eligible assets to maximize the efficiency of a CDO issuance. In addition, conditions in the capital markets may make the issuance of CDOs less attractive to us when we have accumulated a sufficient pool of collateral. If we are unable to issue a CDO to finance these assets, we may be required to seek other forms of potentially less attractive financing or liquidate the assets. In addition, while we generally will retain the equity component, or below investment grade component, of such CDOs and, therefore, still have exposure to any investments included in such securitizations, our inability to enter into securitization transactions will increase our overall exposure to risks associated with ownership of such investments, including the risk of default under warehouse facilities, bank credit facilities and repurchase agreements discussed above.
The use of CDO financings with over-collateralization requirements may have a negative impact on our cash flow.
We expect that the terms of CDOs we may issue will generally provide that the principal amount of assets must exceed the principal balance of the related bonds by a certain amount, commonly referred to as “over-collateralization.” We anticipate that the CDO terms will provide that, if certain delinquencies and/or losses exceed specified levels, which we will establish based on the analysis by the rating agencies (or any financial guaranty insurer) of the characteristics of the assets collateralizing the bonds, the required level of over-collateralization may be increased or may be prevented from decreasing as would otherwise be permitted had losses or delinquencies not exceeded those levels. Other tests (based on delinquency levels or other criteria) may restrict our ability to receive net income from assets collateralizing the obligations. We cannot assure you that the performance tests will be satisfied. In advance of completing negotiations with the rating agencies or other key transaction parties on our future CDO financings, we cannot assure you of the actual terms of the CDO delinquency tests, over-collateralization terms, cash flow release mechanisms or other
significant factors regarding the calculation of net income to us. Failure to obtain favorable terms with regard to these matters may materially and adversely affect the availability of net income to us. If our assets fail to perform as anticipated, our over-collateralization or other credit enhancement expense associated with our CDO financings will increase.
We may be required to repurchase loans that we have sold or to indemnify holders of CDOs we issue.
If any of the loans we originate or acquire and sell or securitize do not comply with representations and warranties that we make about certain characteristics of the loans, the borrowers and the underlying properties, we may be required to repurchase those loans (including from a trust vehicle used to facilitate a structured financing of the assets through CDOs) or replace them with substitute loans. In addition, in the case of loans that we have sold instead of retained, we may be required to indemnify persons for losses or expenses incurred as a result of a breach of a representation or warranty. Repurchased loans typically require a significant allocation of working capital to be carried on our books, and our ability to borrow against such assets may be limited. Any significant repurchases or indemnification payments could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
High mortgage rates may make it difficult for us to finance or refinance properties, which could reduce the number of properties we can acquire, our net income and the amount of cash distributions we can make.
If mortgage debt is unavailable at reasonable rates, we may not be able to finance the purchase of real properties. For the mortgage debt we place on properties, we run the risk of being unable to refinance the properties when the loans become due, or of being unable to refinance on favorable terms. If interest rates are higher when we refinance the properties, our income could be reduced. We may be unable to refinance properties. If any of these events occurs, our cash flow would be reduced. This, in turn, would reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders and may hinder our ability to raise more capital by issuing more stock or by borrowing more money.
Lenders may require us to enter into restrictive covenants relating to our operations, which could limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
When providing financing, a lender may impose restrictions on us that affect our distribution and operating policies and our ability to incur additional debt. Loan agreements we enter may contain covenants that limit our ability to further mortgage a property or that prohibit us from discontinuing insurance coverage or replacing KBS Capital Advisors as our advisor. These or other limitations would decrease our operating flexibility and our ability to achieve our operating objectives.
In a period of rising interest rates, our interest expense could increase while the interest we earn on our fixed-rate assets would not change, which would adversely affect our profitability.
Our operating results will depend in large part on differences between the income from our assets, net of credit losses and financing costs. Income from our assets may respond more slowly to interest rate fluctuations than the cost of our borrowings. Consequently, changes in interest rates, particularly short-term interest rates, may significantly influence our net income. Increases in these rates will tend to decrease our net income and market value of our assets. Interest rate fluctuations resulting in our interest expense exceeding our interest income would result in operating losses for us and may limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. In addition, if we need to repay existing debt during periods of rising interest rates, we could be required to liquidate one or more of our investments at times that may not permit realization of the maximum return on such investments.
We have broad authority to incur debt and high debt levels could hinder our ability to make distributions and decrease the value of your investment.
Although we expect that once we have fully invested the proceeds of this offering, our debt financing and other liabilities will be 60% or less of the cost of our tangible assets (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves), our debt financing and other liabilities may exceed this level during our offering stage. Our charter limits our total liabilities to 75% of the cost of our tangible assets (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves), however, we may exceed this limit with the approval of the conflicts committee of our board of directors. See “Investment Objectives and Criteria - Financing Strategy and Policies.” During the early stages of this offering, and to the extent financing in excess of this limit is available on attractive terms, our conflicts committee may approve debt such that our total liabilities would exceed this limit. High debt levels would cause us to incur higher interest charges and higher debt service payments and could also be accompanied by restrictive covenants. These factors could limit the amount of cash we have available to distribute and could result in a decline in the value of your investment.
Federal Income Tax Risks
Failure to qualify as a REIT would reduce our net earnings available for investment or distribution.
DLA Piper LLP (US) has rendered an opinion to us that we have been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code for our taxable years ended December 31, 2014 through December 31, 2015 and our current organization and method of operations will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. This opinion is based upon, among other things, our representations as to the manner in which we are and will be owned and the manner in which we will invest in and operate assets. However, our qualification as a REIT will depend upon our ability to meet requirements regarding our organization and ownership, distributions of our income, the nature and diversification of our income and assets and other tests imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. DLA Piper LLP (US) will not review our compliance with the REIT qualification standards on an ongoing basis, and we may fail to satisfy the REIT requirements in the future. Also, this opinion represents the legal judgment of DLA Piper LLP (US) based on the law in effect as of the date of the opinion. The opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) will not be binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts. Future legislative, judicial or administrative changes to the federal income tax laws could be applied retroactively, which could result in our disqualification as a REIT.
Our qualification as a REIT will depend upon our ability to meet requirements regarding our organization and ownership, distributions of our income, the nature and diversification of our income and assets and other tests imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. If we fail to qualify as a REIT for any taxable year after electing REIT status, we will be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at corporate rates. In addition, we would generally be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year of in which we lost our REIT status. Losing our REIT status would reduce our net earnings available for investment or distribution to stockholders because of the additional tax liability. In addition, distributions to stockholders would no longer qualify for the dividends paid deduction and we would no longer be required to make distributions. If this occurs, we might be required to borrow funds or liquidate some investments in order to pay the applicable tax. For a discussion of the REIT qualification tests and other considerations relating to our election to be taxed as REIT, see “Federal Income Tax Considerations.”
Failure to qualify as a REIT would subject us to federal income tax, which would reduce the cash available for distribution to you.
We believe that we have operated and will continue to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. However, the federal income tax laws governing REITs are extremely complex, and interpretations of the federal income tax laws governing qualification as a REIT are limited. Qualifying as a REIT requires us to meet various tests regarding the nature of our assets and our income, the ownership of our outstanding stock, and the amount of our distributions on an ongoing basis. Accordingly, we cannot be certain that we will be successful in operating so we can remain qualified as a REIT. Our ability to satisfy the asset tests depends on our analysis of the characterization and fair market values of our assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination, and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals. While we intend to operate so that we will qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, including the tax treatment of certain investments we may make, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given that we will so qualify for any particular year. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any calendar year and we do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we would be required to pay federal income tax on our taxable income. We might need to borrow money or sell assets to pay that tax. Our payment of income tax would decrease the amount of our income available for distribution to you. Furthermore, if we fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT and we do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we no longer would be required to distribute substantially all of our REIT taxable income to our stockholders. Unless our failure to qualify as a REIT were excused under federal tax laws, we would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost.
You may have current tax liability on distributions you elect to reinvest in our common stock.
If you participate in our dividend reinvestment plan, you will be deemed to have received, and for income tax purposes will be taxed on, the amount reinvested in shares of our common stock to the extent the amount reinvested was not a tax-free return of capital. In addition, you will be treated for tax purposes as having received an additional distribution to the extent the shares are purchased at a discount to fair market value, if any. As a result, unless you are a tax-exempt entity, you may have to use funds from other sources to pay your tax liability on the value of the shares of common stock received. See “Description of Shares —Dividend Reinvestment Plan — Tax Consequences of Participation.”
Even if we qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we may be subject to state, local, or other tax liabilities that reduce our cash flow and our ability to make distributions to you.
Even if we qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we may be subject to some federal, state and local taxes on our income or property. For example:
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• | In order to qualify as a REIT, we must distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income to our stockholders (which is determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction or net capital gain). To the extent that we satisfy the distribution requirement but distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, we will be subject to federal corporate income tax on the undistributed income. |
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• | We will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which distributions we pay in any calendar year are less than the sum of 85% of our ordinary income, 95% of our capital gain net income and 100% of our undistributed income from prior years. |
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• | If we elect to treat property that we acquire in connection with a foreclosure of a mortgage loan or certain leasehold terminations as "foreclosure property," we may avoid the 100% tax on the gain from a resale of that property, but the income from the sale or operation of that property may be subject to corporate income tax at the highest applicable rate. |
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• | If we sell an asset, other than foreclosure property, that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, our gain would be subject to the 100% “prohibited transaction” tax unless such sale were made by one of our taxable REIT subsidiaries. |
Our investments in debt instruments may cause us to recognize taxable income for which cash has not been received for federal income tax purposes even though no cash payments have been received on the debt instruments.
It is expected that we may acquire debt instruments in the secondary market for less than their face amount. The amount of such discount will generally be treated as “market discount” for federal income tax purposes. We may acquire distressed debt investments that are subsequently modified by agreement with the borrower. If the amendments to the outstanding debt are “significant modifications” under the applicable Treasury regulations, the modified debt may be considered to have been reissued to us in a debt-for-debt exchange with the borrower. This deemed reissuance may prevent the modified debt from qualifying as a good REIT asset if the underlying security has declined in value.
In general, we will be required to accrue original issue discount on a debt instrument as taxable income in accordance with applicable federal income tax rules even though no cash payments may be received on such debt instrument.
In the event a borrower with respect to a particular debt instrument encounters financial difficulty rendering it unable to pay stated interest as due, we may nonetheless be required to continue to recognize the unpaid interest as taxable income. Similarly, we may be required to accrue interest income with respect to subordinate residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities at the stated rate regardless of when their corresponding cash payments are received.
As a result of these factors, there is a significant risk that we may recognize substantial taxable income in excess of cash available for distribution. In that event, we may need to borrow funds or take other action to satisfy the REIT distribution requirements for the taxable year in which this taxable income for which cash has not been received is recognized.
REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan.
We generally must distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, subject to certain adjustments and excluding any net capital gain, in order for federal corporate income tax not to apply to earnings that we distribute. To the extent that we satisfy this distribution requirement, but distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, we will be subject to federal corporate income tax on our undistributed REIT taxable income. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that we pay out to our stockholders in a calendar year is less than a minimum amount specified under federal tax laws. We also may decide to retain net capital gain we earn from the sale or other disposition of our property and pay U.S. federal income tax directly on such income. In that event, our stockholders would be treated as if they earned that income and paid the tax on it directly. However, stockholders that are tax-exempt, such as charities or qualified pension plans, would have no benefit from their deemed payment of such tax liability unless they file U.S. federal income tax returns and thereon seek a refund of such tax. We also will be subject to corporate tax on any undistributed taxable income. We intend to make distributions to our stockholders to comply with the REIT requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.
From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our taxable income for financial reporting purposes, or our taxable income may be greater than our cash flow available for distribution to stockholders (for example, where a borrower defers the payment of interest in cash pursuant to a contractual right or otherwise). If we do not have other funds available in these situations we could be required to borrow funds, sell investments at disadvantageous prices or find another alternative source of funds to make distributions sufficient to enable us to pay out enough of our taxable income to satisfy the REIT distribution requirements and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% excise tax in a particular year. These alternatives could increase our costs or reduce our equity. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to operate solely on the basis of maximizing profits.
If our operating partnership fails to maintain its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, its income would be subject to taxation and our REIT status would be terminated.
We intend to maintain the status of our operating partnership as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. However, if the IRS were to successfully challenge the status of our operating partnership as a partnership, it would be taxable as a corporation. In such event, this would reduce the amount of distributions that our operating partnership could make to us. This would also result in our losing REIT status and becoming subject to a corporate level tax on our own income. This would substantially reduce our cash available to pay distributions and the return on your investment. In addition, if any of the entities through which our operating partnership owns its properties, in whole or in part, loses its characterization as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, the underlying entity would become subject to taxation as a corporation, thereby reducing distributions to our operating partnership and jeopardizing our ability to maintain REIT status. See the "Federal Income Tax Considerations — Effect of Subsidiary Entities - Ownership of Partnership Interests " section of this prospectus.
Early investors may receive tax benefits from our election to accelerate depreciation expense deductions of certain components of our investments, including land improvements and fixtures, from which later investors may not benefit.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions received, including distributions that are reinvested pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan, by our investors generally will be considered ordinary dividends to the extent that the distributions are paid out of our current and accumulated earnings and profits (excluding distributions of amounts either attributable to income subject to corporate-level taxation or designated as a capital gain dividend). However, depreciation expenses, among other deductible items, reduce taxable income and earnings and profits but do not reduce cash available for distribution. To the extent that a portion of any distributions to our investors exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, that portion will be considered a return of capital (a non-taxable distribution) for U.S. federal income tax purposes up to the amount of their tax basis in their shares (and any excess over their tax basis in their shares will result in capital gain from the deemed disposition of the investors’ shares). The amount of distributions considered a return of capital for U.S. federal income tax purposes will not be subject to tax immediately but will instead reduce the tax basis of our investors’ investments, generally deferring any tax on that portion of the distribution until they sell their shares or we liquidate. Because we may choose to increase depreciation expense deductions in the earlier years after acquisition of an asset, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, of certain components of our investments, including land improvements and fixtures through the use of cost segregation studies, our early investors may benefit to the extent that increased depreciation causes all or a portion of the distributions they receive to be considered a return of capital for U.S. federal income tax purposes thereby deferring tax on those distributions, while later investors may not benefit to the extent that the depreciation of these components has already been deducted.
If we fail to invest a sufficient amount of the net proceeds from this offering in real estate assets within one year from the receipt of the proceeds, we could fail to qualify as a REIT.
Temporary investment of the net proceeds from this offering in securities that are not treated as real estate assets for REIT qualification purposes and income from these investments generally will allow us to satisfy various REIT income and asset requirements, but only during the one-year period beginning on the date we receive the net proceeds. In order to satisfy these requirements, we may invest in one or more assets on terms and conditions that are not otherwise favorable to us, which ultimately could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results. Alternatively, if we are unable to invest a sufficient amount of the net proceeds from sales of our stock in qualifying real estate assets within the one-year period, we could fail to satisfy one or more of the gross income or asset tests and we could be limited to investing all or a portion of any remaining funds in cash or certain cash equivalents. If we fail to satisfy any such income or asset test, unless we are entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, we could fail to qualify as a REIT.
To maintain our REIT status, we may be forced to forego otherwise attractive business or investment opportunities, which may delay or hinder our ability to meet our investment objectives and reduce your overall return.
To qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy certain tests on an ongoing basis concerning, among other things, the sources of our income, nature of our assets and the amounts we distribute to our stockholders. We may be required to make distributions to stockholders at times when it would be more advantageous to reinvest cash in our business or when we do not have funds readily available for distribution. Compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to operate solely on the basis of maximizing profits and the value of your investment.
Potential characterization of distributions or gain on sale may be treated as unrelated business taxable income to tax-exempt investors.
If (i) all or a portion of our assets are subject to the rules relating to taxable mortgage pools, (ii) we are a “pension-held REIT,” (iii) a tax-exempt stockholder has incurred debt to purchase or hold our common stock, or (iv) the residual Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit interests, or REMICs, we buy (if any) generate “excess inclusion income,” then a portion of the distributions to and, in the case of a stockholder described in clause (iii), gains realized on the sale of common stock by such tax-exempt stockholder may be subject to federal income tax as unrelated business taxable income under the Internal Revenue Code. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.—Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.”
The “taxable mortgage pool” rules may increase the taxes that we or our stockholders incur and may limit the manner in which we conduct securitizations or financing arrangements.
We may be deemed to be ,or we may make investments in entities that own or are themselves deemed to be, taxable mortgage pools. As a REIT, provided that we own 100% of the equity interests in a taxable mortgage pool, we generally would not be adversely affected by the characterization of the securitization as a taxable mortgage pool. However, certain categories of stockholders, such as foreign stockholders eligible for treaty or other benefits, stockholders with net operating losses, and certain tax-exempt stockholders that are subject to unrelated business income tax, could be subject to increased taxes on a portion of their dividend income from us that is attributable to the taxable mortgage pool. In addition, to the extent that our stock is owned by tax-exempt “disqualified organizations,” such as certain government-related entities that are not subject to tax on unrelated business income, we will incur a corporate-level tax on a portion of our income from the taxable mortgage pool. In that case, we are authorized to reduce and intend to reduce the amount of our distributions to any disqualified organization whose stock ownership gave rise to the tax by the amount of such tax paid by us that is attributable to such stockholder’s ownership.
Similarly, certain of our securitizations or other borrowings could be considered to result in the creation of a taxable mortgage pool for federal income tax purposes. We intend to structure our securitization and financing arrangements as to not create a taxable mortgage pool. However, if we have borrowings with two or more maturities and (i) those borrowings are secured by mortgages or residential or commercial mortgage-backed securities and (ii) the payments made on the borrowings are related to the payments received on the underlying assets, then the borrowings and the pool of mortgages or residential or commercial mortgage-backed securities to which such borrowings relate may be classified as a taxable mortgage pool under the Internal Revenue Code. If any part of our investments were to be treated as a taxable mortgage pool, then our REIT status would not be impaired, provided we own 100% of such entity, but a portion of the taxable income we recognize may be characterized as “excess inclusion” income and allocated among our stockholders to the extent of and generally in proportion to the distributions we make to each stockholder. Any excess inclusion income would:
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• | not be allowed to be offset by a stockholder’s net operating losses; |
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• | be subject to a tax as unrelated business income if a stockholder were a tax-exempt stockholder; |
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• | be subject to the application of federal income tax withholding at the maximum rate (without reduction for any otherwise applicable income tax treaty) with respect to amounts allocable to foreign stockholders; and |
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• | be taxable (at the highest corporate tax rate) to us, rather than to you, to the extent the excess inclusion income relates to stock held by disqualified organizations (generally, tax-exempt companies not subject to tax on unrelated business income, including governmental organizations). |
The failure of a mezzanine loan to qualify as a real estate asset could adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.
The Internal Revenue Service has issued Revenue Procedure 2003-65, which provides a safe harbor pursuant to which a mezzanine loan that is secured by interests in a pass-through entity will be treated by the Internal Revenue Service as a real estate asset for purposes of the REIT tests, and interest derived from such loan will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the REIT 75% income test. Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. We intend to make investments in loans secured by interests in pass-through entities in a manner that complies with the various
requirements applicable to our qualification as a REIT. To the extent, however, that any such loans do not satisfy all of the requirements for reliance on the safe harbor set forth in the Revenue Procedure, there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge the tax treatment of such loans, which could jeopardize our ability to qualify as a REIT.
The tax on prohibited transactions will limit our ability to engage in transactions, including certain methods of securitizing mortgage loans, that would be treated as sales for federal income tax purposes.
A REIT’s net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of assets, other than foreclosure property, deemed held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. We might be subject to this tax if we were to dispose of or securitize loans in a manner that was treated as a sale of the loans for federal income tax purposes. Therefore, in order to avoid the prohibited transactions tax, we may choose not to engage in certain sales of loans at the REIT level, and may limit the structures we utilize for our securitization transactions, even though the sales or structures might otherwise be beneficial to us.
It may be possible to reduce the impact of the prohibited transaction tax by conducting certain activities through taxable REIT subsidiaries. However, to the extent that we engage in such activities through taxable REIT subsidiaries, the income associated with such activities may be subject to full corporate income tax.
Complying with REIT requirements may force us to liquidate otherwise attractive investments.
To qualify as a REIT, we must ensure that at the end of each calendar quarter, at least 75% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash items, government securities and qualified REIT real estate assets, including certain mortgage loans and residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities. The remainder of our investment in securities (other than government securities and qualified real estate assets) generally cannot include more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. In addition, in general, no more than 5% of the value of our assets (other than government securities and qualified real estate assets) can consist of the securities of any one issuer, and no more than 25% (20% for taxable years after 2017) of the value of our total assets can be represented by securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations-Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.” If we fail to comply with these requirements at the end of any calendar quarter, we must correct the failure within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter or qualify for certain statutory relief provisions to avoid losing our REIT qualification and suffering adverse tax consequences. As a result, we may be required to liquidate from our portfolio otherwise attractive investments. These actions could have the effect of reducing our income and amounts available for distribution to our stockholders.
Liquidation of assets may jeopardize our REIT qualification.
To qualify as a REIT, we must comply with requirements regarding our assets and our sources of income. If we are compelled to liquidate our investments to repay obligations to our lenders, we may be unable to comply with these requirements, ultimately jeopardizing our qualification as a REIT, or we may be subject to a 100% tax on any resultant gain if we sell assets that are treated as dealer property or inventory.
Characterization of any repurchase agreements we enter into to finance our investments as sales for tax purposes rather than as secured lending transactions would adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.
We may enter into repurchase agreements with a variety of counterparties to achieve our desired amount of leverage for the assets in which we invest. When we enter into a repurchase agreement, we generally sell assets to our counterparty to the agreement and receive cash from the counterparty. The counterparty is obligated to resell the assets back to us at the end of the term of the transaction. We believe that for federal income tax purposes we will be treated as the owner of the assets that are the subject of repurchase agreements and that the repurchase agreements will be treated as secured lending transactions notwithstanding that such agreement may transfer record ownership of the assets to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the Internal Revenue Service could successfully assert that we did not own these assets during the term of the repurchase agreements, in which case we could fail to qualify as a REIT if tax ownership of these assets was necessary for us to meet the income and/or asset tests discussed in “Federal Income Tax Considerations-Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.”
If certain sale-leaseback transactions are not characterized by the Internal Revenue Service as “true leases,” we may be subject to adverse tax consequences.
We may purchase investments in properties and lease them back to the sellers of these properties. If the Internal Revenue Service does not characterize these leases as “true leases,” we would be not treated as receiving rents from real property with regard to such leases which could affect our ability to satisfy the REIT gross income tests.
Complying with REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge effectively.
The REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code may limit our ability to hedge our assets and operations. Under these provisions, any income that we generate from transactions intended to hedge our interest rate, inflation and/or currency risks will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the REIT 75% and 95% gross income tests if the instrument hedges (i) interest rate risk on liabilities incurred to carry or acquire real estate (ii) risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the REIT 75% or 95% gross income tests or (iii) to manage risk with respect to the termination of certain prior hedging transactions described in (i) and/or (ii) above, and, in each case, such instrument is properly identified under applicable Treasury Regulations. Income from hedging transactions that do not meet these requirements will generally constitute nonqualifying income for purposes of both the REIT 75% and 95% gross income tests. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.—Derivatives and Hedging Transactions.” As a result of these rules, we may have to limit our use of hedging techniques that might otherwise be advantageous, which could result in greater risks associated with interest rate or other changes than we would otherwise incur.
Ownership limitations may restrict change of control or business combination opportunities in which you might receive a premium for their shares.
In order for us to qualify as a REIT for each taxable year beginning with the December 31, 2015 taxable year, no more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals during the last half of any calendar year. “Individuals” for this purpose include natural persons, and some entities such as private foundations. To preserve our REIT qualification, our charter generally prohibits any person from directly or indirectly owning more than 9.8% in value of our capital stock. This ownership limitation could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction in which holders of our common stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then prevailing market price or which holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interests.
Our ownership of and relationship with our taxable REIT subsidiaries will be limited and a failure to comply with the limits would jeopardize our REIT status and may result in the application of a 100% excise tax.
A REIT may own up to 100% of the stock of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries. A taxable REIT subsidiary may earn income that would not be qualifying income if earned directly by the parent REIT. Both the subsidiary and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a taxable REIT subsidiary. A corporation of which a taxable REIT subsidiary directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the stock will automatically be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. Overall, no more than 25% (20% for taxable years after 2017) of the value of a REIT’s assets may consist of stock or securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries. A domestic taxable REIT subsidiary will pay federal, state and local income tax at regular corporate rates on any income that it earns. In addition, the taxable REIT subsidiary rules limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a taxable REIT subsidiary to its parent REIT to assure that the taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. The rules also impose a 100% excise tax on certain transactions between a taxable REIT subsidiary and its parent REIT that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. We cannot assure you that we will be able to comply with the 25% (or 20%, as applicable) value limitation on ownership of taxable REIT subsidiary stock and securities on an ongoing basis so as to maintain REIT status or to avoid application of the 100% excise tax imposed on certain non-arm’s length transactions.
We may be required to pay some taxes due to actions of a taxable REIT subsidiary which would reduce our cash available for distribution to you.
Any net taxable income earned directly by a taxable REIT subsidiary, or through entities that are disregarded for federal income tax purposes as entities separate from our taxable REIT subsidiaries, will be subject to federal and possibly state corporate income tax. In this regard, several provisions of the laws applicable to REITs and their subsidiaries ensure that a taxable REIT subsidiary will be subject to an appropriate level of federal income taxation. For example, a taxable REIT subsidiary is limited in its ability to deduct certain interest payments made to an affiliated REIT. In addition, the REIT has to pay a 100% penalty tax on some payments that it receives or on some deductions taken by a taxable REIT subsidiary if the economic arrangements between the REIT, the REIT's customers, and the taxable REIT subsidiary are not comparable to similar arrangements between unrelated parties. Finally, some state and local jurisdictions may tax some of our income even though as a REIT we are not subject to federal income tax on that income because not all states and localities follow the federal income tax treatment of REITs. To the extent that we and our affiliates are required to pay federal, state and local taxes, we will have less cash available for distributions to you.
The Internal Revenue Service may challenge our characterization of certain income from offshore taxable REIT subsidiaries.
We may form offshore corporate entities treated as taxable REIT subsidiaries. If we form such subsidiaries, we may receive certain “income inclusions” with respect to our equity investments in these entities. We intend to treat such income inclusions, to the extent matched by repatriations of cash in the same taxable year, as qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test but not the 75% gross income test. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. — Income Tests.” Because there is no clear precedent with respect to the qualification of such income inclusions for purposes of the REIT gross income tests, no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service will not assert a contrary position. If such income does not qualify for the 95% gross income test, we could be subject to a penalty tax or we could fail to qualify as a REIT, in both events only if such inclusions (along with certain other non-qualifying income) exceed 5% of our gross income.
If our CDO issuers that are taxable REIT subsidiaries are subject to federal income tax at the entity level, it would greatly reduce the amounts those entities would have available to distribute to us and to pay their creditors.
There is a specific exemption from federal income tax for non-U.S. corporations that restrict their activities in the United States to trading stock and securities (or any activity closely related thereto) for their own account whether such trading (or such other activity) is conducted by the corporation or its employees through a resident broker, commission agent, custodian or other agent. We intend that any of our CDO issuers that are taxable REIT subsidiaries will rely on that exemption or otherwise operate in a manner so that they will not be subject to federal income tax on their net income at the entity level. If the Internal Revenue Service were to succeed in challenging that tax treatment, it could greatly reduce the amount that those CDO issuers would have available to distribute to us and to pay to their creditors.
Non-U.S. income or other taxes, and a requirement to withhold any non-U.S. taxes, may apply, and, if so, the amount of net cash from operations payable to you will be reduced.
We intend to acquire real property located outside the U.S. and may invest in stock or other securities of entities owning real property located outside the U.S. As a result, we may be subject to foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) income taxes, stamp taxes, real property conveyance taxes, withholding taxes, and other foreign taxes or similar impositions in connection with our ownership of foreign real property or foreign securities. The country in which the real property is located may impose such taxes regardless of whether we are profitable and in addition to any U.S. income tax or other U.S. taxes imposed on profits from our investments in such real property or securities. If a foreign country imposes income taxes on profits from our investment in foreign real property or foreign securities, you will not be eligible to claim a tax credit on your U.S. federal income tax returns to offset the income taxes paid to the foreign country, and the imposition of any foreign taxes in connection with our ownership and operation of foreign real property or our investment in securities of foreign entities will reduce the amounts distributable to you. Similarly, the imposition of withholding taxes by a foreign country will reduce the amounts distributable to you. We expect the organizational costs associated with non-U.S. investments, including costs to structure the investments so as to minimize the impact of foreign taxes, will be higher than those associated with U.S. investments. Moreover, we may be required to file income tax or other information returns in foreign jurisdictions as a result of our investments made outside of the U.S. Any organizational costs and reporting requirements will increase our administrative expenses and reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to you. You are urged to consult with your own tax advisors with respect to the impact of applicable non-U.S. taxes and tax withholding requirements on an investment in our common stock.
Our foreign investments will be subject to changes in foreign tax or other laws, as well as to changes in U.S. tax laws, and such changes could negatively impact our returns from any particular investment.
We may make investments in real estate located outside of the United States. Such investments will typically be structured to minimize non-U.S. taxes, and generally include the use of holding companies. Our ownership, operation and disposition strategy with respect to non-U.S. investments will take into account foreign tax considerations. For example, it is typically advantageous from a tax perspective in non-U.S. jurisdictions to sell interests in a holding company that owns real estate rather than the real estate itself. Buyers of such entities, however, will often discount their purchase price by evaluating any inherent risks or expected tax liability in such entity. Additionally, the pool of buyers for interests in such holding companies is typically more limited than buyers of direct interests in real estate, and we may be forced to dispose of real estate directly, thus potentially incurring higher foreign taxes and negatively affecting the return on the investment.
We will also capitalize our holding companies with debt and equity to reduce foreign income and withholding taxes as appropriate and with consultation with local counsel in each jurisdiction. Such capitalization structures are complex and potentially subject to challenge by foreign and domestic taxing authorities.
We may use certain holding structures for our non-U.S. investments to accommodate the needs of one class of investors which reduce the after-tax returns to other classes of investors. For example, if we interpose an entity treated as a corporation for United States tax purposes in our chain of ownership with respect to any particular investment, U.S. tax-exempt investors will generally benefit as such investment will no longer generate unrelated business taxable income. However, if a corporate entity is interposed in a non-U.S. investment holding structure, this would prevent individual investors from claiming a foreign tax credit for any non-U.S. income taxes incurred by the corporate entity or its subsidiaries.
Foreign investments are subject to changes in foreign tax or other laws. Any such law changes may require us to modify or abandon a particular holding structure. Such changes may also lead to higher tax rates on our foreign investments than we anticipated, regardless of structuring modifications. Additionally, U.S. tax laws with respect to foreign investments are subject to change, and such changes could negatively impact our returns from any particular investment.
The ability of our board of directors to revoke our REIT qualification without stockholder approval may subject us to U.S. federal income tax and reduce distributions to our stockholders.
Our charter provides that our board of directors may revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without the approval of our stockholders, if it determines that it is no longer in our best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT. While we intend to elect and qualify to be taxed as a REIT, we may not elect to be treated as a REIT or may terminate our REIT election if we determine that qualifying as a REIT is no longer in our best interests. If we cease to be a REIT, we would become subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income and would no longer be required to distribute most of our taxable income to our stockholders, which may have adverse consequences on our total return to our stockholders and on the market price of our common stock.
We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes.
At any time, the federal income tax laws or regulations governing REITs or the administrative interpretations of those laws or regulations may be amended. We cannot predict when or if any new federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, or any amendment to any existing federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, will be adopted, promulgated or become effective and any such law, regulation or interpretation may take effect retroactively. We and our stockholders could be adversely affected by any such change in, or any new, federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation. You are urged to consult with your tax advisor with respect to the impact of recent legislation on your investment in our shares and the status of legislative, regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on an investment in our shares. You also should note that our counsel’s tax opinion is based upon existing law, applicable as of the date of its opinion, all of which will be subject to change, either prospectively or retroactively.
Although REITs generally receive better tax treatment than entities taxed as regular corporations, it is possible that future legislation would result in a REIT having fewer tax advantages, and it could become more advantageous for a company that invests in real estate to elect to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a corporation. As a result, our charter provides our board of directors with the power, under certain circumstances, to revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election and cause us to be taxed as a regular corporation, without the vote of our stockholders. Our board of directors has fiduciary duties to us and our stockholders and could only cause such changes in our tax treatment if it determines in good faith that such changes are in the best interest of our stockholders.
Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates.
In general, the maximum tax rate for dividends payable to domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates is 20%. Dividends payable by REITs, however, are generally not eligible for this reduced rate. While this tax treatment does not adversely affect the taxation of REITs or dividends paid by REITs, the more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate dividends could cause investors who are individuals, trusts or estates to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in stock of non‑REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including our common stock.
Non-U.S. stockholders will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax and may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on distributions received from us and upon the disposition of our shares.
Subject to certain exceptions, distributions received from us will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such dividends ordinarily will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty, unless the distributions are treated as “effectively connected” with the conduct by the non-U.S. stockholder of a U.S. trade or
business. Pursuant to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, or FIRPTA, capital gain distributions attributable to sales or exchanges of “U.S. real property interests,” or USRPIs, generally will be taxed to a non-U.S. stockholder as if such gain were effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business unless FIRPTA provides an exemption. However, a capital gain dividend will not be treated as effectively connected income if (i) the distribution is received with respect to a class of stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States and (ii) the non-U.S. stockholder does not own more than 10% of the class of our stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date the distribution is received. We do not anticipate that our shares will be “regularly traded” on an established securities market for the foreseeable future, and therefore, this exception is not expected to apply.
Gain recognized by a non-U.S. stockholder upon the sale or exchange of our common stock generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless such stock constitutes a USRPI under FIRPTA or a specific FIRPTA exemption applies. Our common stock will not constitute a USRPI so long as we are a “domestically-controlled qualified investment entity.” A domestically-controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT if at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of such REIT’s stock is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. stockholders. We believe, but cannot assure you, that we will be a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity.
Even if we do not qualify as a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity at the time a non-U.S. stockholder sells or exchanges our common stock, gain arising from such a sale or exchange would not be subject to U.S. taxation under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI if: (a) our common stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, and (b) such non-U.S. stockholder owned, actually and constructively, 10% or less of our common stock at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale. However, it is not anticipated that our common stock will be “regularly traded” on an established market. We encourage you to consult your tax advisor to determine the tax consequences applicable to you if you are a non-U.S. stockholder.
Investments in other REITs and real estate partnerships could subject us to the tax risks associated with the tax status of such entities.
We may invest in the securities of other REITs and real estate partnerships. Such investments are subject to the risk that any such REIT or partnership may fail to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT or a partnership, as the case may be, in any given taxable year. In the case of a REIT, such failure would subject such entity to taxation as a corporation, may require such REIT to incur indebtedness to pay its tax liabilities, may reduce its ability to make distributions to us, and may render it ineligible to elect REIT status prior to the fifth taxable year following the year in which it fails to so qualify. In the case of a partnership, such failure could subject such partnership to an entity level tax and reduce the entity’s ability to make distributions to us. In addition, such failures could, depending on the circumstances, jeopardize our ability to qualify as a REIT.
Qualifying as a REIT involves highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Code provisions for which only limited judicial and administrative authorities exist. Even a technical or inadvertent violation could jeopardize our REIT qualification. Our continued qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, stockholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis. In addition, our ability to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT depends in part on the actions of third parties over which we have no control or only limited influence, including in cases where we own an equity interest in an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Retirement Plan Risks
If the fiduciary of an employee benefit plan subject to ERISA (such as a profit sharing, Section 401(k) or pension plan) or an owner of a retirement arrangement subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code (such as an IRA) fails to meet the fiduciary and other standards under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code as a result of an investment in our stock, the fiduciary could be subject to penalties and other sanctions.
There are special considerations that apply to employee benefit plans subject to ERISA (such as profit sharing, Section 401(k) or pension plans) and other retirement plans or accounts subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code (such as an IRA) that are investing in our shares. Fiduciaries and IRA owners investing the assets of such a plan or account in our common stock should satisfy themselves that:
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• | the investment is consistent with their fiduciary and other obligations under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code; |
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• | the investment is made in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the plan or IRA, including the plan’s or account’s investment policy; |
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• | the investment satisfies the prudence and diversification requirements of Sections 404(a)(1)(B) and 404(a)(1)(C) of ERISA and other applicable provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code; |
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• | the investment in our shares, for which no public market currently exists, is consistent with the liquidity needs of the plan or IRA; |
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• | the investment will not produce an unacceptable amount of “unrelated business taxable income” for the plan or IRA; |
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• | our stockholders will be able to comply with the requirements under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code to value the assets of the plan or IRA annually; and |
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• | the investment will not constitute a prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code. |
With respect to the annual valuation requirements described above, we will provide an estimated value for our stock annually. We can make no claim whether such estimated value will or will not satisfy the applicable annual valuation requirements under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. The Department of Labor or the Internal Revenue Service may determine that a plan fiduciary or an IRA custodian is required to take further steps to determine the value of our common stock. In the absence of an appropriate determination of value, a plan fiduciary or an IRA custodian may be subject to damages, penalties or other sanctions.
The Department of Labor has recently proposed to amend the regulation defining a fiduciary under ERISA. The proposed amendment would broaden the definition of fiduciary and make a number of changes to the prohibited transaction exemptions relating to investments by plans and IRAs. The proposed changes, if finalized, could have a significant effect on investments in our shares by plans and IRAs. Plan fiduciaries and the beneficial owners of IRAs are urged to consult with their own advisors regarding this development.
Failure to satisfy the fiduciary standards of conduct and other applicable requirements of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code may result in the imposition of civil and criminal penalties and could subject the fiduciary to claims for damages or for equitable remedies, including liability for investment losses. In addition, if an investment in our shares constitutes a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code, the fiduciary or IRA owner who authorized or directed the investment may be subject to the imposition of excise taxes with respect to the amount invested. In addition, the investment transaction must be undone. In the case of a prohibited transaction involving an IRA owner, the IRA may be disqualified as a tax-exempt account and all of the assets of the IRA may be deemed distributed and subjected to tax. ERISA plan fiduciaries and IRA owners should consult with counsel before making an investment in our common stock.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements about our business, including, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies and objectives. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue” or other similar words. You should not rely on these forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our actual results, performance and achievements may be materially different from that expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
You should carefully review the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus for a discussion of the risks and uncertainties that we believe are material to our business, operating results, prospects and financial condition. Except as otherwise required by federal securities laws, we do not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
ESTIMATED USE OF PROCEEDS
The following table sets forth information about how we intend to use the proceeds raised in our primary offering assuming that we sell the maximum of up to $1,000,000,000 in shares of our common stock. Many of the amounts set forth below represent management’s best estimate since they cannot be precisely calculated at this time. The following table assumes that (a) 15% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares and 85% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class T shares, (b) we do not further reallocate shares being offered between our primary offering and dividend reinvestment plan, and (c) based on this allocation we sell all shares at the highest possible selling commissions and dealer manager fees (with no discounts to any categories of purchasers). Raising less than the maximum offering amount, selling a different percentage of Class A and Class T shares and/or reallocating shares between the primary offering and our dividend reinvestment plan offering will alter the amounts of commissions, fees and expenses set forth below.
The “amount available for investment/net investment amount” per Class A and Class T share will be $9.01. We will use this amount to acquire real estate and real estate-related investments, to maintain a working capital reserve, to pay acquisition and origination expenses and, upon the acquisition or origination of real estate investments, to pay a fee to our advisor for its services in connection with the selection and acquisition or origination of such real estate investments. We will use the remainder of the gross proceeds from the primary offering to pay selling commissions, the dealer manager fee and the organization and other offering expenses as described in footnote 4 to the table below.
We may fund distributions from any source, including, without limitation, offering proceeds or borrowings (which may constitute a return of capital). However, our distribution policy is generally not to use proceeds of an offering to pay distributions. If we pay distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operations, we will have less funds available for the acquisition or origination of real estate investments, the overall return to our stockholders may be reduced and subsequent investors will experience dilution.
The following table presents information regarding the use of proceeds if we raise the maximum offering amount in this primary offering.
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| Maximum Primary Offering(1) |
| $150,000,000 in Class A Shares ($10.00 per share) | | $850,000,000 in Class T Shares ($9.59 per share) |
| $ | | % of Offering Proceeds | | $ | | % of Offering Proceeds |
Gross Offering Proceeds | 150,000,000 | | 15.00 |
| | | 850,000,000 | | 85.00 |
Less Offering Expenses: | | | | | | | | |
Selling Commissions(2) | 9,750,000 | | 6.50 |
| | | 25,500,000 | | 3.00 |
Dealer Manager Fee(2) | 3,598,000 | | 2.40 |
| (3) | | 17,000,000 | | 2.00 |
Organization and Other Offering Expenses(4) | 1,500,000 | | 1.00 |
| | | 8,500,000 | | 1.00 |
Amount Available for Investment/ Net Investment Amount | 135,152,000 | | 90.10 |
| | | 799,000,000 | | 94.00 |
Acquisition and Origination Fees (5) | 2,851,649 | | 1.90 |
| | | 20,193,713 | | 2.38 |
Acquisition and Origination Expenses (5) | 786,831 | | 0.53 |
| | | 4,632,294 | | 0.55 |
Initial Working Capital Reserve (6) | 375,000 | | 0.25 |
| | | 2,125,000 | | 0.25 |
Targeted Investment Capital (7) | 131,138,520 | | 87.42 |
| | | 772,048,993 | | 90.83 |
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(1) As we are registering any combination of the two classes of shares, this allocation is management’s best estimate based on the recommendation of our dealer manager and its perceived demand in the market for each respective class of shares. If the demand for the Class A and Class T shares varies materially from our assumptions as of the date of this prospectus, we will provide an updated estimated use of proceeds table to reflect a revised allocation between the Class A and Class T shares in this offering.
(2) Except as described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus, an annual stockholder servicing fee of 1.0% of the purchase price per share (ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers) for the Class T shares sold in the primary offering will be paid to our dealer manager and will accrue daily and be paid monthly in arrears. Our dealer manager will reallow all of the stockholder servicing fee paid to it. The stockholder servicing fee is an ongoing fee that is not paid at the time of purchase and is not intended to be a principal use of offering proceeds; it is therefore not included in the table above.
(3) Effective for subscriptions admitted after February 16, 2016, we reduced the dealer manager fee payable in this offering from 3% of gross offering proceeds to 2% of gross offering proceeds. Prior to the reduction in the dealer manager fee, we had raised approximately $59.8 million in gross offering proceeds. The amount of dealer manager fees shown reflects a weighted average fee assuming we paid the maximum possible amount in dealer manager fees of $1.79 million with respect to the approximately $59.8 million of Class A shares sold in the primary offering prior to the reduction in the dealer manager fee.
(4) Organization and other offering expenses include all expenses to be paid or reimbursed by us in connection with this primary offering, excluding selling commissions, the dealer manager fee and the ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T share sold in the primary offering. Organization and other offering expenses include our legal, accounting, printing, mailing and filing fees, charges of our escrow holder and transfer agent, charges of our advisor for administrative services related to the issuance of shares in this offering, reimbursement of bona fide due diligence expenses of broker-dealers, reimbursement of our advisor for costs in connection with preparing supplemental sales materials, the cost of bona fide training and education meetings held by us (primarily the travel, meal and lodging costs of registered representatives of broker-dealers), attendance and sponsorship fees payable to participating broker-dealers hosting retail seminars and travel, meal and lodging costs for registered persons associated with our dealer manager and officers and employees of our affiliates to attend retail seminars conducted by broker-dealers, legal fees of our dealer manager, and promotional items. We will not reimburse our dealer manager for wholesaling compensation expenses. Our advisor and its affiliates have agreed to reimburse us at the termination of our primary offering to the extent that organization and other offering expenses borne by us in connection with this primary offering, regardless of when incurred, exceed 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds.
(5) On February 17, 2016, we increased the acquisition and origination fees payable with respect to investments acquired or originated with proceeds raised in this offering after February 16, 2016, from 1.5% to 2.6%. The amount of acquisition and origination fees shown reflects a weighted average fee based on the 1.5% acquisition and origination fee in effect for investments made with the approximately $59.8 million in gross proceeds raised on or prior to February 16, 2016 when the acquisition and origination fee was increased. The acquisition and origination fee is a percentage of the cost of investments acquired or originated by us, or the amount to be funded by us to acquire or originate loans, including acquisition and origination expenses and any debt attributable to such investments plus significant capital expenditures related to the development, construction or improvement of the investment budgeted as of the date of acquisition.
We will incur customary acquisition and origination expenses in connection with the acquisition and/or origination (or attempted acquisition and/or origination) of our investments. We have assumed, for purposes of this table that customary acquisition and origination expenses (including expenses relating to potential investments that we do not close) will be an amount equal to 0.6% of the targeted investment capital from this primary offering, excluding fees and expenses associated with such investments. Customary acquisition and origination expenses include legal fees and expenses (including fees of in-house counsel that are not employees or affiliates of the advisor), costs of due diligence, travel and communication expenses, accounting fees and expenses and other closing costs and miscellaneous expenses relating to the acquisition or origination of real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments.
This table excludes debt proceeds. To the extent we fund our investments with debt, as we expect, the targeted investment capital and the amount of acquisition and origination fees and acquisition and origination expenses will be proportionately greater. If we raise the maximum offering amount and our assumptions with respect to the amount of fees paid remain unchanged and our debt financing and other liabilities are equal to our maximum target leverage such that our total liabilities do not exceed 60% of the cost of our tangible assets (before deducting depreciation and other non-cash reserves), then we estimate that acquisition and origination fees would be $55,070,034 and acquisition and origination expenses would be $12,954,413.
The estimate of acquisition and origination fees is based on the compensation structure under the advisory agreement in effect until February 16, 2016 and as currently in effect. Compensation to be paid to KBS Capital Advisors may be increased without the approval of our stockholders. Our charter limits our ability to make an investment if the total of all acquisition and origination fees and expenses relating to the investment exceeds 6% of the contract purchase price or 6% of the total funds advanced. This limit may only be exceeded if a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves the fees and expenses and finds the transaction to be commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to us.
This table assumes that we will not use the net proceeds from the sale of shares under our dividend reinvestment plan to invest in real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments. To the extent we use the net proceeds from the dividend reinvestment plan to invest in real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments, our advisor or its subsidiary would earn the related acquisition and origination fees and we would incur additional acquisition and origination expenses.
(6) We may incur expenses relating to our investments, such as purchasing a loan senior to ours to protect our junior position in the event of a default by the borrower on the senior loan, making protective advances to preserve collateral securing a loan, or making capital and tenant improvements or paying leasing costs and commissions related to real property. At the time we make an investment, we will establish estimates of the capital needs of such investment through the anticipated hold period of the investment. Depending on how much we raise in this offering, we expect to use between 0.25% and 1.0% of the gross proceeds from our primary offering for working capital reserves. We may also use debt proceeds, our cash flow from operations and proceeds from our dividend reinvestment plan to meet our needs for working capital and to build a moderate level of cash reserves.
(7) Until required in connection with investment in real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments, substantially all of the net proceeds of the offering and, thereafter, our working capital reserves, may be invested in short-term, highly liquid investments, including government obligations, bank certificates of deposit, short-term debt obligations and interest-bearing accounts or other authorized investments as determined by our board of directors. Targeted investment capital from the primary offering may also include anticipated capital improvement expenditures and tenant leasing costs.
We expect to use substantially all of the net proceeds from the sale of shares under our dividend reinvestment plan for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, the repurchase of shares under our share redemption program; reserves required by any financings of our investments; future funding obligations under any real estate loan receivable we acquire; the acquisition or origination of assets, which would include payment of acquisition and origination fees to our advisor; the repayment of debt; and expenses relating to our investments, such as purchasing a loan senior to ours to protect our junior position in the event of a default by the borrower on the senior loan, making protective advances to preserve collateral securing a loan, or making capital and tenant improvements or paying leasing costs and commissions related to real property.
MANAGEMENT
Board of Directors
We operate under the direction of our board of directors, the members of which are accountable to us and our stockholders as fiduciaries. The board is responsible for the management and control of our affairs. The board has retained KBS Capital Advisors to manage our day-to-day operations and our portfolio of real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments, subject to the board’s supervision. Because of the conflicts of interest created by the relationships among us, KBS Capital Advisors and various affiliates, many of the responsibilities of the board have been delegated to a committee that consists solely of independent directors. This committee is the conflicts committee and is discussed below and under “Conflicts of Interest.”
Our board of directors is comprised of five members, three of whom are independent. An “independent director” is a person who is not one of our officers or employees or an officer or employee of KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates, has not been so for the previous two years and meets the other requirements set forth in our charter. Our independent directors also meet the director independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Each director will serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor has been duly elected and qualified. The presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at any stockholder meeting constitutes a quorum. Under our charter, a majority of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present is required for the election of the directors at a meeting of stockholders called for that purpose. This means that, of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy, a director nominee needs to receive affirmative votes from a majority of such shares in order to be elected to our board of directors. Therefore, if a nominee receives fewer “for” votes than “withhold” votes in an election, then the nominee will not be elected.
Although our board of directors may increase or decrease the number of directors, a decrease may not have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director. Any director may resign at any time. Any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote on the election of directors at any meeting of stockholders called expressly for that purpose. The notice of the meeting will indicate that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to determine if the director(s) shall be removed.
Unless otherwise provided by Maryland law, our board of directors is responsible for selecting its own nominees and recommending them for election by the stockholders, provided that the conflicts committee nominates replacements for any vacancies among the independent director positions. Unless filled by a vote of the stockholders as permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, a vacancy that results from the removal of a director will be filled by a vote of a majority of the remaining directors. Any vacancy on our board of directors for any other cause will be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, even if such majority is less than a quorum.
Our directors are accountable to us and our stockholders as fiduciaries. This means that our directors must perform their duties in good faith and in a manner each director believes to be in our and our stockholders’ best interests. Further, our directors must act with such care as a prudent person in a similar position would use under similar circumstances, including exercising reasonable inquiry when taking actions. However, our directors and executive officers are not required to devote all of their time to our business and must only devote such time to our affairs as their duties may require. We do not expect that our directors will be required to devote a substantial portion of their time to us in discharging their duties.
In addition to meetings of the various committees of the board, which committees we describe below, we expect our directors to hold at least four regular board meetings each year. Our board has the authority to fix the compensation of all officers that it selects and may pay compensation to directors for services rendered to us in any other capacity although we expect our conflicts committee would act on these matters.
Our general investment and borrowing policies are set forth in this prospectus. Our directors may establish further written policies on investments and borrowings and will monitor our administrative procedures, investment operations and performance to ensure that our executive officers and advisor follow these policies and that these policies continue to be in the best interests of our stockholders. Unless modified by our directors, we will follow the policies on investments and borrowings set forth in this prospectus.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors may delegate many of its powers to one or more committees. Our charter requires that each committee consist of at least a majority of independent directors. Currently our board has two committees: the audit committee and the conflicts committee, each of which consist solely of independent directors.
Audit Committee
Our board of directors has established an audit committee that consists solely of independent directors. The audit committee assists the board in overseeing:
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• | our accounting and financial reporting processes; |
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• | the integrity and audits of our financial statements; |
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• | our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; |
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• | the qualifications and independence of our independent auditors; and |
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• | the performance of our internal and independent auditors. |
The audit committee also selects the independent public accountants to audit our annual financial statements, review with the independent public accountants the plans and results of the audit engagement and consider and approve the audit and non-audit services and fees provided by the independent public accountants.
Conflicts Committee
In order to reduce or eliminate certain potential conflicts of interest, our charter creates a conflicts committee of our board of directors consisting solely of all of our independent directors, that is, all of our directors who are not affiliated with our advisor. Our charter authorizes the conflicts committee to act on any matter permitted under Maryland law. Both the board of directors and the conflicts committee must act upon those conflict-of-interest matters that cannot be delegated to a committee under Maryland law. Our charter also empowers the conflicts committee to retain its own legal and financial advisors. See “Conflicts of Interest — Certain Conflict Resolution Measures.”
Our charter requires that the conflicts committee discharge the board’s responsibilities relating to the nomination of independent directors and the compensation of our independent directors. Subject to the limitations in our charter and with stockholder approval, the conflicts committee may also create stock-award plans.
Executive Officers and Directors
We have provided below certain information about our executive officers and directors.
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| | | | |
Name* | | Age** | | Positions |
Keith D. Hall | | 57 | | Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Peter McMillan III | | 58 | | Chairman of the Board, President and Director |
Jeffrey K. Waldvogel | | 38 | | Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary |
Stacie K. Yamane | | 51 | | Chief Accounting Officer |
Michael L. Meyer | | 77 | | Independent Director |
William M. Petak | | 54 | | Independent Director |
Laurent Degryse | | 49 | | Independent Director |
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* The address of each executive officer and director listed is 800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700, Newport Beach, California 92660.
** As of January 1, 2016.
Keith D. Hall is our Chief Executive Officer and one of our directors, positions he has held since our formation in February 2013. He is also Chief Executive Officer and a director of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, positions he has held since December 2008 and October 2008, respectively. He is also an Executive Vice President of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, and KBS Growth & Income REIT, positions he has held for these entities since June 2005, August 2007, January 2010 and January 2015, respectively. In addition, Mr. Hall is a sponsor of our company, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT, which were formed in 2013, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2008, 2009 and 2015, respectively. Mr. Hall
owns and controls a 50% interest in GKP Holding LLC. GKP Holding owns a 33 1/3% interest in KBS Holdings LLC, which is the sole owner of our advisor and our dealer manager. All four of our sponsors, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber, actively participate in the management and operations of our advisor. Mr. Hall is also a member of the investment committee formed by our advisor to evaluate and authorize new investment opportunities for us.
Mr. Hall is a co-founder of Willowbrook Capital Group, LLC, which, from August 2003 until December 2012, was an asset management company. Prior to forming Willowbrook in 2000, Mr. Hall was a Managing Director at CS First Boston, where he managed the distribution strategy and business development for the Principal Transaction Group’s $18.0 billion real estate securities portfolio. Mr. Hall’s two primary business unit responsibilities were Mezzanine Lending and Commercial Real Estate Development. Before joining CS First Boston in 1996, he served as a Director in the Real Estate Products Group at Nomura Securities, with responsibility for the company’s $6.0 billion annual pipeline of fixed-income, commercial mortgage-backed securities. During the 1980s, Mr. Hall was a Senior Vice President in the High Yield Department of Drexel Burnham Lambert’s Beverly Hills office, where he was responsible for distribution of the group’s high-yield real estate securities. Mr. Hall received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with honors in Finance from California State University, Sacramento.
Our board of directors has concluded that Mr. Hall is qualified to serve as one of our directors for reasons including his expertise in the real estate finance markets and his expertise with real estate-related investments. With over 30 years of experience investing in and managing real estate-related investments, Mr. Hall has the depth and breadth of experience to implement our business strategy. As an executive officer and principal of our advisor, Mr. Hall is able to direct our board of directors to the critical issues facing our company.
Peter McMillan III is our President, the Chairman of the Board and one of our directors, positions he has held since our formation in February 2013. He is also President, Chairman of the Board and a director of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, positions he has held since December 2008. He is also an Executive Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and a director of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III and KBS Growth & Income REIT, and an Executive Vice President of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, positions he has held for these entities since June 2005, August 2007, January 2010, January 2015 and August 2009, respectively. In addition, Mr. McMillan is a sponsor of our company, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT, which were formed in 2013, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2008, 2009 and 2015, respectively. Mr. McMillan owns and controls a 50% interest in GKP Holding LLC. GKP Holding owns a 33 1/3% interest in KBS Holdings LLC, which is the sole owner of our advisor and our dealer manager. All four of our sponsors, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber, actively participate in the management and operations of our advisor. Mr. McMillan is also a member of the investment committee formed by our advisor to evaluate and authorize new investment opportunities for us.
Mr. McMillan is a Partner and co-owner of Temescal Canyon Partners LP, an investment advisor formed in 2013 to manage a multi-strategy hedge fund on behalf of investors. Mr. McMillan is also a co-founder and the Managing Partner of Willowbrook Capital Group, LLC which, from August 2003 until December 2012, was an asset management company. Prior to forming Willowbrook in 2000, Mr. McMillan served as an Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of SunAmerica Investments, Inc., which was later acquired by AIG. As Chief Investment Officer, he was responsible for over $75.0 billion in assets, including residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, public and private investment grade and non-investment grade corporate bonds and commercial mortgage loans and real estate investments. Before joining SunAmerica in 1989, he served as Assistant Vice President for Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company with responsibility for the company’s $6.0 billion fixed income portfolios. Mr. McMillan received his Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Wharton Graduate School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and his Bachelor of Arts Degree with honors in Economics from Clark University. Mr. McMillan is a member of the Board of Trustees of Metropolitan West Funds and TCW Mutual Funds and is a former director of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.
Our board of directors has concluded that Mr. McMillan is qualified to serve as one of our directors and the Chairman of the Board for reasons including his expertise in real estate finance and with real estate-related investments. With over 30 years of experience investing in and managing real estate-related debt investments, Mr. McMillan offers insights and perspective with respect to our real estate-related investment portfolio as well as our real estate portfolio. As one of our executive officers and a principal of our advisor, Mr. McMillan is also able to direct our board of directors to the critical issues facing our company. Further, his experiences as a director of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Growth and Income REIT, TCW Mutual Funds and Metropolitan West Funds and as a former director of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. provide him with an understanding of the requirements of serving on a public company board and qualify him to serve as the chairman of our board of directors.
Michael L. Meyer is one of our independent directors and is the chair of the audit committee, positions he has held since April 2014. He is also an independent director and the chairman of the audit committee of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, positions he has held for these entities since January 2010 and October 2009, respectively. Mr. Meyer is a private real estate investor and since 1999 has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Michael L. Meyer Company. The Michael L. Meyer Company is a principal and/or manager of real estate entities and provides those entities with property acquisition, financing and management services and advice. Since June 2006, Mr. Meyer also has been a principal of TwinRock Partners, LLC (formerly known as AMG Realty Investors, LLC), a commercial and residential real estate investment company. From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Meyer was a principal in Advantage 4 LLC, a provider of telecommunications systems for real estate projects. From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Meyer was also a principal of Pacific Capital Investors, which acquired non-performing loans secured by real estate in Japan. From 1974 to 1998, Mr. Meyer was Managing Partner-Orange County and Audit Partner of the E&Y Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group of Ernst & Young LLP and its predecessor. Mr. Meyer is a director and member of the audit committee of Opus Bank, positions he has held since September 2010. Additionally, Mr. Meyer previously served as a director and member of the audit committee of City National Bank and City National Corporation, as a director and member of the audit committee of William Lyon Homes, Inc. and as a director and chair of the audit committee of Paladin Realty Income Properties, Inc.
Mr. Meyer was inducted into the California Building Industry Foundation Hall of Fame in June of 1999 for outstanding achievements in the real estate industry and community. Mr. Meyer was also the recipient of the University of California Irvine Graduate School of Management Real Estate Program Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Meyer received a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Iowa. He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive California).
Our board of directors has concluded that Mr. Meyer is qualified to serve as one of our independent directors and the chairman of our audit committee for reasons including his expertise with respect to residential and commercial real estate investments and accounting and financial reporting matters. With over 12 years of experience investing in residential and commercial real estate and providing residential and commercial real estate acquisition, financing and management services and advice, Mr. Meyer is well-positioned to advise the board with respect to potential investment opportunities and investment management. In addition, with over 35 years of experience as an independent Certified Public Accountant or auditor for real estate companies, Mr. Meyer provides our board of directors with substantial expertise regarding real estate accounting and financial reporting matters. Further, Mr. Meyer’s experience as a director and chairman of the audit committee of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, and his prior experience as a director and member of the audit committee of City National Bank and City National Corporation, as a director and member of the audit committee of William Lyon Homes, Inc. and as a director and chair of the audit committee of Paladin Realty Income Properties, Inc. provide him with an understanding of the requirements of serving on a public company board.
William M. Petak is one of our independent directors and is the chair of our conflicts committee, positions he has held since April 2014. He is also an independent director of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, a position he has held since October 2009. Since April 2009, Mr. Petak has served as the Managing Principal of CorAmerica Capital LLC, a commercial real estate loan investment manager. CorAmerica Capital was established to acquire discounted performing mortgage and real estate-related assets as well as originate new real estate investments. Mr. Petak has over 30 years of experience in the real estate industry and 20 years of experience investing in real estate-related debt investments. From January 2005 to April 2009, Mr. Petak served as Senior Vice President and Director for AIG Mortgage Capital, LLC, a subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). Mr. Petak also served as National Head of Mortgage Lending and Real Estate for the retirement services company, SunAmerica, Inc., from January 1999 to August 2001, and served as Managing Director for AIG Investments, Inc. as well as National Head of Mortgage Lending and Real Estate for both SunAmerica and the life insurance company American General from August 2001 to April 2009. Both SunAmerica and American General were acquired by AIG in 1999 and 2001, respectively, and were managed on a mutually exclusive basis. Mr. Petak joined AIG with the merger of SunAmerica with AIG in 1999. Ultimately, Mr. Petak was responsible for AIG Mortgage Capital’s regulated insurance portfolios’ fixed income real estate investments nationwide. He served on both the Securitized Products Group Committee and Global Asset Allocation Committee for the regulated insurance companies of AIG.
Prior to joining AIG in 1999, Mr. Petak was SunAmerica Investments’ Senior Vice President. Mr. Petak was responsible for SunAmerica’s national mortgage lending and real estate investments as well as its leveraged lease real estate acquisitions. From 1996 to 2007, Mr. Petak served as a Loan Committee member and as a member of the board of directors for GreenPark Financial, one of the nation’s largest Fannie Mae DUS lenders. From 1983 to 1989, he worked
with Pacific Financial Group, a privately held Beverly Hills real estate investment company, as Vice President of Acquisitions.
Mr. Petak is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Business Economics. He is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association, the CRE Financial Council, Life Mortgage and Real Estate Officer Council and the President’s Council of the Real Estate Roundtable. Mr. Petak is a founding member of the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He currently is Chairman Emeritus of the Center and previously served as its Chairman.
Our board of directors has concluded that Mr. Petak is qualified to serve as one of our independent directors for reasons including his expertise in the real estate finance markets. With over 30 years of experience in the real estate industry and 20 years of experience investing in real estate-related debt, Mr. Petak offers insights and perspective with respect to our investment portfolio. Further, as a director of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and as a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association, the CRE Financial Council, Life Mortgage and Real Estate Officer Council, the President’s Council of the Real Estate Roundtable and a founding member, current Chairman Emeritus and past Chairman of the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, Mr. Petak is regularly and actively engaged in both the professional and academic community.
Laurent Degryse is one of our independent directors, a position he has held since April 2014. Mr. Degryse has been involved in the real estate development industry for over 20 years with a focus on real estate activities in Belgium. For the past five years he has been self-employed and engaged in real estate development and venture capital activities. In 2002, Mr. Degryse founded Urbis Development, a real estate development company located in Luxemburg, and served as its Managing Director until, in 2008, it created a joint venture with another real estate company, Herpain SA, and became Herpain Urbis.
Since December 2007 he has also served as the Managing Director of Hunza Ventures and Managing Partner of Hunza Management, affiliated venture capital companies based in Luxemburg that invest in technology and life science projects. In connection with his position at Hunza Ventures, he serves as a member of the supervisory board of Hunza Ventures II SCA SICAR, a fund raised by Hunza Ventures that is investing and raising capital for venture investments; and from December 2007 through June 2012 he served as a member of the supervisory board of Hunza Ventures SCA SPF, a fund that raised and fully invested €15 million in 14 venture investments. Mr. Degryse also manages his own portfolio of investments in Europe, Asia and the United States.
In addition, Mr. Degryse has served as the chairman of the board of SoftKinetic International SA since 2008. He is currently a director of Herpain Urbis Retail (since 2008) and previously served as a director of Herpain Urbis (from 2007 - 2013) and Herpain Enterprise (from 2008 - 2013). Herbain Urbis Retail, Herpain Urbis and Herpain Enterprise are related companies with expertise in real estate development and construction for office, residential and commercial real estate in Belgium. In addition, from March 2007 through March 2012 he served as a member of the supervisory board of Urbis SCA. Mr. Degryse is a member of the board of trustees and member of the finance and the audit committee of MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Degryse is a graduate of the Solvay Business School at the University of Brussels, Belgium where he received a Master in Business Engineering.
Our board of directors has concluded that Mr. Degryse is qualified to serve as one of our independent directors for reasons including his expertise in the real estate development business. With over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, with a particular focus on investments in Belgium, Mr. Degryse offers insights and perspective with respect to our investment portfolio and our focus on European investment opportunities.
Jeffrey K. Waldvogel is our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, positions he has held since June 2015. He is also the Chief Financial Officer of our advisor, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III and KBS Growth & Income REIT, positions he has held for each of these entities since June 2015. He is also the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, positions he has held for each of these entities since June 2015. Mr. Waldvogel is a member of the investment committee formed by KBS Capital Advisors to evaluate and recommend new investment opportunities for us.
Mr. Waldvogel has been employed by an affiliate of KBS Capital Advisors since November 2010. With respect to the KBS-sponsored REITs advised by KBS Capital Advisors, he served as the Director of Finance and Reporting from July 2012 to June 2015 and as the VP Controller Technical Accounting from November 2010 to July 2012. In these roles
Mr. Waldvogel was responsible for overseeing internal and external financial reporting, valuation analysis, financial analysis, REIT compliance, debt compliance and reporting, and technical accounting.
Mr. Waldvogel was a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young LLP, where he worked from October 2002 to October 2010. In April 2002, Mr. Waldvogel received a Master of Accountancy Degree and Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Mr. Waldvogel is a Certified Public Accountant (California).
Stacie K. Yamane is our Chief Accounting Officer, a position she has held since our formation in February 2013. Ms. Yamane is also the Chief Accounting Officer, Portfolio Accounting of our advisor and Chief Accounting Officer of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT, positions she has held for these entities since October 2008, October 2008, October 2008, January 2010, August 2009, August 2009 and January 2015, respectively. From July 2007 until December 2008, Ms. Yamane served as the Chief Financial Officer of KBS REIT II and from July 2007 to October 2008, she served as Controller of KBS REIT II; from October 2004 to October 2008, she served as Fund Controller of our advisor; from June 2005 to December 2008, she served as Chief Financial Officer of KBS REIT I; and from June 2005 to October 2008 she served as Controller of KBS REIT I.
Ms. Yamane also serves as Senior Vice President/Controller, Portfolio Accounting for KBS Realty Advisors LLC, a position she has held since 2004. She served as a Vice President/Portfolio Accounting with KBS-affiliated investment advisors from 1995 to 2004. At KBS Realty Advisors, from 2004 through 2015, Ms. Yamane was responsible for client accounting/reporting for two real estate portfolios. These portfolios consisted of industrial, office and retail properties as well as land parcels. Ms. Yamane worked closely with portfolio managers, asset managers, property managers and clients to ensure the completion of timely and accurate accounting, budgeting and financial reporting. In addition, she assisted in the supervision and management of KBS Realty Advisors’ accounting department.
Prior to joining an affiliate of KBS Realty Advisors in 1995, Ms. Yamane was an audit manager at Kenneth Leventhal & Company, a CPA firm specializing in real estate. During her eight years at Kenneth Leventhal & Company, Ms. Yamane performed or supervised a variety of auditing, accounting and consulting engagements including the audit of financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, as well as financial statements presented on a cash and tax basis, the valuation of asset portfolios and the review and analysis of internal control systems. Her experiences with various KBS-affiliated entities and Kenneth Leventhal & Company give her over 27 years of real estate experience.
Ms. Yamane received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration with a dual concentration in Accounting and Management Information Systems from California State University, Fullerton. She is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive California).
Compensation of Directors
We compensate each of our independent directors with an annual retainer of $40,000. In addition, we pay independent directors for attending board and committee meetings as follows:
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• | $2,500 in cash for each board meeting attended. |
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• | $2,500 in cash for each committee meeting attended, except that the chairman of the committee is paid $3,000 for each meeting attended. |
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• | $2,000 in cash for each teleconference meeting of the board. |
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• | $2,000 in cash for each teleconference meeting of any committee, except that the chairman of the committee is paid $3,000 for each teleconference meeting of the committee. |
All directors receive reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the board of directors. If a director is also one of our officers, we do not pay any compensation for services rendered as a director.
Limited Liability and Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees and Other Agents
Our charter limits the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for monetary damages and requires us to indemnify our directors, officers, KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates for losses they may incur by reason of their service in that capacity if all of the following conditions are met:
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• | the party seeking exculpation or indemnification has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in our best interests; |
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• | the party seeking exculpation or indemnification was acting on our behalf or performing services for us; |
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• | in the case of an independent director, the liability or loss was not the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the independent director; |
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• | in the case of a non-independent director, KBS Capital Advisors or one of its affiliates, the liability or loss was not the result of negligence or misconduct by the party seeking exculpation or indemnification; and |
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• | the indemnification is recoverable only out of our net assets and not from the common stockholders. |
The SEC takes the position that indemnification against liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 is against public policy and unenforceable. Furthermore, our charter prohibits the indemnification of our directors, KBS Capital Advisors, its affiliates or any person acting as a broker-dealer for liabilities arising from or out of a violation of state or federal securities laws, unless one or more of the following conditions are met:
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• | there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations; |
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• | such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction; or |
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• | a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against the indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the SEC and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which the securities were offered as to indemnification for violations of securities laws. |
Our charter further provides that the advancement of funds to our directors and to KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates for reasonable legal expenses and other costs incurred in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding for which indemnification is being sought is permissible only if all of the following conditions are satisfied: the proceeding relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on our behalf; the legal proceeding was initiated by a third party who is not a common stockholder or, if by a common stockholder acting in his or her capacity as such, a court of competent jurisdiction approves such advancement; and the person seeking the advancement undertakes to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by us, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.
We have also purchased and maintain insurance on behalf of all of our directors and officers against liability asserted against or incurred by them in their official capacities with us, whether or not we are required or have the power to indemnify them against the same liability.
The Advisor
Our advisor is KBS Capital Advisors, an investment adviser registered with the SEC. KBS Capital Advisors is a limited liability company that was formed in the State of Delaware on October 18, 2004. As our advisor, KBS Capital Advisors has contractual and fiduciary responsibilities to us and our stockholders.
Peter M. Bren and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. indirectly own a controlling interest in and are the managers of KBS Capital Advisors. Keith D. Hall and Peter McMillan III also indirectly own an ownership interest in KBS Capital Advisors. Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber all actively participate in the management and operations of the advisor. For more information regarding the background and experience of Messrs. Hall and McMillan, see “Management - Executive Officers and Directors” and “- Other Affiliates - Our Sponsors.”
Below is a brief description of the background and experience of the key real estate and debt finance professionals, other than Messrs. de Broglie, Hall, McMillan, and Waldvogel who are the members of the investment committees formed by KBS Capital Advisors to evaluate and authorize new investment opportunities in the United States and Europe for us. In addition to Mr. de Broglie, our advisor expects to appoint two additional individuals from
STAM to its investment committee for European investments. For more information regarding the background and experience of Mr. de Broglie, see “Management - Our Advisor’s Strategic Relationship with STAM.”
Peter M. Bren, 82, is the Chairman and President of our advisor, KBS Capital Advisors, and President of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III and KBS Growth & Income REIT, positions he has held for these entities since October 2004, June 2005, August 2007, January 2010 and January 2015, respectively. Mr. Bren is President and a director of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, positions he has held since August 2009 and July 2009, respectively. In addition, Mr. Bren is a sponsor of our company, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT, which were formed in 2013, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2009, 2008 and 2015, respectively. Other than de minimis amounts owned by family members or family trusts, Mr. Bren indirectly owns and controls a 33 1/3% interest in KBS Holdings LLC, which is the sole owner of our advisor and our dealer manager. All four of our sponsors, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber, actively participate in the management and operations of our advisor.
Mr. Bren is Chairman of the Board and President of KBS Realty Advisors LLC and is a principal of Koll Bren Schreiber Realty Advisors, Inc., each an active and nationally recognized real estate investment advisor. These entities are registered as investment advisers with the SEC. The first investment advisor affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber was formed in 1992. As of December 31, 2014, KBS Realty Advisors, together with KBS affiliates, including KBS Capital Advisors, had been involved in the investment in or management of approximately $20.3 billion of real estate investments on behalf of institutional investors, including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, institutional and sovereign wealth funds, and the investors in us, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT.
Mr. Bren has been involved in real estate development, management, acquisition, disposition and financing for more than 40 years and with the acquisition, origination, management, disposition and financing of real estate-related debt investments for more than 20 years. Prior to taking his current positions as Chairman of the Board and President of KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Realty Advisors, he served as the President of The Bren Company, was a Senior Partner of Lincoln Property Company and was President of Lincoln Property Company, Europe. Mr. Bren is also a founding member of the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He is also a member of the Real Estate Roundtable in Washington, D.C.
Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., 64, is the Chief Executive Officer of our advisor, a position he has held since October 2004. He is also the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a director of KBS REIT I and KBS Growth & Income REIT, positions he has held since June 2005 and January 2015, respectively. He is also the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a director of KBS REIT II, positions he has held since August 2007, August 2007 and July 2007, respectively. He is also the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a director of KBS REIT III, positions he has held since January 2010, January 2010 and December 2009, respectively. In addition, Mr. Schreiber is a sponsor of our company, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT, which were formed in 2008, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2008, 2009 and 2015, respectively. Other than de minimis amounts owned by family members or family trusts, Mr. Schreiber indirectly owns and controls a 33 1/3% interest in KBS Holdings LLC, which is the sole owner of our advisor and our dealer manager. All four of our sponsors, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber, actively participate in the management and operations of our advisor.
Mr. Schreiber is the Chief Executive Officer of KBS Realty Advisors LLC and is a principal of Koll Bren Schreiber Realty Advisors, Inc., each an active and nationally recognized real estate investment advisor. These entities are registered as investment advisers with the SEC. The first investment advisor affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber was formed in 1992. As of December 31, 2014, KBS Realty Advisors, together with KBS affiliates, including KBS Capital Advisors, had been involved in the investment in or management of approximately $ 20.3 billion of real estate investments on behalf of institutional investors, including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, institutional and sovereign wealth funds, and the investors in us, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT.
Mr. Schreiber has been involved in real estate development, management, acquisition, disposition and financing for more than 40 years and with the acquisition, origination, management, disposition and financing of real estate-related debt investments for more than 20 years. Prior to teaming with Mr. Bren in 1992, he served as the Executive Vice President of Koll Investment Management Services and Executive Vice President of Acquisitions/Dispositions for The Koll Company. During the mid-1970s through the 1980s, he was Founder and President of Pacific Development
Company and was previously Senior Vice President/Southern California Regional Manager of Ashwill-Burke Commercial Brokerage.
Mr. Schreiber graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance with an emphasis in Real Estate. During his four years at USC, he did graduate work in the then newly-formed Real Estate Department in the USC Graduate School of Business. He is currently an Executive Board Member for the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business/School of Policy, Planning and Development. Mr. Schreiber also serves as a member of the Executive Committee for the Public Non-Listed REIT Council for the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts.
James Chiboucas, 56, is Vice Chairman and Chief Legal Officer of KBS Capital Advisors. Mr. Chiboucas has served as the Chief Legal Officer of KBS Realty Advisors since its formation and the Chief Legal Officer of the other KBS-affiliated investment advisors since 1996. He became Vice Chairman of KBS Realty Advisors in 2006. He has represented KBS-affiliated entities since the first investment advisor was formed in 1992. As Vice Chairman and Chief Legal Officer, Mr. Chiboucas is responsible for the negotiation and documentation of real estate investments across the United States, including management of local counsel in each of the jurisdictions involved with acquisitions and dispositions. He is also a member of the investment committee formed by KBS Capital Advisors to evaluate and recommend new investment opportunities for us. Mr. Chiboucas is a member of the investment committee for the limited purpose of approving potential investments from a legal and regulatory compliance standpoint. He also manages legal counsel retained to provide services for KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Realty Advisors.
Mr. Chiboucas has over 30 years of legal experience in the real estate industry, including real estate investment, finance, acquisitions, dispositions, development and management. Before joining KBS, Mr. Chiboucas was a partner of Paone, Callahan, McHolm & Winton, L.L.P. and Vice-President of Signal Landmark, a national real estate development company, where he was responsible for all of Signal Landmark’s legal real estate transactional matters across the United States. Mr. Chiboucas received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Southern California.
Geoffrey Hawkins, 52, has served as Managing Director of KBS Capital Advisors since he joined KBS Capital Advisors in 2006. As Managing Director, Mr. Hawkins oversees acquisition, asset management and disposition activities with respect to commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations. Mr. Hawkins is the regional manager for mortgage debt originations and distressed opportunities in the Midwest region of the U.S. Mr. Hawkins is also a member of the investment committee formed by KBS Capital Advisors to evaluate and authorize new investment opportunities for us and KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT. From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Hawkins was an Executive Director and Senior Portfolio Manager for Forum Partners, an international commercial real estate private equity group with $1.5 billion in assets as of 2006. At Forum, Mr. Hawkins managed real estate-related investments in the United States, Europe and Asia. He was in charge of the fixed income group, which invested in residential and commercial mortgage backed securities, asset-backed securities and whole loans for its family of funds, which included a mutual fund, an ETF, and several different opportunity funds. From 1992 to 2002, Mr. Hawkins was a Portfolio Manager at the Capital Group Companies. At Capital Group, he was in charge of managing fixed income portfolios in excess of $2 billion, with assets in the structured finance (residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset backed securities and collateralized debt obligations), REIT and specialty finance company sectors in the United States, Europe, Latin American and Asia. Mr. Hawkins managed bond portfolios for subsidiaries of the Capital Group, which included the American Funds, Capital Guardian & Trust Company, and Capital International. From 1991 to 1992, Mr. Hawkins worked for FHLMC (Freddie Mac) as a Senior Financial Analyst in the Structured Finance Group. His responsibilities included the structuring and modeling of collateralized mortgage obligations. From 1988 to 1991, Mr. Hawkins worked as an accountant and then the controller of Highland Management and Development Company, a regional commercial real estate company. Mr. Hawkins has over 24 years’ experience investing in the global commercial real estate and structured finance markets, with more than 20 years of experience specifically related to real estate-related debt investments. Mr. Hawkins holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Iowa and a MBA from DePaul University.
Brian Ragsdale, 55, has served as Executive Vice President, Head of Credit for KBS Capital Advisors since he joined KBS Capital Advisors in 2007. As Executive Vice President, Head of Credit, Brian Ragsdale oversees underwriting, origination, acquisition, asset management and disposition activities with respect to loan investments. Mr. Ragsdale is also a member of the investment committee formed by KBS Capital Advisors to evaluate and authorize new investment opportunities for us and KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Ragsdale was Vice President, Mortgage Lending and Real Estate at AIG Global Investment Corp. where he was responsible for the supervision of refinance transactions in AIG’s real estate-related loan portfolio consisting of approximately 1500 loans valued at approximately $13 billion. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Ragsdale was Senior Vice President, Client Portfolio
Management for Trammell Crow Company, where he was responsible for the development, brokerage and management of portfolios of commercial real estate consisting of approximately 26 locations and totaling more than 7.2 million square feet of office and industrial space. From 1999 to 2000, Mr. Ragsdale was Vice President, Asset and Portfolio Management for PM Realty Advisors where he oversaw a 30-asset, $450 million commercial real estate portfolio owned by a state employee retirement fund. From 1989 to 1999, Mr. Ragsdale worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. At MetLife, Mr. Ragsdale analyzed and negotiated real estate-related debt and equity investment opportunities as an Investment Analyst and then subsequently managed and supervised such investment opportunities as an Investment Manager. From 1995 to 1998, Mr. Ragsdale served as a Senior Committee member of the investment committee responsible for the review and approval of all transactions associated with MetLife’s $20 billion debt and equity real estate portfolio. Mr. Ragsdale has over 21 years’ experience identifying, supervising and managing real estate-related investment opportunities, with 12 years of experience specifically related to real estate-related debt investments. Mr. Ragsdale graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS degree and later received his MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is also the recipient of a Costa School of Real Estate Certificate, Southern Methodist University.
James Rodgers, 35, is the head of acquisitions for us and for KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT. As head of acquisitions he is responsible for originating, underwriting and structuring investments in both debt and equity, and managing the investment team. He is also a member of the European investment committee formed by KBS Capital Advisors to evaluate and authorize new investment opportunities for us in Europe. Prior to joining KBS Capital Advisors, Mr. Rodgers was an investment banker with Merrill Lynch in New York from 2004 to 2007. He began his career in the Asset Backed Securities group, where he structured and originated public securities offerings for Merrill’s large corporate clients. He later transitioned into the Global Structured Finance and Investments division, where he focused on investing the group’s $20 billion balance sheet in structured debt, including secured warehouse loans, portfolio investments, and joint venture partnerships. Mr. Rodgers holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he focused in real estate and finance. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
The Advisory Agreement
Under the terms of the advisory agreement, KBS Capital Advisors will use its best efforts to present to us investment opportunities that provide a continuing and suitable investment program for us consistent with our investment policies and objectives as adopted by our board of directors. Pursuant to the advisory agreement, KBS Capital Advisors manages our day-to-day operations, retains the loan servicers for our loan investments (subject to the authority of our board of directors and officers) and performs other duties, including, but not limited to, the following:
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• | finding, presenting and recommending investment opportunities to us consistent with our investment policies and objectives; |
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• | making investment decisions for us, subject to the limitations in our charter and the direction and oversight of our board of directors; |
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• | structuring the terms and conditions of our investments, sales and joint ventures; |
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• | acquiring investments on our behalf in compliance with our investment objectives and policies; |
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• | sourcing and structuring our loan originations; |
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• | arranging for financing and refinancing of investments; |
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• | entering into service contracts for our loans; |
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• | supervising and evaluating each loan servicer’s and property manager’s performance; |
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• | reviewing and analyzing the operating and capital budgets of properties underlying our investments and properties we may acquire; |
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• | entering into leases and service contracts for our real properties; |
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• | assisting us in obtaining insurance; |
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• | generating an annual budget for us; |
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• | reviewing and analyzing financial information for each of our assets and the overall portfolio; |
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• | formulating and overseeing the implementation of strategies for the administration, promotion, management, financing and refinancing, marketing, servicing and disposition of our investments; |
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• | performing investor-relations services; |
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• | maintaining our accounting and other records and assisting us in filing all reports required to be filed with the SEC, the Internal Revenue Service and other regulatory agencies; |
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• | engaging and supervising the performance of our agents, including our registrar and transfer agent; and |
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• | performing any other services reasonably requested by us. |
See “Management Compensation” for a detailed discussion of the fees payable to KBS Capital Advisors under the advisory agreement. Compensation to be paid to KBS Capital Advisors may be increased without the approval of our stockholders. We also describe in that section our obligation to reimburse KBS Capital Advisors for commercially reasonable organization and offering expenses, the costs of providing services to us (other than for the employee costs in connection with services for which it earns acquisition and origination fees or disposition fees, though we may reimburse the advisor for travel and communication expenses) and payments made by KBS Capital Advisors for amounts it pays in connection with the selection, acquisition or origination of an investment, whether or not we ultimately acquire or originate the investment.
It is the duty of our board of directors to evaluate the performance of our advisor before renewing the advisory agreement. The criteria used in such evaluation will be reflected in the minutes of the meeting at which the performance and criteria are discussed. Our board of directors will determine that any successor entity possesses sufficient qualifications to perform the advisory functions and that the compensation provided for in the advisory agreement is justified.
The advisory agreement has a one-year term but may be renewed for an unlimited number of successive one year periods upon the mutual consent of KBS Capital Advisors and us. Additionally, either party may terminate the advisory agreement without cause or penalty upon 60 days’ written notice and, in such event, KBS Capital Advisors must cooperate with us and our directors in making an orderly transition of the advisory function. Upon termination of the advisory agreement, KBS Capital Advisors may be entitled to a termination fee if (based upon an independent appraised value of the portfolio) KBS Capital Advisors would have been entitled to a subordinated participation in net cash flows had the portfolio been liquidated on the termination date. The termination fee would be payable in the form of an interest-bearing promissory note that becomes due only upon the sale of one or more assets or upon maturity or payoff of our debt investments. The fee is payable solely from the proceeds from the sale, maturity or payoff of an asset and future asset sales, maturities or payoffs, and all of such proceeds must be used to repay the promissory note until it is fully repaid. The amount of the termination fee would be 15% of the amount by which (i) the hypothetical liquidation proceeds exceed (ii) the amount necessary to provide investors with a return of their net capital contributions and a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return through the termination date; however, the agreement does not require that the investors actually have received such return prior to issuance of the promissory note or payments under it. The amount due under the promissory note would not be adjusted upwards or downwards to reflect any difference in the appraised value of our portfolio at termination and the amount ultimately realized by us. For more information regarding the terms of the advisory agreement, see “Management Compensation.”
KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates engage in other business ventures, and, as a result, they do not dedicate their resources exclusively to our business. However, pursuant to the advisory agreement, KBS Capital Advisors must devote sufficient resources to our business to discharge its obligations to us. KBS Capital Advisors may assign the advisory agreement to an affiliate upon our approval. We may assign or transfer the advisory agreement to a successor entity.
Our Strategic Relationship with STAM
We have formed a strategic relationship with STAM, a commercial real estate investment and asset management firm headquartered in Paris, France to support us and our advisor in connection with any investments we make in Europe. Our advisor has entered a sub-advisory agreement with STAM, pursuant to which STAM will provide real estate acquisition and portfolio management services to our advisor in connection with any investments we make in Europe. For investments in Europe we make directly and our ownership interest is 100%, our advisor will compensate STAM for its services in sourcing and managing these investments from the fees it earns from us under the advisory agreement with us and we will pay STAM no additional compensation. We, along with our advisor, expect to enter a letter agreement with STAM that sets forth general compensation terms with respect to investments we make through STAM, other than through our direct investment in value-added real estate and distressed debt in Europe (which are governed by the sub-advisory agreement between STAM and our advisor). We can give no assurances as to the number, if any, of investments we may make in Europe.
STAM is a European real estate investment and fund manager created in 1997 to provide asset management of opportunistic and value-added investments in France for north-American investors. Over the years, its business practice has extended into investment management for a wider range of opportunistic investors, as well as into asset management for core real estate investments. Its real estate experience extends to all asset classes, including office, light industrial, warehouse, logistics, retail, and residential.
In 2005, STAM initiated its fund set-up and management activities and it currently manages two discretionary funds, STAM REI I and STAM REI III, with a combined investment capacity of €1 billion. STAM REI I is a core plus investment fund that was raised between April 2005 and May 2006 from 16 French institutional investors. Its €350 million investment capacity is fully invested, mainly in office buildings in the Paris and Brussels region. STAM REI III is a value-added investment fund that has been entirely raised with 14 investors (British, Irish and Dutch pension funds). It has an investment capacity of over €700 million and focuses on corporate real estate across France. With respect to the allocation of investment opportunities between us and STAM and its affiliates, the sub-advisory agreement between our advisor and STAM provides that any investment opportunity consistent with our investment objectives be presented first to our advisor for its consideration. Only those opportunities which are not presented to or approved by our board of directors or are inconsistent with our investment objectives may be presented to and acquired by STAM and its affiliates.
STAM operates in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Belgium, with local offices in each of these countries. STAM has significant experience with investments in distressed debt and value-added and opportunistic investments and has implemented a wide range of value creating strategies: lease-up, rent-up, refurbishment or renovation, ground up development, re-development of existing assets, change of use, condominium conversion, and sale and lease back structuring. STAM has in-depth knowledge of and maintains close relations with the main European banking network. In addition, STAM has a significant European asset management platform with a track record in active debt asset management as well as defaulted debt transactions. Unique relative to most of the European banking community, STAM has the benefit of being able to take control of and add value to the underlying real estate in the event of borrower default. This makes STAM an attractive partner to banks, as they are able to outsource the responsibility for asset management to STAM in the event of failure.
Amongst STAM’s clients are Allianz Immobilien GMBH, British Telecom Pension Fund, Caisse d’Epargne, Carval Investors, Cerberus Real Estate Capital Management, CNP, Crédit Agricole, Crédit Suisse, DEGI, Fortis, Groupama, Hermes, MN Services, Royal Mail Pension Fund, Stichting Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds Voor de Metalelektro, Westbrook Partners. Please note that none of the investors named above have endorsed this offering. By including their names, we do not suggest that any of these investors approved of the services provided by STAM. We included their names only for purposes of your evaluation of the experience and reputation of our advisor’s sub-advisor and their team of real estate and debt finance professionals.
The background and experience of the key personnel at STAM who provide management services to our advisor is summarized below:
Antoine de Broglie, 63, is founder, shareholder and chairman of the management board of STAM. Prior to creating STAM, Mr. de Broglie launched Transinvest in 1992, as one of the first specialized real estate investment banking firms in France. In addition, Mr. de Broglie was Chairman of the French ULI Council from 2004 to 2007.
Bruno Cosse, 52, has served as Chief Financial Officer of STAM since 2002. Prior to joining STAM, Mr. Cosse, was Financial Manager of Thomson CSF Finance, a subsidiary of Thale`s (ex Thomson). As Financial Manager, Mr. Cosse was primarily responsible for back office, financial control and accounting. In 1994, Mr. Cosse joined the
CDR, the largest real estate defeasance organized in France (Crédit Lyonnais), where he was in charge of the financial control department and was a financial adviser in the asset disposition process. Mr. Cosse holds a diploma from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and a MBA from New York University.
Edward Bates is Managing Director of STAM. Prior to joining STAM, Mr. Bates was a Senior Principal and Co-Head of Real Estate at Doughty Hanson & Co. where he was a member of the Investment Committee for both Fund I and II and was involved in fundraising, acquisitions, asset management and dispositions across Europe. He has in-depth experience in the European real estate markets, including residential, office, retail, industrial, logistics and hotel. He has been involved in developing and investing in more than 40 transactions totaling approximately €3 billion. Prior to Doughty Hanson, Mr. Bates spent almost 10 years at Orion Capital Managers and served as an Investment Director. Mr. Bates has 20 years of real estate investment experience in Europe and the USA. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute and a United Kingdom Financial Services Authority approved person.
The agreement with STAM may be terminated by our advisor in the event of (i) any breach by STAM of one of its material obligations under the sub-advisory agreement not cured within 30 days of written notice, (ii) a bankruptcy or commencement of a bankruptcy or similar insolvency proceedings, (iii) a change in control of STAM, (iv) any adverse change in the financial health of STAM which would result in STAM’s inability to comply with its material obligations under the sub-advisory agreement, or (v) the termination or non-renewal of our advisor by us. These agreements may be terminated by STAM in the event of (i) a breach by our advisor or us of one of our material obligations under the sub-advisory or advisory agreement, as applicable, not cured within 30 days of written notice, (ii) any action or inaction by our advisor or us that causes a material adverse change to STAM in the terms of the sub-advisory agreement, (iii) a bankruptcy or commencement of a bankruptcy or similar insolvency proceedings, related to our advisor or us, (iv) our advisor’s unreasonable refusal three times in a row to approve investments proposed by STAM, provided, we have funds available for investment, (v) a change in control in our advisor, or (vi) any adverse change in the financial health of our advisor which would result in our advisor’s inability to comply with its material obligations under the sub-advisory agreement. Our advisor will retain ultimate responsibility for the performance of all matters entrusted to it under the advisory agreement.
Initial Investment by Our Advisor
Our sponsors, through their ownership interest in KBS Capital Advisors, have invested $200,000 in us through the purchase of 21,739 shares of our Class A common stock at $9.20 per share. KBS Capital Advisors is the owner of these 21,739 shares. KBS Capital Advisors may not sell any of these shares during the period it serves as our advisor. Although nothing prohibits KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates from acquiring additional shares of our common stock, KBS Capital Advisors currently has no options or warrants to acquire any shares. KBS Capital Advisors has agreed to abstain from voting any shares it acquires in any vote for the election of directors or any vote regarding the approval or termination of any contract with KBS Capital Advisors or any of its affiliates. KBS Capital Advisors is indirectly owned and controlled by Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., who are our sponsors.
In the event the advisory agreement is terminated, the shares owned by KBS Capital Advisors would not be automatically redeemed. KBS Capital Advisors would, however, be able to participate in the share redemption program, subject to all of the restrictions of the share redemption program applicable to all other common stockholders.
Other Affiliates
Our Sponsors
Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. control and indirectly own our advisor and the dealer manager of this offering. We refer to these individuals as our sponsors. All four of our sponsors actively participate in the management and operations of our advisor, and our advisor has three managers: an entity owned and controlled by Mr. Bren; an entity owned and controlled by Messrs. Hall and McMillan; and an entity owned and controlled by Mr. Schreiber.
In 2004, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber founded KBS Capital Advisors, our advisor. Our sponsors work together at KBS Capital Advisors with their team of real estate and debt finance professionals. These senior real estate and debt finance professionals have been through multiple financial cycles in their careers and have the expertise gained through hands-on experience in acquisitions, originations, loan workouts, asset management, dispositions, development, leasing and property and portfolio management. Together with our four sponsors, Jeffrey Waldvogel, Geoffrey Hawkins, Brian Ragsdale and Jim Chiboucas comprise the investment committee of KBS Capital Advisors that is responsible for our investment decisions related to our investments in the United States. Our advisor has established a separate investment committee to consider our investments in Europe. Our advisor’s European investment
committee is comprised of Peter McMillan, Keith Hall, Jeffrey Waldvogel, Brian Ragsdale, James Rodgers, Geoffrey Hawkins, Jim Chiboucas, and Antoine de Broglie, as well as two additional individuals to be named by STAM. Mr. Chiboucas is a member of the investment committees for the limited purpose of approving potential investments from a legal and regulatory compliance standpoint. Subject to any limitations in our charter and the oversight of our board of directors, the investment committees of KBS Capital Advisors evaluate and approve our investments and financings.
The business strategy of our sponsors is threefold: first, identify attractive investment opportunities that meet the investment objectives of their clients; second, aggressively manage each asset acquired; third, execute a well-defined exit strategy for each investment made.
We believe the experience and disciplined investment approach of our sponsors and the team of real estate and debt finance professionals they have assembled will allow us to successfully execute our business model. On January 27, 2006, our sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS REIT I. KBS REIT I accepted gross offering proceeds of approximately $1.7 billion in its primary initial public offering and accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of $233.7 million from shares issued pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS REIT I ceased offering shares in its primary initial public offering on May 30, 2008 and terminated its dividend reinvestment plan effective April 10, 2012. As of December 31, 2014, KBS REIT I had used $85.4 million to fund share redemptions pursuant to its share redemption program. On April 22, 2008, our sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS REIT II. KBS REIT II accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of approximately $1.8 billion in its primary initial public offering and accepted $298.2 million from shares issued pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS REIT II ceased offering shares in its primary initial public offering on December 31, 2010 and terminated its dividend reinvestment plan effective May 29, 2014. As of December 31, 2014, KBS REIT II had used $229.5 million to fund share redemptions pursuant to its share redemption program. On November 20, 2009, our sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of approximately $561.7 million in its primary initial public offering and, as of December 31, 2014, had accepted $39.2 million from shares issued pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT ceased offering shares in its primary initial public offering on November 14, 2012. As of December 31, 2014, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT had used $8.3 million to fund share redemptions pursuant to its share redemption program. On March 12, 2010, together with Legacy Partners Residential Realty LLC and certain of its affiliates, our sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT ceased offering shares of common stock in its primary initial public offering on March 12, 2013. On March 13, 2013, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT commenced a follow-on public offering. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT ceased offering shares of common stock in its follow-on public offering, effective as of March 31, 2014. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of approximately $204.4 million in its primary public offerings and, as of December 31, 2014, had accepted $12.9 million from shares issued pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. As of December 31, 2014, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT had used $4.2 million to fund share redemptions pursuant to its share redemption program. On October 26, 2010, our four sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc., which we refer to as KBS REIT III. As of December 31, 2014, KBS REIT III had accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of $1.2 billion, including $47.7 million from shares sold pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. As of December 31, 2014, KBS REIT III had used $7.2 million to fund share redemptions pursuant to its share redemption program. KBS REIT III ceased offering shares in its primary initial public offering on May 29, 2015.
Our advisor, KBS Capital Advisors, is the external advisor of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, and KBS Growth & Income REIT. Some or all of our sponsors are directors and/or executive officers of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, and KBS Growth & Income REIT. Through their affiliations with us, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Capital Advisors, as of December 31, 2014, our sponsors had overseen the investment in and management of approximately $11.9 billion of real estate and real estate-related investments on behalf of the investors in us, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT.
Since 1992, Messrs. Bren and Schreiber have teamed to invest in, manage, develop and sell high-quality U.S. commercial real estate and real estate-related investments on behalf of institutional investors. Together, they founded KBS Realty Advisors LLC, a registered investment adviser with the SEC and a nationally recognized real estate investment advisor. When we refer to a “KBS-sponsored program,” we are referring to the private entities sponsored by an investment advisor affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber and to the non-traded REITs, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT
II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Growth & Income REIT and our company, that are currently being sponsored by Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber. As noted above, our sponsors are sponsoring KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT together with Legacy Partners Residential Realty LLC and certain of its affiliates. When we refer to a “KBS-advised investor,” we are referring to institutional investors that have engaged an investment advisor affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber to provide real estate investment advice. These investment advisors are also affiliated with our advisor.
Messrs. Bren and Schreiber each has been involved in real estate development, management, acquisition, disposition and financing for more than 40 years. Over that time, Messrs. Bren and Schreiber have developed extensive experience investing in and managing a broad range of real estate asset classes. Since 1992, the experience of the investment advisors affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber includes (as of December 31, 2014) sponsoring 14 private real estate programs that had invested over $4.2 billion (including equity, debt and investment of income and sales proceeds) in 301 real estate assets. In addition to their experience with these 14 private KBS-sponsored programs, investment advisors affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber have also been engaged by four other KBS-advised investors to recommend real estate acquisitions and manage some of their investments. The investment proceeds of these KBS-advised investors were not commingled. The investments made on behalf of these four KBS-advised investors were made pursuant to management agreements or partnership agreements that permitted the KBS-advised investors to reject acquisitions recommended by the KBS-affiliated investment advisor. Because the KBS-advised investors were not as passive as those in the 14 private KBS-sponsored programs described above or as those who invest in this offering, we have not described the real estate assets acquired or managed for these four KBS-advised investors. The amounts paid for the assets acquired and/or managed and for subsequent capital expenditures for these four KBS-advised investors totaled over $4.1 billion.
Each of Messrs. Hall and McMillan has over 20 years of experience in real estate-related investments. Mr. McMillan is a Partner and co-owner of Temescal Canyon Partners LP, an investment advisor formed in 2013 to manage a multi-strategy hedge fund on behalf of investors. Mr. McMillan is also a co-founder and the Managing Partner of Willowbrook Capital Group, LLC which, from August 2003 until December 2012, was an asset management company. Before forming Willowbrook with Mr. Hall, Mr. McMillan served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of SunAmerica Investments, Inc., which was later acquired by AIG. As Chief Investment Officer, he was responsible for over $75 billion in assets, including residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, public and private investment grade and non-investment grade corporate bonds and commercial mortgage loans and real estate investments.
Prior to forming Willowbrook, Mr. Hall was a Managing Director at CS First Boston, where he managed the distribution strategy and business development for the Principal Transaction Group’s $18 billion real estate securities portfolio. Before joining CS First Boston in 1996, he served as a Director in the Real Estate Products Group at Nomura Securities, with responsibility for the company’s $6 billion annual pipeline of fixed-income commercial mortgage-backed securities. During the 1980s, Mr. Hall was a Senior Vice President in the High Yield Department of Drexel Burnham Lambert’s Beverly Hills office, where he was responsible for distribution of the group’s high-yield real estate securities.
Dealer Manager
We have retained KBS Capital Markets Group LLC, an affiliate of our advisor, to conduct this offering. KBS Capital Markets Group provides wholesaling, sales, promotional and marketing assistance services to us in connection with the distribution of the shares offered pursuant to this prospectus. It may also sell shares at the retail level. The principal business of KBS Capital Markets Group will be participating in and facilitating the distribution of securities of KBS-sponsored programs. KBS Capital Markets Group also serves as dealer manager for KBS Growth & Income REIT’s private placement offering and expects to serve as dealer manager for KBS Growth & Income REIT’s proposed initial public offering. KBS Capital Markets Group also currently serves as dealer manager for KBS REIT III’s, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s dividend reinvestment plan offerings. Previously it served as dealer manager for KBS REIT I’s, KBS REIT II’s, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s and KBS REIT III’s initial public offerings and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s follow-on public offering as well as KBS REIT I’s and KBS REIT II’s dividend reinvestment plan offerings. In addition, from time to time, KBS Capital Markets Group serves as the dealer manager for private KBS-sponsored programs.
Our sponsors, Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., indirectly own a controlling interest in KBS Capital Markets Group.
Below is a brief description of the background and experience of the Chief Executive Officer of KBS Capital Markets Group:
Mick Manning was appointed Chief Executive Officer of KBS Capital Markets Group effective May 8, 2015. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Manning is responsible for overall firm strategy of KBS Capital Markets Group and provides strategic and tactical guidance to the organization, with particular focus on product development, distribution, sales management, business planning and oversight of the firm's wholesaling operations and activities. Mr. Manning joined KBS Capital Markets Group in January 2006 as one of its original wholesalers and was promoted to national sales manager in June 2009. In January 2015, Mr. Manning was appointed President of KBS Capital Markets Group. Mr. Manning has more than 28 years of experience in the financial services industry, with a diverse background in retail sales and operations, wholesaling and team building. His experience comes from previous leadership roles with MFS/Sun Life, MassMutual, Metlife and Northwestern Mutual Life. Mr. Manning graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder and holds a Chartered Life Underwriter designation from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
Management Decisions
The primary responsibility for the management decisions of our advisor and its affiliates resides with Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. and the primary responsibility for the selection of investments, the negotiation for these investments and asset-management decisions will reside in the investment committees of our advisor. KBS Capital Advisors also has the authority to make all of the decisions regarding our investments, subject to any limitations in our charter and the direction and oversight of our board of directors.
MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION
Although we have executive officers who manage our operations, we have no paid employees. Our advisor and the real estate and debt finance professionals at our advisor manage our day‑to‑day affairs and our portfolio of real estate investments, subject to our board of directors’ supervision. The following table summarizes all of the compensation and fees that we pay to our advisor and its affiliates, including amounts to reimburse their costs in providing services, and amounts that we will pay to our independent directors. Compensation to be paid to KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Capital Markets Group may be increased without the approval of our stockholders.
The amount of selling commissions differs among Class A shares and Class T shares, and there is an ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering. Both classes of shares have discounts available to certain categories of purchasers. This table assumes that (a) 15% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares and 85% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class T shares, (b) we do not further reallocate shares being offered between our primary offering and dividend reinvestment plan, (c) based on this allocation we sell all shares at the highest possible selling commissions and dealer manager fees (with no discounts to any categories of purchasers), and (d) solely with respect to the estimated stockholder servicing fee, 4% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares through distribution channels that do not pay selling commissions of 6.5%. As we are registering any combination of the two classes of shares, our allocation between the Class A shares and the Class T shares is management’s best estimate based on the recommendation of our dealer manager and its perceived demand in the market for each respective class of shares. If the demand for the Class A and Class T shares varies materially from our assumptions as of the date of this prospectus, we will provide an updated management compensation table to reflect a revised allocation between the Class A and Class T shares in this offering. No selling commissions or dealer manager fees are payable on shares through our dividend reinvestment plan. In addition, no stockholder servicing fee will be paid with respect to Class T shares purchased through the dividend reinvestment plan or issued pursuant to a stock dividend; however, the stockholder servicing fee payable with respect to Class T shares purchased in the primary offering will be allocated to all the Class T shares as a class expense. The stockholder servicing fee therefore will impact the distributions payable on all Class T shares and may impact the NAV of all Class T shares if the amount of the stockholder servicing fee payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceeds amounts available for distribution to holders of Class A shares.
Effective February 17, 2016, in connection with adding a Class T share to our offering, we amended and restated our advisory and dealer manager agreements to revise certain fees payable to our advisor and dealer manager and to limit the organization and other offering expenses that we are obligated to pay in connection with this offering. Specifically, the acquisition fee that is payable to our advisor increased from 1.5% to 2.6%. Our acquisition fee reflects the increased level of due diligence required to evaluate and acquire the types of opportunistic investments that we intend to acquire as part of our investment strategy, and as a result, the fee is at the higher end of the prevailing acquisition fee range for non-traded REITs.
The descriptions of the fees and expenses presented in the table below reflect the terms of our advisory and dealer manager agreements in effect as of the date of this prospectus. Our estimates of the compensation and fees that we pay to our advisor and the dealer manager are based on a weighted average (determined from the primary offering proceeds raised on or prior to February 16, 2016) of the fees in effect prior the amendment and restatement of our advisory and dealer manager agreements and the terms of these agreements as currently in effect. The limit adopted with respect to our obligation to pay organization and other offering expenses in connection with this primary offering will apply to all organization and other offering expenses incurred, regardless of when incurred. For a description of how these estimates were calculated, please see our estimated use of proceeds table.
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Form of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering $1,000,000 in Shares (1) |
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| | Organization and Offering Stage | |
Selling Commissions(2) | KBS Capital Markets Group | Up to 6.5% of the price per share of Class A common stock sold and up to 3.0% of the price per share of Class T common stock sold; no selling commissions are payable on shares of common stock sold under our dividend reinvestment plan; all selling commissions are reallowed to participating broker dealers. | $35,250,000 |
Dealer Manager Fee (2) | KBS Capital Markets Group | Up to 2.0% of the price per share of Class A and Class T common stock sold. Our dealer manager may generally reallow to any participating broker dealer up to 1.0% of the gross primary offering proceeds attributable to that participating broker dealer as a marketing fee; in select cases up to 1.5% of the gross primary offering proceeds may be reallowed; this reallow will be based upon such factors as the projected sales volume by such participating broker-dealer, access to conferences and meetings and the general level of assistance of such participating broker-dealer in marketing this offering; no dealer manager fee is payable on shares of common stock sold under our dividend reinvestment plan. | $20,598,000 |
Organization and Offering Expenses (3)
| KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Capital Markets Group | We reimburse our advisor and dealer manager for commercially reasonable organization and other offering expenses they incur on our behalf in connection with this offering; however, no reimbursements made by us to our advisor or our dealer manager may cause total organization and offering expenses incurred by us (including selling commissions, dealer manager fees, the stockholder servicing fee and all other items of organization and offering expenses) to exceed 15% of the aggregate gross proceeds from this primary offering and the offering under our dividend reinvestment plan as of the date of reimbursement. We also pay organization and other offering expenses directly. At the termination of our primary offering, our advisor and its affiliates will reimburse us to the extent that the organization and other offering expenses paid directly or reimbursed by us in connection with this primary offering, regardless of when incurred, exceed 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds. Our advisor and its affiliates will be responsible for any organization and other offering expenses related to the primary offering to the extent they exceed 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds as of the termination of the primary offering. Prior to the termination of the primary offering, at which time the advisor will reimburse us as described above, we will be responsible for the payment of all organization and other offering expenses we incur directly and the reimbursement of organization and other offering expenses our advisor and dealer manager incur on our behalf in connection with this offering subject to the 15% limit on reimbursements discussed above. Organization and other offering expenses include all expenses to be paid or reimbursed by us in connection with this offering, excluding selling commissions, the dealer manager fee and the ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T shares sold in the | $10,000,000 |
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Form of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering $1,000,000 in Shares (1) |
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| | primary offering. Organization and other offering expenses include our legal, accounting, printing, mailing and filing fees, charges of our escrow holder and transfer agent, charges of our advisor for administrative services related to the issuance of shares in this offering, reimbursement of bona fide due diligence expenses of broker-dealers, reimbursement of our advisor for costs in connection with preparing supplemental sales materials, the cost of bona fide training and education meetings held by us (primarily the travel, meal and lodging costs of registered representatives of broker-dealers), attendance and sponsorship fees payable to participating broker-dealers hosting retail seminars and travel, meal and lodging costs for registered persons associated with our dealer manager and officers and employees of our affiliates to attend retail seminars conducted by broker-dealers, legal fees of our dealer manager, and promotional items. We will not reimburse our dealer manager for wholesaling compensation expenses. | |
| | Acquisition and Development Stage | |
Acquisition and Origination Fees(4)(5) | KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Capital Markets Group
| 2.6% of the cost of investments acquired or originated by us, or the amount to be funded by us to acquire or originate loans, including acquisition and origination expenses and any debt attributable to such investments plus significant capital expenditures related to the development, construction or improvement of the investment budgeted as of the date of acquisition. Under our charter, a majority of the independent directors would have to approve any increase in the acquisition and origination fee payable to our advisor. Acquisition fees that are calculated based on capital expenditures budgeted as of the date of acquisition shall be paid at the time funds are disbursed pursuant to a final approved budget upon receipt of an invoice by us. Our charter limits our ability to make an investment if the total of all acquisition and origination fees and expenses relating to the investment exceeds 6% of the contract purchase price or 6% of the total funds advanced. This limit may only be exceeded if a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves the fees and expenses and finds the transaction to be commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to us. | $23,045,362 (maximum offering and no debt)/ $55,070,034 (maximum offering and leverage such that our total liabilities do not exceed 60% of the cost of our tangible assets, which is our target leverage). |
Acquisition and Origination Expenses
| KBS Capital Advisors | Reimbursement of customary acquisition and origination expenses (including expenses relating to potential investments that we do not close), such as legal fees and expenses (including fees of independent contractor in-house counsel that are not employees of the advisor), costs of due diligence (including, as necessary, updated appraisals, surveys and environmental site assessments), travel and communication expenses, accounting fees and expenses and other closing costs and miscellaneous expenses relating to the acquisition or origination of | $5,419,125 (maximum offering and no debt)/$12,954,413 (maximum offering and leverage such that our total liabilities do not exceed 60% of the cost of our tangible |
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Form of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering $1,000,000 in Shares (1) |
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| | real estate properties and real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments. We estimate that these expenses will average approximately 0.6% of the purchase prices of our investments, excluding fees and expenses associated with such investments. | |
| | Operational Stage | |
Stockholder Servicing Fee | KBS Capital Markets Group | An annual fee of 1% of the purchase price per share of Class T common stock sold in the primary offering for services rendered to Class T stockholders by the broker dealer of record after the initial sale of the Class T share. For a description of the services required from the broker dealer of record, see the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus. Except as described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus, the stockholder servicing fee will accrue daily and be paid monthly in arrears and our dealer manager will reallow all of the stockholder servicing fee to such broker dealer of record. The stockholder servicing fee with respect to a Class T share will cease accruing upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the date at which aggregate underwriting compensation from all sources equals 10% of the gross proceeds from the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold, as calculated by us with the assistance of the dealer manager after the termination of the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold, (ii) with respect to a particular Class T share, on the fourth anniversary of the issuance of the share, (iii) a listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange, (iv) a merger or other extraordinary transaction, and (v) the date the Class T share associated with the stockholder servicing fee is no longer outstanding such as upon its redemption or our dissolution. Underwriting compensation includes selling commissions, dealer manager fees, and stockholder servicing fees being paid in connection with an offering as well as other items of value paid in connection with an offering, including amounts not paid directly or reimbursed by us, that are viewed by FINRA as underwriting compensation. No stockholder servicing fee is payable on shares of Class T common stock sold under our dividend reinvestment plan or issued as a stock dividend. | $34,000,000 |
Asset Management Fees (4)(6)
| KBS Capital Advisors | A monthly fee equal to the lesser of one-twelfth of (i) 1.0% of the cost of our investments and (ii) 2.0% of the sum of the cost of our investments, less any debt secured by or attributable to the investments. The cost of our real property investments will be calculated as the amount paid or allocated to acquire the real property, including the cost of any subsequent development, construction or improvements to the property and including fees and expenses related thereto (but excluding acquisition fees paid or payable to our advisor). The cost of our loans and any | Actual amounts are dependent upon the total equity and debt capital we raise, the cost of our investments and the results of our operations; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time.
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Form of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering $1,000,000 in Shares (1) |
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| | investments other than real property will be calculated as the lesser of (x) the amount actually paid or allocated to acquire or fund the loan or other investment, including fees and expenses related thereto (but excluding acquisition fees paid or payable to our advisor), and (y) the outstanding principal amount of such loan or other investment, including fees and expenses related to the acquisition or funding of such investment (but excluding acquisition fees paid or payable to our advisor), as of the time of calculation. In the case of investments made through joint ventures, the asset management fee will be determined based on our proportionate share of the underlying investment. | |
Other Operating Expenses (6) | KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Capital Markets Group | We reimburse the expenses incurred by our advisor in connection with its provision of services to us, including our allocable share of the advisor’s overhead, such as rent, employee costs, utilities and IT costs. Our advisor may seek reimbursement for employee costs under the advisory agreement. At this time we only expect to reimburse our advisor for our allocable portion of the salaries, benefits and overhead of internal audit department personnel providing services to us; however, in the future, our advisor may seek reimbursement for additional employee costs. If our advisor were to seek reimbursement for additional employee costs, such costs may include our proportionate share of the salaries of persons involved in the preparation of documents to meet SEC reporting requirements. We do not reimburse our advisor or its affiliates for employee costs in connection with services for which our advisor earns acquisition, origination or disposition fees (other than reimbursement of travel and communication expenses) or for the salaries and benefits our advisor or its affiliates may pay to our executive officers. We reimburse our dealer manager for certain fees and expenses it incurs for administering our participation in the DTCC Alternative Investment Product Platform, or the AIP Platform, with respect to certain accounts of our investors serviced through the AIP Platform. Additionally, we, together with KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Growth & Income REIT, KBS Capital Markets Group, KBS Capital Advisors and other KBS-affiliated entities, have entered into an errors and omissions and directors and officers liability insurance program where the lower tiers of coverage are shared. The cost of these lower tiers is allocated by our advisor and its insurance broker among each of the various entities covered by the program, and is billed directly to each entity. The allocation of these shared coverage costs is proportionate to the pricing by the insurance marketplace for the first tiers of directors and officers liability coverage purchased individually by each REIT. Our advisor’s and our | Actual amounts are dependent upon the total equity and debt capital we raise, the cost of our investments and the results of our operations; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time.
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Form of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering $1,000,000 in Shares (1) |
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| | dealer manager’s portion of the shared lower tiers’ cost is proportionate to the respective entities’ prior cost for the errors and omissions insurance. | |
Independent Director Compensation | Independent Directors | We pay each of our independent directors an annual retainer of $40,000. We also pay our independent directors for attending meetings as follows: (i) $2,500 for each board meeting attended, (ii) $2,500 for each committee meeting attended (except that the committee chairman is paid $3,000 for each meeting attended), (iii) $2,000 for each teleconference board meeting attended, and (iv) $2,000 for each teleconference committee meeting attended (except that the committee chairman is paid $3,000 for each teleconference committee meeting attended). All directors receive reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the board of directors. | Actual amounts are dependent upon the total number of board and committee meetings that each independent director attends; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time
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| | Operational and Liquidation Stage | |
Subordinated Participation in Net Cash Flows (4)(7)
| KBS Capital Advisors | After our common stockholders have received, together as a collective group, aggregate distributions (regardless of the source used to fund such distributions and including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes) sufficient to provide (i) a return of their gross investment amount, which is the amount calculated by multiplying the total number of shares purchased by stockholders by the issue price, reduced by the total number of shares repurchased by us (excluding shares received as a stock dividend which we subsequently repurchased) multiplied by the weighted average issue price of the shares sold in the primary offering, and (ii) a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return on such gross investment amount, KBS Capital Advisors is entitled to receive 15% of our net cash flows, whether from continuing operations, net sales proceeds, net financing proceeds, or otherwise. Net sales proceeds means the net cash proceeds realized by us after deduction of all expenses incurred (i) in connection with a disposition of our assets, or (ii) from the prepayment, maturity, workout or other settlement of any loan or other investment. Net financing proceeds means the net cash proceeds realized from the financing of our assets or refinancing of our debt. The 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return on gross investment amount is calculated on a daily basis. In making this calculation, gross investment amount is determined for each day during the period for which the 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return is being calculated, including a daily adjustment to reflect shares repurchased by us (excluding shares received as a stock dividend which we subsequently repurchased). In addition, gross investment amount is reduced by the following: (i) distributions from net sales proceeds, (ii) distributions from net financing proceeds, and (iii) distributions paid from operating cash flow in excess of a cumulative, noncompounded, annual return of 7.0%. Gross investment amount is only reduced as described | Actual amounts are dependent upon the results of our operations; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time.
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Form of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering $1,000,000 in Shares (1) |
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| | above; it is not reduced simply because a distribution constitutes a return of capital for federal income tax purposes. The 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return is not based on the return provided to any individual stockholder but rather is based on total distributions paid on all outstanding shares relative to total gross investment amount invested by all stockholders. Accordingly, it is not necessary for each of our stockholders to have received any minimum return in order for KBS Capital Advisors to participate in our net cash flows. In fact, if KBS Capital Advisors is entitled to participate in our net cash flows, the returns of our stockholders will differ, and some may be less than a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return. This fee is payable only while we are not listed on an exchange. In addition, before we will be able to pay distributions to our stockholders equal to a return of their gross investment amount plus a 7% cumulative, non-compounded, annual return on such gross investment amount, we will need to sell a portion of our assets. Thus, the sale of one or more assets will be a practical prerequisite for our advisor to receive this fee and we will likely be in our liquidation stage if the advisor is eligible to begin earning this fee. | |
Disposition Fees (4)(8)
| KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates | For substantial assistance in connection with the sale of investments, we will pay our advisor or its affiliates a percentage of the contract sales price of each loan, debt-related security, real property or other investment sold (including residential or commercial mortgage-backed securities or collateralized debt obligations issued by a subsidiary of ours as part of a securitization transaction) as a disposition fee. For dispositions with a contract sales price less than or equal to $50 million, the disposition fee will equal 1.5% of the contract sales price. For dispositions with a contract sales price greater than $50 million, the disposition fee will equal the sum of $750,000 (which amount is 1.5% of $50 million), plus 1.0% of the amount of the contract sales price in excess of $50 million. The disposition fee is determined on a per transaction basis and is not cumulative. If, in connection with such disposition, commissions are paid to third parties unaffiliated with our advisor, the fee paid to our advisor and its affiliates may not exceed the commissions paid to such unaffiliated third parties, and provided further that the disposition fees paid to our advisor, its affiliates and unaffiliated third parties may not exceed 6.0% of the contract sales price. The conflicts committee will determine whether the advisor or its affiliates has provided substantial assistance to us in connection with the sale of an asset. We will not pay a disposition fee upon the maturity, prepayment or workout of a loan or other debt-related investment, provided that if we negotiate a discounted payoff with the borrower we will pay a disposition fee and if we take ownership of a property as a result of a workout or foreclosure of a loan, we will pay a disposition fee upon the sale of | Actual amounts are dependent upon the results of our operations; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time. |
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Form of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering $1,000,000 in Shares (1) |
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| | such property. We do not intend to sell assets to affiliates. However, if we do sell an asset to an affiliate, our organizational documents would not prohibit us from paying our advisor a disposition fee. Before we sold an asset to an affiliate, our charter would require that a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction conclude that the transaction is fair and reasonable to us. Although we are most likely to pay disposition fees to our advisor or an affiliate during our liquidation stage, these fees may also be incurred during our operational stage. | |
Subordinated Incentive Fee (4)(7)(9)
| KBS Capital Advisors | Upon a merger or listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange, we will pay our advisor an incentive fee. Upon a listing this fee will equal 15% of the amount by which (i) the market value of our outstanding stock plus the total of all distributions paid by us to stockholders from inception until the date market value is determined (regardless of the source used to fund such distributions and including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes and excluding any stock dividend) exceeds (ii) the sum of our stockholders’ gross investment amount, which is the amount calculated by multiplying the total number of shares purchased by stockholders by the issue price, reduced by the total number of shares repurchased by us (excluding shares received as a stock dividend which we subsequently repurchased) multiplied by the weighted average issue price of the shares sold in the primary offering, and the amount of cash flow necessary to generate a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return on our stockholders’ gross investment amount from our inception through the date the market value is determined. Upon a merger this fee will equal 15% of the amount by which (i) the merger consideration amount plus the total of all distributions paid or declared by us to stockholders from inception until the closing of the merger (regardless of the source used to fund such distributions and including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes and excluding any stock dividend) exceeds (ii) the sum of our stockholders’ gross investment amount, which is the amount calculated by multiplying the total number of shares purchased by stockholders by the issue price, reduced by the total number of shares repurchased by us (excluding shares received as a stock dividend which we subsequently repurchased) multiplied by the weighted average issue price of the shares sold in the primary offering, and the amount necessary to generate a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return on our stockholders’ gross investment amount from our inception through the closing of the merger.
If our advisor receives a subordinated incentive fee, | Actual amounts are dependent upon the results of our operations; we cannot determine these amounts at the present time |
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Form of Compensation | Recipient of Compensation | Determination of Amount | Estimated Amount for Maximum Primary Offering $1,000,000 in Shares (1) |
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| | the fee will not be separately reduced by the prior payment to our advisor of a participation in our net cash flows as the calculation of the subordinated incentive fee takes into account any prior payment to our advisor of this participation. In addition, if KBS Capital Advisors is entitled to receive the subordinated incentive fee upon a listing, KBS Capital Advisors will no longer participate in our net cash flows as described above. The 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return on gross investment amount is calculated on a daily basis. In making this calculation, gross investment amount is determined for each day during the period for which the 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return is being calculated, including a daily adjustment to reflect shares repurchased by us (excluding shares received as a stock dividend which we subsequently repurchased). In addition, gross investment amount is reduced by the following: (i) distributions from net sales proceeds, (ii) distributions from net financing proceeds, and (iii) distributions paid from operating cash flow in excess of a cumulative, noncompounded, annual return of 7.0%. Gross investment amount is only reduced as described above; it is not reduced simply because a distribution constitutes a return of capital for federal income tax purposes. The 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return is not based on the return provided to any individual stockholder but rather is based on total distributions paid on all outstanding shares relative to total gross investment amount invested by all stockholders. Accordingly, it is not necessary for each of our stockholders to have received any minimum return in order for KBS Capital Advisors to participate in our net cash flows. In fact, if KBS Capital Advisors is entitled to participate in our net cash flows, the returns of our stockholders will differ, and some may be less than a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return. | |
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(1) The estimated maximum dollar amounts are based on the sale of up to $1,000,000,000 of shares of our common stock to the public in the primary offering and exclude the shares we have registered under our dividend reinvestment plan as we do not expect the fees paid in this offering to be determined based on proceeds raised in our dividend reinvestment plan offering. We reserve the right to reallocate shares between our primary offering and our dividend reinvestment plan offering, and to the extent we reallocate shares from the dividend reinvestment plan offering to the primary offering, the fees disclosed above will be higher.
(2) All or a portion of the selling commissions will not be charged with regard to shares sold to certain categories of purchasers. A reduced dealer manager fee is payable with respect to certain volume discount sales. See “Plan of Distribution.”
(3) In addition to the selling commissions, dealer manager fees and stockholder servicing fee, some of the amounts described under “Organization and Other Offering Expenses” are also underwriting compensation in connection with this offering under the rules of FINRA. These amounts include (i) the attendance and sponsorship fees payable to participating broker-dealers hosting a retail seminar; (ii) the travel, meal and lodging costs of registered persons associated with our dealer manager and officers and employees of our affiliates to attend retail seminars; and (iii) the travel, meal and lodging costs of registered persons associated with our dealer manager and registered representatives of the participating broker-dealers to attend bona fide training and education meetings held by us. See “Plan of Distribution” for a discussion of underwriting compensation paid in connection with this offering.
(4) Our advisor in its sole discretion may defer any fee payable to it under the advisory agreement. These fees may consist of charges of our advisor for administrative services related to the issuance of shares in this offering, acquisition and origination fees, asset management fees and disposition fees. All or any portion of such fees not taken may be deferred without interest and paid when the advisor determines.
(5) Because the acquisition and origination fee we pay our advisor is a percentage of the purchase price of an investment or the amount funded by us to acquire or originate a loan, this fee will be greater to the extent we fund acquisitions and originations through (i) the incurrence of debt (which we expect to represent 60% or less of the cost of our tangible assets (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves), if we sell the maximum number of shares offered hereby), (ii) retained cash flow from operations, (iii) issuances of equity in exchange for assets and (iv) proceeds from the sale of shares under our dividend reinvestment plan.
(6) KBS Capital Advisors must reimburse us the amount by which our aggregate total operating expenses for the four fiscal quarters then ended exceed the greater of 2% of our average invested assets or 25% of our net income, unless the conflicts committee has determined that such excess expenses were justified based on unusual and non-recurring factors. “Average invested assets” means the average monthly book value of our assets during the 12-month period before deducting depreciation, bad debts or other non-cash reserves. “Total operating expenses” means all expenses paid or incurred by us, as determined under GAAP, that are in any way related to our operation, including advisory fees, but excluding (a) the expenses of raising capital such as organization and offering expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration and other fees, printing and other such expenses and taxes incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and stock exchange listing of our stock; (b) interest payments; (c) taxes; (d) non-cash expenditures such as depreciation, amortization and bad debt reserves; (e) reasonable incentive fees based on the gain in the sale of our assets; and (f) acquisition and origination fees, acquisition and origination expenses (including expenses relating to potential investments that we do not close), disposition fees on the sale of real property and other expenses connected with the acquisition, origination, disposition and ownership of real estate interests, loans or other property (other than disposition fees on the sale of assets other than real property), such as the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair and improvement of property.
(7) Our charter requires that any gain from the sale of assets that we may pay KBS Capital Advisors be reasonable. Under our charter, an interest in gain from the sale of assets is “presumptively reasonable” if it does not exceed 15% of the balance of net sale proceeds remaining after investors have received a return of their net capital contributions and a 6% per year cumulative, noncompounded return. Under our advisory agreement, an incentive fee may be paid only if the stockholders first enjoy a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return. Any lowering of the threshold set forth in the advisory agreement would require the approval of a majority of the members of the conflicts committee. The subordinated incentive fee payable under the advisory agreement is a subordinated participation in net cash flows, whether from continuing operations, net sale proceeds or otherwise; however, to the extent that this incentive fee is derived from cash flows other than net sales proceeds, the incentive fee will count against the limit on “total operating expenses” described in note 6 above.
Upon termination of the advisory agreement, KBS Capital Advisors may be entitled to a similar fee if KBS Capital Advisors would have been entitled to a subordinated participation in net cash flows had the portfolio been liquidated (based on an independent appraised value of the portfolio) on the date of termination. The termination fee would be payable in the form of an interest-bearing promissory note that becomes due only upon the sale of one or more assets or upon maturity or payoff of our debt investments, and the fee is payable solely from the proceeds from the sale, maturity or payoff of an asset and future asset sales, maturities or payoffs. See “Management - The Advisory Agreement.”
(8) Although we are most likely to pay disposition fees to KBS Capital Advisors or an affiliate in the event of our liquidation, these fees may also be incurred during our operational stage. Under our charter, a majority of the independent directors would have to approve any increase in the disposition fees payable to our advisor and its affiliates under the current advisory agreement. Our charter also limits the maximum amount of the disposition fees payable to the advisor and its affiliates to 3% of the contract sales price.
To the extent this disposition fee is paid upon the sale of any assets other than real property, it will count against the limit on “total operating expenses” described in note 6 above.
(9) The market value of our outstanding stock will be calculated based on the average market value of the shares issued and outstanding at listing over the 30 trading days beginning 180 days after the shares are first listed on a stock exchange. The subordinated incentive fee will count against the limit on “total operating expenses” described in note 6 above.
Due to the public market’s preference for self-managed companies, a decision to list our shares on a national securities exchange might well be preceded by a decision to become self-managed. Given our advisor’s familiarity with our assets and operations, we might prefer to become self-managed by entering into a business combination transaction with affiliates of our sponsors. Upon the recommendation of our advisor, our board of directors determined that, in the event our board of directors determine that it is in our best interest to obtain the personnel needed to become self-managed by entering into a business combination with affiliates of our sponsors (an “Internalization Transaction”), then we will not enter into such an Internalization Transaction unless our advisor or one of its affiliates agrees to proceed with the Internalization Transaction without the payment of any internalization fee or other consideration by us, whether in the form of a cash payment or in the form of stock, warrants or options. We cannot predict whether, and on what terms, an internalization transaction would occur in the future. Our charter requires that a majority of our board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction conclude that an internalization transaction is fair and reasonable to us and on terms and conditions no less favorable to us than those available from third parties.
STOCK OWNERSHIP
The following table shows, as of January 31, 2016, the amount of our Class A common stock (which is the only class of common stock outstanding as of the date of this prospectus) beneficially owned by (1) any person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock, (2) our directors, (3) our executive officers, and (4) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (1) | | Percentage |
Robert E. Low (2) | | 763,118 |
| | | 7.4% |
Keith D. Hall, Chief Executive Officer and Director (3) | | 291,906 |
| (4)(5) | | 2.8% |
Peter McMillan III, Chairman of the Board, President and Director (3) | | 291,906 |
| (4)(5) | | 2.8% |
Jeffrey K. Waldvogel, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (3) | | — |
| | | — |
Stacie K. Yamane, Chief Accounting Officer (3) | | — |
| | | — |
Michael L. Meyer, Independent Director (3) | | — |
| | | — |
William M. Petak, Independent Director (3) | | — |
| | | — |
Laurent Degryse, Independent Director (3) | | — |
| | | — |
All directors and executive officers as a group | | 291,906 |
| (3)(4) | | 2.8% |
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(1) None of the shares are pledged as security. All of the shares owned by the beneficial owners are Class A shares.
(2) The address of this beneficial owner is 2740 N. Mayfair Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65803.
(3) The address of this beneficial owner is 800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700, Newport Beach, California 92660.
(4) Includes 23,966 Class A shares owned by KBS Capital Advisors, which is indirectly owned and controlled by Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr.
(5) Includes 267,940 Class A shares owned by Willowbrook Capital Group, an entity owned and controlled by Keith D. Hall and Peter McMillan III.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
We are subject to various conflicts of interest arising out of our relationship with our advisor, KBS Capital Advisors, and its affiliates, some of whom serve as our executive officers and directors. We discuss these conflicts below and conclude this section with a discussion of the corporate governance measures we have adopted to ameliorate some of the risks posed by these conflicts.
Our Affiliates’ Interests in Other KBS Real Estate Programs
General
All of our executive officers and our affiliated directors and other key real estate and debt finance professionals at our advisor are also officers, directors, managers, key professionals and/or holders of a direct or indirect controlling interest in our advisor, our dealer manager and other KBS-affiliated investment advisors that are the sponsors of other real estate programs as well as executive officers and affiliated directors and/or key professionals of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT, the other non-traded REITs advised by KBS Capital Advisors. Through affiliates of our advisor, key real estate and debt finance professionals at our advisor also serve as investment advisors to KBS-advised investors in real estate and real estate-related assets. These persons have legal and financial obligations with respect to those programs, entities and investors that are similar to their obligations to us. In the future, these persons and other affiliates of our advisor may organize other real estate- or debt-related programs, serve as the investment advisor to other investors and acquire for their own account real estate-related investments that may be suitable for us.
Since 1992, investment advisors affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber have sponsored 14 private KBS-sponsored programs. Six of these programs were still operating as of December 31, 2014. Our sponsors, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber are also the sponsors of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, and KBS Growth & Income REIT and, together with Legacy Partners Residential Realty LLC and certain of its affiliates, our sponsors are also sponsoring another public real estate investment trust, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT. All of these KBS-sponsored programs have investment objectives that are similar to ours. Conflicts of interest may arise between us and the programs that have not yet been liquidated, between us and future programs and between us and the KBS-advised investors.
Allocation of Investment Opportunities
We rely on our sponsors, Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., and the real estate and debt finance professionals of our advisor to identify suitable investments. KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT are also advised by KBS Capital Advisors and rely on these same key real estate and debt finance professionals. Messrs. Bren and Schreiber and other real estate and debt finance professionals at KBS Capital Advisors are also the key real estate and debt finance professionals of KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliates, the advisors to the private KBS-sponsored programs and the investment advisors to KBS-advised investors in real estate and real estate-related assets. As such, the other KBS-sponsored programs that are raising funds for investment as of the date of this prospectus rely on many of the same real estate and debt finance professionals as will future programs and investors. Many investment opportunities that are suitable for us may also be suitable for other KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors. When these real estate and debt finance professionals direct an investment opportunity to any KBS-sponsored program or KBS-advised investor, they, in their sole discretion, will offer the opportunity to the program or investor for which the investment opportunity is most suitable based on the investment objectives, portfolio and criteria of each program or investor. As a result, these KBS real estate and debt finance professionals could direct attractive investment opportunities to other entities or investors. For so long as we are externally advised, our charter provides that it shall not be a proper purpose of the corporation for us to purchase any significant asset unless the advisor has recommended the investment to us. See “- Certain Conflict Resolution Measures.”
Joint Ventures with Affiliates
We may enter into joint ventures with KBS Capital Advisors, any of our officers or directors or any of their affiliates for the acquisition, development or improvement of properties or other investments if a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transactions concludes that the transaction is fair and reasonable to us and on substantially the same terms and conditions as those received by other joint venturers. KBS Capital Advisors, our advisor, and KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliates, the advisors to the other KBS-sponsored programs and the investment advisers to KBS-advised investors in real estate and real estate-related assets, have some of the same executive officers, directors and other key real estate and debt finance
professionals; and these persons will face conflicts of interest in determining which KBS program or investor should enter into any particular joint venture agreement. These persons may also face a conflict in structuring the terms of the relationship between our interests and the interests of the KBS-affiliated co-venturer and in managing the joint venture. Any joint venture agreement or transaction between us and a KBS-affiliated co-venturer will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiation of the type normally conducted between unrelated co-venturers. The KBS-affiliated co-venturer may have economic or business interests or goals that are or may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. These co-venturers may thus benefit to our and your detriment.
Competition for Tenants and Others
Conflicts of interest may exist to the extent that we acquire properties in the same geographic areas where other KBS-sponsored programs, KBS-advised investors or KBS-affiliated entities own properties. In such a case, a conflict could arise in the leasing of properties in the event that we and another KBS-sponsored program, KBS-advised investor or KBS-affiliated entity were to compete for the same tenants in negotiating leases, or a conflict could arise in connection with the resale of properties in the event that we and another KBS-sponsored program, KBS-advised investor or KBS-affiliated entity were to attempt to sell similar properties at the same time. See “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest.” Conflicts of interest may also exist at such time as we or KBS Capital Advisors seek to employ developers, contractors, building managers or other third parties. Our advisor and the advisors of other KBS-sponsored programs, KBS-advised investors and KBS-affiliated entities will seek to reduce conflicts that may arise with respect to properties available for sale or rent by making prospective purchasers or tenants aware of all such properties. Our advisor and the advisors of other KBS-sponsored programs, KBS-advised investors and KBS-affiliated entities will also seek to reduce conflicts relating to the employment of developers, contractors or building managers by making prospective service providers aware of all properties in need of their services. However, our advisor and the advisors of other KBS-sponsored programs, KBS-advised investors and KBS-affiliated entities cannot fully avoid these conflicts because they may establish differing terms for resales or leasing of the various properties or differing compensation arrangements for service providers at different properties.
Allocation of Our Affiliates’ Time
We rely on KBS Capital Advisors and the key real estate, debt finance, management and accounting professionals our advisor has assembled, including Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan, Schreiber and Waldvogel and Ms. Yamane, for the day-to-day operation of our business. KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT are also advised by KBS Capital Advisors and rely on our sponsors and many of the same real estate, debt finance, management and accounting professionals, as will future KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors. Further, our officers and affiliated directors are also officers and/or affiliated directors of some or all of the other KBS-sponsored programs. Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan, Schreiber and Waldvogel and Ms. Yamane are executive officers of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III and KBS Growth & Income REIT. Messrs. Hall, McMillan and Waldvogel and Ms. Yamane are executive officers of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, and Messrs. Bren, McMillan and Waldvogel and Ms. Yamane are executive officers of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT. In addition, Messrs. Bren, Schreiber and Waldvogel and Ms. Yamane are the executive officers of KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliates, the advisors of the private KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors. As a result of their interests in other KBS-sponsored programs, their obligations to KBS-advised investors and the fact that they engage in and they will continue to engage in other business activities on behalf of themselves and others, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan, Schreiber and Waldvogel and Ms. Yamane face conflicts of interest in allocating their time among us, KBS Capital Advisors, other KBS-sponsored programs, KBS-advised investors and other business activities in which they are involved. In addition, KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Realty Advisors and their affiliates share many of the same key real estate, debt finance, management and accounting professionals. Our executive officers and the key real estate, debt finance, management and accounting professionals affiliated with our sponsors who provide services to us are not obligated to devote a fixed amount of their time to us.
Our sponsors believe that our executive officers and the other key professionals have sufficient time to fully discharge their responsibilities to us and to the other businesses in which they are involved. We believe that our affiliates and executive officers will devote the time required to manage our business and expect that the amount of time a particular executive officer or affiliate devotes to us will vary during the course of the year and depend on our business activities at the given time. It is difficult to predict specific amounts of time an executive officer or affiliate will devote to us. We expect that our executive officers and affiliates will generally devote more time to programs raising and investing capital than to programs that have completed their offering stages, though from time to time each program will have its unique demands. Because many of the operational aspects of KBS-sponsored programs are very similar, there are significant efficiencies created by the same team of individuals at our advisor providing services to multiple programs.
For example, our advisor has streamlined the structure for financial reporting, internal controls and investment approval processes for the programs.
Receipt of Fees and Other Compensation by KBS Capital Advisors and its Affiliates
KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates receive substantial fees from us, which fees were not negotiated at arm’s length. These fees could influence our advisor’s advice to us as well as the judgment of affiliates of KBS Capital Advisors, some of whom also serve as our executive officers and directors and the key real estate and debt finance professionals at our advisor. Among other matters, these compensation arrangements could affect their judgment with respect to:
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• | the continuation, renewal or enforcement of our agreements with KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates, including the advisory agreement and the dealer manager agreement; |
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• | offerings of equity by us, which entitle KBS Capital Markets Group to dealer-manager fees and will likely entitle KBS Capital Advisors to increased acquisition and origination fees and asset management fees; |
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• | sales of investments, which entitle KBS Capital Advisors to disposition fees and possible subordinated incentive fees; |
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• | acquisitions of investments and originations of loans, which entitle KBS Capital Advisors to acquisition and origination fees based on the cost of the investment and asset management fees and, in the case of acquisitions of investments from other KBS-sponsored programs, might entitle affiliates of KBS Capital Advisors to disposition fees and possible subordinated incentive fees in connection with its services for the seller; |
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• | borrowings to acquire investments and to originate loans, which borrowings will increase the acquisition and origination fees payable to KBS Capital Advisors; |
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• | whether and when we seek to list our common stock on a national securities exchange, which listing could entitle KBS Capital Advisors to a subordinated incentive fee; and |
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• | whether and when we seek to sell the company or its assets, which sale could entitle KBS Capital Advisors to a subordinated incentive fee. |
Our Board of Directors’ Loyalties to KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Growth & Income REIT and Possibly to Future KBS-Sponsored Programs
Four of our directors, including two of our independent directors, Messrs. Meyer and Petak, are also directors of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT. Mr. Meyer is also a director of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT. One of our affiliated directors is also a director of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III and KBS Growth & Income REIT. The loyalties of our directors serving on the boards of directors of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT, or possibly on the board of directors of future KBS-sponsored programs, may influence the judgment of our board when considering issues for us that also may affect other KBS-sponsored programs, such as the following:
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• | The conflicts committee of our board must evaluate the performance of KBS Capital Advisors with respect to whether KBS Capital Advisors is presenting to us our fair share of investment opportunities. If our advisor is not presenting a sufficient number of investment opportunities to us because it is presenting many opportunities to other KBS-sponsored programs or if our advisor is giving preferential treatment to other KBS-sponsored programs in this regard, our conflicts committee may not be well suited to enforce our rights under the terms of the advisory agreement or to seek a new advisor. |
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• | We could enter into transactions with other KBS-sponsored programs, such as property sales, acquisitions or financing arrangements. Such transactions might entitle KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates to fees and other compensation from both parties to the transaction. For example, acquisitions from other KBS-sponsored programs might entitle KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates to disposition fees and possible subordinated incentive fees in connection with its services for the seller in addition to acquisition or origination fees and other fees that we might pay to KBS Capital Advisors in connection with such transaction. Similarly, property sales to other KBS-sponsored programs might entitle KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates to acquisition or origination fees in connection with its services to the purchaser in addition to disposition and other fees that we might pay to KBS Capital Advisors in connection with such transaction. Decisions of our board and the conflicts committee regarding the terms of those transactions may be influenced by our board’s and the conflicts committee’s loyalties to such other KBS-sponsored programs. |
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• | A decision of our board or the conflicts committee regarding the timing of a debt or equity offering could be influenced by concerns that the offering would compete with an offering of other KBS-sponsored programs. |
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• | A decision of our board or the conflicts committee regarding the timing of property sales could be influenced by concerns that the sales would compete with those of other KBS-sponsored programs. |
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• | A decision of our board or the conflicts committee regarding whether and when we seek to list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange could be influenced by concerns that such listing could adversely affect the sales efforts for other KBS-sponsored programs, depending on the price at which our shares trade. |
Fiduciary Duties Owed by Some of Our Affiliates to Our Advisor and Our Advisor’s Affiliates
All of our executive officers and our affiliated directors and the key real estate and debt finance professionals at our advisor are also officers, directors, managers, key professionals and/or holders of a direct or indirect controlling interest in:
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• | KBS Capital Advisors, our advisor; |
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• | KBS Capital Markets Group, our dealer manager; and/or |
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• | other KBS-sponsored programs. |
Through KBS-affiliated entities, these persons also serve as the investment advisors to KBS-advised investors in real estate and real estate-related assets. As a result, they owe fiduciary duties to each of these programs, their stockholders, members and limited partners and the institutional investors advised by KBS-affiliated entities. These fiduciary duties may from time to time conflict with the fiduciary duties that they owe to us.
Affiliated Dealer Manager
Since KBS Capital Markets Group, our dealer manager, is an affiliate of KBS Capital Advisors, you will not have the benefit of an independent due diligence review and investigation of the type normally performed by an independent underwriter in connection with the offering of securities. See “Plan of Distribution.”
KBS Growth & Income REIT is currently conducting a private placement offering and has filed a registration statement with the SEC for a proposed initial public offering. KBS Capital Markets Group is currently serving as dealer manager for the private placement for KBS Growth & Income REIT and expects to serve as the dealer manager for KBS Growth & Income REIT’s initial public offering. In addition, from time to time KBS Capital Markets Group serves as the dealer manager for other KBS-sponsored programs. Future KBS-sponsored programs may also seek to raise capital through offerings conducted concurrently with our offering. As a result, our sponsors and our dealer manager may face conflicts of interest arising from potential competition with these other programs for investors and investment capital. Our sponsors generally seek to avoid simultaneous offerings by programs that have a substantially similar mix of investment characteristics, including targeted investment types and key investment objectives. Nevertheless, there may be periods during which one or more KBS-sponsored programs will be raising capital and may compete with us for investment capital.
Certain Conflict Resolution Measures
Conflicts Committee
In order to ameliorate the risks created by conflicts of interest, our charter creates a conflicts committee of our board of directors composed of all of our independent directors. An “independent director” is a person who is not one of our officers or employees or an officer or employee of KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates and has not been so for the previous two years and meets the other requirements set forth in our charter. Our charter authorizes the conflicts committee to act on any matter permitted under Maryland law. Both the board of directors and the conflicts committee must act upon those conflict-of-interest matters that cannot be delegated to a committee under Maryland law. Our charter also empowers the conflicts committee to retain its own legal and financial advisors. Among the matters we expect the conflicts committee to act upon are:
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• | the continuation, renewal or enforcement of our agreements with KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates, including the advisory agreement and the dealer manager agreement; |
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• | offerings of securities; |
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• | the provision of direction and oversight to our advisor in connection with its authority to make the decisions regarding our investments; |
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• | transactions with affiliates; |
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• | compensation of our officers and directors who are affiliated with our advisor; |
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• | whether and when we seek to list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange; |
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• | whether and when we seek to become self-managed, which decision could lead to our acquisition of entities affiliated with KBS Capital Advisors; and |
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• | whether and when we seek to sell the company or substantially all of its assets. |
Other Charter Provisions Relating to Conflicts of Interest
In addition to the creation of the conflicts committee, our charter contains many other restrictions relating to conflicts of interest including the following:
Advisor Compensation. The conflicts committee will evaluate at least annually whether the compensation that we contract to pay to KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates is reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services performed and whether such compensation is within the limits prescribed by the charter. The conflicts committee will supervise the performance of KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates and the compensation we pay to them to determine whether the provisions of our compensation arrangements are being carried out. This evaluation will be based on the following factors as well as any other factors deemed relevant by the conflicts committee:
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• | the amount of the fees and any other compensation, including stock-based compensation, paid to KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates in relation to the size, composition and performance of our investments; |
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• | whether the total fees and expenses incurred by us are reasonable in light of our investment performance, net assets, net income and the fees and expenses of other comparable unaffiliated REITs; |
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• | the success of KBS Capital Advisors in generating appropriate investment opportunities; |
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• | the rates charged to other companies, including other REITs, by advisors performing similar services; |
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• | additional revenues realized by KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates through their relationship with us, including whether we pay them or they are paid by others with whom we do business; |
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• | the quality and extent of service and advice furnished by KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates; |
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• | the performance of our investment portfolio; and |
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• | the quality of our portfolio relative to the investments generated by KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates for their own account and for their other clients. |
Under our charter, we can only pay KBS Capital Advisors a disposition fee in connection with the sale of an asset if it provides a substantial amount of the services in the effort to sell the asset, the commission does not exceed 3% of the sales price of the asset, and, if in connection with a disposition commissions are paid to third parties unaffiliated with our advisor, the commission paid to our advisor does not exceed the commissions paid to such unaffiliated third parties. Although our charter limits the disposition fee we may pay to our advisor to 3% of the sales price, our advisory agreement provides for a 1.5% fee for sales less than or equal to $50 million and a fee equal to the sum of $750,000 plus 1.0% of amounts in excess of $50 million for sales greater than $50 million. The disposition fee is determined on a per transaction basis and is not cumulative. Any increase in this fee would require the approval of a majority of the members of our conflicts committee. Moreover, our charter also provides that the commission, when added to all other disposition fees paid to unaffiliated parties in connection with the sale, may not exceed the lesser of a competitive real estate commission or 6% of the sales price of the asset. To the extent this disposition fee is paid upon the sale of any assets other than real property, it will count against the limit on “total operating expenses” described below. We do not intend to sell assets to affiliates. However, if we do sell an asset to an affiliate, our organizational documents would not prohibit us from paying our advisor a disposition fee. Before we sell an asset to an affiliate, our charter requires that a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction conclude that the transaction is fair and reasonable to us.
Our charter also requires that any gain from the sale of assets that we may pay our advisor or an entity affiliated with our advisor be reasonable. Such an interest in gain from the sale of assets is presumed reasonable if it does not exceed 15% of the balance of the net sale proceeds remaining after payment to common stockholders, in the aggregate, of an amount equal to 100% of the original issue price of the common stock, plus an amount equal to 6% of the original
issue price of the common stock per year cumulative. Under our advisory agreement, an incentive fee may be paid only if the stockholders first enjoy a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return. Any lowering of the threshold set forth in the advisory agreement would require the approval of a majority of the members of the conflicts committee. The subordinated incentive fee payable under the advisory agreement is a subordinated participation in net cash flows, whether from continuing operations, net sale proceeds or otherwise; however, to the extent that this incentive fee is derived from cash flows other than net sales proceeds, the incentive fee will count against the limit on “total operating expenses” described below.
Our charter also limits the amount of acquisition and origination fees and expenses we can incur to a total of 6% of the contract purchase price for the asset or, in the case of a loan we originate, 6% of the funds advanced. This limit may only be exceeded if a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves the fees and expenses and finds the transaction to be commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to us. Although our charter permits combined acquisition and origination fees and expenses to equal 6% of the purchase price or funds advanced, our advisory agreement limits the acquisition and origination fee to 2.6% of the purchase price or funds to be advanced, including acquisition and origination expenses and any debt attributable to such investments plus significant capital expenditures related to the development, construction or improvement of the investment budgeted as of the date of acquisition. Any increase in the acquisition and origination fee stipulated in the advisory agreement could be made without the approval of our stockholders, subject to the approval of a majority of the members of the conflicts committee.
Term of Advisory Agreement. Each contract for the services of our advisor may not exceed one year, although there is no limit on the number of times that we may retain a particular advisor. The conflicts committee or our advisor may terminate our advisory agreement with KBS Capital Advisors without cause or penalty on 60 days’ written notice. In such event, KBS Capital Advisors must cooperate with us and our directors in making an orderly transition of the advisory function.
Upon termination of the advisory agreement, KBS Capital Advisors may be entitled to a termination fee if (based upon an independent appraised value of the portfolio) KBS Capital Advisors would have been entitled to a subordinated participation in net cash flows had the portfolio been liquidated on the termination date. The termination fee would be payable in the form of an interest-bearing promissory note that becomes due only upon the sale of one or more assets or upon maturity or payoff of our debt investments. The fee is payable solely from the proceeds from the sale, maturity or payoff of an asset and future asset sales, maturities or payoffs, and all of such proceeds must be used to repay the promissory note until it is fully repaid. The amount of the termination fee would be 15% of the amount by which (i) the hypothetical liquidation proceeds exceed (ii) the amount necessary to provide investors with a return of their gross investment amount and a 7.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return through the termination date; however, the agreement does not require that the investors actually have received such return prior to issuance of the promissory note or payments under it. The amount due under the promissory note would not be adjusted upwards or downwards to reflect any difference in the appraised value of our portfolio at termination and the amount ultimately realized by us.
Our Acquisitions. We will not purchase or lease assets in which KBS Capital Advisors, our sponsor, any of our directors or officers or any of their affiliates has an interest without a determination by a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction that such transaction is fair and reasonable to us and at a price to us no greater than the cost of the asset to the affiliated seller or lessor, unless there is substantial justification for the excess amount. In no event may we acquire any such real property at an amount in excess of its current appraised value.
Our charter provides that the consideration we pay for real property will ordinarily be based on the fair market value of the property as determined by a majority of the members of the board of directors, or the approval of a majority of a committee of the board, provided that the members of the committee approving the transaction would also constitute a majority of the board. In cases in which a majority of our independent directors so determine, and in all cases in which real property is acquired from KBS Capital Advisors, any of our directors or officers or any of their affiliates, the fair market value shall be determined by an independent expert selected by our independent directors not otherwise interested in the transaction.
Mortgage Loans Involving Affiliates. Our charter prohibits us from investing in or making mortgage loans in which the transaction is with KBS Capital Advisors, our directors or officers or any of their affiliates, unless an independent expert appraises the underlying property. We must keep the appraisal for at least five years and make it available for inspection and duplication by any of our stockholders. In addition, a mortgagee’s or owner’s title insurance
policy or commitment as to the priority of the mortgage or the condition of the title must be obtained. Our charter prohibits us from making or investing in any mortgage loans that are subordinate to any mortgage or equity interest of KBS Capital Advisors, our directors or officers or any of their affiliates.
Other Transactions Involving Affiliates. A majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transactions must conclude that all other transactions, including joint ventures, between us and KBS Capital Advisors, our sponsor, any of our officers or directors or any of their affiliates, are fair and reasonable to us and are either on terms and conditions not less favorable to us than those available from unaffiliated third parties or, in the case of joint ventures, on substantially the same terms and conditions as those received by other joint venturers.
Limitation on Operating Expenses. KBS Capital Advisors must reimburse us the amount by which our aggregate total operating expenses for the four fiscal quarters then ended exceed the greater of 2% of our average invested assets or 25% of our net income, unless the conflicts committee has determined that such excess expenses were justified based on unusual and non-recurring factors. “Average invested assets” means the average monthly book value of our assets during the 12-month period before deducting depreciation, bad debts or other non-cash reserves. “Total operating expenses” means all expenses paid or incurred by us, as determined under GAAP, that are in any way related to our operation, including advisory fees, but excluding (a) the expenses of raising capital such as organization and offering expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration and other fees, printing and other such expenses and taxes incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and stock exchange listing of our stock; (b) interest payments; (c) taxes; (d) non-cash expenditures such as depreciation, amortization and bad debt reserves; (e) reasonable incentive fees based on the gain from the sale of our assets; and (f) acquisition fees and origination fees, acquisition and origination expenses (including expenses relating to potential investments that we do not close), disposition fees on the sale of real property and other expenses connected with the acquisition, origination, disposition and ownership of real estate interests, loans or other property (other than disposition fees on the sale of assets other than real property), including the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair and improvement of property.
Issuance of Options and Warrants to Certain Affiliates. Until our shares of common stock are listed on a national securities exchange, we will not issue options or warrants to purchase our common stock to KBS Capital Advisors, our directors, the sponsors or any of their affiliates, except on the same terms as such options or warrants are sold to the general public. We may issue options or warrants to persons other than KBS Capital Advisors, our directors, the sponsors and their affiliates prior to listing our common stock on a national securities exchange, but not at exercise prices less than the fair market value of the underlying securities on the date of grant and not for consideration (which may include services) that in the judgment of the conflicts committee has a market value less than the value of such option or warrant on the date of grant. Any options or warrants we issue to KBS Capital Advisors, our directors, the sponsors or any of their affiliates shall not exceed an amount equal to 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock on the date of grant.
Repurchase of Our Shares. Our charter provides that we may not voluntarily repurchase shares of our common stock if such repurchase would impair our capital or operations. In addition, our charter prohibits us from paying a fee to KBS Capital Advisors, our sponsor, or our directors or officers or any of their affiliates in connection with our repurchase of our common stock.
Loans. We will not make any loans to KBS Capital Advisors, our sponsor, or to our directors or officers or any of their affiliates. In addition, we will not borrow from these affiliates unless a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves the transaction as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable and no less favorable to us than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties. These restrictions on loans will only apply to advances of cash that are commonly viewed as loans, as determined by the board of directors. By way of example only, the prohibition on loans would not restrict advances of cash for legal expenses or other costs incurred as a result of any legal action for which indemnification is being sought nor would the prohibition limit our ability to advance reimbursable expenses incurred by directors or officers or KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates.
Reports to Stockholders. Our charter requires that we prepare an annual report and deliver it to our common stockholders within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year after this offering terminates. Our directors are required to take reasonable steps to ensure that the annual report complies with our charter provisions. Among the matters that must be included in the annual report or included in a proxy statement delivered with the annual report are:
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• | financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP that are audited and reported on by independent certified public accountants; |
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• | the ratio of the costs of raising capital during the year to the capital raised; |
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• | the aggregate amount of advisory fees and the aggregate amount of other fees paid to KBS Capital Advisors and any affiliates of KBS Capital Advisors by us or third parties doing business with us during the year; |
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• | our total operating expenses for the year stated as a percentage of our average invested assets and as a percentage of our net income; |
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• | a report from the conflicts committee that our policies are in the best interests of our common stockholders and the basis for such determination; and |
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• | a separately stated, full disclosure of all material terms, factors and circumstances surrounding any and all transactions involving us and our advisor, a director or any affiliate thereof during the year, which disclosure has been examined and commented upon in the report by the conflicts committee with regard to the fairness of such transactions. |
Voting of Shares Owned by Affiliates. KBS Capital Advisors, our directors and officers and their affiliates cannot vote their shares of common stock regarding (i) the removal of any of these affiliates or (ii) any transaction between them and us.
Ratification of Charter Provisions. Our board of directors and the conflicts committee have approved and ratified our charter by the vote of a majority of their respective members, as required by our charter.
Internalization Fee Restriction
If we ever decided to become self-managed by acquiring entities affiliated with our advisor, our charter requires that a majority of our board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction conclude that such internalization transaction is fair and reasonable to us and on terms and conditions no less favorable to us than those available from third parties. Upon the recommendation of our advisor, our board of directors determined that, in the event our board of directors determine that it is in our best interest to obtain the personnel needed to become self-managed by entering into a business combination with affiliates of our sponsors (an “Internalization Transaction”), then we will not enter into such an Internalization Transaction unless our advisor or one of its affiliates agrees to proceed with the Internalization Transaction without the payment of any internalization fee or other consideration by us, whether in the form of a cash payment or in the form of stock, warrants or options.
Allocation of Investment Opportunities
Many investment opportunities that are suitable for us may also be suitable for other KBS-sponsored programs, as well as for the KBS-advised investors for whom KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliates serve as investment advisors. KBS Capital Advisors, our advisor and the advisor to KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT, and KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliates share many of the same key real estate and debt finance professionals. When these real estate and debt finance professionals direct an investment opportunity to any KBS-sponsored program or one of the KBS-advised investors, they, in their sole discretion, will have to determine the program or investor for which the investment opportunity is most suitable based on the investment objectives, portfolio and criteria of each program or investor. Our advisory agreement with KBS Capital Advisors requires that this determination be made in a manner that is fair without favoring any other KBS-sponsored program or investor. The factors that the real estate and debt finance professionals will consider when determining the KBS-sponsored program or KBS-advised investor for which an investment opportunity would be the most suitable are the following:
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• | the investment objectives and criteria of each program or investor; |
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• | the cash requirements of each program or investor; |
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• | the effect of the investment on the diversification of each program’s or investor’s portfolio by type of investment, risk of investment, type of commercial property, geographic location of properties, and tenants of properties and, in the case of debt-related investments, the characteristics of the underlying property; |
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• | the policy of each program or investor relating to leverage; |
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• | the anticipated cash flow of the property or asset to be acquired; |
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• | the income tax effects of the purchase on each program or investor; |
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• | the size of the investment; and |
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• | the amount of funds available to each program or investor and the length of time such funds have been available for investment. |
If a subsequent event or development, such as a delay in the closing of a property or investment or a delay in the construction of a property, causes any investment, in the opinion of our advisor’s real estate and debt finance professionals, to be more appropriate for another KBS-sponsored program or KBS-advised investor, they may offer the investment to another KBS-sponsored program or KBS-advised investor. It shall be the duty of our board of directors, including the independent directors, to ensure that the allocation method described above is applied fairly to us.
Our advisory agreement with KBS Capital Advisors requires that KBS Capital Advisors inform the conflicts committee each quarter of the investments that have been purchased by other KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors for whom KBS Capital Advisors, KBS Realty Advisors or one of their affiliates serves as an investment advisor so that the conflicts committee can evaluate whether we are receiving our fair share of opportunities. KBS Capital Advisors’ success in generating investment opportunities for us and the fair allocation of opportunities among KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors are important factors in the conflicts committee’s determination to continue or renew our arrangements with KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates. The conflicts committee has a duty to ensure that favorable investment opportunities are not disproportionately allocated to other KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors. For so long as we are externally advised, our charter provides that it shall not be a proper purpose of the corporation for us to make any significant investment unless the advisor has recommended the investment to us.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND CRITERIA
General
We expect to use substantially all of the net proceeds from this offering to invest in and manage a diverse portfolio of real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments. We intend to acquire distressed debt, to originate and acquire mortgage, mezzanine, bridge and other real estate-related loans, to invest in various types of opportunistic real estate and to invest in real estate-related debt securities such as residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations. In addition, we may acquire equity and preferred equity securities of companies that make similar investments such as other real estate operating companies. We may make our investments through loan origination and the acquisition of individual assets or by acquiring portfolios of assets, mortgage REITs or companies with investment objectives similar to ours. We plan to diversify our portfolio by investment type, investment size and investment risk with the goal of attaining a portfolio of assets that provide opportunities for capital appreciation as well as potential for cash distributions through increased cash flow from operations and targeted asset sales. We expect our investments to be in real estate located in the United States and Europe. Our funds will be invested in accordance with our charter, which will place numerous limitations on us with respect to the manner in which we may invest (see “—Charter-imposed Investment Limitations”). Except with respect to unimproved or non-income producing property, we are not limited in the percentage of net proceeds of this offering that we may allocate to a specific real estate asset type. Thus, we may make all of our investments in investments which present an increased risk of loss.
We are focused on acquiring an investment portfolio with a total return profile that is composed of investments that provide capital appreciation potential and current operating income. To that end, our primary investment objectives are:
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• | to preserve and return your capital contribution; |
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• | to realize growth in the value of our investments; and |
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• | to provide increasing cash distributions to you through increased cash flow from operations or targeted asset sales. |
We will also seek to realize growth in the value of our investments by timing asset sales to maximize their value. We intend to actively pursue lending and investment opportunities that we believe provide an attractive risk-adjusted return.
We may return all or a portion of your capital contribution in connection with the sale of the company or the investments we will make or upon maturity or payoff of our debt investments. Alternatively, you may be able to obtain a return of all or a portion of your capital contribution in connection with the sale of your shares.
We may seek to list our shares of common stock if our independent directors believe listing would be in the best interests of our stockholders. If we do not list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange within ten years of commencement of this initial public offering, our charter requires that we either:
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• | seek stockholder approval of the liquidation of the company; or |
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• | postpone the decision of whether to liquidate the company, if a majority of our conflicts committee determines that liquidation is not then in the best interests of the stockholders. |
If a majority of the conflicts committee does determine that liquidation is not then in the best interests of our stockholders, our charter requires that the conflicts committee revisit the issue of liquidation at least annually. Further postponement of listing or stockholder action regarding liquidation would only be permitted if a majority of the conflicts committee again determined that liquidation would not be in the best interest of our stockholders. If we sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of our liquidation, our charter would not require us to list or liquidate and would not require the conflicts committee to revisit the issue of liquidation, and we could continue to operate as before. If we sought and obtained stockholder approval of our liquidation, we would begin an orderly sale of our assets. The precise timing of such sales would take account of the prevailing real estate finance markets and the debt markets generally as well as the federal income tax consequences to our stockholders. In making the decision to apply for listing of our shares, our directors will try to determine whether listing our shares or liquidating our assets will result in greater value for stockholders.
One of the factors our board of directors will consider when making this determination is the liquidity needs of our stockholders. In assessing whether to list or liquidate, our board of directors would likely solicit input from financial advisors as to the likely demand for our shares upon listing. If, after listing, the board believed that it would be difficult for stockholders to dispose of their shares, then that factor would weigh against listing. However, this would not be the only factor considered by the board. If listing still appeared to be in the best long-term interest of our stockholders, despite the prospects of a relatively small market for our shares upon the initial listing, the board may still opt to list our shares of common stock in keeping with its obligations under Maryland law. The board would also likely consider whether there was a large demand to sell our shares when making decisions regarding listing or liquidation. The degree of participation in our dividend reinvestment plan and the number of requests for redemptions under the share redemption program at this time could be an indicator of stockholder demand to liquidate their investment.
Our conflicts committee reviews our investment policies at least annually to determine whether our policies are in the best interests of our stockholders. Our charter requires that the conflicts committee include the basis for its determination in its minutes and in an annual report delivered to our stockholders.
Investment Policies
Primary Investment Focus
We will focus our investment activities on real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments located in the United States and Europe. We may also acquire equity and preferred equity securities of companies that make investments similar to ours such as other real estate operating companies. Although the foregoing represents our present investment focus and targets, we have no target allocation for each asset class and we may adjust any of the foregoing based on real estate market conditions and investment opportunities. We may make our investments through loan origination and the acquisition of individual assets or by acquiring portfolios of assets, mortgage REITs or companies with investment objectives similar to ours. We believe that we are most likely to meet our investment objectives through the careful selection and underwriting of assets. When making an investment, we will emphasize the performance and risk characteristics of that investment, how that investment will fit with our portfolio-level performance objectives, the other assets in our portfolio and how the returns and risks of that investment compare to the returns and risks of available investment alternatives.
Investments in Real Estate-Related Loans
We intend to invest in real estate-related loans, including distressed debt, first and second mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, B-Notes, bridge loans, convertible mortgages, wraparound mortgage loans, construction mortgage loans and participations in such loans. We intend to structure, underwrite and originate many of the debt products in which we invest. Our underwriting process will involve comprehensive financial, structural, operational and legal due diligence to assess the risks of investments so that we can optimize pricing and structuring. By originating loans directly, we will be able to efficiently structure a diverse range of products. For instance, we may sell some components of the debt we originate while retaining attractive, risk-adjusted strips of the debt for ourselves. Our advisor or a wholly owned subsidiary of our advisor will source our debt investments. We will pay our advisor or its subsidiary acquisition and origination fees for loans that we make or acquire and asset management fees for the loans that we hold for investment.
We may sell some of the loans (or portions of the loans after separating them into tranches) that we originate to third parties for a profit. We expect to hold other loans (or portions of loans) for investment and in some instances securitize these loans through a CDO structure (discussed below).
Described below are some of the types of loans we may originate or acquire:
Distressed Debt. We may invest in distressed debt, which may include sub- and non-performing real estate loans acquired from financial institutions and performing loans acquired from distressed sellers. We make these investments when we believe our underwriting, credit, financing and asset management experience will enable us to generate above-average risk-adjusted returns by resolving these distressed loans expeditiously through refinancings, negotiated repayments with borrowers or foreclosure and subsequent sale of the underlying property. A sub-performing loan is a loan with a very high loan-to-value ratio and a low debt service coverage ratio and that is likely to default at maturity because the property securing the loan cannot support a refinancing of the loan’s entire unpaid principal balance. A non-performing loan is a loan that is in default of its covenants, is past due in interest payments, or is past its final maturity date and has not been repaid. Sub- and non-performing loans are typically purchased at a discount to the note’s face amount.
With respect to non-performing loans, we expect to explore various strategies for these investments including the following: (i) negotiating with the borrowers for reduced payoffs, (ii) restructuring the terms of the loans, and (iii) enforcing our rights as lender under the loans and foreclosing on the collateral securing the loans. Ultimately, we may obtain title to the properties securing any non-performing loan investments via foreclosure or deed-in-lieu proceedings.
Mortgage Loans. We may originate or acquire mortgage loans structured to permit us (i) to retain the entire loan, (ii) to sell or securitize the lower yielding senior portions of the loan and retain the higher yielding subordinate investment (or vice-versa) or (iii) to contribute all or a portion of the loan to a CDO. We expect these loans to be secured by commercial properties, generally, with exceptions, such as high-quality loans with low loan-to-value ratios. We may also acquire seasoned mortgage loans in the secondary market secured by single assets as well as portfolios of performing and sub-performing loans that were originated by third-party lenders such as banks, life insurance companies and other owners.
Second Mortgages. We may invest in second mortgages, which are loans secured by second deeds of trust on real property that is already subject to prior mortgage indebtedness, in an amount which, when added to the existing indebtedness, does not generally exceed 75% of the appraised value of the mortgage property.
B-Notes. B-Notes are junior participations in a first mortgage loan, which are typically secured by a single property, but may be secured by a group of related properties. The senior participation is known as an A-Note. Although a B-Note may be evidenced by its own promissory note, it shares a single borrower and mortgage with the A-Note and is secured by the same collateral. Though B-Note lenders have the same obligations, collateral and borrower as the A-Note lender, in most instances B-Note lenders are contractually limited in rights and remedies in the event of a default. The B-Note is subordinate to the A-Note by virtue of a contractual or intercreditor arrangement between the A-Note lender and the B-Note lender. For the B-Note lender to actively pursue its available remedies (if any), it must, in most instances, purchase the A-Note or maintain its performing status in the event of a default on the B-Note. The B-Note lender may in some instances require a security interest in the stock or partnership interests of the borrower as part of the transaction. If the B-Note holder can obtain a security interest, it may be able to accelerate gaining control of the underlying property, subject to the rights of the A-Note holder. These debt instruments are senior to the mezzanine debt tranches described below, though they may be junior to another junior participation in the first mortgage loan. B-Notes may or may not be rated by a recognized rating agency.
B-Notes typically are secured by a single property, and the associated credit risk is concentrated in that single property. B-Notes share certain credit characteristics with second mortgages in that both are subject to more credit risk with respect to the underlying mortgage collateral than the corresponding first mortgage or the A-Note. Our management believes that B-Notes are among the safest subordinated debt instruments because B-Notes share a single mortgage with the A-Note and, as a result, its position survives an event of foreclosure. After the A-Note is satisfied, any remaining recoveries go next to the B-Note holder.
Mezzanine Loans. The mezzanine loans we may originate or acquire will generally take the form of subordinated loans secured by a pledge of the ownership interests of an entity that directly or indirectly owns real property. We may hold senior or junior positions in mezzanine loans, such senior or junior position denoting the particular leverage strip that may apply.
We may require other collateral to provide additional security for mezzanine loans, including letters of credit, personal guarantees or collateral unrelated to the property. We may structure our mezzanine loans so that we receive a stated fixed or variable interest rate on the loan as well as a percentage of gross revenues and a percentage of the increase in the fair market value of the property securing the loan, payable upon maturity, refinancing or sale of the property. Our mezzanine loans may also have prepayment lockouts, penalties, minimum profit hurdles and other mechanisms to protect and enhance returns in the event of premature repayment.
These investments typically have terms from two to 10 years and bear interest at a rate of 275 to 800 basis points over the applicable interest rate index. Mezzanine loans may have maturities that match the maturity of the related mortgage loan but may have shorter terms. Mezzanine loans usually have loan-to-value ratios between 66% and 90%.
These types of investments are generally secured by the ownership interests in the property-owning entity and, as a result, are senior to the equity. Upon a default by the borrower under the mezzanine loan, the mezzanine lender generally can take immediate control and ownership of the property-owning entity, subject to the senior mortgage on the property that stays in place in the event of a mezzanine default and change of control of the borrower.
These types of investments involve a higher degree of risk relative to the long-term senior mortgage secured by the underlying real property because the investment may become unsecured as a result of foreclosure by the senior lender. In the event of a bankruptcy of the entity providing the pledge of its ownership interests as security, we may not have full recourse to the assets of such entity, or the assets of the entity may not be sufficient to satisfy the mezzanine loan. If a borrower defaults on our mezzanine loan or debt senior to our loan, or in the event of a borrower bankruptcy, our mezzanine loan will be satisfied only after the senior debt.
Bridge Loans. We may offer bridge financing products to borrowers who are typically seeking short-term capital to be used in an acquisition, development or refinancing of a given property. From the borrower’s perspective, shorter-term bridge financing is advantageous because it allows time to improve the property value through repositioning without encumbering it with restrictive long-term debt. The terms of these loans generally do not exceed three years.
Convertible Mortgages. Convertible mortgages are similar to equity participations. We may invest in and/or originate convertible mortgages if our directors conclude that we may benefit from the cash flow or any appreciation in the value of the subject property.
Wraparound Mortgages. A wraparound mortgage loan is secured by a wraparound deed of trust on a real property that is already subject to prior mortgage indebtedness, in an amount which, when added to the existing indebtedness, does not generally exceed 75% of the appraised value of the mortgage property. A wraparound loan is one or more junior mortgage loans having a principal amount equal to the outstanding balance under the existing mortgage loan, plus the amount actually to be advanced under the wraparound mortgage loan. Under a wraparound loan, we would generally make principal and interest payments on behalf of the borrower to the holders of the prior mortgage loans.
Construction Loans. Construction loans are loans made for either original development or renovation of property. Construction loans in which we would generally consider an investment would be secured by first deeds of trust on real property for terms of six months to two years.
Pre-development Loans and Land Loans. We may provide financing to fund the costs of property pre-development as well as land acquisitions. These loans are frequently done in conjunction with construction loans and are often structured as a component of the construction loan. Due to the complexity and underwriting requirements of a construction loan, borrowers often need to secure financing prior to being able to satisfy all of the requirements for the construction loan. Funds are used for acquisition of the land, pre-development and site work and to fund other costs until a guaranteed maximum construction price can be put into place. The terms of these loans generally do not exceed three years.
Loans on Leasehold Interests. Loans on leasehold interests are secured by an assignment of the borrower’s leasehold interest in the particular real property. These loans are generally for terms of six months to 15 years. Leasehold interest loans are either amortized over a period that is shorter than the lease term or have a maturity date prior to the date the lease terminates. These loans would generally permit us to cure any default under the lease.
Fund Level or Corporate Level Debt. We may invest in various real estate ventures by providing financing to or purchasing the debt obligations of funds or corporate entities with a primary focus on the commercial real estate and real estate finance industries.
Participations. Participation investments are investments in partial interests of loans of the type described above that are made and administered by third-party lenders.
Underwriting Criteria
In evaluating prospective investments in and originations of loans, our management and our advisor will consider factors such as the following:
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• | the ratio of the amount of the investment to the value of the property by which it is secured; |
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• | the amount of existing debt on the property and the priority thereof relative to our prospective investment; |
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• | the property’s potential for capital appreciation; |
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• | expected levels of rental and occupancy rates; |
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• | current and projected cash flow of the property; |
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• | potential for rental increases; |
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• | the degree of liquidity of the investment; |
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• | the geographic location of the property; |
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• | the condition and use of the property; |
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• | the property’s income-producing capacity; |
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• | the quality, experience and creditworthiness of the borrower; and |
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• | general economic conditions in the area where the property is located. |
Our advisor will evaluate all potential loan investments to determine if the security for the loan and the loan-to-value ratio meets our investment criteria and objectives. One of the real estate and debt finance professionals at our advisor or its subsidiary or their agent may inspect material properties during the loan approval process, if such an inspection is deemed necessary. Inspection of a property may be deemed necessary if that property is considered material to the transaction (such as a property representing a significant portion of the collateral underlying a pool of loans) or if there are unique circumstances related to such property such as recent capital improvements or possible functional obsolescence. We also may engage trusted third-party professionals to inspect properties on our behalf.
Most loans that we will consider for investment would provide for monthly payments of interest and some may also provide for principal amortization, although we expect that most of the loans in which we will invest will provide for payments of interest only during the loan term and a payment of principal in full at the end of the loan term.
Our loan investments may be subject to regulation by federal, state and local authorities and subject to laws and judicial and administrative decisions imposing various requirements and restrictions, including, among other things, regulating credit granting activities, establishing maximum interest rates and finance charges, requiring disclosure to customers, governing secured transactions and setting collection, repossession and claims handling procedures and other trade practices. In addition, certain states have enacted legislation requiring the licensing of mortgage bankers or other lenders, and these requirements may affect our ability to effectuate our proposed investments in loans. Commencement of operations in these or other jurisdictions may be dependent upon a finding of our financial responsibility, character and fitness. We may determine not to make loans in any jurisdiction in which the regulatory authority believes that we have not complied in all material respects with applicable requirements.
We will not make or invest in mortgage loans unless an appraisal concerning the underlying property is available, except for mortgage loans insured or guaranteed by a government or government agency. We will maintain each appraisal in our records for at least five years and will make it available during normal business hours for inspection and duplication by any stockholder at such stockholder’s expense. In addition to the appraisal, we will seek to obtain a customary lender’s title insurance policy or commitment as to the priority of the mortgage or condition of the title.
We will not make or invest in mortgage loans on any one property if the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans outstanding on the property, including our borrowings, would exceed an amount equal to 85% of the appraised value of the property, unless we find substantial justification due to the presence of other underwriting criteria.
Except as described below under “—Charter-Imposed Investment Limitations,” our charter does not limit the amount of gross offering proceeds that we may apply to loan investments. Our charter also does not place any limit or restriction on:
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• | the percentage of our assets that may be invested in any type of loan or in any single loan; or |
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• | the types of properties subject to mortgages or other loans in which we may invest. |
When determining whether to make investments in mortgage and other loans, we will consider such factors as: positioning the overall portfolio to achieve an optimal mix of real estate-related investments; the diversification benefits of the loans relative to the rest of the portfolio; the potential for the investment to deliver high current income and attractive risk-adjusted total returns; and other factors considered important to meeting our investment objectives. As discussed above, some of the loans we make will be sold shortly after origination.
Investments in Real Property
We expect that our real estate-related debt investments, in particular investments in distressed debt, will, in certain circumstances, result in us owning real property as a result of a loan workout, foreclosure or similar circumstances. In addition, we intend to invest a portion of the proceeds from this offering in real property, which may include, but is not limited to, office, industrial and retail properties, hospitality properties and undeveloped residential lots. If we invest in undeveloped residential lots, we do not expect to pay our advisor a separate fee, in addition to the asset management fee, related to the development of such lots. We expect some portion of our portfolio will consist of
direct investments in opportunistic real estate, excluding real property that we take title to (i) as part of a portfolio of debt investments, (ii) through a loan workout, foreclosure or similar circumstances or (iii) through convertible debt investments, although the percentage could be higher or lower. We consider opportunistic or enhanced-return properties to be properties with significant possibilities for short-term capital appreciation, such as non-stabilized properties, properties with moderate vacancies or near-term lease rollovers, poorly managed and positioned properties, properties owned by distressed sellers and built-to-suit properties. Except as described below under “—Charter-Imposed Investment Limitations,” our charter does not limit the amount of gross offering proceeds that we may apply to investments in real property.
Hospitality Properties
We may also acquire hospitality properties that meet our opportunistic investment strategy. Such investments may include limited-service, extended-stay and full-service lodging facilities as well as all-inclusive resorts. We may acquire existing hospitality properties or properties under construction and development. We expect to acquire hospitality properties with high growth potential achievable through various strategies, such as brand repositioning, market-based recovery or improved management practices. If we acquire hotel properties, we will lease the hotel to a TRS in which we may own a 100% ownership interest. Our TRS will engage a third party in the business of operating hotels to manage the property.
Potential European Investments
We expect that a portion of our investments in Europe will be in the form of a loan to STAM, the proceeds of which STAM will use to fund a general partner interest in a STAM-sponsored institutional real estate fund with an unrelated third party joint venture partner. The real estate fund will invest in European real estate which STAM will manage on behalf of the joint venture. As part of the terms of these investments with STAM, we expect to receive a portion of the fees STAM receives from the fund.
Investments in Real Estate-Related Debt Securities
In addition to our investments in real estate-related loans, we also expect to invest in real estate-related debt securities such as commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations. We may invest in any residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations or other real estate-related debt security that we believe will provide an attractive risk-adjusted return. While we may invest in any real estate-related debt securities, we expect that the majority of these investments would be commercial mortgage-backed securities. A brief description of commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations follows.
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities. Commercial mortgage-backed securities, or CMBS, are securities that evidence interests in, or are secured by, a single commercial mortgage loan or a pool of commercial mortgage loans. Accordingly, these securities are subject to all of the risks of the underlying mortgage loans.
CMBS are generally pass-through certificates that represent beneficial ownership interests in common law trusts whose assets consist of defined portfolios of one or more commercial mortgage loans. They are typically issued in multiple tranches whereby the more senior classes are entitled to priority distributions from the trust’s income. Losses and other shortfalls from expected amounts to be received on the mortgage pool are borne by the most subordinate classes, which receive payments only after the more senior classes have received all principal and/or interest to which they are entitled. The equity tranche, which is the “first loss” position, bears most of the risk associated with the collateral pool. It is possible for a relatively few number of defaults in the collateral pool to cause large losses for the equity tranche. However, if the collateral pool performs well, the equity tranche has a greater potential return than the more senior tranches, which typically have returns capped at the coupon rates of the notes created in the structure.
In addition to tranche seniority, the credit quality of CMBS depends on the credit quality of the underlying mortgage loans, the real estate finance market and the parties directly involved in the transaction, which is a function of factors such as:
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• | the principal amount of the loans relative to the value of the related properties; |
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• | the mortgage loan terms (e.g. amortization); |
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• | market assessment and geographic location; |
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• | construction quality of the property; |
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• | the creditworthiness of the borrowers; |
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• | macroeconomic variables that affect the supply and demand for commercial real estate; |
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• | structural features of the transaction, such as subordination levels, advancing terms and other credit enhancements; |
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• | the originator of the loan and its motivation to sell it; |
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• | the underwriter and issuer of the transaction and their ability to trade and support it in the secondary markets; and |
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• | the servicers and trustees responsible for running and maintaining the transaction on a daily basis. |
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities. Residential mortgage-backed securities, or RMBS, are similar to CMBS, however, they evidence interests in, or are secured by, a pool of residential mortgage loans secured by residential real property. These securities are also subject to all of the risks underlying the mortgage loans.
Collateralized Debt Obligations. CDOs are multiple class debt securities, or bonds, secured by pools of assets, such as residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, B-Notes, mezzanine loans, REIT debt and credit default swaps. Like typical securitization structures, in a collateralized debt obligation the assets are pledged to a trustee for the benefit of the holders of the bonds. Like the CMBS described above, CDOs are typically issued in multiple tranches with varying risk/reward attributes.
CDOs can be structured in many different ways. Some of the more common structural classifications include the following:
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• | Cash flow vs. market value. Cash flow CDOs pay interest and principal to investors from the cash flows produced by the assets owned by the CDO, while market value CDOs make principal and interest payments to investors from the cash flows produced by the assets owned by the CDO and by generating cash from trading such assets. The market value structure is often used when the collateral pool consists of assets that do not generate predictable cash flow streams, but have significant market value upside potential (such as a collateral pool of defaulted bonds or loans). |
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• | Managed vs. unmanaged. Cash flow CDOs can be managed or unmanaged. The manager of a cash flow CDO is chosen for credit expertise rather than trading expertise and generally focuses on managing credit quality of the underlying portfolio. A cash flow CDO may be unmanaged only if it has a static pool of assets. Market value CDOs require a manager to generate returns through trading. |
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• | Cash vs. synthetic. Cash CDOs are structures backed by a portfolio of cash assets owned by the CDO (such as a pool of bonds, loans and/or asset-backed securities), while synthetic CDOs are backed by credit default swaps, which are derivatives instruments that can reference any type of cash obligation. Hybrid CDOs may contain both cash assets as wells as credit default swaps. |
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• | Funded vs. unfunded. A synthetic CDO tranche may be funded or unfunded. If it is unfunded, the investor will not contribute any capital initially but will have to make loss payments in the event the portfolio’s losses reach the investor’s tranche. Typically, a synthetic CDO has both funded tranches (for the more junior and risky tranches) and an unfunded tranche (for the most senior and least risky tranche). |
Ratings of Real Estate-Related Debt Securities. For residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations, the securitization process is governed by one or more of the rating agencies, including Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, who determine the respective bond class sizes, generally based on a sequential payment structure. Bonds that are rated from AAA to BBB by the rating agencies are considered “investment grade.” Bond classes that are subordinate to the BBB class are considered “non-investment” grade. The respective bond class sizes are determined based on the review of the underlying collateral by the rating agencies. The payments received from the underlying loans are used to make the payments on the securities. Based on the sequential payment priority, the risk of nonpayment for the AAA securities is lower than the risk of nonpayment for the non-investment grade bonds. Accordingly, the AAA class is typically sold at a lower yield compared to the non-investment grade classes that are sold at higher yields. However, we will not acquire residential or commercial mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations or other structured debt securities (exclusive of investments in certificates that represent all of the beneficial interests in a pool of mortgages, which are referred to as a “whole pool” certificates and are akin to owning the underlying mortgages directly) that are not rated AA or higher. However, we may invest in such securities indirectly through investment in equity or preferred equity securities of mortgage REITs and companies with investment objectives similar to ours such as other real estate operating companies.
We evaluate the risk of residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations based on the credit risk of the underlying collateral and the risk of the transactional structure. The credit risk of the underlying collateral is crucial in evaluating the expected performance of an investment. Key variables in this
assessment include rent levels, vacancy rates, supply and demand forecasts and tenant incentives (build-out incentives or other rent concessions) related to the underlying properties. We utilize third-party data providers to review loan level performance such as delinquencies and threats to credit performance. We also review monthly servicing reports of the master and special servicers as well as reports from rating agencies. We perform specific asset-level underwriting on all significant loans in the securities structure. We utilize sensitivity analysis and other statistical underwriting when evaluating the cash flows generated by a transaction. With respect to transactional structure, we assess the structure of a particular securities transaction as well as utilize third-party data providers for a structural sensitivity analysis. After assessing loan-level data and structural data, we combine this information to forecast expected cash flows, probability of default and loss given a default. Except as described below under “—Charter-Imposed Investment Limitations,” our charter does not limit the amount of gross offering proceeds that we may apply to investments in real estate-related debt securities.
Investments in Equity Securities
We may make equity and preferred equity investments in mortgage REITs and other companies with investment objectives similar to ours such as other real estate operating companies. We may purchase the common or preferred stock of these entities or options to acquire their stock. We will target a public company that owns real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments when we believe its stock is trading at a discount to that company’s net asset value. We may eventually seek to acquire or gain a controlling interest in the companies that we target.
Generally, we will make investments in other entities when we consider it more efficient to acquire an entity that already owns assets meeting our investment objectives than to acquire such assets directly. We may also participate with other entities in investments through joint ventures, limited liability companies, partnerships and other types of common ownership or participations. Except as described below under “—Charter-Imposed Investment Limitations,” our charter does not limit the amount of gross offering proceeds that we may apply to investments in equity securities.
Other Possible Investments
Although we expect that most of our investments will be of the types described above, we may make other investments. In fact, we may invest in whatever types of interests in real estate- or debt-related assets that we believe are in our best interests. Although we can purchase any type of interest in real estate- or debt-related assets, our charter does limit certain types of investments. See “—Charter-Imposed Investment Limitations.” We do not intend to underwrite securities of other issuers.
Investment Decisions and Asset Management: The KBS Approach
KBS Capital Advisors has the authority to make all of the decisions regarding our investments, subject to the limitations in our charter and the direction and oversight of our board of directors. In particular, our board of directors is responsible for approving the investment opportunities presented by our advisor. In addition, our conflicts committee reviews our investment policies at least annually to determine whether our investment policies continue to be in the best interests of our common stockholders. See “Conflicts of Interest - Certain Conflict Resolution Procedures” and “Conflicts of Interest — Allocation of Investment Opportunities” for a discussion of additional requirements related to our board of director’s oversight of our advisor.
KBS Capital Advisors believes that successful investment requires the implementation of strategies that permit favorable purchases and originations, effective asset management and timely disposition of those assets. As such, KBS Capital Advisors has developed a disciplined investment approach that combines the experience of its team of real estate and debt finance professionals with a structure that emphasizes thorough market research, stringent underwriting standards and an extensive down-side analysis of the risks of each investment. The KBS approach also includes active and aggressive management of each asset acquired. KBS Capital Advisors believes that active management is critical to creating value. Our advisor also develops a well-defined exit strategy for each investment we make. KBS Capital Advisors then continually re-evaluates the exit strategy of each asset in response to the performance of the individual asset, market conditions and our overall portfolio objectives to determine the optimal time to hold the asset.
Our sponsors each have over 20 years of experience in real estate-related debt investments. Our sponsors will work together with their team of real estate and debt finance professionals in the identification, origination, acquisition and management of our investments. The senior real estate and debt finance professionals at KBS Capital Advisors have been through multiple financial cycles in their careers and have the expertise gained through hands-on experience in acquisitions, originations, loan workouts, asset management, dispositions, development, leasing and property and portfolio management.
To execute KBS Capital Advisors’ disciplined investment approach, a team of our advisor’s real estate and debt finance professionals takes responsibility for the business plan of each investment. The following practices summarize KBS Capital Advisors’ investment approach:
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• | National Market Research - The investment team extensively researches the acquisition and/or origination and underwriting of each investment, utilizing both “real time” market data and the transactional knowledge and experience of KBS Capital Advisors’ network of professionals. |
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• | Underwriting Discipline - KBS Capital Advisors follows a tightly controlled and managed process to examine all elements of a potential investment. Only those assets meeting our investment criteria will be accepted for inclusion in our portfolio. In an effort to keep an asset in compliance with those standards, the underwriting team remains involved through the investment life cycle of the asset and consults with our advisor’s other real estate and debt finance professionals responsible for the asset. This team of experts reviews and develops comprehensive reports for each asset throughout the holding period. |
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• | Risk Management - Risk management is a fundamental principle in our advisor’s construction of our portfolio and in the management of each investment. Diversification by investment type, investment size and investment risk is critical to controlling portfolio-level risk. KBS Capital Advisors’ senior management continuously reviews the operating performance of investments against projections and provides the oversight necessary to detect and resolve issues as they arise. |
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• | Asset Management - Prior to the purchase of an individual asset or portfolio, the asset managers work closely with the acquisition and underwriting teams to assess the asset business strategy and confirm the borrower submitted market operating information. This is a forecast of the action items to be taken and the capital needed to achieve the anticipated returns. KBS Capital Advisors reviews asset business strategies quarterly to anticipate changes or opportunities in the market during a given phase of a market cycle. KBS Capital Advisors designed this process to allow for realistic yet aggressive enhancement of value throughout the investment period. |
Joint Venture Investments
We may enter into joint ventures, partnerships and other co-ownership arrangements (including preferred equity investments) or participations for the purpose of making investments. Joint venture investments permit us to own interests in large investments without unduly restricting the diversity of our portfolio. In determining whether to invest in a particular joint venture, KBS Capital Advisors will evaluate the assets that such joint venture owns or is being formed to own under the same criteria described elsewhere in this prospectus for the selection of our investments.
KBS Capital Advisors will also evaluate the potential joint venture partner as to its financial condition, operating capabilities and integrity. We may enter into joint ventures with third parties or KBS Capital Advisors, any of our officers or directors or any of their affiliates; however, we may only enter into joint ventures with KBS Capital Advisors, any of our officers or directors or any of their affiliates if a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transactions concludes that the transaction is fair and reasonable to us and on substantially the same terms and conditions as those received by other joint venturers. At such time during the term of this offering that KBS Capital Advisors believes that there is a reasonable probability that we will enter into a joint venture for the origination or acquisition of a significant investment, we will supplement this prospectus to disclose the terms of such proposed transaction. You should not rely upon such initial disclosure of any proposed transaction as an assurance that we will ultimately consummate the proposed transaction or that the information we provide in any supplement to this prospectus concerning any proposed transaction will not change after the date of the supplement.
We have not established the specific terms we will require in the joint venture agreements we may enter. Instead, we will establish the terms with respect to any particular joint venture agreement on a case-by-case basis after our board of directors considers all of the facts that are relevant, such as the nature and attributes of our other potential joint venture partners, the proposed structure of the joint venture, the nature of the operations, the liabilities and assets associated with the proposed joint venture and the size of our interest when compared to the interests owned by other partners in the venture. With respect to any joint venture we enter, we expect to consider the following types of concerns and safeguards:
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• | Our ability to manage and control the joint venture. — We will consider whether we should obtain certain approval rights in joint ventures we do not control. For proposed joint ventures in which we are to share control with another entity, we will consider the procedures to address decisions in the event of an impasse. |
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• | Our ability to exit a joint venture. — We consider requiring buy/sell rights, redemption rights or forced liquidation rights. |
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• | Our ability to control transfers of interests held by other partners to the venture. — We will consider requiring consent provisions, a right of first refusal and/or forced redemption rights in connection with transfers. |
Financing Strategy and Policies
We will fund our investments with proceeds from this offering and expect to finance a portion of our investments with debt. We will use debt financing in various forms in an effort to increase the size of our portfolio and potential returns to our stockholders. Access to low-cost capital is crucial to our business, as we will earn income based on the spread between the yield on our investments and the cost of our borrowings.
We expect to use short-term financing in the form of revolving credit facilities, repurchase agreements, bridge financings and bank warehousing facilities. For longer-term funding, we may utilize securitization structures, if available, and we may place mortgage financing on any real estate investments we make.
Repurchase Agreements. With repurchase agreements, we may borrow against the loans, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and other investments we own. Under these agreements, we may sell loans and other investments to a counterparty and agree to repurchase the same assets from the counterparty at a price equal to the original sales price plus an interest factor. Repurchase agreements economically resemble short-term, variable-rate financings and usually require the maintenance of specific loan-to-collateral value ratios. If the market value of the assets subject to a repurchase agreement decline, we may be required to provide additional collateral or make cash payments to maintain the loan-to-collateral value ratio. If we are unable to provide such collateral or cash repayments, we may lose our economic interest in the underlying assets.
Warehouse Facilities. We may rely on warehouse credit facilities for capital needed to fund our investments. These facilities are typically lines of credit from commercial and investment banks that we can draw from to fund our investments. Warehouse facilities are typically collateralized loans made to investors who invest in securities and loans and, in return for financing, pledge their securities and loans to the warehouse lender. Third-party custodians, usually banks, typically hold the securities and loans funded with the warehouse facility borrowings, including the securities, loans, notes, mortgages and other important loan documentation, for the benefit of the investor who is deemed to own the securities and loans and, if there is a default under the warehouse credit facility, for the benefit of the warehouse lender.
Securitizations. We may seek to enhance the returns on our investments through CMBS, CDO, and other securitizations, if available. For example, we may securitize the senior portion of our investments in whole mortgage loans by selling A-notes, while retaining the subordinated securities in our investment portfolio.
Warehouse facilities, bank credit facilities and repurchase agreements generally include a recourse component, meaning that lenders retain a general claim against us as an entity. Further, such borrowings may also provide the lender with the ability to make margin calls and may limit the length of time that any given asset may be used as eligible collateral.
We may incur indebtedness in other forms that may be appropriate. For example, for investments in real estate, we may incur indebtedness in the form of bank borrowings, purchase money obligations to the sellers of properties we purchase, or mortgage financing. The form of our indebtedness may be long-term or short-term, fixed or floating rate, and secured or unsecured. KBS Capital Advisors will seek to obtain financing on our behalf on the most favorable terms available. We may use borrowing proceeds to finance loan originations or new investments; to pay for capital improvements, repairs or tenant build-outs on foreclosure or other properties; to refinance existing indebtedness; to pay distributions; or to provide working capital.
We intend to focus our investment activities on obtaining a diverse portfolio of real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments. Careful use of debt will help us to achieve our diversification goals because we will have more funds available for investment. We expect that once we have fully invested the proceeds of this offering, our debt financing and other liabilities will be 60% or less of the cost of our tangible assets (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves), although it may exceed this level during our offering stage. This is our target leverage as established by our board of directors. There is no
limitation on the amount we may borrow for any single investment. Our charter limits our total liabilities to 75% of the cost of our tangible assets (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves); however, we may exceed that limit if a majority of the conflicts committee approves each borrowing in excess of our charter limitation and we disclose such borrowing to our common stockholders in our next quarterly report with an explanation from the conflicts committee of the justification for the excess borrowing. During the early stages of this offering, and to the extent financing in excess of this limit is available on attractive terms, our conflicts committee may approve debt such that our total liabilities would exceed this limit.
To the extent that we do not finance our investments, our ability to make additional investments will be restricted. When interest rates are high or financing is otherwise unavailable on a timely basis, we may make certain investments with cash with the intention of obtaining a loan for a portion of the cost of the investment at a later time. For a discussion of the risks associated with the use of debt, see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Financing Strategy.”
Except with respect to any borrowing limits contained in our charter, we may reevaluate and change our debt policy in the future without a stockholder vote. Factors that we would consider when reevaluating or changing our debt policy include: then-current economic conditions, the relative cost and availability of debt and equity capital, any investment opportunities, the ability of our investments to generate sufficient cash flow to cover debt service requirements and other similar factors. Further, we may increase or decrease our ratio of debt to book value in connection with any change of our borrowing policies.
We will not borrow from our advisor or its affiliates to make investments unless a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves the transaction as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable and no less favorable to us than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties.
Operating Policies
Credit Risk Management. We may be exposed to various levels of credit and special hazard risk depending on the nature of our underlying assets and the nature and level of credit enhancements supporting our assets. Our advisor and our executive officers will review and monitor credit risk and other risks of loss associated with each investment. In addition, we will seek to diversify our portfolio of assets to avoid undue geographic, issuer, industry and certain other types of concentrations. Our board of directors will monitor the overall portfolio risk and levels of provision for loss.
Interest Rate Risk Management. To the extent consistent with maintaining our qualification as a REIT, we will follow an interest rate risk management policy intended to mitigate the negative effects of major interest rate changes. We intend to minimize our interest rate risk from borrowings by attempting to structure the key terms of our borrowings to generally correspond to the interest rate term of our assets and through interest rate hedging activities.
Hedging Activities. We may engage in hedging transactions to protect our investment portfolio from interest rate fluctuations, currency risks and other changes in market conditions. These transactions may include interest rate and currency swaps, the purchase or sale of interest rate and currency collars, caps or floors, options, mortgage derivatives and other hedging instruments. These instruments may be used to hedge as much of the interest rate and currency risk as we determine is in the best interest of our stockholders, given the cost of such hedges and the need to maintain our qualification as a REIT. We may from time to time enter into interest rate swap agreements to offset the potential adverse effects of rising interest rates under certain short-term repurchase agreements. We may elect to bear a level of interest rate or currency risk that could otherwise be hedged when we believe, based on all relevant facts, that bearing such risk is advisable.
Equity Capital Policies. Our board of directors may increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock without stockholder approval. After your purchase in this offering, our board may elect to (i) sell additional shares in this or future offerings, including through the dividend reinvestment plan, (ii) issue shares to our advisor, or its successors or assigns, in payment of an outstanding fee obligation or (iii) issue shares of our common stock to sellers of assets we acquire in connection with an exchange of limited partnership interests of the Operating Partnership. To the extent we issue additional equity interests after your purchase in this offering, whether in a primary offering, through the dividend reinvestment plan or otherwise, your percentage ownership interest in us will be diluted. In addition, depending upon the terms and pricing of any additional offerings, the use of the proceeds and the value of our investments, you may also experience dilution in the book value and fair value of your shares and in the earnings and distributions per share.
Disposition Policies
The period that we will hold our investments in real estate-related loans, opportunistic real estate, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments will vary depending on the type of asset, interest rates and other factors. Our advisor will develop a well-defined exit strategy for each investment we make. KBS Capital Advisors will continually perform a hold-sell analysis on each asset in order to determine the optimal time to hold the asset and generate a strong return for you. Economic and market conditions may influence us to hold our investments for different periods of time. We may sell an asset before the end of the expected holding period if we believe that market conditions have maximized its value to us or the sale of the asset would otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.
If we do not list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange within ten years of commencement of this initial public offering, our charter requires that we seek stockholder approval of the liquidation of the company, unless a majority of the conflicts committee determines that liquidation is not then in the best interests of our stockholders. If a majority of the conflicts committee does determine that liquidation is not then in the best interests of our stockholders, our charter requires that the conflicts committee revisit the issue of liquidation at least annually. Further postponement of listing or stockholder action regarding liquidation would only be permitted if a majority of the conflicts committee again determined that liquidation would not be in the best interest of our stockholders. If we sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of our liquidation, our charter would not require us to list or liquidate and would not require the conflicts committee to revisit the issue of liquidation, and we could continue to operate as before. If we sought and obtained stockholder approval of our liquidation, we would begin an orderly sale of our assets. The precise timing of such sales would take account of the prevailing real estate finance markets and the debt markets generally as well as the federal income tax consequences to our stockholders. In making the decision to apply for listing of our shares, our directors will try to determine whether listing our shares or liquidating our assets will result in greater value for our stockholders. One of the factors our board of directors will consider when making this determination is the liquidity needs of our stockholders. See the discussion above under “Investment Objectives and Criteria — General.”
Charter-imposed Investment Limitations
Our charter places numerous limitations on us with respect to the manner in which we may invest our funds or issue securities. Pursuant to our charter, we will not:
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• | incur debt such that it would cause our liabilities to exceed 75% of the aggregate cost of tangible assets owned by us, unless approved by a majority of the conflicts committee; |
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• | invest more than 10% of our total assets in unimproved property or mortgage loans on unimproved property, which we define as property not acquired for the purpose of producing rental or other operating income or on which there is no development or construction in progress or planned to commence within one year; |
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• | make or invest in mortgage loans unless an appraisal is available concerning the underlying property, except for those mortgage loans insured or guaranteed by a government or government agency; |
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• | make or invest in mortgage loans, including construction loans, on any one property if the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans on such property would exceed an amount equal to 85% of the appraised value of such property as determined by appraisal, unless substantial justification exists for exceeding such limit because of the presence of other underwriting criteria; |
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• | make an investment if the related acquisition and origination fees and expenses are not reasonable or exceed 6% of the contract purchase price for the asset or, in the case of a loan we originate, 6% of the funds advanced, provided that in either case the investment may be made if a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves such fees and expenses and determines that the transaction is commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to us; |
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• | acquire equity securities unless a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves such investment as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable, provided that investments in equity securities in “publicly traded entities” that are otherwise approved by a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the conflicts committee) shall be deemed fair, competitive and commercially reasonable if we acquire the equity securities through a trade that is effected in a recognized securities market (a “publicly traded entity” shall mean any entity having securities listed on a national securities exchange or included for quotation on an inter−dealer quotation system); |
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• | invest in real estate contracts of sale, otherwise known as land sale contracts, unless the contract is in recordable form and is appropriately recorded in the chain of title; |
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• | invest in commodities or commodity futures contracts, except for futures contracts when used solely for the purpose of hedging in connection with our ordinary business of investing in real estate assets and mortgages; |
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• | issue equity securities on a deferred payment basis or other similar arrangement; |
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• | issue debt securities in the absence of adequate cash flow to cover debt service unless the historical debt service coverage (in the most recently completed fiscal year), as adjusted for known changes, is sufficient to service that higher level of debt as determined by the board of directors or a duly authorized executive officer; |
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• | issue equity securities that are assessable after we have received the consideration for which our board of directors authorized their issuance; or |
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• | issue equity securities redeemable solely at the option of the holder, which restriction has no effect on our share redemption program or the ability of our Operating Partnership to issue redeemable partnership interests. |
In addition, our charter includes many other investment limitations in connection with conflict-of-interest transactions, which limitations are described above under “Conflicts of Interest.” Our charter also includes restrictions on roll-up transactions, which are described under “Description of Shares” below.
Investment Limitations under the Investment Company Act of 1940
We intend to conduct our operations so that neither we nor any of our subsidiaries will be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Under the relevant provisions of Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act, an investment company is any issuer that:
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• | pursuant to Section 3(a)(1)(A), is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities (the “primarily engaged test”); or |
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• | pursuant to Section 3(a)(1)(C), is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire “investment securities” having a value exceeding 40% of the value of such issuer’s total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis (the “40% test”). “Investment securities” excludes U.S. government securities and securities of majority-owned subsidiaries that are not themselves investment companies and are not relying on the exception from the definition of investment company under Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7). |
We believe that neither we nor our Operating Partnership will be required to register as an investment company based on the following analysis. With respect to the 40% test, most of the entities through which we and our Operating Partnership own our assets will be majority-owned subsidiaries that will not themselves be investment companies and will not be relying on the exceptions from the definition of investment company under Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) (relating to private investment companies).
With respect to the primarily engaged test, we and our Operating Partnership will be holding companies and do not intend to invest or trade in securities ourselves. Rather, through the majority-owned subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership, we and our Operating Partnership will be primarily engaged in the non-investment company businesses of these subsidiaries, namely the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring real estate and real estate-related assets.
If any of the subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership fail to meet the 40% test, we believe they will usually, if not always, be able to rely on Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act for an exception from the definition of an investment company. (Otherwise, they should be able to rely on the exceptions for private investment companies pursuant to Section 3(c)(1) and Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act.) As reflected in no-action letters, the SEC staff’s position on Section 3(c)(5)(C) generally requires that an issuer maintain at least 55% of its assets in “mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate,” or qualifying assets; at least 80% of its assets in qualifying assets plus real estate-related assets; and no more than 20% of the value of its assets in other than qualifying assets and real estate-related assets, which we refer to as miscellaneous assets. To constitute a qualifying asset under this 55% requirement, a real estate interest must meet various criteria based on no-action letters. We expect that any of the subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership relying on Section 3(c)(5)(C) will invest at least 55% of its assets in qualifying assets, and approximately an additional 25% of its assets in other types of real estate-related assets. If any subsidiary
relies on Section 3(a)(5)(C), we expect to rely on guidance published by the SEC staff or on our analyses of guidance published with respect to types of assets to determine which assets are qualifying real estate assets and real estate-related assets.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our common stock. The law firm of DLA Piper LLP (US) acting as our tax counsel has reviewed this summary. For purposes of this section under the heading “Federal Income Tax Considerations,” references to “KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.,” “we,” “our” and “us” mean only KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. and not its subsidiaries or other lower-tier entities, except as otherwise indicated. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code, the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department, rulings and other administrative pronouncements issued by the Internal Revenue Service, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below. We have not sought and do not currently expect to seek an advance ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding any matter discussed in this prospectus. The summary is also based upon the assumption that we will operate KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliated entities in accordance with their applicable organizational documents. This summary is for general information only and does not purport to discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a particular investor in light of its investment or tax circumstances or to investors subject to special tax rules, such as:
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• | regulated investment companies; |
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• | partnerships and trusts; |
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• | persons who hold our stock on behalf of other persons as nominees; |
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• | persons who receive our stock through the exercise of employee stock options (if we ever have employees) or otherwise as compensation; |
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• | persons holding our stock as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction,” “constructive ownership transaction,” “synthetic security” or other integrated investment; |
and, except to the extent discussed below:
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• | tax-exempt organizations; and |
This summary assumes that investors will hold their common stock as a capital asset, which generally means as property held for investment.
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of holders of our common stock depends in some instances on determinations of fact and interpretations of complex provisions of U.S. federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. In addition, the tax consequences to any particular stockholder of holding our common stock will depend on the stockholder’s particular tax circumstances. For example, a stockholder that is a partnership or trust that has issued an equity interest to certain types of tax-exempt organizations may be subject to a special entity-level tax if we make distributions attributable to “excess inclusion income.” See “—Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. —Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.” A similar tax may be payable by persons who hold our stock as nominees on behalf of tax-exempt organizations. You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences to you in light of your particular investment or tax circumstances of acquiring, holding, exchanging, or otherwise disposing of our common stock.
Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.
We elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2014. We believe that we have been organized and have operated and expect to continue to be organized and to operate in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT.
The law firm of DLA Piper LLP (US), acting as our tax counsel in connection with this offering, has rendered an opinion that commencing with our taxable year ending December 31 2014, we were organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, and our proposed method of operation will enable us to continue meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. It must be emphasized that the opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) is based on various assumptions relating to our organization and operation and conditioned upon fact-based representations and covenants made by our management regarding our organization, assets, and income, and the past, present and future conduct of our business operations. While we intend to operate so that we will qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given by DLA Piper LLP (US) or by us that we will qualify as a REIT for any particular year. The opinion is expressed as of the date issued and does not cover subsequent periods. Counsel has no obligation to advise us or our stockholders of any subsequent change in the matters stated, represented or assumed, or of any subsequent change in the applicable law. You should be aware that opinions of counsel are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service, and no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge the conclusions set forth in such opinions.
Qualification and taxation as a REIT depends on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual operating results, distribution levels, and diversity of stock and asset ownership, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Internal Revenue Code, the compliance with which will not be reviewed by DLA Piper LLP (US). Our ability to qualify as a REIT also requires that we satisfy certain asset tests, some of which depend upon the fair market values of assets that we own directly or indirectly. Such values may not be susceptible to a precise determination. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any taxable year will satisfy such requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.
Taxation of REITs in General
As indicated above, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Internal Revenue Code. The material qualification requirements are summarized below under “—Requirements for Qualification—General.” While we intend to operate so that we qualify as a REIT, no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge our qualification, or that we will be able to operate in accordance with the REIT requirements in the future. See “—Failure to Qualify.”
Provided that we qualify as a REIT, generally we will be entitled to a deduction for distributions that we pay to our stockholders and therefore will not be subject to federal corporate income tax on our taxable income that is currently distributed to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” at the corporate and stockholder levels that generally results from investment in a corporation. In general, the income that we generate is taxed only at the stockholder level upon distribution to our stockholders.
Certain domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts or estates will be taxed on corporate distributions at a maximum rate of 20%. With limited exceptions, however, distributions from us or from other entities that are taxed as REITs are generally not eligible for this rate and will continue to be taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income. See “—Taxation of Stockholders-Taxation of Taxable Domestic Stockholders—Distributions.”
Any net operating losses and other tax attributes generally do not pass through to our stockholders, subject to special rules for certain items such as the capital gains that we recognize. See “— Taxation of Stockholders.”
If we qualify as a REIT, we will nonetheless be subject to federal tax in the following circumstances:
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• | We will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains. |
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• | We may be subject to the “alternative minimum tax” on our items of tax preference, including any deductions of net operating losses. |
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• | If we have net income from prohibited transactions, which are, in general, sales or other dispositions of inventory or property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, other than foreclosure property, such income will be subject to a 100% tax. See “—Prohibited Transactions” and “—Foreclosure Property” below. |
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• | If we elect to treat property that we acquire in connection with a foreclosure of a mortgage loan or certain leasehold terminations as “foreclosure property,” we may thereby avoid the 100% tax on gain from a resale of that property (if the sale would otherwise constitute a prohibited transaction), but the income from the |
sale or operation of the property may be subject to corporate income tax at the highest applicable rate (currently 35%).
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• | If we derive “excess inclusion income” from an interest in certain mortgage loan securitization structures (i.e., a “taxable mortgage pool” or a residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit, or “REMIC”), we could be subject to corporate level federal income tax at a 35% rate to the extent that such income is allocable to specified types of tax-exempt stockholders known as “disqualified organizations” that are not subject to unrelated business income tax. See “—Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income” below. “Disqualified organizations” are any organization described in Section 860E (e)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code, including: (i) the United States; (ii) any state or political subdivision of the United States; (iii) any foreign government; and (iv) certain other organizations. |
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• | If we should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, as discussed below, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because we satisfy other requirements, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount based on the magnitude of the failure, as adjusted to reflect the profit margin associated with our gross income. |
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• | If we should violate the asset tests (other than certain de minimis violations) or other requirements applicable to REITs, as described below, and yet maintain our qualification as a REIT because there is reasonable cause for the failure and other applicable requirements are met, we may be subject to an excise tax. In that case, the amount of the excise tax will be at least $50,000 per failure, and, in the case of certain asset test failures, will be determined as the amount of net income generated by the assets in question multiplied by the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%) if that amount exceeds $50,000 per failure. |
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• | If we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (a) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (b) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we would be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of (i) the amounts that we actually distributed and (ii) the amounts we retained and upon which we paid income tax at the corporate level. |
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• | We may be required to pay monetary penalties to the Internal Revenue Service in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet record keeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of a REIT’s stockholders, as described below in “—Requirements for Qualification—General.” |
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• | A 100% tax may be imposed on transactions between us and a TRS (as described below) that do not reflect arm’s-length terms. |
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• | If we acquire appreciated assets from a corporation that is not a REIT (i.e., a corporation taxable under subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code) in a transaction in which the adjusted tax basis of the assets in our hands is determined by reference to the adjusted tax basis of the assets in the hands of the subchapter C corporation, we may be subject to tax on such appreciation at the highest corporate income tax rate then applicable if we subsequently recognize gain on a disposition of any such assets during the 5-year period following their acquisition from the subchapter C corporation. |
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• | The earnings of our subsidiaries, including any subsidiary we may elect to treat as a TRS (as described below), are subject to federal corporate income tax to the extent that such subsidiaries are subchapter C corporations. |
In addition, we and our subsidiaries may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state and local and foreign income, property and other taxes on our assets and operations. We could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.
Requirements for Qualification—General
The Internal Revenue Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:
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(i) | that is managed by one or more trustees or directors; |
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(ii) | the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest; |
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(iii) | that would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for its election to be subject to tax as a REIT; |
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(iv) | that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code; |
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(v) | the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons; |
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(vi) | in which, during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer “individuals” (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code to include specified tax-exempt entities); |
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(vii) | that elects to be taxed as a REIT, or has made such election for a previous taxable year, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements that must be met to elect and maintain REIT qualification; and |
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(viii) | that meets other tests described below, including with respect to the nature of its income and assets. |
The Internal Revenue Code provides that conditions (i) through (iv) must be met during the entire taxable year, and that condition (v) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Conditions (v) and (vi) need not be met during a corporation’s initial tax year as a REIT. Our charter provides restrictions regarding the ownership and transfer of our shares, which are intended to assist us in satisfying the share ownership requirements described in conditions (v) and (vi) above.
We believe that we have issued in this offering common stock with sufficient diversity of ownership to satisfy conditions (v) and (vi). In addition, our charter restricts the ownership and transfer of our stock so that we should continue to satisfy these requirements. The provisions of our charter restricting the ownership and transfer of our common stock are described in “Description of Shares—Restriction on Ownership of Shares.”
To monitor compliance with the share ownership requirements, we generally are required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our shares. To do so, we must demand written statements each year from the record holders of significant percentages of our stock pursuant to which the record holders must disclose the actual owners of the shares (i.e., the persons required to include our distributions in their gross income). We must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with this demand as part of our records. We could be subject to monetary penalties if we fail to comply with these record-keeping requirements. If you fail or refuse to comply with the demands, you will be required by Treasury regulations to submit a statement with your tax return disclosing your actual ownership of our shares and other information.
In addition, a corporation generally may not elect to become a REIT unless its taxable year is the calendar year. We have adopted December 31 as our year-end, and thereby satisfy this requirement.
The Internal Revenue Code provides relief from violations of the REIT gross income requirements, as described below under “-Income Tests,” in cases where a violation is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, and other requirements are met, including the payment of a penalty tax that is based upon the magnitude of the violation. In addition, certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code extend similar relief in the case of certain violations of the REIT asset requirements (see “-Asset Tests” below) and other REIT requirements, again provided that the violation is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and other conditions are met, including the payment of a penalty tax. If we fail to satisfy any of the various REIT requirements, there can be no assurance that these relief provisions would be available to enable us to maintain our qualification as a REIT, and, if such relief provisions are available, the amount of any resultant penalty tax could be substantial.
Effect of Subsidiary Entities
Ownership of Partnership Interests. An unincorporated domestic entity, such as a partnership, limited liability company, or trust, that has a single owner generally is not treated as an entity separate from its parent for U.S. federal income tax purposes. An unincorporated domestic entity with two or more owners generally is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If we are a partner in an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Treasury regulations provide that we are deemed to own our proportionate share of the partnership’s assets, and to earn our proportionate share of the partnership’s income, for purposes of the asset and gross income tests applicable to REITs. Our proportionate share of a partnership’s assets and income is based on our capital interest in the partnership (except that for purposes of the 10% value test, our proportionate share of the partnership’s assets is based on our proportionate interest in the equity and certain debt securities issued by the partnership). In
addition, the assets and gross income of the partnership are deemed to retain the same character in our hands. Thus, our proportionate share of
the assets and items of income of any of our subsidiary partnerships will be treated as our assets and items of income for purposes of applying the REIT requirements. For any period of time that we own 100% of our Operating Partnership, all of the Operating Partnership’s assets and income will be deemed to be ours for federal income tax purposes.
Disregarded Subsidiaries. If we own a corporate subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary,” that subsidiary is generally disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and all of the subsidiary’s assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit are treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit, including for purposes of the gross income and asset tests applicable to REITs. A qualified REIT subsidiary is any corporation, other than a TRS (as described below), that is directly or indirectly wholly owned by a REIT. Thus, in applying the requirements described herein, any qualified REIT subsidiary that we own will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction and credit of such subsidiary will be treated as our assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction and credit. If we own 100% of the equity interests in a CDO issuer or other securitization vehicle that is treated as a corporation for tax purposes, that CDO issuer or other securitization vehicle would be a qualified REIT subsidiary, unless we and the CDO issuer or other securitization vehicle jointly elect to treat the CDO issuer or other securitization vehicle as a TRS. It is anticipated that CDO financings we enter into, if any, will be treated as qualified REIT subsidiaries. Other entities that are wholly owned by us, including single member limited liability companies that have not elected to be taxed as corporations for federal income tax purposes, are also generally disregarded as separate entities for federal income tax purposes, including for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests. Disregarded subsidiaries, along with any partnerships in which we hold an equity interest, are sometimes referred to herein as “pass-through subsidiaries.”
In the event that a disregarded subsidiary of ours ceases to be wholly owned—for example, if any equity interest in the subsidiary is acquired by a person other than us or another disregarded subsidiary of ours—the subsidiary’s separate existence would no longer be disregarded for federal income tax purposes. Instead, the subsidiary would have multiple owners and would be treated as either a partnership or a taxable corporation. Such an event could, depending on the circumstances, adversely affect our ability to satisfy the various asset and gross income requirements applicable to REITs, including the requirement that REITs generally may not own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the securities of another corporation. See “—Asset Tests” and “—Income Tests.”
Taxable Corporate Subsidiaries. In the future we may jointly elect with any of our subsidiary corporations, whether or not wholly owned, to treat such subsidiary corporations as taxable REIT subsidiaries, or TRSs. A REIT is permitted to own up to 100% of the stock of one or more TRSs. A domestic TRS is a fully taxable corporation that may earn income that would not be qualifying income if earned directly by the parent REIT. The subsidiary and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a TRS. A corporation with respect to which a TRS directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the stock will automatically be treated as a TRS. We generally may not own more than 10% of the securities of a taxable corporation, as measured by voting power or value, unless we and such corporation elect to treat such corporation as a TRS. Overall, no more than 25% (20% for taxable years after 2017) of the value of a REIT’s assets may consist of stock or securities of one or more TRSs.
The separate existence of a TRS or other taxable corporation is not ignored for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a TRS or other taxable corporation generally would be subject to corporate income tax on its earnings, which may reduce the cash flow that we and our subsidiaries generate in the aggregate, and may reduce our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
We are not treated as holding the assets of a TRS or other taxable subsidiary corporation or as receiving any income that the subsidiary earns. Rather, the stock issued by a taxable subsidiary to us is an asset in our hands, and we treat the distributions paid to us from such taxable subsidiary, if any, as income. This treatment can affect our income and asset test calculations, as described below. Because we do not include the assets and income of TRSs or other taxable subsidiary corporations in determining our compliance with the REIT requirements, we may use such entities to undertake indirectly activities that the REIT rules might otherwise preclude us from doing directly or through pass-through subsidiaries. For example, we may use TRSs or other taxable subsidiary corporations to conduct activities that give rise to certain categories of income such as management fees or activities that would be treated in our hands as prohibited transactions.
Certain restrictions imposed on TRSs are intended to ensure that such entities will be subject to appropriate levels of U.S. federal income taxation. First, a TRS with a debt-equity ratio in excess of 1.5 to 1 may not deduct interest
payments made in any year to an affiliated REIT to the extent that such payments exceed, generally, 50% of the TRS’s adjusted taxable income for that year (although the TRS may carry forward to, and deduct in, a succeeding year the
disallowed interest amount if the 50% test is satisfied in that year). In addition, if amounts are paid to a REIT or deducted by a TRS due to transactions between the REIT and a TRS that exceed the amount that would be paid to or deducted by a party in an arm’s-length transaction, the REIT generally will be subject to an excise tax equal to 100% of such excess. We intend to scrutinize all of our transactions with any of our subsidiaries that are treated as a TRS in an effort to ensure that we do not become subject to this excise tax; however, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in avoiding this excise tax.
We may own TRSs that are organized outside of the United States. For example, we may hold certain investments and instruments through TRSs to the extent that direct ownership by us could jeopardize our compliance with the REIT qualification requirements, and we may make TRS elections with respect to certain offshore issuers of CDOs and/or other instruments to the extent that we do not own 100% of the offshore issuer’s equity. Special rules apply in the case of income earned by a taxable subsidiary corporation that is organized outside of the United States. Depending upon the nature of the subsidiary’s income, the parent REIT may be required to include in its taxable income an amount equal to its share of the subsidiary’s income, without regard to whether, or when, such income is distributed by the subsidiary. See “—Income Tests” below. A TRS that is organized outside of the United States may, depending upon the nature of its operations, be subject to little or no U.S. federal income tax. There is a specific exemption from U.S. federal income tax for non-U.S. corporations that restrict their activities in the United States to trading stock and securities (or any activity closely related thereto) for their own account, whether such trading (or such other activity) is conducted by the corporation or its employees through a resident broker, commission agent, custodian or other agent. We currently expect that any offshore TRSs will rely on that exemption or otherwise operate in a manner so that they will generally not be subject to federal income tax on their net income at the entity level.
Income Tests
In order to qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income requirements on an annual basis. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year, excluding gross income from sales of inventory or dealer property in “prohibited transactions,” generally must be derived from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including interest income derived from mortgage loans secured by real property and certain limited personal property (including certain types of residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities), “rents from real property,” distributions received from other REITs, gains from the sale of real estate assets (other than certain non-qualified publicly offered REIT debt instruments), and any amount includible in gross income with respect to a regular or residual interest in a REMIC, unless less than 95% of the REMIC’s assets are real estate assets, in which case only a proportionate amount of such income will qualify, as well as specified income from temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income in each taxable year, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain hedging transactions, must be derived from some combination of such income from investments in real property (i.e., income that qualifies under the 75% income test described above), as well as other distributions, interest, and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, which need not have any relation to real property.
Gross income from the sale of inventory property is excluded from both the numerator and the denominator in both income tests. Income and gain from hedging transactions that we enter into to hedge indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets will generally be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for purposes of both gross income tests. We intend to monitor the amount of our non-qualifying income and manage our investment portfolio to comply at all times with the gross income tests but we cannot assure you that we will be successful in this effort.
The term “interest,” as defined for purposes of both gross income tests, generally excludes any amount that is based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, interest generally includes the following: (i) an amount that is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of gross receipts or sales and (ii) an amount that is based on the income or profits of a borrower where the borrower derives substantially all of its income from the real property securing the debt by leasing substantially all of its interest in the property, but only to the extent that the amounts received by the borrower would be qualifying “rents from real property” if received directly by a REIT.
If a loan contains a provision that entitles a REIT to a percentage of the borrower’s gain upon the sale of the real property securing the loan or a percentage of the appreciation in the property’s value as of a specific date, income attributable to that loan provision will be treated as gain from the sale of the property securing the loan, which generally is qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests.
Interest on debt secured by a mortgage on real property or on interests in real property is generally qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. However, where a mortgage covers both real property and personal property an apportionment of the interest income must be made as described below. If the highest principal amount of a loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property securing the loan as of the date the REIT agreed to originate or acquire the loan, a portion of the interest income from such loan will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, but will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. For purposes of the 75% gross income test, if the fair market value of such personal property does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all such property, such personal property is treated as real property. Note that a “significant modification” of a debt instrument will result in a new debt instrument which can require new tests of the value of the underlying real estate. The portion of the interest income that will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test will be equal to the portion of the principal amount of the loan that is not secured by real property (i.e., the amount by which the loan exceeds the value of the real estate that is security for the loan).
Interest, including original issue discount or market discount, that we accrue on our real estate-related investments generally will be qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests. However, some of our investments may not be secured by mortgages on real property or interests in real property. Our interest income from those investments will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test but not the 75% gross income test. In addition, as discussed above, if the fair market value of the real estate securing any of our investments is less than the principal amount of the underlying loan as of a certain testing date, a portion of the income from that investment may be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test but not the 75% gross income test.
To the extent that the terms of a loan provide for contingent interest that is based on the cash proceeds realized upon the sale of the property securing the loan (a “shared appreciation provision”), income attributable to the participation feature will be treated as gain from sale of the underlying property, which generally will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests provided that the real property is not held as inventory or dealer property or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. To the extent that we derive interest income from a mortgage loan or income from the rental of real property (discussed below) where all or a portion of the amount of interest or rental income payable is contingent, such income generally will qualify for purposes of the gross income tests only if it is based upon the gross receipts or sales and not on the net income or profits of the borrower or lessee. This limitation does not apply, however, where the borrower or lessee leases substantially all of its interest in the property to tenants or subtenants to the extent that the rental income derived by the borrower or lessee, as the case may be, would qualify as rents from real property had we earned the income directly.
We and our subsidiaries may invest in mezzanine loans, which are loans secured by equity interests in an entity that directly or indirectly owns real property, rather than by a direct mortgage of the real property. The Internal Revenue Service has issued Revenue Procedure 2003-65, which provides a safe harbor applicable to mezzanine loans. Under the Revenue Procedure, if a mezzanine loan meets each of the requirements contained in the Revenue Procedure, (i) the mezzanine loan will be treated by the Internal Revenue Service as a real estate asset for purposes of the asset tests described below, and (ii) interest derived from the mezzanine loan will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% income test. Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. We intend to structure any investments in mezzanine loans in a manner that generally complies with the various requirements applicable to our qualification as a REIT. However, the extent that any of our mezzanine loans do not meet all of the requirements for reliance on the safe harbor set forth in the Revenue Procedure, there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge the tax treatment of these loans.
We and our subsidiaries may also invest in real estate mortgage investment conduits, or REMICs, and we may invest in other types of residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities. See below under “—Asset Tests” for a discussion of the effect of such investments on our qualification as a REIT.
We may also hold certain participation interests, including B-Notes, in mortgage loans and mezzanine loans originated by other lenders. B-Notes are interests in underlying loans created by virtue of participations or similar agreements to which the originator of the loans is a party, along with one or more participants. The borrower on the underlying loans is typically not a party to the participation agreement. The performance of this investment depends upon the performance of the underlying loans and, if the underlying borrower defaults, the participant typically has no recourse against the originator of the loans. The originator often retains a senior position in the underlying loans and grants junior participations that absorb losses first in the event of a default by the borrower. We generally expect to treat our participation interests as qualifying real estate assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests described below and interest that we derive from such investments as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% income test. The
appropriate treatment of participation interests for federal income tax purposes is not entirely certain, however, and no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge our treatment of our participation interests. In the event of a determination that such participation interests do not qualify as real estate assets, or that the income that we derive from such participation interests does not qualify as mortgage interest for purposes of the REIT asset and income tests, we could be subject to a penalty tax, or could fail to qualify as a REIT. See “-Taxation of REITs in General,” “—Requirements for Qualification-General,” “—Asset Tests” and “—Failure to Qualify.”
We may acquire debt instruments in the secondary market for less than their face amount. The amount of such discount will generally be treated as “market discount” for federal income tax purposes. We may acquire distressed debt investments that are subsequently modified by agreement with the borrower. If the amendments to the outstanding debt are “significant modifications” under the applicable Treasury regulations, the modified debt may be considered to have been reissued to us in a debt-for-debt exchange with the borrower. This deemed reissuance may prevent the modified debt from qualifying as a good REIT asset if the underlying security has declined in value.
In general, we will be required to accrue original issue discount on a debt instrument as taxable income in accordance with applicable federal income tax rules even though no cash payments may be received on such debt instrument. With respect to market discount, although generally we are not required to accrue the discount annually as taxable income (absent an election to do so), interest payments with respect to any debt incurred to purchase the investment may not be deductible and a portion of any gain realized on the Operating Partnership’s disposition of the debt instrument may be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain.
If we eventually collect less on a debt instrument than the amount we paid for it plus the market discount we had previously reported as income, there would potentially be an ordinary bad debt deduction (rather than capital loss) but this is not free from doubt, and may depend on the characteristics of the underlying obligation, and the amount of cash we collect on maturity, etc. Our ability to benefit from that bad debt deduction (or capital loss) would depend on our having taxable income (or capital gain) in that later taxable year. REITs may not carry back net operating losses, so this possible "income early, loss later" phenomenon could adversely affect us and our shareholders if it were persistent and in significant amounts.
Finally, in the event that any debt instruments acquired by us are delinquent as to mandatory principal and interest payments, or in the event a borrower with respect to a particular debt instrument acquired by the Operating Partnership encounters financial difficulty rendering it unable to pay stated interest as due, we may nonetheless be required to continue to recognize the unpaid interest as taxable income. Similarly, we may be required to accrue interest income with respect to subordinate residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities at the stated rate regardless of whether corresponding cash payments are received.
Due to each of these potential timing differences between income recognition or expense deduction and cash receipts or disbursements, there is a risk that we may recognize substantial taxable income in excess of cash available for distribution. In that event, we may need to borrow funds or take other action to satisfy the REIT distribution requirements for the taxable year in which this taxable income for which cash has not been received is recognized. See “—Annual Distribution Requirements.”
Rents received by us will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income requirements described above only if several conditions are met. If rent is partly attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property, the portion of the rent that is attributable to the personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property” unless it constitutes 15% or less of the total rent received under the lease. In addition, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. Amounts received as rent, however, generally will not be excluded from rents from real property solely by reason of being based on fixed percentages of gross receipts or sales. Moreover, for rents received to qualify as “rents from real property,” we generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to the tenants of such property, other than through an “independent contractor” from which we derive no revenue. We are permitted, however, to perform services that are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and which are not otherwise considered rendered to the occupant of the property. In addition, we may directly or indirectly provide noncustomary services to tenants of our properties without disqualifying all of the rent from the property if the payments for such services do not exceed 1% of the total gross income from the properties. For purposes of this test, we are deemed to have received income from such non-customary services in an amount at least 150% of the direct cost of providing the services. Moreover, we are generally permitted to provide services to tenants or others through a TRS without disqualifying the rental income received from tenants for purposes of the income tests. Also, rental income will qualify
as rents from real property only to the extent that we do not directly or constructively hold a 10% or greater interest, as measured by vote or value, in the lessee’s equity.
We may directly or indirectly receive distributions from TRSs or other corporations that are not REITs or qualified REIT subsidiaries. These distributions generally are treated as dividend income to the extent of the earnings and profits of the distributing corporation. Such distributions will generally constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Any distributions that we receive from a REIT, however, will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 95% and 75% income tests.
We may receive various fees in connection with our operations relating to the origination or purchase of whole loans secured by first mortgages and other loans secured by real property. The fees will generally be qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests if they are received in consideration for entering into an agreement to make a loan secured by real property and the fees are not determined by income and profits. Other fees generally are not qualifying income for purposes of either gross income test and will not be favorably counted for purposes of either gross income test. Any fees earned by any TRS will not be included for purposes of the gross income tests. We and our subsidiaries may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Hedging transactions could take a variety of forms, including interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements, options, futures contracts, forward rate agreements or similar financial instruments. Except to the extent provided by Treasury regulations, any income from a hedging transaction we entered into (i) in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of interest rate, inflation and/or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets, which is clearly identified as specified in Treasury regulations before the closing of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction, (ii) primarily to manage risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% income tests, and (iii) to manage risk with respect to the termination of certain prior hedging transactions described in (i) and (ii) above, each of which is clearly identified as such before the closing of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered to, will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests. To the extent that we enter into other types of hedging transactions, the income from those transactions is likely to be treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT.
Our foreign investments might generate foreign currency gains and losses. “Real estate foreign exchange gain” is excluded from gross income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Real estate foreign exchange gain is foreign currency gain which is attributable to (i) any item of income or gain qualifying for the 75% gross income test, (ii) our acquisition or ownership of obligations secured by mortgages on real property or interests in real property; or (iii) our becoming or being the obligor under obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property. Real estate foreign exchange gain also includes Section 987 gain attributable to a qualified business unit (“QBU”) of the REIT if the QBU itself meets the 75% income test for the taxable year, and meets the 75% asset test at the close of each quarter of the REIT that has directly or indirectly held the QBU.
“Passive foreign exchange gain” is another type of currency gain. This type of gain is excluded for purposes of the 95% income test but is included in gross income and treated as non-qualifying income (to the extent that it is not real estate foreign exchange gain), for purposes of the 75% income test. Passive foreign exchange gain includes all real estate foreign exchange gain, and in addition includes foreign currency gain which is attributable to (i) any item of income or gain which qualifies for the 95% gross income test, (ii) the acquisition or ownership of obligations, (iii) becoming or being the obligor under obligations, and (iv) any other foreign currency gain as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury.
If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may still qualify as a REIT for such year if we are entitled to relief under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These relief provisions will be generally available if (i) our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and (ii) following our identification of the failure to meet the 75% or 95% gross income test for any taxable year, we file a schedule with the Internal Revenue Service setting forth each item of our gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income test for such taxable year in accordance with Treasury regulations yet to be issued. It is not possible to state whether we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions in all circumstances. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances, we will not qualify as a REIT. As discussed above under “-Taxation of REITs in General,” even where these relief provisions apply, the Internal Revenue Code imposes a tax based upon the amount by which we fail to satisfy the particular gross income test.
Asset Tests
At the close of each calendar quarter, we must also satisfy four tests relating to the nature of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by some combination of “real estate assets,” cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, and, under some circumstances, stock or debt instruments purchased with new capital. For this purpose, real estate assets include interests in real property, such as land, buildings, leasehold interests in real property, stock of other corporations that qualify as REITs, and some kinds of residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans and (subject to certain limitations) debt instruments issued by publicly offered REITs. Further, certain ancillary personal property leased with real property will be treated as real property for purposes of the 75% asset test if the rent attributable to such personal property does not exceed 15% of the total rent for the taxable year attributable to both the real and personal property leased under a lease. Assets that do not qualify for purposes of the 75% test are subject to the additional asset tests described below.
Second, the value of any one issuer’s securities that we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets.
Third, we may not own more than 10% of any one issuer’s outstanding securities, as measured by either voting power or value. The 5% and 10% asset tests do not apply to securities of TRSs and qualified REIT subsidiaries and the 10% asset test does not apply to “straight debt” having specified characteristics and to certain other securities described below. Solely for purposes of the 10% asset test, the determination of our interest in the assets of a partnership or limited liability company in which we own an interest will be based on our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership or limited liability company, excluding for this purpose certain securities described in the Internal Revenue Code. Fourth, the aggregate value of all securities of taxable REIT subsidiaries that we hold may not exceed 25% (20% for taxable years after 2017) of the value of our total assets.
Any regular or residual interest that we own in a REMIC will generally qualify as real estate assets. However, if less than 95% of the assets of a REMIC consist of assets that qualify as real estate assets, then we will be treated as holding directly our proportionate share of the assets of such REMIC for purposes of the asset tests.
We believe that most of the real estate-related securities that we expect to hold will be qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test. However, our investment in other asset-backed securities, bank loans and other instruments that are not secured by mortgages on real property, if any, will not be qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test.
Notwithstanding the general rule, as noted above, that for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests we are treated as owning our proportionate share of the underlying assets of a subsidiary partnership, if we hold indebtedness issued by a partnership, the indebtedness will be subject to, and may cause a violation of, the asset tests unless the indebtedness is a qualifying mortgage asset or other conditions are met. Similarly, although stock of another REIT is a qualifying asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests, any non-mortgage debt that is issued by another REIT may not so qualify (such debt, however, will not be treated as “securities” for purposes of the 10% asset test, as explained below).
Certain relief provisions are available to REITs to satisfy the asset requirements or to maintain REIT qualification notwithstanding certain violations of the asset and other requirements. One such provision allows a REIT which fails one or more of the asset requirements to nevertheless maintain its REIT qualification if (i) the REIT provides the Internal Revenue Service with a description of each asset causing the failure, (ii) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (iii) the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 per failure, and (b) the product of the net income generated by the assets that caused the failure multiplied by the highest applicable corporate tax rate (currently 35%), and (iv) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or otherwise satisfies the relevant asset tests within that time frame.
In the case of de minimis violations of the 10% and 5% asset tests, a REIT may maintain its qualification despite a violation of such requirements if (i) the value of the assets causing the violation does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the REIT’s total assets and $10,000,000, and (ii) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or the relevant tests are otherwise satisfied within that time frame.
Certain securities will not cause a violation of the 10% asset test described above. Such securities include instruments that constitute “straight debt,” which includes, among other things, securities having certain contingency features. A security does not qualify as “straight debt” where a REIT (or a controlled TRS of the REIT) owns other securities of the same issuer which do not qualify as straight debt, unless the value of those other securities constitute, in the aggregate, 1% or less of the total value of that issuer’s outstanding securities. In addition to straight debt, the Internal Revenue Code provides that certain other securities will not violate the 10% asset test. Such securities include (i) any
loan made to an individual or an estate, (ii) certain rental agreements pursuant to which one or more payments are to be made in subsequent years (other than agreements between a REIT and certain persons related to the REIT under attribution rules), (iii) any obligation to pay rents from real property, (iv) securities issued by governmental entities that are not dependent in whole or in part on the profits of (or payments made by) a non-governmental entity, (v) any security (including debt securities) issued by another REIT, and (vi) any debt instrument issued by a partnership if the partnership’s income is of a nature that it would satisfy the 75% gross income test described above under “—Income Tests.” In applying the 10% asset test, a debt security issued by a partnership is not taken into account to the extent, if any, of the REIT’s proportionate interest in the equity and certain debt securities issued by that partnership.
Any interests that we hold in a REMIC will generally qualify as real estate assets and income derived from REMIC interests will generally be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the REIT income tests described above. If less than 95% of the assets of a REMIC are real estate assets, however, then only a proportionate part of our interest in the REMIC and income derived from the interest qualifies for purposes of the REIT asset and income tests. If we hold a “residual interest” in a REMIC from which we derive “excess inclusion income,” we will be required to either distribute the excess inclusion income or pay tax on it (or a combination of the two), even though we may not receive the income in cash. To the extent that distributed excess inclusion income is allocable to a particular stockholder, the income (i) would not be allowed to be offset by any net operating losses otherwise available to the stockholder, (ii) would be subject to tax as unrelated business taxable income in the hands of most types of stockholders that are otherwise generally exempt from federal income tax, and (iii) would result in the application of U.S. federal income tax withholding at the maximum rate (30%), without reduction of any otherwise applicable income tax treaty, to the extent allocable to most types of foreign stockholders. Moreover, any excess inclusion income that we receive that is allocable to specified categories of tax-exempt investors which are not subject to unrelated business income tax, such as government entities, may be subject to corporate-level income tax in our hands, whether or not it is distributed. See “—Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.”
To the extent that we hold mortgage participations or CMBS that do not represent REMIC interests, such assets may not qualify as real estate assets, and the income generated from them might not qualify for purposes of either or both of the REIT income tests, depending upon the circumstances and the specific structure of the investment.
We believe that our holdings of securities and other assets will comply with the foregoing REIT asset requirements, and we intend to monitor compliance on an ongoing basis. Certain mezzanine loans we make or acquire may qualify for the safe harbor in Revenue Procedure 2003-65 pursuant to which certain loans secured by a first priority security interest in ownership interests in a partnership or limited liability company will be treated as qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% real estate asset test and the 10% vote or value test. See “—Income Tests.” We may make some mezzanine loans that do not qualify for that safe harbor and that do not qualify as “straight debt” securities or for one of the other exclusions from the definition of “securities” for purposes of the 10% value test. We intend to make such investments in such a manner as not to fail the asset tests described above.
No independent appraisals will be obtained to support our conclusions as to the value of our total assets or the value of any particular security or securities. Moreover, values of some assets, including instruments issued in securitization transactions, may not be susceptible to a precise determination, and values are subject to change in the future. Furthermore, the proper classification of an instrument as debt or equity for federal income tax purposes may be uncertain in some circumstances, which could affect the application of the REIT asset requirements. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not contend that our interests in our subsidiaries or in the securities of other issuers will not cause a violation of the REIT asset tests.
If we should fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, such a failure would not cause us to lose our REIT qualification if we (i) satisfied the asset tests at the close of the preceding calendar quarter and (ii) the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the asset requirements was not wholly or partly caused by an acquisition of non-qualifying assets, but instead arose from changes in the market value of our assets. If the condition described in (ii) were not satisfied, we still could avoid disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which it arose or by making use of relief provisions described below.
Annual Distribution Requirements
In order to qualify as a REIT, we are required to make distributions, other than capital gain distributions, to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to:
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(a) | 90% of our “REIT taxable income,” computed without regard to our net capital gains and the dividends paid deduction, and |
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(b) | 90% of our net income, if any, (after tax) from foreclosure property (as described below), minus |
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(ii) | the sum of specified items of non-cash income. |
In addition, if we were to recognize “built-in-gain” (as defined below) on the disposition of any assets acquired from a “C” corporation in a transaction in which our basis in the assets was determined by reference to the “C” corporation’s basis (for instance, if the assets were acquired in a tax-free reorganization), we would be required to distribute at least 90% of the built-in-gain recognized net of the tax we would pay on such gain. “Built-in-gain” is the excess of (i) the fair market value of an asset (measured at the time of acquisition) over (ii) the basis of the asset (measured at the time of acquisition).
We generally must make these distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if either (i) declared before we timely file our tax return for the year and if paid with or before the first regular distribution payment after such declaration; or (ii) declared in October, November or December of the taxable year, payable to stockholders of record on a specified day in any such month, and actually paid before the end of January of the following year. The distributions under clause (i) are taxable to the holders of our common stock in the year in which paid, and the distributions in clause (ii) are treated as paid on December 31 of the prior taxable year. In both instances, these distributions relate to our prior taxable year for purposes of the 90% distribution requirement.
To the extent that we distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be subject to tax at ordinary corporate tax rates on the retained portion. We may elect to retain, rather than distribute, our net long-term capital gains and pay tax on such gains. In this case, we could elect for our stockholders to include their proportionate shares of such undistributed long-term capital gains in income, and to receive a corresponding credit for their share of the tax that we paid. Our stockholders would then increase their adjusted basis of their stock by the difference between (i) the amounts of capital gain distributions that we designated and that they include in their taxable income, minus (ii) the tax that we paid on their behalf with respect to that income.
To the extent that we have available net operating losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. Such losses, however, will generally not affect the character, in the hands of our stockholders, of any distributions that are actually made as ordinary dividends or capital gains. See “—Taxation of Stockholders—Taxation of Taxable Domestic Stockholders—Distributions.”
If we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we would be subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the sum of (x) the amounts actually distributed, plus (y) the amounts of income we retained and on which we have paid corporate income tax.
It is possible that, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash to meet the distribution requirements due to timing differences between (i) our actual receipt of cash, including receipt of distributions from our subsidiaries, and (ii) our inclusion of items in income for federal income tax purposes. Other potential sources of non-cash taxable income include:
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• | “residual interests” in REMICs or taxable mortgage pools; |
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• | loans or residential or commercial mortgage-backed securities held as assets that are issued at a discount and require the accrual of taxable economic interest in advance of receipt in cash; and |
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• | loans on which the borrower is permitted to defer cash payments of interest, and distressed loans on which we may be required to accrue taxable interest income even though the borrower is unable to make current servicing payments in cash. |
In the event that such timing differences occur, in order to meet the distribution requirements, it might be necessary for us to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings, or to pay distributions in the form of taxable in-kind distributions of property.
We may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirements for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for distributions paid for the earlier
year. In this case, we may be able to avoid losing REIT qualification or being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. We will be required to pay interest and a penalty based on the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.
Failure to Qualify
If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification other than the gross income or asset tests, we could avoid disqualification if our failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect and we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. Relief provisions are available for failures of the gross income tests and asset tests, as described above in “—Income Tests” and “—Asset Tests.”
If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions described above do not apply, we would be subject to tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We cannot deduct distributions to stockholders in any year in which we are not a REIT, nor would we be required to make distributions in such a year. In this situation, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, distributions to certain domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates will generally be taxable at capital gains rates. In addition, subject to the limitations of the Internal Revenue Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we would also be disqualified from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we lost qualification. It is not possible to state whether, in all circumstances, we would be entitled to this statutory relief.
Prohibited Transactions
Net income that we derive from a prohibited transaction is subject to a 100% tax. The term “prohibited transaction” generally includes a sale or other disposition of property (other than foreclosure property, as discussed below) that is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. We intend to conduct our operations so that no asset that we own (or are treated as owning) will be treated as, or as having been, held for sale to customers, and that a sale of any such asset will not be treated as having been in the ordinary course of our business. Whether property is held “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business” depends on the particular facts and circumstances. No assurance can be given that any property that we sell will not be treated as property held for sale to customers, or that we can comply with certain safe-harbor provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that would prevent such treatment. The 100% tax does not apply to gains from the sale of property that is held through a TRS or other taxable corporation, although such income will potentially be subject to tax in the hands of the corporation at regular corporate rates, nor does the tax apply to sales that qualify for a safe harbor as described in Section 857(b)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Foreclosure Property
Foreclosure property is real property and any personal property incident to such real property (i) that we acquire as the result of having bid on the property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced the property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after a default (or upon imminent default) on a lease of the property or a mortgage loan held by us and secured by the property, (ii) for which we acquired the related loan or lease at a time when default was not imminent or anticipated, and (iii) with respect to which we made a proper election to treat the property as foreclosure property. We generally will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate (currently 35%) on any net income from foreclosure property, including any gain from the disposition of the foreclosure property, other than income that would otherwise be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Any gain from the sale of property for which a foreclosure property election has been made will not be subject to the 100% tax on gains from prohibited transactions described above, even if the property would otherwise constitute inventory or dealer property. To the extent that we receive any income from foreclosure property that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test, we intend to make an election to treat the related property as foreclosure property.
Derivatives and Hedging Transactions
We and our subsidiaries may enter into hedging transactions with respect to interest rate and exchange rate and exposure on one or more of our assets or liabilities. Hedging transactions could take a variety of forms, including the use of derivative instruments such as interest rate and exchange rate swap agreements, interest rate and exchange rate cap agreements, options, futures contracts, forward rate agreements or similar financial instruments. Except to the extent provided by Treasury regulations, any income from a hedging transaction we entered into (i) in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of interest rate, inflation and/or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets, which is clearly
identified as specified in Treasury regulations before the closing of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction, (ii) primarily to manage risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% income tests, and (iii) to manage risk with respect to the termination of certain prior hedging transactions described in (i) and/or (ii) above, each of which is clearly identified as such before the closing of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into, will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests. To the extent that we enter into other types of hedging transactions, the income from those transactions is likely to be treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT. We may conduct some or all of our hedging activities through our TRS or other corporate entity, the income from which may be subject to federal income tax, rather than by participating in the arrangements directly or through pass-through subsidiaries. No assurance can be given, however, that our hedging activities will not give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of either or both of the REIT gross income tests, or that our hedging activities will not adversely affect our ability to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements.
Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income
An entity, or a portion of an entity, may be classified as a taxable mortgage pool, or TMP, under the Internal Revenue Code if:
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• | substantially all of its assets consist of debt obligations or interests in debt obligations; |
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• | more than 50% of those debt obligations are real estate mortgages or interests in real estate mortgages as of specified testing dates; |
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• | the entity has issued debt obligations (liabilities) that have two or more maturities; and |
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• | the payments required to be made by the entity on its debt obligations (liabilities) “bear a relationship” to the payments to be received by the entity on the debt obligations that it holds as assets. |
Under regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, if less than 80% of the assets of an entity (or a portion of an entity) consist of debt obligations, these debt obligations are considered not to comprise “substantially all” of its assets, and therefore the entity would not be treated as a TMP. Our financing and securitization arrangements may give rise to TMPs with the consequences as described below.
Where an entity, or a portion of an entity, is classified as a TMP, it is generally treated as a taxable corporation for federal income tax purposes. In the case of a REIT, or a portion of a REIT, or a disregarded subsidiary of a REIT, that is a TMP, however, special rules apply. The TMP is not treated as a corporation that is subject to corporate income tax, and the TMP classification does not directly affect the tax qualification of the REIT. Rather, the consequences of the TMP classification would, in general, except as described below, be limited to the stockholders of the REIT.
A portion of the REIT’s income from the TMP, which might be noncash accrued income, could be treated as excess inclusion income. Section 860E(c) of the Internal Revenue Code defines the term “excess inclusion” with respect to a residual interest in a REMIC. The Internal Revenue Service, however, has yet to issue guidance on the computation of excess inclusion income on equity interests in a TMP held by a REIT. Generally, however, excess inclusion income with respect to our investment in any TMP and any taxable year will equal the excess of (i) the amount of income we accrue on our investment in the TMP over (ii) the amount of income we would have accrued if our investment were a debt instrument having an issue price equal to the fair market value of our investment on the day we acquired it and a yield to maturity equal to 120% of the long-term applicable federal rate in effect on the date we acquired our interest. The term “applicable federal rate” refers to rates that are based on weighted average yields for treasury securities and are published monthly by the Internal Revenue Service for use in various tax calculations. If we undertake securitization transactions that are TMPs, the amount of excess inclusion income we recognize in any taxable year could represent a significant portion of our total taxable income for that year. Under Internal Revenue Service guidance, the REIT’s excess inclusion income, including any excess inclusion income from a residual interest in a REMIC, must be allocated among its stockholders in proportion to distributions paid. We are required to notify our stockholders of the amount of “excess inclusion income” allocated to them. A stockholder’s share of our excess inclusion income:
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• | cannot be offset by any net operating losses otherwise available to the stockholder; |
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• | is subject to tax as unrelated business taxable income in the hands of most types of stockholders that are otherwise generally exempt from federal income tax; and |
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• | results in the application of U.S. federal income tax withholding at the maximum rate (30%), without reduction for any otherwise applicable income tax treaty or other exemption, to the extent allocable to most types of foreign stockholders. |
See “—Taxation of Stockholders.” To the extent that excess inclusion income is allocated from a TMP to a tax-exempt stockholder of a REIT that is not subject to unrelated business income tax (such as a government entity), the REIT will be subject to tax on this income at the highest applicable corporate tax rate (currently 35%). In this case, we are authorized to reduce and intend to reduce distributions to such stockholders by the amount of such tax paid by the REIT that is attributable to such stockholder’s ownership. The manner in which excess inclusion income is calculated, or would be allocated to stockholders, including allocations among shares of different classes of stock, remains unclear under current law. As required by Internal Revenue Service guidance, we intend to make such determinations using a reasonable method. Tax-exempt investors, foreign investors and taxpayers with net operating losses should carefully consider the tax consequences described above, and are urged to consult their tax advisors.
If a subsidiary partnership of ours that we do not wholly own, directly or through one or more disregarded entities, were a TMP, the foregoing rules would not apply. Rather, the partnership that is a TMP would be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes and potentially could be subject to corporate income tax or withholding tax. In addition, this characterization would alter our income and asset test calculations and could adversely affect our compliance with those requirements. We intend to monitor the structure of any TMPs (including whether a TRS election might be made in respect of any such TMP) in which we have an interest to ensure that they will not adversely affect our qualification as a REIT.
Taxation of Stockholders
Taxation of Taxable Domestic Stockholders
Distributions. So long as we qualify as a REIT, the distributions that we make to our taxable domestic stockholders out of current or accumulated earnings and profits that we do not designate as capital gain distributions will generally be taken into account by stockholders as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporations. With limited exceptions, our distributions are not eligible for taxation at the preferential income tax rates for qualified distributions received by certain domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates from taxable C corporations. Such stockholders, however, are taxed at the preferential rates on distributions designated by and received from REITs to the extent that the distributions are attributable to:
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• | income retained by the REIT in the prior taxable year on which the REIT was subject to corporate level income tax (less the amount of tax); |
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• | distributions received by the REIT from TRSs or other taxable C corporations; or |
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• | income in the prior taxable year from the sales of “built-in gain” property acquired by the REIT from C corporations in carryover basis transactions (less the amount of corporate tax on such income). |
Distributions that we designate as capital gain dividends will generally be taxed to our stockholders as long-term capital gains, to the extent that such distributions do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which the stockholder that receives such distribution has held its stock. We may elect to retain and pay taxes on some or all of our net long-term capital gains, in which case provisions of the Internal Revenue Code will treat our stockholders as having received, solely for tax purposes, our undistributed capital gains, and the stockholders will receive a corresponding credit for taxes that we paid on such undistributed capital gains. See “—Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. — Annual Distribution Requirements.” Corporate stockholders may be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain distributions as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains are generally taxable at maximum federal rates of 20% in the case of stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates, and 35% in the case of stockholders that are corporations. Capital gains attributable to the sale of depreciable real property held for more than 12 months are subject to a 25% maximum federal income tax rate for taxpayers who are taxed as individuals, to the extent of previously claimed depreciation deductions.
Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will generally represent a return of capital and will not be taxable to a stockholder to the extent that the amount of such distributions do not exceed the adjusted basis of the stockholder’s shares in respect of which the distributions were made. Rather, the distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of the stockholder’s shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a stockholder’s shares, the stockholder generally must include such distributions in income as long-term capital gain, or short-term capital gain if the shares have been held for one year or less. In addition, any distribution that we declare in October, November or December of any year and that is payable to a stockholder of record on a specified date in any
such month will be treated as both paid by us and received by the stockholder on December 31 of such year, provided that we actually pay the distribution before the end of January of the following calendar year.
To the extent that we have available net operating losses and capital losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. See “—Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.—Annual Distribution Requirements.” Such losses, however, are not passed through to stockholders and do not offset income of stockholders from other sources, nor would such losses affect the character of any distributions that we make, which are generally subject to tax in the hands of stockholders to the extent that we have current or accumulated earnings and profits.
If excess inclusion income from a taxable mortgage pool or REMIC residual interest is allocated to any stockholder, that income will be taxable in the hands of the stockholder and would not be offset by any net operating losses of the stockholder that would otherwise be available. See “—Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.—Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.” As required by Internal Revenue Service guidance, we intend to notify our stockholders if a portion of a distribution paid by us is attributable to excess inclusion income.
Dispositions of Our Stock. In general, capital gains recognized by individuals, trusts and estates upon the sale or disposition of our stock will be subject to a maximum federal income tax rate of 20% if the stock is held for more than one year, and will be taxed at ordinary income rates if the stock is held for one year or less. Gains recognized by stockholders that are corporations are subject to federal income tax at a maximum rate of 35%, whether or not such gains are classified as long-term capital gains. Capital losses recognized by a stockholder upon the disposition of our stock that was held for more than one year at the time of disposition will be considered long-term capital losses, and are generally available only to offset capital gain income of the stockholder but not ordinary income (except in the case of individuals, who may offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income each year). In addition, any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares of our stock by a stockholder who has held the shares for six months or less, after applying holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions that we make that are required to be treated by the stockholder as long-term capital gain.
If an investor recognizes a loss upon a subsequent disposition of our stock or other securities in an amount that exceeds a prescribed threshold, it is possible that the provisions of Treasury regulations involving “reportable transactions” could apply, with a resulting requirement to separately disclose the loss-generating transaction to the Internal Revenue Service. These regulations, though directed towards “tax shelters,” are broadly written and apply to transactions that would not typically be considered tax shelters. The Internal Revenue Code imposes significant penalties for failure to comply with these requirements. You should consult your tax advisor concerning any possible disclosure obligation with respect to the receipt or disposition of our stock or securities or transactions that we might undertake directly or indirectly. Moreover, you should be aware that we and other participants in the transactions in which we are involved (including their advisors) might be subject to disclosure or other requirements pursuant to these regulations.
Passive Activity Losses and Investment Interest Limitations. Distributions that we make and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a domestic stockholder of our stock will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, stockholders will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against income or gain relating to our stock. To the extent that distributions we make do not constitute a return of capital, they will be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation.
Medicare Contribution Tax. U.S. stockholders who are individuals, estates or certain trusts are generally required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on their net investment income (including dividends and gains from the disposition of our stock), or in the case of estates and trusts on their net investment income that is not distributed, in each case to the extent that their total adjusted income exceeds applicable thresholds.
Taxation of Foreign Stockholders
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our stock applicable to non-U.S. holders. A “non-U.S. holder” is any person other than:
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• | a citizen or resident of the United States; |
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• | a corporation (or entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, or of any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; |
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• | an estate, the income of which is includable in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or |
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• | a trust if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. fiduciaries have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust. |
If a partnership, including for this purpose any entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. An investor that is a partnership and the partners in such partnership should consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock.
The following discussion is based on current law, and is for general information only. It addresses only selected, and not all, aspects of U.S. federal income and estate taxation.
Ordinary Dividends. The portion of distributions received by non-U.S. holders (i) that is payable out of our earnings and profits, (ii) which is not attributable to our capital gains and (iii) which is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. holder, will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30%, unless reduced or eliminated by treaty. Reduced treaty rates and other exemptions are not available to the extent that income is attributable to excess inclusion income allocable to the foreign stockholder. Accordingly, we will withhold at a rate of 30% on any portion of a distribution that is paid to a non-U.S. holder and attributable to that holder’s share of our excess inclusion income. See “—Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.—Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.” As required by Internal Revenue Service guidance, we intend to notify our stockholders if a portion of a distribution paid by us is attributable to excess inclusion income.
In general, non-U.S. holders will not be considered to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of their ownership of our stock. In cases where the dividend income from a non-U.S. holder’s investment in our stock is, or is treated as, effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as domestic stockholders are taxed with respect to such distributions. Such income must generally be reported on a U.S. income tax return filed by or on behalf of the non-U.S. holder. The income may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation.
Non-Dividend Distributions. Unless our stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest (a “USRPI”), distributions that we make that are not out of our earnings and profits will not be subject to U.S. income tax. If we cannot determine at the time a distribution is made whether or not the distribution will exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to ordinary dividends. The non-U.S. holder may seek a refund from the Internal Revenue Service of any amounts withheld if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. If our stock constitutes a USRPI, as described below, distributions that we make in excess of the sum of (a) the stockholder’s proportionate share of our earnings and profits, plus (b) the stockholder’s basis in its stock, will be taxed under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, or FIRPTA, at the rate of tax, including any applicable capital gains rates, that would apply to a domestic stockholder of the same type (e.g., an individual or a corporation, as the case may be), and the collection of the tax will be enforced by a refundable withholding at a rate of 10% of the amount by which the distribution exceeds the stockholder’s share of our earnings and profits. Note that certain “qualified foreign pension funds” are exempt from FIRPTA.
Capital Gain Distributions. Under FIRPTA, a distribution that we make to a non-U.S. holder, to the extent attributable to gains from dispositions of USRPIs that we held directly or through pass-through subsidiaries, or USRPI capital gains, will, except as described below, be considered effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. holder and will be subject to U.S. income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. individuals or corporations, without regard to whether we designate the distribution as a capital gain distribution. See above under “—Taxation of Foreign Stockholders—Ordinary Dividends,” for a discussion of the consequences of income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. In addition, we will be required to withhold tax equal to 35% of the amount of distributions to the extent the distributions constitute USRPI capital gains. Distributions subject to FIRPTA may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation. A distribution is not a USRPI capital gain if we held an interest in the underlying asset solely as a creditor. Capital gain distributions received by a non-U.S. holder that are attributable to dispositions of our assets other than USRPIs are not subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax, unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. holder would be subject to the same treatment as U.S. holders with respect to such gain, or (ii) the non- U.S. holder
is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the United States, in which case the non-U.S. holder will incur a 30% tax on his or her capital gains.
A capital gain distribution that would otherwise have been treated as a USRPI capital gain will not be so treated or be subject to FIRPTA, and generally will not be treated as income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, and instead will be treated in the same manner as an ordinary dividend (see “—Taxation of Foreign Stockholders—Ordinary Dividends”), if (i) the capital gain distribution is received with respect to a class of stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States, and (ii) the recipient non-U.S. holder does not own more than 10% of that class of stock at any time during the year ending on the date on which the capital gain distribution is received. At the time you purchase shares in this offering, our shares will not be publicly traded and we can give you no assurance that our shares will ever be publicly traded on an established securities market. Therefore, these rules will not apply to our capital gain distributions.
Dispositions of Our Stock. Unless our stock constitutes a USRPI, a sale of our stock by a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. taxation under FIRPTA. Our stock will not be treated as a USRPI if less than 50% of our assets throughout a prescribed testing period consist of interests in real property located within the United States, excluding, for this purpose, interests in real property solely in a capacity as a creditor.
Even if the foregoing 50% test is not met, our stock nonetheless will not constitute a USRPI if we are a “domestically-controlled qualified investment entity.” A domestically-controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT, less than 50% of value of which is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. holders at all times during a specified testing period. We believe that we will be a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity, and that a sale of our stock should not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. If our stock constitutes a USRPI and we do not constitute a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, but our stock becomes "regularly traded," as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, a non-U.S. holder's sale of our stock nonetheless would not be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI, provided that the selling non-U.S. holder held 10% or less of the outstanding stock at all times during a specified testing period. However, as mentioned above, we can give you no assurance that our shares will ever be publicly traded on an established securities market.
If gain on the sale of our stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. holder would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return and would be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to such gain, subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of non-resident alien individuals, and the purchaser of the stock could be required to withhold 15% of the purchase price and remit such amount to the Internal Revenue Service.
Gain from the sale of our stock that would not otherwise be subject to FIRPTA will nonetheless be taxable in the United States to a non-U.S. holder in two cases: (i) if the non-U.S. holder’s investment in our stock is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. holder, the non-U.S. holder will be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to such gain, or (ii) if the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the United States, the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gain. In addition, even if we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, upon disposition of our stock, a non-U.S. holder may be treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI if the non-U.S. holder (i) disposes of our common stock within a 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been treated as gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI and (ii) acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, other shares of our common stock within 30 days after such ex-dividend date.
Estate Tax. If our stock is owned or treated as owned by an individual who is not a citizen or resident (as specially defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes) of the United States at the time of such individual’s death, the stock will be includable in the individual’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise, and may therefore be subject to U.S. federal estate tax.
Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding for Non-U.S. Stockholders. Payments of dividends or of proceeds from the disposition of stock made to a non-U.S. holder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless such holder establishes an exemption, for example, by properly certifying its non-U.S. status on an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or another appropriate version of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding and information reporting may apply if either we have, or our paying agent has actual knowledge or reason to know, that a non-U.S. holder is a United States person. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the United States income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund or credit may be obtained, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Foreign Accounts. The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (the “HIRE Act”), which was enacted in 2010, imposes a 30% withholding tax on certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” and certain other non‑U.S. entities unless certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations requirements are satisfied. The portion of the HIRE Act that provides for this withholding tax and related provisions is known as the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” or “FATCA.”
As a general matter, FATCA (i) currently imposes a 30% withholding tax on dividends on our shares if paid to a foreign entity, and (ii) beginning January 2019 will impose a 30% withholding tax on gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our shares if paid to a foreign entity unless (in each case) either (i) the foreign entity is a “foreign financial institution” that undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations, (ii) the foreign entity is not a “foreign financial institution” and identifies certain of its U.S. investors, or (iii) the foreign entity otherwise is excepted under FATCA.
If withholding is required under FATCA on a payment related to our stock, investors that otherwise would not be subject to withholding (or that otherwise would be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding) generally will be required to seek a refund or credit from the IRS to obtain the benefit of such exemption or reduction (provided that such benefit is available). We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of amounts withheld under FATCA. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect of FATCA in their particular circumstances.
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders
Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts and individual retirement accounts, generally are exempt from federal income taxation. However, they may be subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income, or UBTI. While some investments in real estate may generate UBTI, the Internal Revenue Service has ruled that dividend distributions from a REIT to a tax-exempt entity do not constitute UBTI. Based on that ruling, and provided that (i) a tax-exempt stockholder has not held our stock as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., where the acquisition or holding of the property is financed through a borrowing by the tax-exempt stockholder), and (ii) our stock is not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business, distributions that we make and income from the sale of our stock generally should not give rise to UBTI to a tax-exempt stockholder.
To the extent, however, that we are (or a part of us, or a disregarded subsidiary of ours, is) deemed to be a TMP, or if we hold residual interests in a REMIC, a portion of the distributions paid to a tax-exempt stockholder that is allocable to excess inclusion income may be treated as UBTI. We anticipate that our investments may generate excess inclusion income.
If excess inclusion income is allocable to some categories of tax-exempt stockholders that are not subject to UBTI, such as governmental investors, we will be subject to corporate level tax on such income, and, in that case, we are authorized to reduce and intend to reduce the amount of distributions to those stockholders whose ownership gave rise to the tax. See “-Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.—Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.” As required by Internal Revenue Service guidance, we intend to notify our stockholders if a portion of a distribution paid by us is attributable to excess inclusion income.
Tax-exempt stockholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans exempt from federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) and (c)(20) of the Internal Revenue Code are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally require such stockholders to characterize distributions that we make as UBTI.
In certain circumstances, a pension trust that owns more than 10% of our stock (by value) could be required to treat a percentage of its distributions as UBTI, if we are a “pension-held REIT.” We will not be a pension-held REIT unless either (i) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of our stock, or (ii) a group of pension trusts, each
individually holding more than 10% of the value of our stock, collectively owns more than 50% of our stock. Certain restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock should generally prevent a tax-exempt entity from owning more than 10% of the value of our stock and should generally prevent us from becoming a pension-held REIT.
Tax-exempt stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of owning our stock.
Foreign Investments
Taxes and similar impositions paid by us or our subsidiaries in foreign jurisdictions may not be passed through to, or used by, our stockholders as a foreign tax credit or otherwise. Such taxes and impositions will, however, generally be deductible by us against our taxable income. See “Risk Factors—Federal Income Tax Risks.”
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
We will report to our domestic stockholders and the Internal Revenue Service the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year and the amount of any tax withheld. Under the backup withholding rules, a domestic stockholder may be subject to backup withholding with respect to dividends paid unless the holder is a corporation or comes within other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact or provides a taxpayer identification number or social security number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A domestic stockholder that does not provide his or her correct taxpayer identification number or social security number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of a capital gain distribution to any domestic stockholder who fails to certify its non-foreign status.
We must report annually to the Internal Revenue Service and to each non-U.S. stockholder the amount of dividends paid to such holder and the tax withheld with respect to such dividends, regardless of whether withholding was required. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. stockholder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. A non-U.S. stockholder may be subject to backup withholding unless applicable certification requirements are met.
Payment of the proceeds of a sale of our common stock within the U.S. is subject to both backup withholding and information reporting unless the beneficial owner certifies under penalties of perjury that it is a non-U.S. stockholder (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a U.S. person) or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Payment of the proceeds of a sale of our common stock conducted through certain U.S. related financial intermediaries is subject to information reporting (but not backup withholding) unless the financial intermediary has documentary evidence in its records that the beneficial owner is a non-U.S. stockholder and specified conditions are met or an exemption is otherwise established. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Other Tax Considerations
Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs
The rules dealing with federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department. Changes to the federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in our stock.
State, Local and Foreign Taxes
We and our subsidiaries and stockholders may be subject to state, local or foreign taxation in various jurisdictions including those in which we or they transact business, own property or reside. We may own real property assets located in numerous jurisdictions, and may be required to file tax returns in some or all of those jurisdictions. Our state, local or foreign tax treatment and that of our stockholders may not conform to the federal income tax treatment discussed above. We may own foreign real estate assets and pay foreign property taxes, and dispositions of foreign property or operations involving, or investments in, foreign real estate assets may give rise to foreign income or other tax liability in amounts that could be substantial. Any foreign taxes that we incur do not pass through to stockholders as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the application and effect of state, local and foreign income and other tax laws on an investment in our stock.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of some considerations associated with an investment in our shares by a qualified employee pension benefit plan or an individual retirement account (IRA). This summary is based on provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code, each as amended through the date of this prospectus, and the relevant regulations, opinions and other authority issued by the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service. We cannot assure you that there will not be adverse tax or labor decisions or legislative, regulatory or administrative changes that would significantly modify the statements expressed herein. Any such changes may apply to transactions entered into prior to the date of their enactment.
Each fiduciary of an employee pension benefit plan subject to ERISA (such as a profit sharing, Section 401(k) or pension plan) or any other retirement plan or account subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code, such as an IRA, seeking to invest plan assets in our shares must consider, taking into account the facts and circumstances of each such plan or IRA (Benefit Plan), among other matters:
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• | whether the investment is consistent with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code; |
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• | whether, under the facts and circumstances pertaining to the Benefit Plan in question, the fiduciary’s responsibility to the plan has been satisfied; |
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• | whether the investment will produce an unacceptable amount of “unrelated business taxable income” (“UBTI”) to the Benefit Plan (see “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Taxation of Stockholders — Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders”); and |
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• | the need to value the assets of the Benefit Plan annually. |
Under ERISA, a plan fiduciary’s responsibilities include the following duties:
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• | to act solely in the interest of plan participants and beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to them, as well as defraying reasonable expenses of plan administration; |
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• | to invest plan assets prudently; |
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• | to diversify the investments of the plan, unless it is clearly prudent not to do so; |
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• | to ensure sufficient liquidity for the plan; |
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• | to ensure that plan investments are made in accordance with plan documents; and |
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• | to consider whether an investment would constitute or give rise to a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code. |
ERISA also requires that, with certain exceptions, the assets of an employee benefit plan be held in trust and that the trustee, or a duly authorized named fiduciary or investment manager, have exclusive authority and discretion to manage and control the assets of the plan.
Prohibited Transactions
Generally, both ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code prohibit Benefit Plans from engaging in certain transactions involving plan assets with specified parties, such as sales or exchanges or leasing of property, loans or other extensions of credit, furnishing goods or services, or transfers to, or use of, plan assets. The specified parties are referred to as “parties-in-interest” under ERISA and as “disqualified persons” under the Internal Revenue Code. These definitions generally include both parties owning threshold percentage interests in an investment entity and “persons providing services” to the Benefit Plan, as well as employer sponsors of the Benefit Plan, fiduciaries and other individuals or entities affiliated with the foregoing. For this purpose, a person generally is a fiduciary with respect to a Benefit Plan if, among other things, the person has discretionary authority or control with respect to plan assets or provides investment advice for a fee with respect to plan assets. Under Department of Labor regulations, a person shall be deemed to be providing investment advice if that person renders advice as to the advisability of investing in our shares, and that person regularly provides investment advice to the Benefit Plan pursuant to a mutual agreement or understanding that such advice will serve as the primary basis for investment decisions, and that the advice will be individualized for the Benefit Plan based on its particular needs. Thus, if we are deemed to hold plan assets, our management could be characterized as fiduciaries with respect to such assets, and each would be deemed to be a party-in-interest under ERISA and a disqualified person under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to investing Benefit Plans. Whether or not we are deemed to hold plan assets, if we or our affiliates are affiliated with a Benefit Plan investor, we might be a disqualified person or party-in-interest with respect to such Benefit Plan investor, resulting in a prohibited transaction merely upon investment by such Benefit Plan in our shares.
Plan Asset Considerations
In order to determine whether an investment in our shares by a Benefit Plan creates or gives rise to the potential for either prohibited transactions or a commingling of assets as referred to above, a fiduciary must consider whether an investment in our shares will cause our assets to be treated as assets of the investing Benefit Plan. Neither ERISA nor the Internal Revenue Code defines the term “plan assets”; however, regulations promulgated by the Department of Labor provide guidelines as to whether, and under what circumstances, the underlying assets of an entity will be deemed to constitute assets of a Benefit Plan when the plan invests in that entity (Plan Assets Regulation). Under the Plan Assets Regulation, the assets of an entity in which a Benefit Plan makes an equity investment will generally be deemed to be assets of the Benefit Plan, unless one of the exceptions to this general rule applies.
In the event that our underlying assets were treated as the assets of investing Benefit Plans, our management would be treated as fiduciaries with respect to each Benefit Plan stockholder and an investment in our shares might constitute an ineffective delegation of fiduciary responsibility to KBS Capital Advisors, our advisor, and expose the fiduciary of the Benefit Plan to co-fiduciary liability under ERISA for any breach by KBS Capital Advisors of the fiduciary duties mandated under ERISA. Further, if our assets are deemed to be “plan assets,” an investment by an IRA in our shares might be deemed to result in an impermissible commingling of IRA assets with other property.
If KBS Capital Advisors or its affiliates were treated as fiduciaries with respect to Benefit Plan stockholders, the prohibited transaction restrictions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code would apply to any transaction involving our assets. These restrictions could, for example, require that we avoid transactions with persons that are affiliated with or related to us or our affiliates or require that we restructure our activities in order to obtain an administrative exemption from the prohibited transaction restrictions. Alternatively, we might have to provide Benefit Plan stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us or we might dissolve.
If a prohibited transaction were to occur, the Internal Revenue Code imposes an excise tax equal to 15% of the amount involved and authorizes the Internal Revenue Service to impose an additional 100% excise tax if the prohibited transaction is not “corrected” in a timely manner. These taxes would be imposed on any disqualified person who participates in the prohibited transaction. In addition, KBS Capital Advisors and possibly other fiduciaries of Benefit Plan stockholders subject to ERISA who permitted the prohibited transaction to occur or who otherwise breached their fiduciary responsibilities (or a non-fiduciary participating in a prohibited transaction) could be required to restore to the Benefit Plan any profits they realized as a result of the transaction or breach and make good to the Benefit Plan any losses incurred by the Benefit Plan as a result of the transaction or breach. With respect to an IRA that invests in our shares, the occurrence of a prohibited transaction involving the individual who established the IRA, or his or her beneficiary, would cause the IRA to lose its tax-exempt status under Section 408(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Plan Assets Regulation provides that the underlying assets of an entity such as a REIT will be treated as assets of a Benefit Plan investing therein unless the entity satisfies one of the exceptions to the general rule. We believe that we will satisfy the publicly-offered securities exception described below.
Exception for “Publicly-Offered Securities.” If a Benefit Plan acquires “publicly-offered securities,” the assets of the issuer of the securities will not be deemed to be “plan assets” under the Plan Assets Regulation. A publicly-offered security must be:
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• | either (a) part of a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act, or (b) sold as part of a public offering registered under the Securities Act, and be part of a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act, within a specified time period; |
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• | part of a class of securities that is owned by 100 or more persons who are independent of the issuer and one another; and |
Our shares are being sold as part of an offering of securities to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and are part of a class that will be registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 within the specified period. In addition, we have in excess of 100 independent stockholders of our Class A shares of our common stock and have restricted the purchase of Class T shares by Benefit Plan investors in this offering until shares of our Class T common stock are held by 100 or more persons who are independent of us and one another. See “Plan of Distribution — Special Notice to Benefit Plan Investors” for a discussion of the specific escrow procedures applicable to Benefit Plan investors who desire to purchase Class T shares in this offering.
Whether a security is “freely transferable” depends upon the particular facts and circumstances. The Plan Assets Regulation provides several examples of restrictions on transferability that, absent unusual circumstances, will not prevent the rights of ownership in question from being considered “freely transferable” if the minimum investment is $10,000 or less. Where the minimum investment in an offering of securities is $10,000 or less, the presence of the following restrictions on transfer will not ordinarily affect a determination that such securities are “freely transferable”:
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• | any restriction on, or prohibition against, any transfer or assignment that would either result in a termination or reclassification of the entity for federal or state tax purposes or that would violate any state or federal statute, regulation, court order, judicial decree or rule of law; |
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• | any requirement that not less than a minimum number of shares or units of such security be transferred or assigned by any investor, provided that such requirement does not prevent transfer of all of the then remaining shares or units held by an investor; |
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• | any prohibition against transfer or assignment of such security or rights in respect thereof to an ineligible or unsuitable investor; and |
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• | any requirement that reasonable transfer or administrative fees be paid in connection with a transfer or assignment. |
Our structure has been established with the intent to satisfy the “freely transferable” requirement set forth in the Plan Assets Regulation with respect to our shares, although there is no assurance that our shares will meet such requirement. Our shares are subject to certain restrictions on transfer intended to ensure that we continue to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT and to comply with state securities laws and regulations with respect to investor suitability. The minimum investment in our shares is less than $10,000; thus, these restrictions should not cause the shares to be deemed not “freely transferable.”
Provided our Class A and Class T shares of common stock are each held by 100 or more stockholders independent of us and each other, and assuming that no other facts and circumstances other than those referred to in the preceding paragraphs exist that restrict transferability of shares of our common stock and the offering takes place as described in this prospectus, shares of our common stock should constitute “publicly-offered securities.” Accordingly, we believe that our underlying assets should not be considered “plan assets” under the Plan Assets Regulation.
Other Prohibited Transactions
Regardless of whether the shares qualify for the “publicly-offered securities” exception of the Plan Assets Regulation, a prohibited transaction could occur if we, KBS Capital Advisors, any selected broker-dealer or any of their affiliates is a fiduciary (within the meaning of Section 3(21) of ERISA) with respect to any Benefit Plan purchasing our shares. Accordingly, unless an administrative or statutory exemption applies, shares should not be purchased by a Benefit Plan with respect to which any of the above persons is a fiduciary. A person is a fiduciary with respect to a Benefit Plan under Section 3(21) of ERISA if, among other things, the person has discretionary authority or control with respect to the Benefit Plan or “plan assets” or provides investment advice for a fee with respect to “plan assets.” Under a
regulation issued by the Department of Labor, a person shall be deemed to be providing investment advice if that person renders advice as to the advisability of investing in our shares and that person regularly provides investment advice to the Benefit Plan pursuant to a mutual agreement or understanding (written or otherwise) (i) that the advice will serve as the primary basis for investment decisions and (ii) that the advice will be individualized for the Benefit Plan based on its particular needs.
The Department of Labor has recently proposed to amend the regulation defining a fiduciary under ERISA. The proposed amendment would broaden the definition of fiduciary and make a number of changes to the prohibited transaction exemptions relating to investments by Benefit Plans and IRAs. The proposed changes, if finalized, could have a significant effect on investments in our shares by Benefit Plans and IRAs. Plan fiduciaries and the beneficial owners of IRAs are urged to consult with their own advisors regarding this development.
Annual Valuation
A fiduciary of an employee benefit plan subject to ERISA is required to determine annually the fair market value of each asset of the plan as of the end of the plan’s fiscal year and to file a report reflecting that value with the Department of Labor. When the fair market value of any particular asset is not available, the fiduciary is required to make a good faith determination of that asset’s fair market value, assuming an orderly liquidation at the time the determination is made. In addition, a trustee or custodian of an IRA must provide an IRA participant with a statement of the value of the IRA each year. Failure to satisfy these requirements may result in penalties, damages or other sanctions.
Unless and until our shares are listed on a national securities exchange, we do not expect that a public market for our shares will develop. To date, neither the Internal Revenue Service nor the Department of Labor has promulgated regulations specifying how a plan fiduciary or IRA custodian should determine the fair market value of shares when the fair market value of such shares is not determined in the marketplace.
To assist the FINRA members and their associated persons that participate in this offering in meeting their customer account statement reporting obligations pursuant to FINRA and NASD Conduct Rules, we will disclose in each annual report distributed to stockholders a per share estimated value of our shares, the method by which it was developed, and the date of the data used to develop the estimated value. In addition, our advisor will prepare annual statements of estimated share values to assist fiduciaries of retirement plans subject to the annual reporting requirements of ERISA in the preparation of their reports relating to an investment in our shares. We will report the net investment amount of our shares as our estimated value per share, which net investment amount will be based on the “amount available for investment/net investment amount” percentage shown in our estimated use of proceeds table. This estimated per share value will be accompanied by any disclosures required under the FINRA and NASD Conduct Rules. No later than 150 days after the second anniversary of the date on which we broke escrow in our initial public offering, we will provide an estimated NAV per share that we will use as our estimated value per share. This value will be based on valuations of our assets and liabilities performed at least annually, by, or with the material assistance or confirmation of, a third-party valuation expert or service and will comply with the Practice Guideline 2013-01, Valuations of Publicly Registered, Non-Listed REITs issued by the Investment Program in April 2013 (the “IPA Valuation Guidelines”).
In connection with determining an estimated NAV per share, we will obtain independent third-party appraisals for our real estate investments and certain real-estate related investments as appropriate. With respect to our cash, real estate loans receivable, other assets, mortgage debt and other liabilities, we will obtain valuations from our advisor as we expect these will equal GAAP fair value as reported in our publicly filed financial statements. These valuations will be reviewed by the independent third-party engaged to assist in the determination of our estimated NAV per share. We will value our other assets in a manner we deem most suitable under the circumstances consistent with the IPA Valuation Guidelines. Once we announce an estimated NAV per share we generally expect to update the estimated NAV per share in December of each year.
In calculating an estimated NAV per share, we intend to allocate the company’s accrued stockholder servicing fees attributable to Class T shares sold in the primary offering to the Class T shares, on a class-wide basis. We may allocate these accrued expenses to the Class T shares through distribution adjustments or NAV adjustments. It is our intention for any adjustment related to the expense of the stockholder servicing fee to be made through distributions, to the extent distributions are made. However, the NAV of the Class T shares will be adjusted relative to that of the Class A shares to account for any of the company’s accrued stockholder servicing fees that have not already been allocated to the Class T shares through distribution adjustments. Selling commissions and the dealer manager fee, which are paid by purchasers of Class A and Class T shares in the primary offering at the time of purchase, will have no effect on the NAV of any class.
Our conflicts committee, composed of all our independent directors, will be responsible for oversight of the valuation process, including approving the engagement of one or more third-party valuation experts (as determined by the board of directors) to assist in determining our estimated NAV per share and to provide appraisals of our real estate assets. The appraiser selected will be a member of the Appraisal Institute with an MAI (Member of the Appraisal Institute) designation. All appraisals will be made available to participating broker-dealers conducting due diligence on our products who have signed confidentiality agreements.
Until we report an estimated NAV per share, this initial reported value will likely differ from the price at which a stockholder could resell his or her shares primarily because (i) there is no public trading market for the shares at this time; (ii) when derived from the primary offering price, the estimated value will not reflect, and will not be derived from, the fair market value of our assets nor will it represent the amount of net proceeds that would result from an immediate liquidation of our assets, (iii) the purchase prices at which shares of our Class A common stock were sold prior to commencement of this offering were significantly below the purchase prices for shares in this offering and we paid significant organization and offering expenses in connection with our private offering; (iv) the estimated value does not take into account how market fluctuations affect the value of our investments; and (v) the estimated value does not take into account how developments related to individual assets may have increased or decreased the value of our portfolio.
Once we report an estimated NAV, our stockholders should be aware of the following:
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• | the estimated values may not be realized by us or by you upon liquidation (in part because estimated values do not necessarily indicate the price at which assets could be sold and because the estimates may not take into account the expenses of selling our assets); |
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• | you may not realize these values if you were to attempt to sell your shares, because there is not expected to be an active trading market for the shares; and |
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• | the estimated values, or the method used to establish values, may not be sufficient to enable an ERISA fiduciary or an IRA custodian to comply with the ERISA or IRA requirements described above. The Department of Labor or the Internal Revenue Service may determine that a plan fiduciary or an IRA custodian is required to take further steps to determine the value of our shares. |
The foregoing requirements of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code are complex and subject to change. Plan fiduciaries and the beneficial owners of IRAs are urged to consult with their own advisors regarding an investment in our shares.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
Our charter authorizes the issuance of 1,010,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 1,000,000,000 shares are designated as common stock with a par value of $0.01 per share and 10,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock with a par value of $0.01 per share. Of the total shares of common stock authorized, 500,000,000 shares are classified as Class A shares and 500,000,000 are classified as Class T shares. In addition, our board of directors may amend our charter to increase or decrease the amount of our authorized shares. As of February 1, 2016, 10,341,365 shares of our Class A common stock were issued and outstanding, and no shares of our Class T common stock or our preferred stock were issued and outstanding.
Common Stock
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a stockholder vote, including the election of our directors. Our charter does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of our directors. Therefore, the holders of a majority of our outstanding common shares can elect our entire board of directors. Unless applicable law requires otherwise, and except as our charter may provide with respect to any series of preferred stock that we may issue in the future, the holders of our common stock will possess exclusive voting power.
Holders of our Class A and Class T shares of common stock are entitled to receive such distributions on their respective class of shares as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds, subject to any preferential rights of any preferred stock that we issue in the future. The payment of the ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering will result in the payment of lower distributions on Class T shares relative to the distributions paid on Class A shares because the amount of the ongoing stockholder servicing fee will reduce the amount available for distribution to Class T stockholders. Distribution amounts paid on Class A and Class T shares will only vary due to the stockholder servicing fee; there are no additional class-specific expenses that will affect relative distribution amounts. See “ — Common Stock — Class T Shares” for a discussion of when the stockholder servicing fee will terminate. See also "Description of Shares — Distributions." In addition, as a result of the allocation of the stockholder servicing fees to the Class T shares, each share class could have a different NAV per share if distributions are not adjusted to take account of such fee. See "ERISA Considerations — Annual Valuation" and "Description of Shares — Distributions" for more information. In any liquidation, each outstanding share of common stock entitles its holder to share (based on the percentage of shares held and the estimated NAV of each class of shares) in the assets that remain after we pay our liabilities and any preferential distributions owed to preferred stockholders. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, or any liquidating distribution of our assets, then such assets, or the proceeds therefrom, will be distributed between the holders of Class A shares and Class T shares ratably in proportion to the respective NAV for each class until the NAV for each class has been paid. We will calculate the NAV per share as a whole for all Class A shares and Class T shares and then will determine any differences attributable to each class. As noted above, except in the unlikely event that the stockholder servicing fees payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceed the amount otherwise available for distribution to Class A stockholders in a particular period, we expect the NAV per share of each Class A share and Class T share to be the same. Each holder of shares of a particular class of common stock will be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of shares of such class, that portion of such aggregate assets available for distribution as the number of outstanding shares of such class held by such holder bears to the total number of outstanding shares of such class then outstanding. In the event that we have not previously calculated an NAV for our Class A and Class T shares prior to a liquidation, we will calculate the NAV for our Class A and Class T shares in connection with such a liquidation specifically to facilitate the equitable distribution of assets or proceeds to the share classes. Holders of shares of our common stock will not have preemptive rights, which means that you will not have an automatic option to purchase any new shares that we issue, nor will holders of our shares of common stock have any preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal rights. Our common stock shall be non‑assessable by us upon our receipt of the consideration for which our board of directors authorized its issuance.
Our board of directors has authorized the issuance of shares of our capital stock without certificates. We expect that, until our shares are listed on a national securities exchange, we will not issue shares in certificated form. Information regarding restrictions on the transferability of our shares that, under Maryland law, would otherwise have been required to appear on our share certificates will instead be furnished to stockholders upon request and without charge. These requests should be delivered or mailed to:
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• | Regular mail: KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc., c/o DST Systems, Inc., PO Box 219015, Kansas City, MO 64121-9015. |
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• | Overnight mail: KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc., c/o DST Systems, Inc., 430 W. 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105. |
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• | Telephone: (866) 584-1381. |
We maintain a stock ledger that contains the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares that the stockholder holds. With respect to uncertificated stock, we will continue to treat the stockholder registered on our stock ledger as the owner of the shares until the new owner delivers a properly executed form to us, which form we will provide to any registered holder upon request.
Class A Shares
Our dealer manager will receive selling commissions of up to 6.5% of the gross offering proceeds for Class A shares sold in the primary offering all of which will be reallowed to participating broker-dealers. In addition, our dealer manager will receive a dealer manager fee of up to 2.0% of the gross proceeds for Class A shares sold in the primary offering. From its dealer manager fee, our dealer manager may generally reallow to any participating broker dealer up to 1.0% of the gross primary offering proceeds attributable to that participating broker dealer as a marketing fee. In select cases up to 1.5% of the gross primary offering proceeds may be reallowed. This reallow will be based upon such factors as the projected sales volume by such participating broker-dealer, access to conferences and meetings and the general level of assistance of such participating broker-dealer in marketing this offering. Reduced selling commissions and dealer manager fees will be paid for Class A shares with respect to certain volume discount sales and for sales through certain distribution channels. These reduced fees will reduce the purchase price paid for our Class A shares for certain categories of purchasers. See “Plan of Distribution — Compensation of Dealer Manager and Participating Broker-Dealers” for additional information. We will not pay any selling commissions or dealer manager fees for Class A shares sold under our dividend reinvestment plan. No stockholder servicing fee is payable with respect to our Class A shares.
Class T Shares
Our dealer manager will receive selling commissions of up to 3.0% of the gross offering proceeds for Class T shares sold in the primary offering. In addition, our dealer manager will receive a dealer manager fee of up to 2.0% of the gross proceeds for Class T shares sold in the primary offering. The dealer manager fee may be reallowed as described above. In addition, our dealer manager will receive an annual stockholder servicing fee of 1.0% of the purchase price per share (ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers) for our Class T shares sold in the primary offering solely to the extent there is a broker dealer of record with respect to such Class T share that has entered a currently effective selected dealer agreement or servicing agreement that provides for the payment to such broker dealer of the stockholder servicing fee with respect to such Class T share, and such broker dealer of record is in compliance with the applicable terms of such selected dealer agreement or servicing agreement related to such payment. To the extent payable, the stockholder servicing fee will accrue daily and be paid monthly in arrears and is an ongoing fee that is not paid at the time of purchase. The dealer manager will reallow 100% of the stockholder servicing fee to such broker dealer of record for services provided to Class T stockholders after the initial sale of the Class T share. See “Plan of Distribution — Compensation of Dealer Manager and Participating Broker-Dealers” for additional information including a description of the services required from the broker dealer of record.
No selling commissions or dealer manager fees are payable on Class T shares sold through our dividend reinvestment plan. In addition, no stockholder servicing fee will be paid with respect to Class T shares purchased through the dividend reinvestment plan or issued pursuant to a stock dividend; however, the stockholder servicing fee payable with respect to Class T shares purchased in the primary offering will be allocated to all the Class T shares as a class expense. The stockholder servicing fee therefore will impact the distributions payable on all Class T shares and may impact the NAV of all Class T shares if the amount of the stockholder servicing fee payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceeds amounts available for distribution to holders of Class A shares. Distributions on Class T shares will be lower than distributions on Class A shares because of the ongoing stockholder servicing fee to be paid with respect to Class T shares.
The stockholder servicing fee with respect to a Class T share will cease accruing upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the date at which aggregate underwriting compensation from all sources equals 10% of the gross
proceeds from the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold, as calculated by us with the assistance of the dealer manager after the termination of the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold, (ii) with respect to a particular Class T share, on the fourth anniversary of the issuance of the share, (iii) a listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange, (iv) a merger or other extraordinary transaction, and (v) the date the Class T share associated with the stockholder servicing fee is no longer outstanding such as upon its redemption or our dissolution.
Underwriting compensation includes the selling commissions, dealer manager fee, and stockholder servicing fee being paid by us as well as other items of value paid in connection with this offering, including amounts not paid or reimbursed by us, that are viewed by FINRA as underwriting compensation. Assuming that (a) the gross offering price of our Class T shares in the primary offering remains constant at $9.59, (b) 85% of the gross primary offering proceeds raised are from the sale of Class T shares, (c) 4% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares through distribution channels that do not pay selling commissions of 6.5%, and (d) none of the Class T shares purchased in the primary offering are redeemed and no extraordinary or other transaction affecting whether the share is outstanding occurs prior to the four year anniversary of the issuance of the T share, and because the stockholder servicing fee on a particular Class T share will cease to accrue on the fourth anniversary of the issuance of the share, we expect that with respect to a one-time $10,000 investment in Class T shares, approximately $400 in servicing fees will be paid over 4.0 years and $500 in selling commissions and dealer manager fees will be paid at the time of the investment for a total of $900 in selling commissions, dealer manager fees and stockholder servicing fees, or 9.0% of the price per share of Class T common stock. For further clarity, with respect to any Class T share purchased in the primary offering at $9.59, under the same assumptions, we would pay approximately $0.3836 in servicing fees over 4.0 years and $0.4795 in selling commissions and dealer manager fees at the time of the investment for a total of $0.8631 in selling commissions, dealer manager fees and stockholder servicing fees, or 9.0% of the purchase price per share of Class T common stock. The selling commissions and dealer manager fees would be paid at the time of the investment from the offering proceeds we receive from the investor. The stockholder servicing fee is an ongoing fee that is not paid at the time of purchase and is not intended to be paid from the offering proceeds we receive from an individual investor; rather, it is an on-going class-specific expense that is allocated to all the Class T stockholders for services provided by the broker dealer of record, see the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus for a discussion of the stockholder services.
Rights Upon Liquidation
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, or any liquidating distribution of our assets, then such assets, or the proceeds therefrom, will be distributed between the holders of Class A shares and Class T shares ratably in proportion to the respective NAV for each class until the NAV for each class has been paid. We will calculate the NAV per share as a whole for all Class A shares and Class T shares and then will determine any differences attributable to each class. As noted above, except in the unlikely event that the stockholder servicing fees payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceed the amount otherwise available for distribution to Class A stockholders in a particular period, we expect the NAV per share of each Class A share and Class T share to be the same. Each holder of shares of a particular class of common stock will be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of shares of such class, that portion of such aggregate assets available for distribution as the number of outstanding shares of such class held by such holder bears to the total number of outstanding shares of such class then outstanding. In the event that we have not previously calculated an NAV for our Class A and Class T shares prior to a liquidation, we will calculate the NAV for our Class A and Class T shares in connection with such a liquidation specifically to facilitate the equitable distribution of assets or proceeds to the share classes.
Preferred Stock
Our charter authorizes our board of directors to designate and issue one or more classes or series of preferred stock without approval of our common stockholders. A majority of our conflicts committee who do not have an interest in the transaction must approve any issuance of preferred stock. In addition, our charter empowers our conflicts committee to retain its own legal and financial advisors at the expense of the company. Our board of directors may determine the relative rights, preferences and privileges of each class or series of preferred stock so issued, which may be more beneficial than the rights, preferences and privileges attributable to our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control. Our board of directors has no present plans to issue preferred stock but may do so at any time in the future without stockholder approval.
Meetings and Special Voting Requirements
An annual meeting of our stockholders will be held each year, at least 30 days after delivery of our annual report. Special meetings of stockholders may be called only upon the request of a majority of our directors, a majority of our independent directors, our chief executive officer, our president or upon the written request of stockholders holding at least 10% of the shares of common stock entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at the special meeting. Upon receipt of a written request of common stockholders holding at least 10% of the shares entitled to be cast stating the purpose of the special meeting, our secretary, within 10 days of receipt of such request, will provide all of our stockholders written notice of the meeting and the purpose of such meeting. The meeting must be held not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days after the distribution of the notice of the meeting. The presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on any matter at any stockholder meeting constitutes a quorum. Unless otherwise provided by the Maryland General Corporation Law or our charter, the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast is necessary to take stockholder action. Under our charter, a majority of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present is required for the election of the directors at a meeting of stockholders called for that purpose. This means that, of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy, a director nominee needs to receive affirmative votes from a majority of such shares in order to be elected to our board of directors. Therefore, if a nominee receives fewer “for” votes than “withhold” votes in an election, then the nominee will not be elected.
Our charter provides that the concurrence of the board is not required in order for the common stockholders to amend the charter, dissolve the corporation or remove directors. However, we have been advised that the Maryland General Corporation Law does require board approval in order to amend our charter or dissolve. Without the approval of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote on the matter, the board of directors may not:
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• | amend the charter to adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the common stockholders; |
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• | amend charter provisions relating to director qualifications, fiduciary duties, liability and indemnification, conflicts of interest, investment policies or investment restrictions; |
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• | cause our liquidation or dissolution after our initial investment; |
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• | sell all or substantially all of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business; or |
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• | cause our merger or reorganization. |
The term of our advisory agreement with KBS Capital Advisors will end after one year but may be renewed for an unlimited number of successive one-year periods upon the mutual consent of KBS Capital Advisors and us. Our independent directors will annually review our advisory agreement with KBS Capital Advisors. While the stockholders do not have the ability to vote to replace KBS Capital Advisors or to select a new advisor, any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote on the election of directors at any meeting of stockholders called expressly for the purpose of removing a director.
Advance Notice for Stockholder Nominations for Directors and Proposals of New Business
In order for a stockholder to nominate a director or propose new business at the annual stockholders’ meeting, our bylaws generally require that the stockholder give notice of the nomination or proposal not less than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the mailing of the notice for the preceding year’s annual stockholders’ meeting, unless such nomination or proposal is made pursuant to the company’s notice of the meeting or by or at the direction of our board of directors. Our bylaws contain a similar notice requirement in connection with nominations for directors at a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing one or more directors. Failure to comply with the notice provisions will make stockholders unable to nominate directors or propose new business.
Restriction on Ownership of Shares
Ownership Limit
To maintain our REIT qualification, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding shares may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (including certain entities treated as individuals under the Internal Revenue Code) during the last half of each taxable year. In addition, at least 100 persons who are independent of us and each other must beneficially own our outstanding shares for at least 335 days per 12-month taxable year or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Each of the two requirements specified in the two preceding sentences shall not apply to any period prior to the second year for which we elect to be taxed as a REIT. We may prohibit certain acquisitions and transfers of shares so as to ensure our continued qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. However, we cannot assure you that this prohibition will be effective.
To help ensure that we meet these tests, our charter prohibits any person or group of persons from acquiring, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership of more than 9.8% of our aggregate outstanding shares unless exempted by our board of directors. Our board of directors may waive this ownership limit with respect to a particular person if the board receives evidence that ownership in excess of the limit will not jeopardize our REIT status. For purposes of this provision, we treat corporations, partnerships and other entities as single persons.
Any attempted transfer of our shares that, if effective, would result in a violation of our ownership limit or would result in our shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons will be null and void and will cause the number of shares causing the violation to be automatically transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries. The prohibited transferee will not acquire any rights in the shares. The automatic transfer will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the attempted transfer. We will designate a trustee of the trust that will not be affiliated with us or the prohibited transferee. We will also name one or more charitable organizations as a beneficiary of the share trust.
Shares held in trust will remain issued and outstanding shares and will be entitled to the same rights and privileges as all other shares of the same class or series. The prohibited transferee will not benefit economically from any of the shares held in trust, will not have any rights to dividends or distributions and will not have the right to vote or any other rights attributable to the shares held in the trust. The trustee will receive all dividends and distributions on the shares held in trust and will hold such dividends or distributions in trust for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. The trustee may vote any shares held in trust.
Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that any of our shares have been transferred to the trust for the charitable beneficiary, the trustee will sell those shares to a person designated by the trustee whose ownership of the shares will not violate the above restrictions. Upon the sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited transferee and to the charitable beneficiary as follows. The prohibited transferee will receive the lesser of (i) the price paid by the prohibited transferee for the shares or, if the prohibited transferee did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the trust (e.g., a gift, devise or other similar transaction), the market price (as defined in our charter) of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the trust and (ii) the price received by the trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares. Any net sale proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the prohibited transferee will be paid immediately to the charitable beneficiary. If, prior to our discovery that shares have been transferred to the trust, the shares are sold by the prohibited transferee, then (i) the shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and (ii) to the extent that the prohibited transferee received an amount for the shares that exceeds the amount he was entitled to receive, the excess shall be paid to the trustee upon demand.
In addition, shares held in the trust for the charitable beneficiary will be deemed to have been offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer to the trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the market price at the time of the devise or gift) and (ii) the market price on the date we, or our designee, accept the offer. We will have the right to accept the offer until the trustee has sold the shares. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited transferee.
Any person who acquires or attempts to acquire shares in violation of the foregoing restrictions or who would have owned the shares that were transferred to any such trust must give us immediate written notice of such event, and any person who proposes or attempts to acquire or receive shares in violation of the foregoing restrictions must give us at least 15 days’ written notice prior to such transaction. In both cases, such persons shall provide to us such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such transfer on our status as a REIT.
The foregoing restrictions will continue to apply until our board of directors determines it is no longer in our best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT. The ownership limit does not apply to any underwriter in an offering of our shares or to a person or persons exempted from the ownership limit by our board of directors based upon appropriate assurances that our qualification as a REIT would not be jeopardized.
Within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, every owner of 5% (or such lower percentage as required by the Internal Revenue Code or regulations promulgated thereunder) or more of our outstanding capital stock will be asked to deliver to us a statement setting forth the number of shares owned directly or indirectly by such person and a description of how such person holds the shares. Each such owner shall also provide us with such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of his or her beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with our ownership limit.
These restrictions could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or change in control of our company that might involve a premium price for our shares of common stock or otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.
Suitability Standards and Minimum Purchase Requirements
State securities laws and our charter require that purchasers of our common stock meet standards regarding (i) net worth or income and (ii) minimum purchase amounts. These standards are described above at “Suitability Standards” immediately following the cover page of this prospectus and below at “Plan of Distribution ¯ Minimum Purchase Requirements.” Subsequent purchasers, i.e., potential purchasers of your shares, must also meet the net worth or income standards, and unless you are transferring all of your shares, you may not transfer our shares in a manner that causes you or your transferee to own fewer than the number of shares required to meet the minimum purchase requirements, except for the following transfers without consideration: transfers by gift, transfers by inheritance, intrafamily transfers, family dissolutions, transfers to affiliates and transfers by operation of law. These suitability and minimum purchase requirements are applicable until our shares of common stock are listed on a national securities exchange, and these requirements may make it more difficult for you to sell your shares.
Distributions
Our board of directors has authorized stock dividends and a cash distribution on our shares of outstanding Class A common stock, which, as of the date of each declaration, was the only class of common stock issued and outstanding. On each of March 24, April 7, August 6, and November 10 of 2015, our board of directors authorized a quarterly stock dividend of 0.01 shares of Class A common stock (or 1% of a share of Class A common stock) on each outstanding share of Class A common stock issuable to all of our Class A common stockholders of record as of the close of business on each of March 25, June 24, September 22, and December 16 of 2015, respectively. We issued these quarterly stock dividends on March 27, June 29, September 29, and December 22 of 2015.
On December 10, 2015, our board of directors declared a stock dividend of 0.06 shares of Class A common stock (or 6% of a share of Class A common stock) on each outstanding share of Class A common stock to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 16, 2015. We issued this stock dividend on December 21, 2015.
On December 10, 2015, our board of directors also declared a cash distribution in the amount of $0.12 per share of Class A common stock to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 16, 2015. We paid this distribution on December 18, 2015. The distribution amount was generally determined based on both our estimated undistributed taxable income and the results of operations. The distribution was paid in cash or, for investors enrolled in our dividend reinvestment plan, reinvested in additional shares. Until our board of directors determines we have sufficient cash flow from operations to authorize regular, monthly cash distributions based on daily record dates, we expect our board of directors will declare distributions from time to time based on our income, cash flow and investing and financing activities. As such, we can give no assurances as to the timing, amount or notice with respect to any future cash distribution declarations.
During our offering stage, we currently expect our board of directors to declare stock dividends on a set quarterly basis based on quarterly record dates. Especially during the early stages of our operations and until our cash flows stabilize, our board of directors believes the declaration of stock dividends is in our best interest because it will allow us to focus on our investment strategy of investing in opportunistic real estate investments that may generate limited cash flow but have the potential for appreciation. These stock dividends may reflect in part an increase or anticipated increase in portfolio value to the extent our board of directors believes assets in our portfolio have appreciated or will appreciate in value after acquisition or after we have taken control of the assets. In addition, these stock dividends may reflect in part cash flow from operations. However, we can provide no assurances that our stock dividends will reflect appreciation in our portfolio or cash flow from operations. Unless our assets appreciate in an amount sufficient to offset the dilutive effect of any stock dividends, the return per share for later investors purchasing our stock will be below the return per share of earlier investors. With respect to any non-performing assets that we acquire, we believe that within a relatively short time after acquisition or taking control of such investments via foreclosure or deed-in-lieu proceedings, we will often experience an increase in their value. For example, in most instances, we bring financial stability to the property, which reduces uncertainty in the market and alleviates concerns regarding the property’s management, ownership and future. We also may have more capital available for investment in these properties than their prior owners and operators were willing to invest, and as such, we are able to invest in tenant improvements and capital expenditures with respect to such properties, which enables us to attract substantially increased interest from brokers and tenants.
We expect that once our board of directors determines we have sufficient cash flow from operations, our board of director will authorize and declare cash distributions based on daily record dates and pay these distributions on a monthly basis. We expect that we will fund these cash distributions from interest income on our debt investments, rental and other income on our real property investments and to the extent we acquire investments with short maturities or investments that are close to maturity, we may fund distributions with the proceeds received at the maturity, payoff or settlement of those investments. We may also utilize strategic refinancings to fund cash distributions for investments that have appreciated in value after our acquisition. Generally, our distribution policy is not to pay cash distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations, investment activities and strategic financings. However, we may fund cash distributions from any source and there are no limits to the amount of distributions that we may pay from any source, including proceeds from this offering or the proceeds from the issuance of securities in the future, other third party borrowings, advances from our advisor or sponsors or from our advisor’s deferral of its fees under the advisory agreement. Distributions paid from sources other than current or accumulated earnings and profits may constitute a return of capital. From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our taxable income for financial reporting purposes, or our taxable income may be greater than our cash flow available for distribution to stockholders. In these situations we may make distributions in excess of our cash flow from operations, investment activities and strategic financings to satisfy the REIT distribution requirement described above. In such an event, we would look first to other third party borrowings to fund these distributions.
Upon completion of our offering stage, we expect to fund cash distributions from interest and rental and other income on investments, the maturity, payoff or settlement of investments and from strategic sales of loans, debt securities, properties and other assets as well as the strategic use of debt financing as described above. We do not expect to make significant asset sales (and related cash distributions from net sales proceeds) during our offering stage because, as a REIT, we will generally have to hold our assets for two years in order to meet the safe harbor to avoid a 100% prohibited transactions tax, unless such assets are held through a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) or other taxable corporation. At such time as we have assets that we have held for at least two years, we anticipate that we may authorize and declare distributions based on gains on asset sales monthly, to the extent we close on the sale of one or more assets and the board of directors does not determine to reinvest the proceeds of such sales.
Cash distributions on Class T shares will be lower than cash distributions on Class A shares because of the ongoing stockholder servicing fee to be paid with respect to Class T shares sold in the primary offering. We will not pay the stockholder servicing fee on Class T shares issued as a stock dividend or purchased in our dividend reinvestment plan offering; however, the stockholder servicing fee payable with respect to Class T shares purchased in the primary offering will be allocated to all the Class T shares as a class expense. The stockholder servicing fee therefore will impact the distributions payable on all Class T shares and may impact the NAV of all Class T shares if the amount of the stockholder servicing fee payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceeds amounts available for distribution to holders of Class A shares.
To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must make aggregate annual distributions to our stockholders of at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (which is computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction or net capital gain and which does not necessarily equal net income as calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)). If we meet the REIT qualification requirements, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on the income that we distribute to our stockholders each year. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Taxation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. — Annual Distribution Requirements.” In general, we anticipate making distributions to our stockholders of at least 100% of our REIT taxable income so that none of our income is subject to federal income tax. Our board of directors may authorize distributions in excess of those required for us to maintain REIT status depending on our financial condition and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant.
Distributions that our stockholders receive, including distributions that are reinvested pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan, will be taxed as ordinary income to the extent they are from current or accumulated earnings and profits. Participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will also be treated for tax purposes as having received an additional distribution to the extent that they purchase shares under our dividend reinvestment plan at a discount to fair market value, if any. As a result, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan may have tax liability with respect to their share of our taxable income, but they will not receive cash distributions to pay such liability.
To the extent any portion of a stockholder’s distribution is not from current or accumulated earnings and profits, it will not be subject to tax immediately; it will be considered a return of capital for tax purposes and will reduce the tax basis of the stockholder’s investment (and potentially result in taxable gain upon the stockholder’s sale of the stock). During the first few years of our operations, we expect that portions of our distributions will not be funded from current
or accumulated earnings and profits and will therefore be considered a return of capital. Distributions that constitute a return of capital, in effect, defer a portion of a stockholder’s tax until the stockholder’s investment is sold or we are liquidated, at which time the stockholder will be taxed at capital gains rates. However, because each investor’s tax considerations are different, we suggest that stockholders consult with their tax advisor.
We believe that any stock dividends should be tax-free transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 305(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the adjusted tax basis of each share of “old” and “new” common stock should be computed by dividing the adjusted tax basis of the old common stock by the total number of shares, old and new. The holding period of the common stock received in such non-taxable distribution is expected to begin on the date the taxpayer acquired the common stock which is the date that each dividend is issued. Stockholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of any stock dividends
We have not established a minimum distribution level, and our charter does not require that we make distributions to our stockholders.
Inspection of Books and Records
Under Maryland law, a stockholder is entitled to inspect and copy (at all reasonable times) the following corporate documents: bylaws, minutes of the proceedings of stockholders, annual statements of affairs, voting trust agreements and stock records for certain specified periods. In addition, within seven days after a request for such documents is presented to an officer or our resident agent, we will have the requested documents available on file at our principal office. As a part of our books and records, we will maintain at our principal office an alphabetical list of the names of our common stockholders, along with their addresses and telephone numbers and the number of shares of common stock held by each of them. We will update this stockholder list at least quarterly and it will be available for inspection at our principal office by a common stockholder or his or her designated agent upon request of the stockholder. We will also mail this list to any common stockholder within 10 days of receipt of his or her request. We may impose a reasonable charge for expenses incurred in reproducing such list. Stockholders, however, may not sell or use this list for commercial purposes. The purposes for which stockholders may request this list include matters relating to their voting rights.
If our advisor or our board of directors neglects or refuses to exhibit, produce or mail a copy of the stockholder list as requested, our advisor and/ or board, as the case may be, shall be liable to the common stockholder requesting the list for the costs, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by that stockholder for compelling the production of the stockholder list and any actual damages suffered by any common stockholder for the neglect or refusal to produce the list. It shall be a defense that the actual purpose and reason for the requests for inspection or for a copy of the stockholder list is not for a proper purpose but is instead for the purpose of securing such list of stockholders or other information for the purpose of selling such list or copies thereof, or of using the same for a commercial purpose other than in the interest of the applicant as a stockholder relative to the affairs of our company. We may require that the stockholder requesting the stockholder list represent that the request is not for a commercial purpose unrelated to the stockholder’s interest in our company. The remedies provided by our charter to stockholders requesting copies of the stockholder list are in addition to, and do not in any way limit, other remedies available to stockholders under federal law, or the law of any state.
Business Combinations
Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, business combinations between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or the interested stockholder’s affiliate are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. For this purpose, the term “business combination” includes mergers, consolidations, share exchanges, asset transfers and issuances or reclassifications of equity securities. An “interested stockholder” is defined for this purpose as: (i) any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s shares; or (ii) an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting shares of the corporation. A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which he otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.
After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least: (i) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares of the corporation; and (ii) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting shares of the corporation other than shares held by
the interested stockholder or its affiliate with whom the business combination is to be effected, or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.
These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under the Maryland General Corporation Law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.
None of these provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law will apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by the board of directors of the corporation prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. We have opted out of these provisions by resolution of our board of directors. However, our board of directors may, by resolution, opt in to the business combination statute in the future.
Control Share Acquisitions
The Maryland General Corporation Law provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquirer, an officer of the corporation or an employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation are excluded from the vote on whether to accord voting rights to the control shares. “Control shares” are voting shares that, if aggregated with all other shares owned by the acquirer or with respect to which the acquirer has the right to vote or to direct the voting of, other than solely by virtue of revocable proxy, would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:
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• | one-tenth or more but less than one-third; |
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• | one-third or more but less than a majority; or |
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• | a majority or more of all voting power. |
Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. Except as otherwise specified in the statute, a “control share acquisition” means the acquisition of control shares.
Once a person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition has undertaken to pay expenses and has satisfied other required conditions, the person may compel the board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of the demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved for the control shares at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an “acquiring person statement” for the control shares as required by the statute, the corporation may redeem any or all of the control shares for their fair value, except for control shares for which voting rights have previously been approved. Fair value is to be determined for this purpose without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, and is to be determined as of the date of the last control share acquisition or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights for control shares are considered and not approved.
If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of these appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid in the control share acquisition. Some of the limitations and restrictions otherwise applicable to the exercise of dissenters’ rights do not apply in the context of a control share acquisition.
The control share acquisition statute does not apply to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.
Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of our stock. There can be no assurance that this provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.
Subtitle 8
Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to any or all of five provisions:
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• | a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director, |
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• | a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors, |
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• | a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred, and |
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• | a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders. |
Our charter does not prohibit us from electing to be subject to the provisions under Subtitle 8. Through provisions in our bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already vest in our board of directors the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships. Our bylaws may be amended by our stockholders or the board of directors.
Tender Offers by Stockholders
Our charter provides that any tender offer made by a stockholder, including any “mini-tender” offer, must comply with certain notice and disclosure requirements. These procedural requirements with respect to tender offers apply to any widespread solicitation for shares of our stock at firm prices for a limited time period.
In order for one of our stockholders to conduct a tender offer to another stockholder, our charter requires that the stockholder comply with Regulation 14D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and provide the Company notice of such tender offer at least 10 business days before initiating the tender offer. Pursuant to our charter, Regulation 14D would require any stockholder initiating a tender offer to provide:
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• | Specific disclosure to stockholders focusing on the terms of the offer and information about the bidder; |
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• | The ability to allow stockholders to withdraw tendered shares while the offer remains open; |
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• | The right to have tendered shares accepted on a pro rata basis throughout the term of the offer if the offer is for less than all of our shares; and |
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• | That all stockholders of the subject class of shares be treated equally. |
In addition to the foregoing, there are certain ramifications to stockholders should they attempt to conduct a noncompliant tender offer. If any stockholder initiates a tender offer without complying with the provisions set forth above, all tendering stockholders will have the opportunity to rescind the tender of their shares to the non-complying offeror within 30 days of our provision of a position statement on such non-compliant tender offer to stockholder. The noncomplying stockholder shall also be responsible for all of our expenses in connection with that stockholder’s noncompliance.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
We have adopted a dividend reinvestment plan pursuant to which you may elect to have your dividends and other distributions, excluding those dividends and other distributions that our board of directors designates as ineligible for reinvestment through the plan, reinvested in additional shares of our common stock. Purchases pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan will be in the same class of shares as the shares for which such stockholder received the distributions that are being reinvested. The following discussion summarizes the principal terms of this plan. Appendix B to this prospectus contains the full text of our dividend reinvestment plan as is currently in effect.
Eligibility
All of our common stockholders are eligible to participate in our dividend reinvestment plan regardless of the offering in which they acquired their shares; however, we may elect to deny your participation in the dividend reinvestment plan if you reside in a jurisdiction or foreign country where, in our judgment, the burden or expense of compliance with applicable securities laws makes your participation impracticable or inadvisable.
At any time prior to the listing of our shares on a national stock exchange, you must cease participation in our dividend reinvestment plan if you no longer meet the suitability standards. We request that participants notify us
promptly when they no longer meet these standards. See the “Suitability Standards” section of this prospectus (immediately following the cover page) and the form of subscription agreement attached hereto as Appendix A.
Election to Participate
You may elect to participate or increase your participation in the dividend reinvestment plan by completing the subscription agreement or other approved enrollment form available from the dealer manager or a participating broker-dealer. Your participation in the dividend reinvestment plan will begin with the next distribution made after receipt of your enrollment form. You can choose to have all or a portion of your distributions reinvested through the dividend reinvestment plan. You may also change the percentage of your distributions that will be reinvested at any time by completing a new enrollment form or other form provided for that purpose.
Stock Purchases
Shares will be purchased under the dividend reinvestment plan on the distribution payment dates declared by our board of directors and will be in the same class of shares as the shares for which such stockholder received the distributions that are being reinvested. The purchase of fractional shares is a permissible and likely result of the reinvestment of distributions under the dividend reinvestment plan.
Until we announce an estimated NAV per share, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will acquire shares of our common stock at a price per share equal to 95% of the then-current offering price for shares in the primary portion of an offering (whether in this primary offering or a follow-on primary offering and ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers) or 95% of the most recent offering price in a primary offering if there is no current offering. These dividend reinvestment plan offering prices are initially $9.50 per Class A share and $9.12 per Class T share.
Once we have announced an estimated NAV per share, which we expect to occur no later than June 6, 2017, which date is 150 days after the second anniversary of the date on which we broke escrow in this offering, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will acquire shares of our common stock at a price equal to 95% of the estimated NAV per share of our common stock.
Our board of directors may adjust the offering prices of the primary offering shares or dividend reinvestment plan shares during the course of the offering by filing a post-effective amendment.
Account Statements
You or your designee will receive a confirmation of your purchases under the dividend reinvestment plan monthly. Your confirmation will disclose the following information:
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• | each distribution reinvested for your account during the period; |
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• | the date of the reinvestment; |
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• | the number and price of the shares purchased by you; and |
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• | the total number of shares in your account. |
In addition, within 90 days after the end of each calendar year, we will provide you with an individualized report on your investment, including the purchase dates, purchase price, number of shares owned and the amount of distributions made in the prior year. We will also provide to all participants in the plan, without charge, all supplements to and updated versions of this prospectus, as required under applicable securities laws.
Fees and Commissions and Use of Proceeds
No selling commissions or dealer manager fees will be payable on the shares sold under our dividend reinvestment plan. In addition, no stockholder servicing fee will be paid with respect to Class T shares purchased through the dividend reinvestment plan (or issued pursuant to a stock dividend); however, the stockholder servicing fee payable with respect to Class T shares purchased in the primary offering will be allocated to all the Class T shares as a class expense. The stockholder servicing fee therefore will impact the distributions payable on all Class T shares and may impact the NAV of all Class T shares if the amount of the stockholder servicing fee payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceeds amounts available for distribution to holders of Class A shares. We expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of shares under our dividend reinvestment plan for general corporate purposes including, but not limited to, the following
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• | the repurchase of shares under our share redemption program; |
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• | reserves required by any financings of our investments; |
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• | future funding obligations under any real estate loan receivable we acquire; |
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• | acquisition or origination of assets, which would include payment of acquisition fees or origination fees to our advisor (see “Management Compensation”); |
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• | the repayment of debt; and |
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• | expenses relating to our investments, such as purchasing a loan senior to ours to protect our junior position in the event of a default by the borrower on the senior loan, making protective advances to preserve collateral securing a loan, or making capital and tenant improvements or paying leasing costs and commissions related to real property. |
We cannot predict with any certainty how much, if any, dividend reinvestment plan proceeds will be available for specific purposes.
Voting
You may vote all shares, including fractional shares, that you acquire through the dividend reinvestment plan.
Tax Consequences of Participation
If you elect to participate in the dividend reinvestment plan and are subject to federal income taxation, you will incur a tax liability for distributions allocated to you even though you have elected not to receive the distributions in cash but rather to have the distributions withheld and reinvested pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan. Specifically, you will be treated as if you have received the distribution from us in cash and then applied such distribution to the purchase of additional shares. In addition, to the extent you purchase shares through our dividend reinvestment plan at a discount to their fair market value, you will be treated for tax purposes as receiving an additional distribution equal to the amount of the discount. You will be taxed on the amount of such distribution as a dividend to the extent such distribution is from current or accumulated earnings and profits, unless we have designated all or a portion of the distribution as a capital gain distribution. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations - Taxation of Stockholders.” We will withhold 28% of the amount of dividends or distributions paid if you fail to furnish a valid taxpayer identification number, fail to properly report interest or distributions or fail to certify that you are not subject to withholding.
Termination of Participation
Once enrolled, you may continue to purchase shares under our dividend reinvestment plan until we have sold all of the shares registered in this offering, have terminated this offering or have terminated the dividend reinvestment plan. You may terminate your participation in the dividend reinvestment plan at any time by providing us with written notice. For your termination to be effective for a particular distribution, we must have received your notice of termination at least four business days prior to the last business day prior to the payment date for the distribution; provided that, if we publicly announce in a filing with the SEC a new offering price under the dividend reinvestment plan, then a participant shall have no less than two business days after the date of such announcement to notify us in writing of a participant’s termination of participation in the dividend reinvestment plan and the participant’s termination will be effective for the next date shares are purchased under the dividend reinvestment plan. Any transfer of your shares will effect a termination of the participation of those shares in the dividend reinvestment plan. We will terminate your participation in the dividend reinvestment plan to the extent that a reinvestment of your distributions would cause you to violate the ownership limit contained in our charter, unless you have obtained an exemption from the ownership limit from our board of directors.
Amendment or Termination of Plan
We may amend or terminate the dividend reinvestment plan for any reason at any time upon 10 days’ notice to the participants. We may provide notice by including such information (a) in a Current Report on Form 8-K or in our annual or quarterly reports, all publicly filed with the SEC or (b) in a separate mailing to the participants.
Share Redemption Program
Our board of directors has adopted a share redemption program that may enable you to sell your shares of common stock to us in limited circumstances. However, our share redemption program includes numerous restrictions that limit our stockholders’ ability to sell their shares.
If and when we do have funds available for redemption under our share redemption program, unless the shares are being redeemed upon a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” (as defined below) or “determination of incompetence” (as defined below) (collectively, “Special Redemptions”), the prices at which we will redeem shares are as follows:
Redemption Price
Until we announce an estimated NAV per share of our common stock, the price at which we will redeem the shares is as follows:
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least one year, 92.5% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least two years, 95.0% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least three years, 97.5% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us; and |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least four years, 100% of the price paid to acquire the shares from us. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, stock dividends will initially be redeemed at the “net investment amount” per share, which will be based on the “amount available for investment/net investment amount” percentage shown in our estimated use of proceeds table. For each class of shares, this amount will initially equal $9.01 per share for redemptions of shares received as a result of a stock dividend.
After we establish an estimated NAV per share of our common stock, the price at which we will redeem the shares is as follows:
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least one year, 92.5% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least two years, 95.0% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date; |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least three years, 97.5% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date; and |
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• | For those shares held by the redeeming stockholder for at least four years, 100% of our most recent estimated NAV per share as of the applicable redemption date. |
For purposes of determining the time period a redeeming stockholder has held each share, the time period begins as of the date the stockholder acquired the share; provided, that shares purchased by the redeeming stockholder pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan and shares received as a stock dividend will be deemed to have been acquired on the same date as the initial share to which the dividend reinvestment plan shares or stock dividend shares relate. The date of the share’s original issuance by us is not determinative. In addition, as described above, the shares owned by a stockholder may be redeemed at different prices depending on how long the stockholder has held each share submitted for redemption.
Limitations on Redemption
There are several limitations on our ability to redeem shares under the program:
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• | Unless the shares are being redeemed in connection with a Special Redemption, we may not redeem a share unless the stockholder has held the share for one year. |
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• | During each calendar year, redemptions are limited to the amount of net proceeds from the sale of shares under our dividend reinvestment plan during the prior calendar year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the share redemption program provides up to $500,000 in additional funds to redeem a qualifying stockholder’s shares if the shares are being redeemed in connection with a Special Redemption. For purposes of determining the amount of funds available for redemption under the share redemption program, redemptions for a Special Redemption are to be made first from this $500,000. This restriction may significantly limit your ability to have your shares redeemed pursuant to our share redemption program because initial distributions have been in the form of stock dividends and, particularly during our offering stage, we do not expect to have cash flow sufficient to pay significant cash distributions, which would in turn severely limit redemptions during the next calendar year. |
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• | During any calendar year, we may redeem no more than 5% of the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year. |
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• | We have no obligation to redeem shares if the redemption would violate the restrictions on distributions under Maryland law, which prohibits distributions that would cause a corporation to fail to meet statutory tests of solvency. |
Procedures for Redemption
We will redeem shares on the last business day of each month, except that the first redemption date following our announcement of an estimated NAV per share shall be no less than 10 business days after our announcement of an estimated NAV per share in a filing with the SEC and the redemption date shall be set forth in such filing. The program administrator must receive your written request for redemption at least five business days before that date in order for us to repurchase your shares that month. If we could not repurchase all shares presented for redemption in any month, we would attempt to honor redemption requests on a pro rata basis. We will deviate from pro rata purchases if a pro rata redemption would result in you owning less than the minimum purchase amount described below under “Plan of Distribution - Minimum Purchase Requirements,” then we will redeem all of your shares.
If we did not completely satisfy a stockholder’s redemption request at the redemption date because the program administrator did not receive the request in time or because of the restrictions on the number of shares we could redeem under the program, we would treat the unsatisfied portion of the redemption request as a request for redemption at the next redemption date funds are available for redemption or at the next redemption date following the resumption of the share redemption program unless the stockholder withdrew his or her request before the next date for redemptions. Any stockholder could withdraw a redemption request upon written notice to the program administrator if such notice were received by us at least five business days before the date for redemptions.
Special Redemptions
In several respects we would treat redemptions sought upon a Special Redemption differently from other redemptions:
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• | there is no one-year holding requirement; |
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• | until we announce an estimated NAV per share, the redemption price is the amount paid to acquire the shares from us; provided that, stock dividends will initially be redeemed at the “net investment amount” per share, which will be based on the “amount available for investment/net investment amount” percentage shown in our estimated use of proceeds table. For each class of shares, this amount will initially equal $9.01 per share for redemptions of shares received as a result of a stock dividend; and |
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• | once we have announced an estimated NAV per share, the redemption price for all shares would be the estimated NAV of the shares, as determined by our board of directors. |
In order for a disability to entitle a stockholder to the special redemption terms described above (a “qualifying disability”), (i) the stockholder would have to receive a determination of disability based upon a physical or mental condition or impairment arising after the date the stockholder acquired the shares to be redeemed, and (ii) such determination of disability would have to be made by the governmental agency responsible for reviewing the disability retirement benefits that the stockholder could be eligible to receive (the “applicable governmental agency”). The “applicable governmental agencies” would be limited to the following: (i) if the stockholder paid Social Security taxes and, therefore, could be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits, then the applicable governmental agency would be the Social Security Administration or the agency charged with responsibility for administering Social Security disability benefits at that time if other than the Social Security Administration; (ii) if the stockholder did not pay Social Security taxes and, therefore, could not be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits, but the stockholder could be eligible to receive disability benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System (“CSRS”), then the applicable governmental agency would be the U.S. Office of Personnel Management or the agency charged with responsibility for administering CSRS benefits at that time if other than the Office of Personnel Management; or (iii) if the stockholder did not pay Social Security taxes and therefore could not be eligible to receive Social Security benefits but suffered a disability that resulted in the stockholder’s discharge from military service under conditions that were other than dishonorable and, therefore, could be eligible to receive military disability benefits, then the applicable governmental agency would be the Department of Veterans Affairs or the agency charged with the responsibility for administering military disability benefits at that time if other than the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Disability determinations by governmental agencies for purposes other than those listed above, including but not limited to worker’s compensation insurance, administration or enforcement of the Rehabilitation Act or Americans with Disabilities Act, or waiver of insurance premiums would not entitle a stockholder to the special redemption terms described above. Redemption requests following an award by the applicable governmental agency of disability benefits
would have to be accompanied by: (i) the investor’s initial application for disability benefits and (ii) a Social Security Administration Notice of Award, a U.S. Office of Personnel Management determination of disability under CSRS, a Department of Veterans Affairs record of disability-related discharge or such other documentation issued by the applicable governmental agency that we would deem acceptable and would demonstrate an award of the disability benefits.
We understand that the following disabilities do not entitle a worker to Social Security disability benefits:
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• | disabilities occurring after the legal retirement age; and |
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• | disabilities that do not render a worker incapable of performing substantial gainful activity. |
Therefore, such disabilities would not qualify for the special redemption terms, except in the limited circumstances when the investor would be awarded disability benefits by the other “applicable governmental agencies” described above.
In order for a determination of incompetence or incapacitation (a “determination of incompetence”) to entitle a stockholder to the special redemption terms, a state or federal court located in the United States must declare, determine or find the stockholder to be (i) mentally incompetent to enter into a contract, to prepare a will or to make medical decisions or (ii) mentally incapacitated. In both cases such determination must be made by the court after the date the stockholder acquired the shares to be redeemed. A determination of incompetence or incapacitation by any other person or entity, or for any purpose other than those listed above, will not entitle a stockholder to the special redemption terms. Redemption requests following a “determination of incompetence” must be accompanied by the court order, determination or certificate declaring the stockholder incompetent or incapacitated.
Amendment or Termination of Program and Notice
In its sole discretion, our board of directors may amend, suspend or terminate the program without stockholder approval upon 30 days’ notice, provided that we may increase or decrease the funding available for the redemption of shares pursuant to our share redemption program upon ten business days’ notice to our stockholders. We may provide notice by including such information (a) in a Current Report on Form 8-K or in our annual or quarterly reports, all publicly filed with the SEC or (b) in a separate mailing to the stockholders. During this offering, we would also include this information in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement, as required under federal securities laws.
Our share redemption program only provides stockholders a limited ability to redeem shares for cash until a secondary market develops for our shares, at which time the program would terminate. No such market presently exists, and we cannot assure you that any market for your shares will ever develop.
Qualifying stockholders who desire to redeem their shares would have to give written notice to us by completing a redemption request form and returning it as follows:
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• | Regular mail: KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc., c/o DST Systems, Inc., PO Box 219015, Kansas City, MO 64121-9015. |
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• | Overnight mail: KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc., c/o DST Systems, Inc., 430 W. 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105. |
Redemption request forms are available by contacting your financial advisor or by calling (866) 527-4264.
Registrar and Transfer Agent
We have engaged DST Systems, Inc. to serve as the registrar and transfer agent for our common stock.
Restrictions on Roll-Up Transactions
A Roll-up Transaction is a transaction involving the acquisition, merger, conversion or consolidation, directly or indirectly, of us and the issuance of securities of an entity that is created or would survive after the successful completion of a Roll-up Transaction, which we refer to as a Roll-up Entity. This term does not include:
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• | a transaction involving our securities that have been for at least 12 months listed on a national securities exchange; or |
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• | a transaction involving only our conversion into a trust or association if, as a consequence of the transaction, there will be no significant adverse change in the voting rights of our common stockholders, the term of our existence, the compensation to our advisor or our investment objectives. |
In connection with any proposed Roll-up Transaction, an appraisal of all our assets will be obtained from a competent independent appraiser. Our assets will be appraised on a consistent basis, and the appraisal will be based on an evaluation of all relevant information and will indicate the value of our assets as of a date immediately preceding the announcement of the proposed Roll-up Transaction. If the appraisal will be included in a prospectus used to offer the securities of a Roll-Up Entity, the appraisal will be filed with the SEC and, if applicable, the states in which registration of such securities is sought, as an exhibit to the registration statement for the offering. The appraisal will assume an orderly liquidation of assets over a 12-month period. The terms of the engagement of the independent appraiser will clearly state that the engagement is for our benefit and the benefit of our stockholders. A summary of the appraisal, indicating all material assumptions underlying the appraisal, will be included in a report to our stockholders in connection with any proposed Roll-up Transaction.
In connection with a proposed Roll-up Transaction, the person sponsoring the Roll-up Transaction must offer to our common stockholders who vote “no” on the proposal the choice of:
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(1) | accepting the securities of the Roll-up Entity offered in the proposed Roll-up Transaction; or |
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(A) | remaining as common stockholders of us and preserving their interests in us on the same terms and conditions as existed previously; or |
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(B) | receiving cash in an amount equal to the stockholders’ pro rata share of the appraised value of our net assets. |
We are prohibited from participating in any proposed Roll-up Transaction:
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• | that would result in our common stockholders having democracy rights in a Roll-up Entity that are less than those provided in our charter and bylaws with respect to the election and removal of directors and the other voting rights of our common stockholders, annual reports, annual and special meetings of common stockholders, the amendment of our charter and our dissolution; |
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• | that includes provisions that would operate to materially impede or frustrate the accumulation of shares by any purchaser of the securities of the Roll-up Entity, except to the minimum extent necessary to preserve the tax status of the Roll-up Entity, or that would limit the ability of an investor to exercise the voting rights of its securities of the Roll-up Entity on the basis of the number of shares of common stock that such investor had held in us; |
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• | in which investors’ rights of access to the records of the Roll-up Entity would be less than those provided in our charter and described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Shares - Meetings and Special Voting Requirements;” or |
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• | in which any of the costs of the Roll-up Transaction would be borne by us if the Roll-up Transaction would not be approved by our common stockholders. |
THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
General
KBS Strategic Opportunity Limited Partnership II, which we refer to as the Operating Partnership, is a Delaware limited partnership. We expect to own substantially all of our assets and conduct our operations through the Operating Partnership. We are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of the date of this prospectus, our wholly owned subsidiary, KBS Strategic Opportunity Holdings II LLC, is the sole limited partner of the Operating Partnership. As the sole general partner, we have the exclusive power to manage and conduct the business of the Operating Partnership.
As we accept subscriptions for shares in this offering, we will transfer substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering to our Operating Partnership as a capital contribution in exchange for units of limited partnership interest of the same class as the applicable shares with respect to which offering proceeds have been received. Such units will have economic terms that vary based upon the class of shares issued. However, we will be deemed to have made capital contributions in the amount of the gross offering proceeds received from investors, and our Operating Partnership will be deemed to have simultaneously paid the selling commissions and dealer manager fees associated with the sale of the shares. These units will be held by KBS Strategic Opportunity Holdings II. Because we are currently the only limited partner in the Partnership, we do not have multiple classes of operating partnership interests that correspond to our classes of common stock. However, in the future we may issue new classes of operating partnership interests with unique terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption.
As a result of this structure, we will be considered an UPREIT, or an umbrella partnership real estate investment trust. An UPREIT is a structure that REITs often use to acquire real property from sellers on a tax-deferred basis because the sellers can generally accept partnership units and defer taxable gain otherwise required to be recognized by them upon the disposition of their properties. Such sellers may also desire to achieve diversity in their investment and other benefits afforded to stockholders in a REIT. For purposes of satisfying the asset and income tests for qualification as a REIT, the REIT’s proportionate share of the assets and income of the Operating Partnership will be deemed to be assets and income of the REIT.
If we ever decide to acquire properties in exchange for units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership, we expect to amend and restate the partnership agreement to provide substantially as set forth below.
Capital Contributions
We would expect the partnership agreement to require us to contribute the proceeds of any offering of our shares of stock to the Operating Partnership as an additional capital contribution. If we did contribute additional capital to the Operating Partnership, we would receive additional partnership units and our percentage interest in the Operating Partnership would be increased on a proportionate basis based upon the amount of such additional capital contributions and the value of the Operating Partnership at the time of such contributions. We also expect that the partnership agreement would allow us to cause the Operating Partnership to issue partnership interests for less than their fair market value if we conclude in good faith that such issuance is in the best interest of the Operating Partnership and us. The Operating Partnership would also be able to issue preferred partnership interests in connection with acquisitions of property or otherwise. These preferred partnership interests could have priority over common partnership interests with respect to distributions from the Operating Partnership, including priority over the partnership interests that we would own as a limited partner. If the Operating Partnership would require additional funds at any time in excess of capital contributions made by us or from borrowing, we could borrow funds from a financial institution or other lender and lend such funds to the Operating Partnership on the same terms and conditions as are applicable to our borrowing of such funds.
Operations
We would expect the partnership agreement to provide that, so long as we remain qualified as a REIT, the Operating Partnership would be operated in a manner that would enable us to satisfy the requirements for being classified as a REIT for tax purposes. We would also have the power to take actions to ensure that the Operating Partnership would not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code. Classification as a publicly traded partnership could result in the Operating Partnership being taxed as a corporation, rather than as a partnership.
Distributions and Allocations of Profits and Losses
The partnership agreement would provide that the Operating Partnership would distribute cash flow from operations to its partners in accordance with their respective percentage interests on at least a monthly basis in amounts that we determine. The effect of these distributions would be that a holder of one unit of limited partnership interest in our Operating Partnership would receive the same amount of annual cash flow distributions as the amount of annual distributions paid to the holder of one of our shares of common stock.
Similarly, the partnership agreement would provide that the Operating Partnership would allocate taxable income to its partners in accordance with their respective percentage interests. Subject to compliance with the provisions of Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and the corresponding Treasury regulations, the effect of these allocations would be that a holder of one unit of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership would be allocated taxable income for each taxable year in an amount equal to the amount of taxable income to be recognized by a holder of one of our shares of common stock. Losses, if any, would generally be allocated among the partners in accordance with their respective percentage interests in the Operating Partnership. Losses could not be passed through to our stockholders.
Upon liquidation of the Operating Partnership, after payment of, or adequate provision for, debts and obligations of the Operating Partnership, including partner loans, any remaining assets of the Operating Partnership would be distributed to its partners in accordance with their respective positive capital account balances.
Rights, Obligations and Powers of the General Partner
We would expect to be the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. As sole general partner, we generally would have complete and exclusive discretion to manage and control the Operating Partnership’s business and to make all decisions affecting its assets. Under an amended and restated partnership agreement, we would also expect to have the authority to:
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• | acquire, purchase, own, manage and dispose of loans, securities, real property and any other assets; |
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• | construct buildings and make other improvements on owned or leased properties; |
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• | authorize, issue, sell, redeem or otherwise purchase any debt or other securities; |
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• | make or revoke any tax election; |
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• | maintain insurance coverage in amounts and types as we determine is necessary; |
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• | retain employees or other service providers; |
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• | form or acquire interests in joint ventures; and |
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• | merge, consolidate or combine the Operating Partnership with another entity. |
Under an amended and restated partnership agreement, we expect that the Operating Partnership would continue to pay all of the administrative and operating costs and expenses it incurs in acquiring or originating and operating and managing investments. The Operating Partnership would also pay all of our administrative costs and expenses and such expenses would be treated as expenses of the Operating Partnership. Such expenses would include:
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• | all expenses relating to our organization and continuity of existence; |
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• | all expenses relating to the public offering and registration of our securities; |
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• | all expenses associated with the payment of the ongoing stockholder servicing fee; |
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• | all expenses associated with the preparation and filing of our periodic reports under federal, state or local laws or regulations; |
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• | all expenses associated with our compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; and |
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• | all of our other operating or administrative costs incurred in the ordinary course of business. |
The only costs and expenses we could incur that the Operating Partnership would not reimburse would be costs and expenses relating to assets we may own outside of the Operating Partnership. We would pay the expenses relating to such assets directly.
Exchange Rights
We expect that an amended and restated partnership agreement would also provide for exchange rights. We expect the limited partners of the Operating Partnership would have the right to cause the Operating Partnership to redeem their units of limited partnership interest for cash equal to the value of an equivalent number of our shares, or, at our option, we could purchase their units of limited partnership interest for cash or by issuing one share of our common stock for each unit redeemed. Limited partners, however, would not be able to exercise this exchange right if and to the extent that the delivery of our shares upon such exercise would:
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• | result in any person owning shares in excess of the ownership limit in our charter (unless exempted by our board of directors); |
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• | result in our shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons; |
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• | result in our shares being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code; or |
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• | cause us to own 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. |
Furthermore, limited partners could exercise their exchange rights only after their units of limited partnership interest had been outstanding for one year. A limited partner could not deliver more than two exchange notices each calendar year and would not be able to exercise an exchange right for less than 1,000 units of limited partnership interest, unless such limited partner held less than 1,000 units. In that case, he would be required to exercise his exchange right for all of his units.
Change in General Partner
We expect that we generally would not be able to withdraw as the general partner of the Operating Partnership or transfer our general partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (unless we transferred our interest to a wholly owned subsidiary). The principal exception to this would be if we merged with another entity and (i) the holders of a majority of partnership units (including those we held) approved the transaction; (ii) the limited partners received or had the right to receive an amount of cash, securities or other property equal in value to the amount they would have received if they had exercised their exchange rights immediately before such transaction; (iii) we were the surviving entity and our stockholders did not receive cash, securities or other property in the transaction; or (iv) the successor entity contributed substantially all of its assets to the Operating Partnership in return for an interest in the Operating Partnership and agreed to assume all obligations of the general partner of the Operating Partnership. If we voluntarily sought protection under bankruptcy or state insolvency laws, or if we were involuntarily placed under such protection for more than 90 days, we would be deemed to be automatically removed as the general partner. Otherwise, the limited partners would not have the right to remove us as general partner.
Transferability of Interests
With certain exceptions, the limited partners would not be able to transfer their interests in the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, without our written consent as the general partner.
Amendment of Limited Partnership Agreement
We expect amendments to the amended and restated partnership agreement would require the consent of the holders of a majority of the partnership units including the partnership units we and our affiliates held. Additionally, we, as general partner, would be required to approve any amendment. We expect that certain amendments would have to be approved by a majority of the units held by third-party limited partners.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
General
We are publicly offering up to $1,000,000,000 in shares of our common stock in the primary offering, consisting of two classes of shares: Class A shares at a price of $10.00 per share and Class T shares at a price of $9.59 per share. Both classes of shares have discounts available to certain categories of purchasers as described below. This offering is being conducted on a “best efforts” basis through KBS Capital Markets Group, our dealer manager. Because this is a “best efforts” offering, KBS Capital Markets Group must use only its best efforts to sell the shares and has no firm commitment or obligation to purchase any of our shares.
We are also offering up to 76,366,006 shares of our common stock pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan. Purchases pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan will be in the same class of shares as the shares for which such stockholder received the distributions that are being reinvested. Until we announce an estimated NAV per share, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will acquire shares of our common stock at a price per share equal to 95% of the then-current offering price for shares purchased in the primary portion of an offering (ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers). These dividend reinvestment plan offering prices are initially $9.50 per Class A share and $9.12 per Class T share. Once we have announced an estimated NAV per share, which we expect to occur no later than June 6, 2017, which date is 150 days after the second anniversary of the date on which we broke escrow in this offering, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will acquire shares of our common stock at a price equal to 95% of the estimated NAV per share of our common stock. We generally expect to update the estimated NAV per share in December of each year.
We are offering to sell any combination of Class A and Class T shares in our primary offering and dividend reinvestment plan offering but in no event may we sell more than 180,000,000 of shares of our common stock pursuant to this offering. We reserve the right to reallocate shares between the primary offering and our dividend reinvestment plan offering, and to reallocate shares among classes of common stock, if we elect to offer additional classes in the future. Based on our current estimates, as of the date of this prospectus, we have allocated 103,633,994 and 76,366,006 shares of our common stock to our primary and dividend reinvestment plan offerings, respectively. Our board of directors may adjust the offering prices of the primary offering shares or dividend reinvestment plan shares during the course of this offering by filing a post-effective amendment.
This primary offering shall terminate approximately 90 days (as determined by our Chief Executive Officer) after we have announced that we have raised $650 million in our primary public offering. In no event may the primary offering continue beyond the time period permitted by the rules promulgated by the SEC, which rules provide that absent the filing of a registration statement for a follow-on offering, this primary offering shall terminate after a three-year period. If we decide to revise the threshold upon which we will terminate this primary offering, we will provide that information in a prospectus supplement. We may continue to offer shares under our dividend reinvestment plan after the primary offering terminates until we have sold up to 76,366,000 shares of our common stock through the reinvestment of distributions. We may terminate this offering at any time.
Our dealer manager, KBS Capital Markets Group, registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC in October 2004, and this offering is the sixth public offering conducted by our dealer manager. The principal business of KBS Capital Markets Group is participating in and facilitating the distribution of securities of KBS-sponsored programs. KBS Capital Markets Group is indirectly owned and controlled by our sponsors, Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. For additional information about our dealer manager, including information related to its affiliation with us and our advisor, see “Management — Other Affiliates — Dealer Manager,” and “Conflicts of Interest — Affiliated Dealer Manager” and “— Certain Conflict Resolution Measures.”
Compensation of Dealer Manager and Participating Broker-Dealers
Except as provided below, our dealer manager will receive selling commissions of 6.5% of the gross offering proceeds for Class A shares sold in the primary offering and up to 3.0% of the gross offering proceeds for Class T shares sold in the primary offering. Reduced selling commissions will be paid for shares with respect to certain volume discount sales and sales through certain distribution channels. We will not pay any selling commissions for shares sold under our dividend reinvestment plan.
We expect the dealer manager to authorize other broker-dealers that are members of FINRA, which we refer to as participating broker-dealers, to sell our shares. Except as provided below, our dealer manager will reallow all of its selling commissions attributable to a participating broker-dealer.
We may sell our Class A shares at a discount to the primary offering price (initially $10.00 per share) through the following distribution channels in the event that the investor:
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• | pays a broker a single fee, e.g., a percentage of assets under management, for investment advisory and broker services, which is frequently referred to as a “wrap fee”; |
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• | has engaged the services of a registered investment adviser with whom the investor has agreed to pay compensation for investment advisory services or other financial or investment advice (other than a registered investment adviser that is also registered as a broker-dealer who does not have a fixed or “wrap fee” feature or other asset fee arrangement with the investor); or |
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• | is investing through a bank acting as trustee or fiduciary. |
If an investor purchases Class A shares through one of these channels in the primary offering, we will sell the Class A shares at a 6.5% discount (e.g. initially at $9.35 per share based on the initial primary offering price of $10.00 per share), reflecting that selling commissions will not be paid in connection with such purchases. We will receive the same net proceeds for sales of Class A shares through these channels.
If an investor purchases Class A shares in the primary offering net of commissions through a registered investment adviser that is affiliated with a participating broker‑dealer in a transaction in which the registered investment adviser is compensated on a fee‑for‑service basis by the investor, our dealer manager may reallow to the affiliated participating broker‑dealer up to 1% of the gross offering proceeds attributable to that transaction as a marketing fee. The marketing fee paid to participating broker‑dealers would be paid by our dealer manager out of its dealer manager fee. If an investor purchases Class A shares in this offering through a registered investment adviser (or bank acting as a trustee or fiduciary) not affiliated with a participating broker‑dealer, our dealer manager will not reallow any portion of the dealer manager fee.
Neither our dealer manager nor its affiliates will compensate any person engaged as an investment adviser by a potential investor as an inducement for such investment adviser to advise favorably for an investment in us.
If an investor purchases Class A shares in the primary offering net of commissions through a registered investment adviser with whom the investor has agreed to pay compensation for investment advisory services or other financial or investment advice, and if in connection with such purchase the investor must also pay a broker‑dealer for custodial or other services relating to holding the shares in the investor’s account, we will reduce the aggregate purchase price of the investor’s Class A shares by the amount of the annual custodial or other fees paid to the broker‑dealer in an amount up to $250. Each investor will receive only one reduction in purchase price for such fees and this reduction in the purchase price of our Class A shares is only available for the investor’s initial investment in our Class A common stock. The investor must include the “Request for Broker‑Dealer Custodial Fee Reimbursement Form” with his or her subscription agreement to have the purchase price of the investor’s initial investment in Class A shares reduced by the amount of his or her annual custodial fee.
Our dealer manager will receive a dealer manager fee of up to 2.0% of the gross primary offering proceeds for Class A and Class T shares as compensation for acting as our dealer manager. The dealer manager fee paid with respect to any purchases made net of selling commissions as described in this “Plan of Distribution” section, will be calculated based on the undiscounted purchase price. A reduced dealer manager fee will be paid with respect to certain volume discount sales related to sales of our shares as described below. We will not pay dealer manager fees for shares sold under our dividend reinvestment plan.
Our dealer manager may generally reallow to any participating broker dealer up to 1.0% of the gross primary offering proceeds attributable to that participating broker dealer as a marketing fee. In select cases up to 1.5% of the gross primary offering proceeds may be reallowed. This reallow will be based upon such factors as the projected sales volume by such participating broker-dealer, access to conferences and meetings and the general level of assistance of such participating broker-dealer in marketing this offering. For volume discount sales of $3,000,001 or more, the dealer manager fee is reduced as set forth below. The amount of the dealer manager fee reallowed to a participating broker‑dealer in that instance will be negotiated on a transaction by transaction basis. The marketing fee paid to participating broker‑dealers would be paid by our dealer manager out of its dealer manager fee.
In addition, our dealer manager will receive an annual stockholder servicing fee of 1.0% of the purchase price per share (ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers) of Class T common stock sold in the primary offering solely to the extent there is a broker dealer of record with respect to such Class T share that has entered a currently effective selected dealer agreement or servicing agreement that provides for the payment to such
broker dealer of the stockholder servicing fee with respect to such Class T share, and such broker dealer of record is in compliance with the applicable terms of such selected dealer agreement or servicing agreement related to such payment. Such terms include providing ongoing services to the holder of the Class T share including (i) offering to meet with the holder of the Class T share no less than annually to provide overall guidance on the holder’s investment in us, including discussing the mechanics of the dividend reinvestment plan, share redemption program or a tender offer, or to answer questions about the account statement or valuations, and (ii) discussing with the holder of the Class T share, upon such holder’s request, any questions related to the holder’s investment in us. While we expect that the broker dealer of record for a Class A stockholder may provide similar services to a Class A stockholder, they are under no contractual obligation to do so and we will not pay a stockholder servcing fee for such services. To the extent payable, the stockholder servicing fee will accrue daily and be paid monthly in arrears, and the dealer manager will reallow 100% of the stockholder servicing fee to such broker dealer of record for services provided to Class T stockholders after the initial sale of the class T share. If the broker dealer of record with respect to a Class T share has changed during a calendar month, the broker dealer of record as of the end of the month with respect to such Class T share will be entitled to the full amount of the stockholder servicing fee accrued for that month; provided, however, that if the broker dealer of record has changed during a calendar month in conjunction with a change in the registered holder of the Class T share, the servicing fee accrued for the month will be prorated among the broker dealers of record associated with the account. In addition, no stockholder servicing fee will be paid with respect to Class T shares purchased through the dividend reinvestment plan or issued pursuant to a stock dividend; however, the stockholder servicing fee payable with respect to Class T shares purchased in the primary offering will be allocated to the Class T shares as a class expense. The stockholder servicing fee therefore will impact the distributions payable on all Class T shares and may impact the NAV of all Class T shares if the amount of the stockholder servicing fee payable on the Class T shares sold in the primary offering exceeds amounts available for distribution to holders of Class A shares.
The stockholder servicing fee with respect to a Class T share will cease accruing upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the date at which aggregate underwriting compensation from all sources equals 10% of the gross proceeds from the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold, as calculated by us with the assistance of the dealer manager after the termination of the primary offering in which the Class T share was sold, (ii) with respect to a particular Class T share, on the fourth anniversary of the issuance of the share, (iii) a listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange, (iv) a merger or other extraordinary transaction, and (v) the date the Class T share associated with the stockholder servicing fee is no longer outstanding such as upon its redemption or our dissolution. Assuming that (a) the gross offering price of our Class T shares in the primary offering remains constant at $9.59, (b) 85% of the gross primary offering proceeds raised are from the sale of Class T shares, (c) 4% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares through distribution channels that do not pay selling commissions of 6.5%, and (d) none of the Class T shares purchased in the primary offering are redeemed and no extraordinary or other transaction affecting whether the share is outstanding occurs prior to the four year anniversary of the issuance of the T share, and because the stockholder servicing fee on a particular Class T share will cease to accrue on the fourth anniversary of the issuance of the share, we expect that with respect to a one-time $10,000 investment in Class T shares, approximately $400 in servicing fees will be paid over 4.0 years and $500 in selling commissions and dealer manager fees will be paid at the time of the investment for a total of $900 in selling commissions, dealer manager fees and stockholder servicing fees, or 9.0% of the price per share of Class T common stock. For further clarity, with respect to any Class T share purchased in the primary offering at $9.59, under the same assumptions, we would pay approximately $0.3836 in servicing fees over 4.0 years and $0.4795 in selling commissions and dealer manager fees at the time of the investment for a total of $0.8631 in selling commissions, dealer manager fees and stockholder servicing fees, or 9.0% of the purchase price per share of Class T common stock. The selling commissions and dealer manager fees would be paid at the time of the investment from the offering proceeds we receive from the investor. The stockholder servicing fee is an ongoing fee that is not paid at the time of purchase and is not intended to be paid from the offering proceeds we receive from an individual investor; rather, it is an on-going class-specific expense that is allocated to all the Class T stockholders for services provided by the broker dealer of record, see the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus for a discussion of the stockholder services.
Underwriting compensation includes selling commissions, dealer manager fees, and stockholder servicing fees being paid in connection with an offering as well as other items of value paid in connection with an offering, including amounts not paid or reimbursed by us, that are viewed by FINRA as underwriting compensation. We describe in the table below the underwriting compensation expected to be paid in connection with this offering. This table sets forth the nature and estimated amount of all items viewed as “underwriting compensation” by FINRA, assuming we sell all of the shares offered hereby and 11% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares at the highest possible selling commissions and dealer manager fee, 4% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from
the sale of Class A shares through distribution channels that do not pay selling commissions of 6.5%, and 85% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class T shares at the highest possible selling commissions and dealer manager fee. Except for wholesaling compensation expenses, which are solely the responsibility of our dealer manager and its affiliates, we will reimburse or pay directly our dealer manager and their affiliates for the costs listed below, subject to reimbursement by our advisor and its affiliates as described below.
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Dealer Manager and Participating Broker-Dealer Compensation |
| Total Compensation | | | % of Primary Offering Gross Proceeds |
Selling commissions (maximum) | | | | |
Class A common stock (1) | $ | 7,150,000 |
| | | 0.72 |
Class T common stock | 25,500,000 |
| | | 2.55 |
Dealer manager fee (maximum) | | | | |
Class A common stock (2) | 3,598,000 |
| | | 0.36 |
Class T common stock | 17,000,000 |
| | | 1.70 |
Stockholder Servicing Fee (maximum)(3) | | | | |
Class T common stock | 34,000,000 |
| | | 3.40 |
Other underwriting compensation: | | | | |
Expense reimbursements for retail activities (4)(5) | 2,214,000 |
| | | 0.22 |
Expense reimbursements for wholesaling activities (5)(6) | 10,250,500 |
| | | 1.02 |
Legal fees allocable to our dealer manager (5) | 100,000 |
| | | * |
Promotional items (5) | 187,500 |
| | | * |
Total | $ | 100,000,000 |
| | | 10% |
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* Less than 0.1%
(1) The maximum amount of commissions we expect to pay has been determined based on the assumption that 4% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares through distribution channels that do not pay selling commissions of 6.5%, similar to the assumptions described in footnote 3 below for the estimated amount of stockholder servicing fee. If all Class A shares are sold through distribution channels with the highest commissions, the maximum commissions payable would be $35,250,000, which would reduce the amount available for the stockholder servicing fee to $31,400,000.
(2) Effective for subscriptions admitted after February 16, 2016, we reduced the dealer manager fee payable in this offering from 3% of gross offering proceeds to 2% of gross offering proceeds. Prior to the reduction in the dealer manager fee, we had raised approximately $59.8 million in gross offering proceeds. The amount of dealer manager fees shown reflects a weighted average fee assuming we paid the maximum possible amount in dealer manager fees of $1.79 million with respect to the approximately $59.8 million of Class A shares sold in the primary offering prior to the reduction in the dealer manager fee.
(3) The stockholder servicing fee is an ongoing fee that is not paid at the time of purchase. Except as described herein, the stockholder servicing fee will accrue daily and be paid monthly in arrears and our dealer manager will reallow 100% of the stockholder servicing fee to the broker dealer of record with respect to the Class T share that has entered a currently effective selected dealer agreement or servicing agreement that provides for the payment to such broker dealer of the stockholder servicing fee with respect to such Class T share, and such broker dealer of record is in compliance with the applicable terms of such selected dealer agreement or servicing agreement related to such payment. The maximum amount of the stockholder servicing fee we expect to pay has been determined based on the following assumptions: (a) the gross offering price of our Class T shares in the primary offering remains constant at $9.59, (b) 85% of the gross primary offering proceeds raised are from the sale of Class T shares, (c) 4% of the proceeds raised in the primary offering are from the sale of Class A shares through distribution channels that do not pay selling commissions of 6.5%, (d) none of the Class T shares purchased in the primary offering are redeemed and no extraordinary or other transaction affecting whether the share is outstanding occurs prior to the four year anniversary of the issuance of the T share.
(4) These fees will consist primarily of reimbursements for attendance and sponsorship fees payable to participating broker‑dealers hosting a retail seminar and the travel, meals and lodging costs of representatives of participating broker‑dealers to attend bona fide training and education meetings hosted by us.
(5) We reimburse KBS Capital Markets Group or its affiliates for these expenses other than wholesaling compensation expenses noted in footnote 6 below. In some cases, these payments serve to reimburse our dealer manager for amounts it has paid to participating broker‑dealers for the items noted. Our advisor and its affiliates have agreed to reimburse us at the termination of our primary offering to the extent that organization and other offering expenses borne by us in connection with this primary offering, regardless of when incurred, exceed 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds. Our advisor and its affiliates will be responsible for the payment of such organization and other offering expenses related to the primary offering to the extent they exceed 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds.
(6) These fees will consist primarily of (i) the travel, meals and lodging costs incurred by registered persons associated with our dealer manager to attend (a) retail conferences sponsored by participating broker‑dealers, other meetings with participating broker‑dealers and industry conferences, and (b) bona fide training and education meetings hosted by us, (ii) wholesaling compensation expenses (which expenses we are not reimbursing our dealer manager), and (iii) reimbursement of the portion of a dual employee’s salary paid by KBS Capital Markets Group attributable to time spent planning and coordinating bona fide training and education meetings on our behalf.
Under the rules of FINRA, total underwriting compensation in this offering, including selling commissions, the dealer manager fee and the stockholder servicing fee, may not exceed 10% of the gross offering proceeds from the primary offering. In addition to the limits on underwriting compensation, FINRA and many states also limit our total organization and offering expenses to 15% of gross offering proceeds.
We will pay directly or reimburse our dealer manager for all items of underwriting compensation discussed in this prospectus for this primary offering, as amended and supplemented, to the extent that this prospectus, as amended and supplemented, indicates such items will be paid by us. We also pay directly or reimburse our dealer manager for bona fide invoiced due diligence expenses of broker-dealers. We estimate these expenses will be approximately $400,000. However, no reimbursements made by us to our advisor or our dealer manager may cause total organization and offering expenses incurred by us (including selling commissions, dealer manager fees, the stockholder servicing fee and all other items of organization and offering expenses) to exceed 15% of the aggregate gross proceeds from this primary offering and the offering under our dividend reinvestment plan as of the date of reimbursement. We also pay organization and other offering expenses directly. At the termination of our primary offering, our advisor and its affiliates will reimburse us to the extent that the organization and other offering expenses (which exclude selling commissions, dealer manager fees and stockholder servicing fees) paid directly or reimbursed by us in connection with this primary offering exceed, regardless of when incurred, 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds. Our advisor and its affiliates will be responsible for any organization and other offering expenses related to the primary offering to the extent they exceed 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds as of the termination of the primary offering. Prior to the termination of the primary offering, at which time the advisor will reimburse us as described above, we will be responsible for the payment of all organization and other offering expenses we incur directly and the reimbursement of organization and other offering expenses our advisor and dealer manager incur on our behalf in connection with this offering subject to the 15% limit on reimbursements discussed above.
Upon the fourth anniversary of the issuance of the last Class T share sold in this primary offering, to the extent that total underwriting compensation for this primary offering is less than 10% of the gross offering proceeds of this primary offering, KBS Capital Markets Group may establish a bonus pool program for employees that participated in this offering and certain other employees that provided substantial stockholder services to our stockholders. The amount of funds available for any such bonus pool would be specifically limited to an amount that would not cause total underwriting compensation in this primary offering to exceed 10% of gross offering proceeds of this primary offering. The bonus pool would be funded by our sponsor, most likely from advisory fees payable to KBS Capital Advisors under the advisory agreement, although the exact source of funds has not been determined.
To the extent permitted by law and our charter, we will indemnify the participating broker‑dealers and our dealer manager against some civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 and liabilities arising from breaches of our representations and warranties contained in the dealer manager agreement. See “Management-Limited Liability and Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees and Other Agents.”
Our dealer manager has agreed to sell up to 5% of the shares offered in the primary offering, in either class, to persons to be identified by us at a discount from the public offering price. We intend to use this “friends and family” program to sell shares of either class to our directors, officers, business associates and others to the extent consistent with applicable laws and regulations. We will require all such purchasers to represent that they are purchasing shares for investment only and to enter into one‑year lock‑up agreements with respect to the purchased shares. Under the “friends and family program” we will sell Class A shares at a 6.5% discount (e.g. initially at $9.35 per share based on the initial primary offering price of $10.00 per share) and Class T shares at a 3.0% discount (e.g. initially at $9.302 per share based on the initial primary offering price of $9.59 per share), reflecting that selling commissions will not be paid in connection with such purchases. The net proceeds to us from the sales of Class A shares and Class T shares made net of commissions will be the same as the net proceeds we receive from other sales of Class A shares and Class T shares, respectively.
We may sell shares of either class to participating broker‑dealers, their retirement plans, their representatives and the family members, IRAs and the qualified plans of their representatives at a 6.5% discount for Class A shares or a 3.0% discount for Class T shares (e.g. initially at $9.35 or $9.302) per share for the Class A and Class T shares,
respectively based on the primary offering price of $10.00 and $9.59, respectively), reflecting that selling commissions will not be paid in connection with such purchases in consideration of the services rendered by such broker‑dealers and representatives in this offering. For purposes of this discount, we consider a family member to be a spouse, parent, child, sibling, mother‑ or father‑in‑law, son‑ or daughter‑in law or brother‑ or sister‑in‑law. The net proceeds to us from the sales of Class A shares and Class T shares made net of selling commissions will be the same as the net proceeds we receive from other sales of Class A shares and Class T shares, respectively.
We are offering volume discounts to investors who purchase $1,000,001 or more of either class of shares of our common stock in the primary offering. The net proceeds to us from a sale of shares eligible for a volume discount will be the same, but the selling commissions and, in some cases, the dealer manager fees we pay will be reduced. Because our dealer manager will reallow all selling commissions, the amount of commissions participating broker‑dealers receive for such sales of shares will be reduced.
The following table shows the discounted price per share and the reduced selling commissions and dealer manager fee payable for volume sales of our Class A shares based on the initial primary offering price of $10.00 per share.
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Volume Discount Table for Class A Shares |
Dollar Volume Class A Shares Purchased | | Sales Commissions (Based on $10.00 Price Per Share) | | Dealer Manager Fee (Based on $10.00 Price Per Share) | | Price Per Share to Investor |
$0 | to | $1,000,000 | | 6.5% | | 2.0% | | $10.00 |
$1,000,001 | to | $2,000,000 | | 5.5% | | 2.0% | | $9.90 |
$2,000,001 | to | $3,000,000 | | 4.5% | | 2.0% | | $9.80 |
$3,000,001 | to | $4,000,000 | | 3.5% | | 1.5% | | $9.65 |
$4,000,001 | to | $10,000,000 | | 2.0% | | 1.5% | | $9.50 |
$10,000,001 | and above | | | 1.0% | | 1.0% | | $9.35 |
We will apply the reduced selling price, selling commission and dealer manager fee to the entire purchase. All commission rates and dealer manager fees are calculated assuming a price per share of $10.00. For example, a purchase of 250,000 Class A shares in a single transaction would result in a purchase price of $2,450,000 ($9.80 per share), selling commissions of $112,500 and dealer manager fees of $50,000.
If an investor purchases $3,000,001 or more of Class A shares in the primary offering through a distribution channel under which selling commissions are not paid, we will apply the reduced dealer manager fee available as set forth in the table below. The following table shows the discounted price per Class A share and the reduced dealer manager fee payable for volume sales of our shares sold net of selling commissions.
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Volume Discount Table for Purchases of Class A Shares Made Net of Selling Commissions |
Dollar Volume Class A Shares Purchased | | Dealer Manager Fee (Based on $10.00 Price Per Class A Share) | | Price Per Class A Share to Investor* |
$3,000,001 | to | $10,000,000 | | 1.5% | | $9.300 |
$10,000,001 | and above | | | 1.0% | | $9.250 |
________________________
*Price per Class A share to investor assumes a purchase price of $10.00; the dealer manager fee is calculated based on the $10.00 purchase price.
The following table shows the discounted price per share and the reduced selling commissions and dealer manager fee payable for volume sales of our Class T shares based on the initial primary offering price of $9.59 per share.
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| | | | | | | | |
Volume Discount Table for Class T Shares |
Dollar Volume of Class T Shares Purchased | | Sales Commissions (Based on $9.59 Price Per Share) | | Dealer Manager Fee (Based on $9.59 Price Per Share) | | Price Per Share to Investor |
$0 | to | $1,000,000 | | 3.0% | | 2.0% | | $9.590 |
$1,000,001 | to | $2,000,000 | | 2.0% | | 2.0% | | $9.494 |
$2,000,001 | to | $3,000,000 | | 1.5% | | 2.0% | | $9.446 |
$3,000,001 | to | $4,000,000 | | 1.0% | | 1.5% | | $9.350 |
$4,000,001 | to | $10,000,000 | | 0.5% | | 1.5% | | $9.302 |
$10,000,001 | and above | | | 0.5% | | 1.0% | | $9.254 |
We will apply the reduced selling price, selling commission and dealer manager fee to the entire purchase. All commission rates and dealer manager fees are calculated assuming a price per share of $9.59. For example, a purchase of 250,000 Class T shares in a single transaction would result in a purchase price of $2,361,500 ($9.446 per share), selling commissions of $35,962.50 and dealer manager fees of $47,950.
To qualify for a volume discount as a result of multiple purchases of our Class A or Class T shares, a stockholder must mark the “Additional Investment” space on the subscription agreement. We are not responsible for failing to combine purchases if a stockholder fails to mark the “Additional Investment” space. Once a stockholder qualifies for a volume discount, such stockholder will be eligible to receive the benefit of such discount for subsequent purchases of shares in the primary offering. If a subsequent purchase entitles an investor to an increased reduction in sales commissions and/or the dealer manager fee, the volume discount will apply only to the current and future investments.
For purposes of qualifying for a volume discount as the result of multiple purchases of shares, only an individual or entity with the same social security number or taxpayer identification number, as applicable may combine their purchases as a “single purchaser”; provided that, purchases by an individual investor and his or her spouse living in the same household may also be combined as a “single purchaser” for purposes of determining the applicable volume discount.
In the event a person wishes to have his or her order combined with others as a “single purchaser,” that person must request such treatment in writing at the time of subscription setting forth the basis for the discount and identifying the orders to be combined. Any request will be subject to our verification that the orders to be combined are made by a single purchaser. If the subscription agreements for the combined orders of a single purchaser are submitted at the same time, then the commissions payable and discounted share price will be allocated pro rata among the combined orders on the basis of the respective amounts being combined. Otherwise, the volume discount provisions will apply only to the order that qualifies the single purchaser for the volume discount and the subsequent orders of that single purchaser.
Shares purchased through our dividend reinvestment plan will not be eligible for a volume discount nor will such shares count toward the threshold limits listed above that qualify an investor for the different discount levels.
Volume discounts for California residents will be available in accordance with the foregoing table of uniform discount levels. However, with respect to California residents, no discounts will be allowed for combined purchases by an individual investor and his or her spouse living in the same household.
Subscription Procedures
To purchase shares in this offering, you must complete and sign a subscription agreement (in the form attached to this prospectus as Appendix A) for a specific class and number of shares and pay for the shares at the time of your subscription. Unless you are a Benefit Plan investor subscribing to purchase Class T shares, you should make your check payable to “KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.” Benefit Plan investors subscribing to purchase Class T shares should follow the instructions below under “-Special Notice to Benefit Plan Investors.” You are required to represent in the subscription agreement that you have received a copy of the final prospectus at least five business days before signing the subscription agreement. Subscriptions will be effective only upon our acceptance, and we reserve the right to reject any subscription in whole or in part. Subscription payments will be deposited into a special account in our name until such time as we have accepted or rejected the subscriptions. We will accept or reject subscriptions within 30 days of our receipt of such subscriptions and, if rejected, we will return all funds to the rejected subscribers within ten business days. If accepted, the funds will be transferred into our general account. You will receive a confirmation of your purchase. We generally admit stockholders on a daily basis.
Investors who desire to purchase Class A or Class T shares in this offering at regular intervals may be able to do so by electing to participate in the automatic investment program by completing an enrollment form that we will provide upon request. Alabama, Kansas and Ohio investors are not eligible to participate in the automatic investment program. Only investors who have already met the minimum purchase requirement may participate in the automatic investment program. The minimum periodic investment is $100 per month. We will pay dealer manager fees, selling commissions and the stockholder servicing fee in connection with sales under the automatic investment program to the same extent that we pay those fees and commissions on shares sold in the primary offering outside of the automatic investment program. If a stockholder elects to participate in both the automatic investment program and our dividend reinvestment plan, distributions earned from shares purchased pursuant to the automatic investment program will automatically be reinvested pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan. For a discussion of our dividend reinvestment plan, see “Description of Shares-Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”
You will receive a confirmation of your purchases under the automatic investment program monthly. The confirmation will disclose the following information:
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• | the amount invested for your account during the period; |
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• | the date of the investment; |
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• | the number and price of the shares purchased by you; and |
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• | the total number of shares in your account. |
To qualify for a volume discount as a result of purchases under the automatic investment program, you must notify us in writing when you initially become eligible to receive a volume discount and at each time your purchase of shares through the program would qualify you for an additional reduction in the price of shares under the volume discount provisions described in this prospectus. For a discussion of volume discounts, see “- Compensation of Dealer Manager and Participating Broker-Dealers.”
You may terminate your participation in the automatic investment program at any time by providing us with written notice. If you elect to participate in the automatic investment program, you must agree that if at any time you fail to meet the applicable investor suitability standards, you will promptly notify us in writing of that fact and your participation in the plan will terminate. See the “Suitability Standards” section of this prospectus (immediately following the cover page) and the form of subscription agreement attached hereto as Appendix A.
Special Notice to Benefit Plan Investors
As a result of plan asset considerations related to ERISA we expect to initially limit participation by Benefit Plan investors subscribing to purchase Class T shares in this offering. Thus, all subscription payments for the purchase of Class T shares received from Benefit Plan investors initially will be placed in an account held by the escrow agent, UMB Bank, N.A., in trust for Benefit Plan investors’ benefit pending release to us. Until we have received subscriptions for Class T Shares which would result in ownership of the Class T Shares by 100 or more persons who are independent of us and one another (the “ownership condition”), Benefit Plan investors subscribing to purchase Class T shares should make their checks payable to “UMB Bank, N.A., as Escrow Agent for KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.” Further, until we have satisfied the ownership condition, completed subscription agreements and payments for Benefit Plan investors subscribing to purchase Class T shares should be sent by the broker dealer or registered investment advisor, as applicable, to the escrow agent, UMB Bank, N.A., at the address set forth in the subscription agreement. Once we have
satisfied the ownership condition we will request that our escrow agent release to us any funds received from Benefit Plan investors for the purchase of Class T shares and Benefit Plan investors subscribing to purchase Class T shares should make their checks payable to “KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.” In the event we do not satisfy the ownership condition prior to the termination of the primary portion of this offering, we will promptly return all funds held in escrow for the benefit of Benefit Plan investors subscribing to purchase Class T shares.
Suitability Standards
Our sponsor, those selling shares on our behalf and participating broker-dealers and registered investment advisers recommending the purchase of shares in this offering have the responsibility to make every reasonable effort to determine that your purchase of shares in this offering is a suitable and appropriate investment for you based on information provided by you regarding your financial situation and investment objectives. In making this determination, these persons have the responsibility to ascertain that you:
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• | meet the minimum income and net worth standards set forth under “Suitability Standards” immediately following the cover page of this prospectus; |
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• | can reasonably benefit from an investment in our shares based on your overall investment objectives and portfolio structure; |
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• | are able to bear the economic risk of the investment based on your overall financial situation; |
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• | are in a financial position appropriate to enable you to realize to a significant extent the benefits described in this prospectus of an investment in our shares; and |
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• | have apparent understanding of: |
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• | the fundamental risks of the investment; |
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• | the risk that you may lose your entire investment; |
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• | the lack of liquidity of our shares; |
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• | the restrictions on transferability of our shares; and |
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• | the tax consequences of your investment. |
Relevant information for this purpose will include at least your age, investment objectives, investment experience, income, net worth, financial situation and other investments as well as any other pertinent factors. Our sponsor, those selling shares on our behalf and participating broker-dealers and registered investment advisers recommending the purchase of shares in this offering must maintain, for a six-year period, records of the information used to determine that an investment in shares is suitable and appropriate for you.
Until our shares of common stock are listed on a national securities exchange, subsequent purchasers, i.e., potential purchasers of your shares, must also meet the net worth or income standards.
Minimum Purchase Requirements
You must initially invest at least $4,000 in our shares to be eligible to participate in this offering. If you own the minimum investment applicable to this offering in shares of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Growth & Income REIT or any future KBS-sponsored public program you may invest less than the minimum amount set forth above, but in no event less than $100. In order to satisfy this minimum purchase requirement, unless otherwise prohibited by state law, a husband and wife may jointly contribute funds from their separate IRAs, provided that each such contribution is made in increments of $100. You should note that an investment in our shares will not, in itself, create a retirement plan and that, in order to create a retirement plan, you must comply with all applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
If you have satisfied the applicable minimum purchase requirement, any additional purchase must be in amounts of at least $100. The investment minimum for subsequent purchases does not apply to shares purchased pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan.
Unless you are transferring all of your shares of common stock, you may not transfer your shares in a manner that causes you or your transferee to own fewer than the number of shares required to meet the minimum purchase requirements, except for the following transfers without consideration: transfers by gift, transfers by inheritance, intrafamily transfers, family dissolutions, transfers to affiliates and transfers by operation of law. These minimum purchase requirements are applicable until our shares of common stock are listed on a national securities exchange, and these requirements may make it more difficult for you to sell your shares.
Investments by Qualified Accounts
Funds from qualified accounts will be accepted if received in installments that together meet the minimum or subsequent investment amount, as applicable, so long as the total subscription amount was indicated on the subscription agreement and all funds are received within a 90-day period.
Investments through IRA Accounts
If you would like to purchase shares through an IRA account, Equity Trust Company (with respect to our Class A shares), NuView IRA, and Community National Bank have agreed to act as IRA custodians for purchasers of our common stock as described below; however, we do not require that you use these IRA custodians.
If you would like to establish a new IRA account with Equity Trust Company for an investment in our Class A shares, we will pay the fees related to the establishment of the investor account with Equity Trust Company. Investors will be responsible for the annual IRA maintenance fees charged by Equity Trust Company, including the first year annual maintenance fees.
If you would like to establish a new IRA account with NuView IRA for an investment in our shares, we will pay the first year annual account fee. After we pay the first year annual account fee, investors will be responsible for the annual account fees charged by NuView IRA at the anniversary date of the opening of the account, as well as all other fees related to the account charged by NuView IRA.
If you would like to establish a new IRA account with Community National Bank for an investment in our shares, we will pay the first calendar year base fee for investors that establish new accounts with Community National Bank. After we pay the first calendar year base fee, investors will be responsible for the annual IRA maintenance fees charged by Community National Bank, charged at the beginning of each calendar year.
Further information about custodial services is available through your broker or through our dealer manager at www.kbs-cmg.com.
SUPPLEMENTAL SALES MATERIAL
In addition to this prospectus, we may utilize additional sales materials in connection with the offering of the shares, although only when accompanied by or preceded by the delivery of this prospectus. The supplemental sales material will not contain all of the information material to an investment decision and should only be reviewed after reading this prospectus. These supplemental sales materials may include:
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• | investor sales promotion brochures; |
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• | cover letters transmitting the prospectus; |
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• | brochures containing a summary description of the offering; |
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• | fact sheets describing the general nature of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. and our investment objectives; |
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• | asset flyers describing our recent acquisitions or originations; |
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• | online investor presentations; |
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• | electronic media presentations; and |
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• | client seminars and seminar advertisements and invitations. |
All of the foregoing material will be prepared by our advisor or its affiliates with the exception of the third-party article reprints. In certain jurisdictions, some or all of such sales material may not be available. In addition, the sales material may contain certain quotes from various publications without obtaining the consent of the author or the publication for use of the quoted material in the sales material.
We are offering shares only by means of this prospectus. Although the information contained in our supplemental sales materials will not conflict with any of the information contained in this prospectus, the supplemental materials do not purport to be complete and should not be considered a part of or as incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares of our common stock being offered hereby has been passed upon for us by DLA Piper LLP (US), Raleigh, North Carolina. DLA Piper LLP (US) has also reviewed the statements relating to certain federal income tax matters that are likely to be material to U.S. holders of our common stock under the caption “Federal Income Tax Considerations” and has passed upon our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-11 with the SEC with respect to the shares of our common stock to be issued in this offering. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement and, as permitted by SEC rules, does not include all of the information you can find in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. For additional information relating to us, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or document are necessarily summaries of such contract or document and in each instance, if we have filed the contract or document as an exhibit to the registration statement, we refer you to the copy of the contract or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We intend to furnish our stockholders with annual reports containing consolidated financial statements certified by an independent public accounting firm. The registration statement is, and any of these future filings with the SEC will be, available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may read and copy any filed document at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. at 100 F. Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room.
APPENDIX B
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
Adopted February 16, 2016
KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), has adopted a Third Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “DRP”), the terms and conditions of which are set forth below. Capitalized terms shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Company’s charter, as amended and supplemented, unless otherwise defined herein.
1.Amount of Shares Issuable. Up to an aggregate of 76,366,006 shares in any combination of Class A and Class T Common Stock (the “Shares”) is authorized for issuance under the DRP.
2.Participants. “Participants” are holders of the Company’s shares of any class of Common Stock who elect to participate in the DRP regardless of the offering in which such Participant acquired their shares.
3.Dividend Reinvestment. Exclusive of dividends and other distributions that the Company’s board of directors designates as ineligible for reinvestment through this DRP, the Company will apply that portion (as designated by a Participant) of the dividends and other distributions (“Distributions”) declared and paid in respect of a Participant’s shares of any class of Common Stock to the purchase of additional Shares for such Participant. Purchases will be in the same class of Shares as the shares for which such Participant received the distributions that are being reinvested. The Company will not pay selling commissions or dealer manager fees on the Shares purchased in the DRP. No stockholder servicing fee will be paid with respect to Shares of Class T Common Stock purchased through this DRP; however, the stockholder servicing fee payable by the Company with respect to shares of Class T Common Stock purchased in a primary offering will be allocated to all shares of Class T Common Stock as a class expense. The stockholder servicing fee therefore will impact the distributions payable on all shares of Class T Common Stock and may impact the NAV of all shares of Class T Common Stock if the amount of the stockholder servicing fee payable on the shares of Class T Common Stock sold in a primary offering exceeds amounts available for distribution to holders of shares of Class A Common Stock.
4.Procedures for Participation. Qualifying stockholders may elect to become Participants or to increase participation in the DRP by completing and executing the Subscription Agreement, an enrollment form or any other Company-approved authorization form as may be available from the dealer manager or participating broker-dealers. Participation in the DRP will begin with the next Distribution payable after receipt of a Participant’s subscription agreement, enrollment form or other Company approved authorization form.
5.Purchase of Shares.
a.Shares will be purchased on the date that the Company makes a Distribution. Distributions will be paid upon the terms as authorized and declared by the Company’s board of directors.
b.Until the Company announces an estimated net asset value per share, Participants will acquire Shares at a price per share equal to 95% of the then-current offering price for shares in the primary portion of the Company’s current offering (whether in the Company’s initial offering or a follow-on offering and ignoring any discounts that may be available to certain categories of purchasers) or 95% of the most recent offering price in a primary offering if there is no current offering. Upon the Company’s announcement, whether in a separate mailing to stockholders, a public filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or otherwise, that the Company has established an estimated net asset value per share, Participants will acquire the Shares at a price equal to 95% of the estimated net asset value per share, as estimated by the Company’s board of directors.
c.Participants in the DRP may purchase fractional Shares so that 100% of the Distributions will be used to acquire Shares. However, a Participant will not be able to purchase Shares under the DRP to the extent such purchase would cause it to exceed limits set forth in the Company’s charter, as amended.
6.Taxation of Distributions. The reinvestment of Distributions in the DRP does not relieve Participants of any taxes that may be payable as a result of those Distributions and their reinvestment pursuant to the terms of this DRP.
7.Share Certificates. The Shares issuable under the DRP shall be uncertificated until the board of directors determines otherwise.
8.Voting of DRP Shares. In connection with any matter requiring the vote of the Company’s stockholders, each Participant will be entitled to vote all Shares, including fractional Shares, acquired by the Participant through the DRP.
9.Reports. Within 90 days after the end of the calendar year, the Company shall provide each Participant with (i) an individualized report on the Participant’s investment, including the purchase date(s), purchase price and number of shares owned, as well as the amount of Distributions received during the prior year; and (ii) all material information regarding the DRP and the effect of reinvesting distributions, including the tax consequences thereof. The Company shall provide such information reasonably requested by the dealer manager or a participating broker-dealer, in order for the dealer manager or participating broker-dealer to meet its obligations to deliver written notification to Participants of the information required by Rule 10b--10(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
10.Termination by Participant. A Participant may terminate participation in the DRP at any time by delivering to the Company a written notice. To be effective for any Distribution, such notice must be received by the Company at least four business days prior to the payment of the Distribution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the Company announces, whether in a mailing to stockholders, a public filing with the SEC or otherwise, a new purchase price for Shares under the DRP, then a Participant shall have no less than two business days after the date of such announcement to notify the Company in writing of Participant’s termination of participation in the DRP and Participant’s termination will be effective for the next date Shares are purchased under the DRP. Any transfer of shares by a Participant will terminate participation in the DRP with respect to the transferred shares. Upon termination of DRP participation, Distributions will be distributed to the stockholder in cash.
11.Amendment or Termination of DRP by the Company. The Company may amend or terminate the DRP for any reason at any time upon ten days’ notice to the Participants. The Company may provide notice by including such information (a) in a Current Report on Form 8-K or in its annual or quarterly reports, all publicly filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or (b) in a separate mailing to Participants.
12.Liability of the Company. The Company shall not be liable for any act done in good faith, or for any good faith omission to act.
13.Governing Law. The DRP shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.
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We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other individual to give any information or to make any representations that are not contained in this prospectus. If any such information or statements are given or made, you should not rely upon such information or representation. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell any securities other than those to which this prospectus relates, or an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, to any person in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful. This prospectus speaks as of the date set forth below. You should not assume that the delivery of this prospectus or that any sale made pursuant to this prospectus implies that the information contained in this prospectus will remain fully accurate and correct as of any time subsequent to the date of this prospectus. |
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Our shares are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not bank guaranteed. See “Risk Factors” on page 32 to read about risks you should consider before buying shares of our common stock. |
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| KBS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC. |
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| Maximum Offering of 180,000,000 Shares of Common Stock |
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| KBS CAPITAL MARKETS GROUP LLC |
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KBS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.
SUPPLEMENT NO. 5 DATED APRIL 26, 2016
TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED FEBRUARY 17, 2016
This document supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the prospectus of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. dated February 17, 2016. As used herein, the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer to KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. and, as required by context, KBS Strategic Opportunity Limited Partnership II, which we refer to as our “Operating Partnership,” and to their subsidiaries. Capitalized terms used in this supplement have the same meanings as set forth in the prospectus. The purpose of this supplement is to disclose prior performance information as of December 31, 2015.
PRIOR PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
In January 2006, our sponsors teamed to launch the initial public offering of their first public non-traded REIT, KBS Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc., which we refer to as KBS REIT I. In April 2008, our sponsors launched KBS Real Estate Investment Trust II, Inc., which we refer to as KBS REIT II; in November 2009, our sponsors launched KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, Inc., which we refer to as KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT; in March 2010, our sponsors, together with Legacy Partners Residential Realty LLC and certain of its affiliates, launched KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, Inc., which we refer to as KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT; and in October 2010, our sponsors launched KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, which we refer to as KBS REIT III. Our sponsors are also sponsoring a new REIT, KBS Growth & Income REIT, Inc., which we refer to as KBS Growth & Income REIT, and which commenced a private placement offering in June 2015 and has filed a registration statement with the SEC to register an initial public offering. As described below, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, and KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT each acquired a diverse portfolio of commercial properties and real estate-related investments. KBS REIT III has acquired a diverse portfolio that consists almost entirely of equity investments in core office properties. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT acquired a portfolio of equity investments in high-quality apartment communities. KBS Growth & Income has acquired one office building. Our advisor, KBS Capital Advisors LLC, which we refer to as KBS Capital Advisors, is also the external advisor to KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Growth & Income REIT, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT. Each of these programs, with the exception of KBS Growth & Income REIT, which is not currently a public reporting company, is a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. In January 2013, KBS Capital Advisors registered as an investment adviser with the SEC.
Since 1992, two of our sponsors, Peter M. Bren and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., have partnered to acquire, manage, develop and sell high-quality U.S. commercial real estate assets as well as real estate-related investments on behalf of institutional investors. Since the formation of the first investment advisor affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber in 1992, investment advisors affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber have sponsored 14 private real estate programs that had raised over $2.7 billion of equity from institutional investors as of December 31, 2015. Together, Messrs. Bren and Schreiber founded KBS Realty Advisors LLC, a nationally recognized real estate investment advisor. KBS Realty Advisors is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. We refer to the investment advisors affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber as KBS-affiliated investment advisors.
Unless otherwise indicated, the information presented below represents the historical experience of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS REIT III and KBS Growth & Income REIT, including information regarding the most recent estimated value per share (if applicable) and share redemption program (if applicable) of each REIT, and the 10 KBS-sponsored private real estate programs as of the 10 years ended December 31, 2015.
By purchasing shares in this offering, you will not acquire any ownership interest in any programs to which the information in this section relates and you should not assume that you will experience returns, if any, comparable to those experienced by the investors in the real estate programs discussed. Further, the KBS-sponsored private programs discussed in this section were conducted through privately held entities that were subject neither to the up-front commissions, fees and expenses associated with this offering nor all of the laws and regulations that will apply to us as a publicly offered REIT. We have omitted from this discussion information regarding the prior performance of entities for which an institutional investor engaged a KBS-affiliated investment advisor if the investor had the power to reject the real estate acquisitions proposed by the KBS-affiliated investment advisor. Such entities are not considered “programs” as that term is used in this supplement.
Upon request, prospective investors may obtain from us without charge copies of any public reports prepared in connection with KBS-sponsored public programs, including a copy of the most recent Annual Report on Form 10‑K filed with the SEC. For a reasonable fee, we also will furnish upon request copies of the exhibits to the Form 10‑K. Many of the materials and reports prepared in connection with KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT are also available on their websites at www.kbsreit.com, www.kbsreitii.com, www.kbsreitiii.com, www.kbsstrategicopportunityreit.com and www.kbslegacyreit.com. Neither the contents of those websites nor any of the materials or reports relating to KBS-sponsored public programs are incorporated by reference in or otherwise a part of this supplement. In addition, the SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and other information that KBS-sponsored public programs file electronically with the SEC.
KBS REIT I
On January 27, 2006, our sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS REIT I, a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. Its primary initial public offering was for a maximum of 200,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $10.00 per share, plus an additional 80,000,000 shares of common stock initially priced at $9.50 per share pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS REIT I ceased offering shares in its primary offering on May 30, 2008 and terminated its dividend reinvestment plan effective April 10, 2012. KBS REIT I accepted gross offering proceeds of $1.7 billion in its primary offering and accepted gross offering proceeds of $233.7 million from shares issued pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT I had approximately 41,000 stockholders. As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT I had redeemed $91.8 million of shares, or 13,021,433 shares, under its share redemption program.
As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT I owned or, with respect to a limited number of properties, held a leasehold interest in 364 real estate properties (of which eight properties were held for sale), including the GKK Properties (defined below). As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT I’s real estate portfolio held for investment was approximately 85% occupied (which excludes the eight properties that were held for sale). In addition, as of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT I also owned four real estate loans receivable and a participation interest with respect to a real estate joint venture.
KBS REIT I had investment objectives similar to ours. Like ours, its primary investment objectives were to preserve and return investors’ capital contributions and realize growth in the value of its investments. In addition, investments in real estate and real estate-related assets involve similar assessments of the risks and rewards of the operation of the underlying real estate and financing thereof as well as an understanding of the real estate and real estate-finance markets. KBS REIT I’s focus in 2016 is to manage its existing investment portfolio, including strategically selling assets and exploring value-add opportunities for a small number of GKK Properties; and distributing operating cash flow and net sales proceeds to stockholders.
KBS REIT I acquired and manages a diverse portfolio of real estate and real estate-related assets. It sought to diversify its portfolio by property type, geographic region, investment size and investment risk with the goal of attaining a portfolio of income-producing real estate and real estate-related assets that would provide attractive and stable returns to its investors. In constructing its portfolio, KBS REIT I targeted approximately 70% core investments (which are generally existing properties with at least 80% occupancy and minimal near-term lease rollover) and approximately 30% enhanced-return properties (which are higher-yield and higher-risk investments than core properties, such as properties with moderate vacancies or near-term lease rollovers, poorly managed and positioned properties, properties owned by distressed sellers and built-to-suit properties) and real estate-related investments, including mortgage loans, mezzanine debt, commercial mortgage-backed securities and other similar structured finance investments. With proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing (as a percentage of its total investments), the purchase price of KBS REIT I’s real estate properties represented 65% of its portfolio and the purchase price of its real estate-related investments represented 35% of its portfolio.
As described in more detail below, after KBS REIT I’s acquisition of these properties, loans and other investments, KBS REIT I’s portfolio composition changed when it restructured certain investments, took title to properties underlying investments in certain loans, sold or otherwise disposed of assets and received repayment of debt investments.
KBS REIT I used the net proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing to purchase or fund $3.1 billion of real estate and real estate-related investments, including $34.5 million in acquisition fees and closing costs. KBS REIT I used the net proceeds from its initial public offering for the acquisition and origination of real estate properties and real estate-related assets in the amounts of $0.8 billion and $0.8 billion, respectively, and had debt financing on its real estate properties and real estate-related assets in the amounts of $1.2 billion and $0.3 billion, respectively, at acquisition.
With proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing, as a percentage of the amount invested (based on purchase price), KBS REIT I invested in the following types of assets (including its investments through a consolidated joint venture): 35% in 22 office properties, 29% in 42 industrial properties and a master lease in another industrial property, 26% in interests in 12 mezzanine loans, 5% in interests in six mortgage loans, 2% in interests in two loans representing subordinated debt of a private REIT, 2% in two investments in securities directly or indirectly backed by commercial mortgage loans and 1% in interests in two B-notes. All of KBS REIT I’s real property investments were located within the United States. As a percentage of amount invested (based on purchase price), the geographic locations of KBS REIT I’s investments in real properties were as follows (including its investments through a consolidated joint venture): 40% in 26 properties and a master lease in another property in the East; 30% in 22 properties in the South; 15% in nine properties in the West; and 15% in seven properties in the Midwest. All of the real properties purchased by KBS REIT I had prior owners and operators.
With respect to its historical real estate portfolio, KBS REIT I had disposed of 29 properties as of December 31, 2015 for approximately $682.8 million, net of closing costs. Also during the year ended December 31, 2015, KBS REIT I sold the remaining two condominium units of the Tribeca Building. KBS REIT I originally intended to hold its core properties for four to seven years. Additionally, KBS REIT I has sold or otherwise terminated the leasehold interests in 362 GKK Properties for $1.162 billion, net of closing costs, and its management continues to evaluate which of the remaining GKK Properties to hold and which properties to sell. The hold period of certain GKK Properties has been affected by the underlying debt structure and related defeasance costs and prepayment penalties. KBS REIT I has also transferred 153 GKK Properties to the respective lenders of certain loans for which these properties served as security, in exchange for the release from the debt outstanding and other obligations related to these mortgage loans. See also the discussion of the KBS-New Leaf Joint Venture below. Economic and market conditions may influence KBS REIT I to hold its investments for different periods of time. KBS REIT I initially intended to hold its real estate-related investments to maturity, though economic and market conditions may also influence KBS REIT I to hold these investments for different periods of time. See Table V under “Prior Performance Tables” in this supplement.
The following summarizes asset sales, restructurings, pay-offs and discounted pay-offs of KBS REIT I’s investments in real estate loans receivable as of December 31, 2015:
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• | One Madison Park Mezzanine Loan - The borrowers paid off the loan in full with an outstanding principal balance of $21.0 million, including a spread maintenance premium, in November 2007. |
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• | Arden Portfolio Mezzanine Loans -KBS REIT I released the borrowers from liability and received a preferred membership interest in a joint venture that owns the properties that had secured the loans (the “HSC Partners Joint Venture”). KBS REIT I wrote-off its investment in this loan in July 2009. In June 2012, the HSC Partners Joint Venture redeemed KBS REIT I’s preferred membership interest in the joint venture in exchange for a settlement of $0.8 million. KBS REIT I acquired these loans in January 2008 for $144.0 million plus closing costs. |
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• | 18301 Von Karman Loans - KBS REIT I foreclosed on the office property securing the loans in October 2009 and subsequently disposed of the property in June 2010 for $41.3 million. KBS REIT I acquired these loans in June 2008 for $61.9 million plus closing costs. |
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• | Tribeca Loans - KBS REIT I acquired these loans in 2006 and 2007 for an aggregate purchase price including additional principal funded and net of principal repayments subsequent to acquisition of $57.0 million plus closing costs. KBS REIT I foreclosed on the Tribeca Building, which secured loans, in February 2010 and acquired the remaining unsold units of the Tribeca Building consisting of 27 residential units, 2 commercial retail units and parking spaces and assumed the project liabilities including $39.2 million of mortgage debt and $13.3 million of other liabilities. As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT I had sold 27 residential units, both commercial retail units and parking spaces for an aggregate sales price of $106.2 million. |
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• | 55 East Monroe Mezzanine Loan Origination - The borrower paid off the loan in full with an outstanding principal balance of $55.0 million in September 2010 at maturity. |
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• | 200 Professional Drive Loan Origination - KBS REIT I foreclosed on the property securing the loan and received $4.1 million upon the sale of the property in December 2010. In July 2007, KBS REIT I originated this loan and funded an aggregate of $9.3 million of principal to the borrower. |
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• | Artisan Multifamily Portfolio Mezzanine Loan - KBS REIT I wrote-off this investment in January 2011. KBS REIT I acquired this loan in December 2007 for $15.9 million plus closing costs. |
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• | 2600 Michelson Mezzanine Loan - KBS REIT I sold the loan at a discount in June 2011 and received $52,000 upon the sale. KBS REIT I acquired this loan in June 2008 for $8.5 million plus closing costs. |
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• | GKK Mezzanine Loans - In May 2011, the borrower (the “GKK Borrower”) under the GKK Mezzanine Loan (defined below) defaulted on its payment obligations and, as a result, on September 1, 2011, KBS REIT I entered into a settlement agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with the GKK Borrower pursuant to which the GKK Borrower transferred all of its interest in certain real estate properties (the “GKK Properties”) which indirectly secured the GKK Mezzanine Loan, and the mortgage debt related to the GKK Properties, to KBS REIT I in satisfaction of its obligations. KBS REIT I acquired these loans in August 2008 for $496.0 million plus closing costs. |
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• | San Antonio Business Park Mortgage Loan - KBS REIT I sold the loan to an unaffiliated buyer for $26.0 million in December 2011. KBS REIT I acquired this loan in March 2008 for $23.8 million plus closing costs. |
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• | Park Central Mezzanine Loan - KBS REIT I released the borrower under the loan from all outstanding debt and liabilities under a discounted payoff agreement at a discounted amount of $7.3 million in December 2011. KBS REIT I acquired its portion of this loan in March 2007 for $15.0 million plus closing costs. |
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• | Petra Subordinated Debt Tranche A and B - KBS REIT I wrote-off this investment in March 2012. KBS REIT I acquired these loans in October 2007 for $50.0 million plus closing costs. |
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• | 11 South LaSalle Loan - KBS REIT I sold the loan to an unaffiliated buyer for $17.0 million in March 2012. KBS originated this loan in August 2007 and funded $38.8 million of principal to the borrower. |
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• | Sandmar Mezzanine Loan - As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT I recorded an asset-specific loan loss reserve to reduce the carrying value of this investment to $0. KBS REIT I acquired this loan in January 2007 for $8.0 million plus closing costs. |
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• | Lawrence Village Plaza Loan - On September 1, 2015, the Lawrence Village Plaza Loan Origination matured without repayment. KBS REIT I had recorded an asset-specific loan loss reserve against this investment as of December 31, 2015. KBS REIT I entered into a deed in lieu of foreclosure agreement with the borrower under the Lawrence Village Plaza Loan Origination to transfer title of the property securing the loan to KBS REIT I in full satisfaction of the debt outstanding under, and all other obligations related to, the Lawrence Village Plaza Loan Origination. |
KBS REIT I’s primary public offering was subject to certain up-front commissions, fees and expenses similar to those associated with this offering and KBS REIT I had and has certain fee arrangements with KBS affiliates structured similarly to ours. For more information regarding the fees paid to KBS affiliates by KBS REIT I, see Table II under “Prior Performance Tables” in this supplement.
The disruptions in the financial markets from 2008 to 2011 adversely affected the fair values and recoverability of certain of KBS REIT I’s investments. KBS REIT I disclosed fair values below its book values for certain assets in its financial statements and recognized impairments related to certain assets.
KBS REIT I recognized an other-than-temporary impairment related to its real estate securities of $50.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2008 and a $5.1 million impairment related to its real estate securities during the year ended December 31, 2009. During the year ended December 31, 2009, KBS REIT I also reversed $14.8 million of the cumulative other-than-temporary impairment related to its real estate securities out of retained earnings. During the year ended December 31, 2012, KBS REIT I sold one of its real estate securities investments to an unaffiliated buyer for $46.7 million resulting in a gain of $25.5 million and wrote-off its investment in the other real estate securities.
Since inception, KBS REIT I invested approximately $1.1 billion in real estate-related loans. As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT I had recorded $6.5 million of asset-specific loan loss reserves related to its investments in the Sandmar Mezzanine Loan and the Lawrence Village Plaza Loan Origination. Over the last nine years, KBS REIT I also charged-off approximately $303.5 million of reserves for loan losses related to 13 of its real estate-related loan investments.
In August 2007, KBS REIT I entered a joint venture (the “KBS-New Leaf Joint Venture”) with New Leaf Industrial Partners Fund, L.P. to acquire a portfolio of industrial properties (the “National Industrial Portfolio”) for approximately $515.9 million plus closing costs. The National Industrial Portfolio consisted of 23 industrial properties and a master lease with respect to another industrial property. KBS REIT I had an 80% membership interest in the KBS-New Leaf Joint Venture and consolidated the joint venture in its financial statements. The mortgage and mezzanine loans with which the KBS-New Leaf Joint Venture financed a portion of its purchase of the National Industrial Portfolio (the “NIP Loans”) were to mature on December 31, 2011. However, due to a decline in the operating performance of the National Industrial Portfolio resulting from increased vacancies, lower rental rates and tenant bankruptcies, in addition to declines in market value across all real estate types in the period following the initial investment, it became unlikely that the KBS-New Leaf Joint Venture would be able to refinance or extend the NIP Loans upon their maturities. As a result, on December 28, 2011, the KBS-New Leaf Joint Venture entered into an agreement in lieu of foreclosure and related documents to transfer the National Industrial Portfolio properties to certain indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of the lender under the NIP Loans in full satisfaction of the debt outstanding under, and other obligations related to, the NIP Loans. As a result, KBS REIT I recorded a gain on extinguishment of debt of $115.5 million (including amounts for noncontrolling interest of approximately $24.2 million), which represents the difference between the carrying amount of the outstanding debt and other liabilities of approximately $446.1 million and the carrying value of the real estate properties and other assets of approximately $328.3 million, net of closing costs of $2.3 million, upon transfer of the properties (during the year ended December 31, 2010, KBS REIT I had recognized an impairment charge on real estate of $123.5 million with respect to 17 properties within the National Industrial Portfolio).
In addition, KBS REIT I had recorded real estate impairments of $354.0 million due to changes in cash flow estimates of certain properties. In the future, KBS REIT I may recognize material charges for impairment with respect to investments other than those described above or a different impairment charge for investments described above. Moreover, even if KBS REIT I does not recognize any material charge for impairment with respect to an asset, the fair value of the asset may have declined based on general economic conditions or other factors.
As of December 15, 2011, pursuant to the Settlement Agreement entered in September 2011 after the GKK Borrower defaulted on its payment obligations in May 2011, the GKK Borrower had transferred to KBS REIT I the equity interests in the indirect owners of, or holders of a leasehold interest, in approximately 867 properties, including 576 bank branch properties and 291 office buildings and operations centers. KBS REIT I also assumed approximately $1.5 billion of mortgage debt related to the GKK Properties. In consideration of the performance of the Settlement Agreement, KBS REIT I agreed to release the GKK Borrower from its obligations under KBS REIT I’s investment in a senior mezzanine loan with an original face amount of $500,000,000 (the “GKK Mezzanine Loan”) that KBS REIT I acquired in August 2008 for $496.0 million plus closing costs. KBS REIT I’s estimated fair values of the underlying GKK Properties and related current assets and liabilities was approximately $1.9 billion and supported the approximately $1.9 billion total of the combined outstanding mortgage loan balance encumbering the GKK Properties (including a portion of a mortgage loan secured by some of the GKK Properties which KBS REIT I owned), plus KBS REIT I’s carrying value of the GKK Mezzanine Loan and a portion of a junior mezzanine loan relating to the GKK Properties that KBS REIT I owned prior to KBS REIT I’s entry into the Settlement Agreement. KBS REIT I has sold or otherwise terminated the leasehold interests in 362 GKK Properties for $1.162 billion, net of closing costs, and its management continues to evaluate which of the remaining GKK Properties to hold and which properties to sell. KBS REIT I has also transferred 153 GKK Properties to the respective lenders of certain loans for which these properties served as security, in exchange for the release from the debt outstanding and other obligations related to these mortgage loans.
Liquidity
KBS REIT I’s charter requires that it seek stockholder approval of its liquidation if its shares of common stock are not listed on a national securities exchange by November 2012, unless a majority of its independent directors determines that liquidation is not then in the best interest of its stockholders. In November 2015, the conflicts committee unanimously determined that liquidation was not then in the best interests of KBS REIT I’s stockholders. KBS REIT I’s charter requires that its conflicts committee revisit the issue of liquidation at least annually.
Further postponement of listing or stockholder action regarding liquidation would only be permitted if a majority of the conflicts committee again determined that liquidation would not be in the best interest of the stockholders. If KBS REIT I sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of its liquidation, the KBS REIT I charter would not require KBS REIT I to list or liquidate and would not require the conflicts committee to revisit the issue of liquidation, and KBS REIT I could continue to operate as before. If KBS REIT I sought and obtained stockholder approval of its liquidation, KBS REIT I would begin an orderly sale of its properties and other assets. The precise timing of such sales would take account of the prevailing real estate and financial markets, the economic conditions in the submarkets where its properties are located and the federal income tax consequences to the stockholders. In making the decision to apply for listing of its shares, KBS REIT I’s directors will try to determine whether listing its shares or liquidating its assets will result in greater value for stockholders.
Distributions
In order to manage its reduced cash flow from operations and to redirect available funds to reduce its debt, and as a result of the general impact of then-current economic conditions on rental rates, occupancy rates and property cash flows, in March 2012, KBS REIT I’s board of directors approved the suspension of monthly distribution payments. On December 5, 2013, KBS REIT I paid a special distribution in the amount of $0.3950 per share of common stock to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 8, 2013. In October 2014 KBS REIT I began paying quarterly distributions in the amount of $0.025 per share of common stock to its stockholders of record based on a quarterly record date for each quarter. In addition, on December 7, 2015, KBS REIT I paid a special distribution in the amount of $0.25 per share of common stock to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 1, 2015 (the “KBS REIT I Special Distribution”), which it funded with proceeds from the sales of real estate properties. KBS REIT I plans to make certain strategic asset sales and, from time to time, may declare additional special distributions to its stockholders that would be funded with the net proceeds from those asset sales or from cash flow from other sources. KBS REIT I will continue its existing strategy of selling assets when it believes the assets have reached the stage that disposition will assist in improving returns to its stockholders. KBS REIT I’s board of directors currently expects to authorize and declare distributions on a quarterly basis based on cash flow generated by KBS REIT I’s real estate and real estate-related investments. Future asset sales will result in decreases in cash flow from operations.
Estimated Value Per Share
On December 8, 2015, the board of directors of KBS REIT I approved an estimated value per share of KBS REIT I’s common stock of $3.94 based on the estimated value of KBS REIT I’s assets less the estimated value of its liabilities, or net asset value, divided by the number of shares outstanding, all as of September 30, 2015, with the exception of an adjustment to KBS REIT I’s net asset value to give effect to the KBS REIT I Special Distribution. Excluding the impact of the KBS REIT I Special Distribution, KBS REIT I’s estimated value per share of common stock would be $4.19. KBS REIT I provided this estimated value per share to assist broker-dealers that participated in KBS REIT I’s initial public offering in meeting their customer account statement reporting obligations under National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASD”) Conduct Rule 2340 as required by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). This valuation was performed in accordance with the provisions of and also to comply with Practice Guideline 2013-01, Valuations of Publicly Registered, Non-Listed REITs, issued by the Investment Program Association (“IPA”) in April 2013 (the “IPA Valuation Guidelines”). As with any valuation methodology, the methodologies used were based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that may not be accurate or complete. Different parties using different assumptions and estimates could derive a different estimated value per share of KBS REIT I’s common stock, and this difference could be significant. The estimated value per share is not audited and does not represent the fair value of KBS REIT I’s assets less the fair value of its liabilities according to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), nor does it represent a liquidation value of KBS REIT I’s assets and liabilities or the price at which KBS REIT I’s shares of common stock would trade on a national securities exchange. The estimated value per share does not reflect a discount for the fact that KBS REIT I is externally managed, nor does it reflect a real estate portfolio premium/discount versus the sum of the individual property values. The estimated value per share also does not take into account debt defeasance costs KBS REIT I may incur in connection with prepayments on its notes payable, debt prepayment penalties or swap breakage fees that could apply upon the prepayment of certain of KBS REIT I’s debt obligations or termination of related swap agreement prior to expiration, the impact of restrictions on the assumption of debt, or disposition costs and fees for real estate properties that are not under contract to sell. KBS REIT I has generally incurred disposition costs and fees related to the sale of KBS REIT I’s historical real estate properties since inception through September 30, 2015 of 1.7% to 5.7% of the gross sales price less concessions and credits, with the weighted average being 2.7%. KBS REIT I has generally incurred disposition costs and fees related to the sale of the GKK Properties since December 15, 2011 (the date of the completion of the transfer of the GKK Properties to KBS REIT I pursuant to the Settlement Agreement) through September 30, 2015 of 1.5% to 8.5% of the gross sales price less concessions and credits, with the weighted average being 2.3%. If both these ranges of disposition costs and fees were applied to KBS REIT I’s real estate properties, which do not include these costs and fees in the appraised values, the resulting impact on the estimated value per share would be a decrease of $0.09 to $0.41 per share.
KBS REIT I’s estimated value per share takes into consideration any potential liability related to a participation fee its advisor, KBS Capital Advisors, is entitled to upon meeting certain stockholder return thresholds in accordance with its advisory agreement. For purposes of determining the estimated value per share, KBS Capital Advisors calculated the potential liability related to this incentive fee based on a hypothetical liquidation of the assets and liabilities at their estimated fair values, after considering the impact of any potential closing costs and fees related to the disposition of real estate properties, and determined that there would be no liability related to the participation fee.
The value of KBS REIT I’s shares will fluctuate over time in response to developments related to individual assets in KBS REIT I’s portfolio and the management of those assets and in response to the real estate and finance markets. For a full description of the methodologies and assumptions used to value KBS REIT I’s assets and liabilities in connection with the calculation of the estimated value per share, see KBS REIT I’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 10, 2015.
Share Redemption Program
KBS REIT I has not had funds available for ordinary redemptions since the April 2009 redemption date, and on March 20, 2012, KBS REIT I’s board of directors amended and restated its share redemption program, which amendment and restatement became effective on April 25, 2012, to provide only for redemptions sought upon a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” or “determination of incompetence” (each as defined in the share redemption program and, together with redemptions sought in connection with a stockholder’s death, “special redemptions”). Such redemptions were subject to an annual dollar limitation, which was $10.0 million in the aggregate for the calendar year 2012, subject to the limitations described in the share redemption program document. In December 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, KBS REIT I’s board of directors approved the same annual dollar limitation for such special redemptions of $10.0 million in the aggregate for the calendar years 2013 through 2016 (subject to review and adjustment during the year by the board of directors and further subject to the limitations described in the share redemption program document), respectively.
KBS REIT II
On April 22, 2008, our sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS REIT II, a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. Its primary initial public offering was for a maximum of 200,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $10.00 per share, plus an additional 80,000,000 shares of common stock initially priced at $9.50 per share pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS REIT II ceased offering shares in its primary offering on December 31, 2010 and terminated its dividend reinvestment plan effective May 29, 2014. KBS REIT II accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of approximately $1.8 billion in its primary offering, and accepted gross offering proceeds of approximately $298.2 million pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT II had approximately 48,000 stockholders. As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT II had redeemed $235.4 million of shares, or 24,048,952 shares, under its share redemption program.
As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT II owned 12 real estate properties (consisting of 10 office properties, one office/flex property and an office campus consisting of eight office buildings). As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT II’s portfolio of real estate encompassed 5.2 million rentable square feet and was approximately 87% occupied. In addition, KBS REIT II owned one real estate loan receivable.
KBS REIT II had investment objectives that are similar to ours. Like ours, its primary investment objectives were to preserve and return investors’ capital contributions and realize growth in the value of its investments. In addition, both real estate and real estate-related assets involve similar assessments of the risks and rewards of the operation of the underlying real estate and financing thereof as well as an understanding of the real estate and real estate-finance markets. KBS REIT II’s focus in 2016 is to: continue to strategically sell assets and make special distributions to stockholders; strategically negotiate lease renewals or new leases that facilitate the sales process and enhance property stability for prospective buyers; and complete major capital improvement projects, such as renovations or amenity enhancements, with the goal of attracting a greater pool of quality buyers.
KBS REIT II acquired and manages a diverse portfolio of real estate and real estate-related assets. It sought to diversify its portfolio by investment type, investment size, investment risk and geographic region with the goal of attaining a portfolio of income-producing real estate and real estate-related assets that provide attractive and stable returns to its investors. Based on KBS REIT II’s purchase or origination price, KBS REIT II allocated approximately 90% of its portfolio to investments in core properties and approximately 10% of its portfolio to real estate-related investments such as mortgage loans.
KBS REIT II used the net proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing to purchase or fund $3.3 billion of real estate and real estate-related assets as of December 31, 2015, including $40.1 million of acquisition and origination fees and expenses. KBS REIT II used the net proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing for the acquisition of real estate properties and real estate-related assets in the amounts of $2.9 billion and $392.3 million, respectively. On November 22, 2010, KBS REIT II originated a first mortgage loan in the amount of $175.0 million (the “One Kendall Square First Mortgage”) and on November 30, 2010, KBS REIT II sold, at par, a pari-passu participation interest with respect to 50% of the outstanding principal balance of this loan. The acquisition amounts presented herein do not include the 50% participation interest KBS REIT II sold. However, KBS REIT II paid an origination fee on this 50% participation interest and the origination fees presented herein include such amount paid.
With proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing, as a percentage of amount invested (based on purchase price), KBS REIT II invested in the following types of assets: 82% in 21 office properties, 8% in six mortgage loans, 2% in a participation in a mortgage loan, 3% in a portfolio of four industrial properties, 2% in an A-Note, 1% in an office/flex property, 1% in two industrial properties, and 1% in a leasehold interest in an industrial property. All of KBS REIT II’s real property investments are located within the United States. As a percentage of amount invested (based on purchase price), the geographic locations of KBS REIT II’s investments in real properties were as follows: 28% in three properties in the Midwest, 33% in ten properties in the West, 29% in ten properties in the East, and 10% in six properties in the South. All of the real properties purchased by KBS REIT II had prior owners and operators.
As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT II had sold 11 office properties, one industrial property, a portfolio of four industrial properties and a leasehold interest in one industrial property for aggregate sale proceeds of approximately $1.7 billion, net of closing costs. See Table V under “Prior Performance Tables” in this supplement for information regarding the sale of properties.
The following summarizes asset sales, pay-offs and discounted pay-offs of KBS REIT II’s investments in real estate-related investments as of December 31, 2015:
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• | CMBS - In 2009, KBS REIT II purchased AAA/Aaa rated CMBS for $3.9 million, which it subsequently sold in 2009 for $4.2 million. |
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• | Northern Trust Building A-Note - In June 2012, KBS REIT II entered into a discounted payoff agreement for the payoff of the Northern Trust Building A-Note and the Northern Trust Building B-Note for approximately $85.8 million, less closing costs of $0.9 million. KBS REIT II acquired the Northern Trust Building A-Note in December 2008 for $57.4 million plus closing costs and the Northern Trust Building B-Note in June 2012 for $2.0 million including closing costs. |
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• | One Liberty Plaza Notes - In October 2013, KBS REIT II sold the One Liberty Plaza Notes for $114.3 million plus closing costs. KBS REIT II acquired the One Liberty Plaza Notes in February 2009 for an aggregate purchase price net of principal repayments subsequent to acquisition of $63.8 million plus closing costs. |
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• | One Kendall Square First Mortgage - On November 30, 2010, KBS REIT II sold, at par, a pari-passu participation interest with respect to 50% of the outstanding principal balance of the One Kendall Square First Mortgage, leaving it with an $87.5 million interest. On April 5, 2011, KBS REIT II restructured the One Kendall Square First Mortgage to provide for two debt tranches with varying interest rates - the A-Note, with an original principal amount of $90.0 million, in which KBS REIT II held a $45.0 million interest, and the B-Note, with an original principal amount of $85.0 million, in which KBS REIT II held a $42.5 million interest. On April 6, 2011, KBS REIT II sold and transferred its $45.0 million interest in the A-Note, at par, to an unaffiliated buyer. Upon maturity on December 4, 2013, the borrower under the One Kendall First Mortgage paid off the entire principal balance outstanding due to KBS REIT II. |
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• | Tuscan Inn First Mortgage Loan - In February 2014, the borrower paid off the loan in full, including the outstanding principal balance of $20.2 million. |
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• | Chase Tower First Mortgage Loan - In February 2014, KBS REIT II entered into an early payoff agreement, pursuant to which the borrower paid off the loan in full, including the outstanding principal balance of $58.9 million. Additionally, the borrower paid a yield maintenance premium of $4.9 million in accordance with the early payoff agreement. |
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• | Pappas Commerce First Mortgage Loan - In June 2014, the borrower paid off the loan in full, including the outstanding principal balance of $32.7 million. |
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• | Summit I & II First Mortgage - In August 2015, the borrower paid off the entire principal balance outstanding of $58.3 million plus a yield maintenance premium of $0.9 million and accrued interest of $0.4 million. |
KBS REIT II originally intended to hold its core properties for four to seven years. KBS REIT II originally intended to hold its real estate-related investments until maturity. Economic and market conditions may influence KBS REIT II to hold its investments for different periods of time. KBS REIT II may sell an asset before the end of the expected holding period if it believes that market conditions and asset positioning have maximized the asset’s value to the REIT or the sale of the asset would otherwise be in the best interests of the REIT’s stockholders.
KBS REIT II’s primary offering was subject to certain up-front commissions, fees and expenses similar to those associated with this offering and it has certain fee arrangements with KBS affiliates structured similarly to ours. For more information regarding the fees paid to KBS affiliates by KBS REIT II and the operating results of KBS REIT II, see Tables II and III under “Prior Performance Tables” in this supplement.
Liquidity
The KBS REIT II prospectus disclosed that KBS REIT II may seek to list its shares of common stock if its independent directors believe listing would be in the best interests of its stockholders. To date, the independent directors have not made such a determination. If KBS REIT II does not list its shares of common stock on a national securities exchange by March 2018, its charter requires that KBS REIT II either (i) seek stockholder approval of the liquidation of the company or (ii) if a majority of its conflicts committee determines that liquidation is not then in the best interests of the stockholders, postpone the decision of whether to liquidate the company. As we have not reached March 2018, none of the actions described in (i) or (ii) above have occurred.
If a majority of its conflicts committee does determine that liquidation is not then in the best interests of KBS REIT II’s stockholders, its charter requires that the conflicts committee revisit the issue of liquidation at least annually. Further postponement of listing or stockholder action regarding liquidation would only be permitted if a majority of the conflicts committee again determined that liquidation would not be in the best interest of the stockholders. If KBS REIT II sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of its liquidation, the KBS REIT II charter would not require KBS REIT II to list or liquidate and would not require the conflicts committee to revisit the issue of liquidation, and KBS REIT II could continue to operate as before. If KBS REIT II sought and obtained stockholder approval of its liquidation, KBS REIT II would begin an orderly sale of its properties and other assets. The precise timing of such sales would take account of the prevailing real estate and financial markets, the economic conditions in the submarkets where its properties are located and the federal income tax consequences to the stockholders. In making the decision to apply for listing of its shares, KBS REIT II’s directors will try to determine whether listing its shares or liquidating its assets will result in greater value for stockholders.
Distributions
On September 23, 2014, KBS REIT II paid a special distribution in an aggregate amount of $4.50 per share of common stock to stockholders of record as of the close of business on September 15, 2014. KBS REIT II funded this special distribution from proceeds from the dispositions of nine real estate properties between May 2014 and August 2014 as well as cash on hand resulting primarily from the repayment or sale of five real estate loans receivable during 2013 and 2014. This special distribution totaled approximately $858.6 million. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2015, KBS REIT II disposed of one office property and received the repayment of one of its real estate loans receivable. KBS REIT II’s cash flow from operations has decreased and will continue to decrease as a result of its disposition activity, and it adjusted its distribution policy with respect to the amount of monthly distribution payments to take into account its disposition activity and current real estate investments. KBS REIT II may continue to make strategic asset sales as opportunities become available in the market. Any future special distributions KBS REIT II makes from the proceeds of future dispositions will reduce its estimated value per share and this reduction will be reflected in its updated estimated value per share, which it expects to update no later than December 2016.
Estimated Value Per Share
On December 8, 2015, the board of directors of KBS REIT II approved an estimated value per share of KBS REIT II’s common stock of $5.62 based on the estimated value of KBS REIT II’s assets less the estimated value of its liabilities, or net asset value, divided by the number of shares outstanding, all as of September 30, 2015. KBS REIT II provided this estimated value per share to assist broker-dealers that participated in KBS REIT II’s initial public offering in meeting their customer account statement reporting obligations under NASD Conduct Rule 2340 as required by FINRA. This valuation was performed in accordance with the provisions of and also to comply with the IPA Valuation Guidelines. As with any valuation methodology, the methodologies used were based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that may not be accurate or complete. Different parties using different assumptions and estimates could derive a different estimated value per share, and this difference could be significant. The estimated value per share is not audited and does not represent the fair value of KBS REIT II’s assets less the fair value of its liabilities according to GAAP, nor does it represent a liquidation value of KBS REIT II’s assets and liabilities or the price at which KBS REIT II’s shares of common stock would trade on a national securities exchange. The estimated value per share does not reflect a discount for the fact that KBS REIT II is externally managed, nor does it reflect a real estate portfolio premium/discount versus the sum of the individual property values. The estimated value per share also does not take into account estimated disposition costs and fees for real estate properties that are not under contract to sell, debt prepayment penalties or swap breakage fees that could apply upon the prepayment of certain of KBS REIT II’s debt obligations or termination of related swap agreements prior to expiration or the impact of restrictions on the assumption of debt. KBS REIT II has generally incurred disposition costs and fees related to the sale of each real estate property since inception through September 30, 2015 of 1.7% to 3.5% of the gross sales price less concessions and credits, with the weighted average being approximately 2.2%. If this range of disposition costs and fees was applied to KBS REIT II’s real estate properties, which do not include these costs and fees in the appraised values, the resulting impact on the estimated value per share would be a decrease of $0.14 to $0.28 per share.
KBS REIT II’s estimated value per share takes into consideration any potential liability related to a participation fee KBS Capital Advisors is entitled to upon meeting certain stockholder return thresholds in accordance with its advisory agreement. For purposes of determining the estimated value per share, KBS Capital Advisors calculated the potential liability related to this incentive fee based on a hypothetical liquidation of the assets and liabilities at their estimated fair values, after considering the impact of any potential closing costs and fees related to the disposition of real estate properties, and determined that there would be no liability related to the participation fee.
The value of KBS REIT II’s shares will fluctuate over time in response to developments related to individual assets in its portfolio and the management of those assets and in response to the real estate and finance markets. For a full description of the methodologies and assumptions used to value KBS REIT II’s assets and liabilities in connection with the calculation of the estimated value per share, see KBS REIT II’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 9, 2015.
Share Redemption Program
On May 15, 2014, KBS REIT II’s board of directors amended and restated its share redemption program, which amendment and restatement became effective on June 18, 2014, to provide only for special redemptions. Such redemptions are subject to an annual dollar limitation, which was $10.0 million in the aggregate for remainder of the calendar year 2014 (subject to the limitations described in the share redemption program document). In December 2014 and 2015, KBS REIT II’s board of directors approved the same annual dollar amount limitation for special redemptions of $10.0 million in the aggregate for the calendar years 2015 and 2016 (subject to review and adjustment during the year by the board of directors and further subject to the limitations described in the share redemption program document).
KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT
On November 20, 2009, our sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. Its primary initial public offering was for a maximum of 100,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $10.00 per share, plus an additional 40,000,000 shares of common stock initially priced at $9.50 per share pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT ceased offering shares in its primary offering on November 14, 2012, and continues to offer shares under its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of approximately $561.7 million in its primary offering, and as of December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT had accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of approximately $52.8 million pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT had approximately 15,000 stockholders. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT had redeemed $38.4 million of shares, or 3,281,612 shares, under its share redemption program.
As of December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT owned 10 office properties, one office campus consisting of nine office buildings, one office portfolio consisting of four office buildings and 25 acres of undeveloped land, one office portfolio consisting of three office properties and one retail property encompassing, in the aggregate, approximately 4.4 million rentable square feet. As of December 31, 2015, these properties were 84% occupied. In addition, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT owned two apartment properties, containing 383 units and encompassing approximately 0.3 million rentable square feet, which was 92% occupied. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT also owned two investments in undeveloped land encompassing an aggregate of 1,670 acres and two investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.
KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT has investment objectives that are similar to ours. Like ours, its primary investment objectives are to preserve and return investors’ capital contributions and realize growth in the value of its investments. In addition, both real estate and real estate-related assets involve similar assessments of the risks and rewards of the operation of the underlying real estate and financing thereof as well as an understanding of the real estate and real estate-finance markets.
KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT diversified its portfolio by investment type, investment size and investment risk with the goal of attaining a portfolio of income-producing assets that provide attractive and stable returns to its investors. Based on KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s portfolio composition as of December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT had allocated approximately 87% to direct investments in opportunistic real estate, excluding property that it took title to (i) as part of a portfolio of debt investments, (ii) through loan workouts, foreclosure or similar circumstances, or (iii) through convertible debt investments. The remainder of its initial portfolio was allocated to real estate-related investments.
KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT has used the net proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing to purchase or fund $1.1 billion of real estate and real estate-related assets, including $17.3 million of real estate acquisition and origination fees and expenses and costs related to foreclosures of or taking title to properties securing loans. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT had $550.8 million of debt financing related to its real estate properties.
With proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing, as a percentage of amount invested (based on purchase price), KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT had invested in the following types of assets: 72% in 10 office properties, one office campus consisting of nine office buildings, one retail property, one office portfolio consisting of five office buildings and 63 acres of undeveloped land and, one office portfolio consisting of three office properties, 8% in eight non-performing mortgage loans, 6% in two first mortgage loan originations, 4% in two investments in undeveloped land, 7% in two unconsolidated joint ventures and 4% in one apartment property. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT also invested in six CMBS investments for cash management purposes, of which all had been paid off or sold as of December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT had foreclosed on, or otherwise received title to, the properties which secured seven of the non-performing mortgage loans. All of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s real property investments have been made within the United States. As a percentage of amount invested (based on purchase price), the geographic locations of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s investments in real properties were as follows: 17% in five properties in the East, 64% in nine properties in the West, 19% in three properties in the South. These properties all had prior owners and operators.
As of December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT had foreclosed on or otherwise received title to the properties securing seven of its real estate-related loans, negotiated a discounted payoff with respect to one of its real estate-related loans and received repayment of one of its real estate-related loans. During the year ended December 31, 2012, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT disposed of one industrial/flex building and four parcels of partially improved land encompassing 6.0 acres. During the year ended December 31, 2013, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT disposed of three office buildings and one industrial/flex property. During the year ended December 31, 2014, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT disposed of one office property. During the year ended December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT disposed of two office properties. See Table V under “Prior Performance Tables” in this supplement. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT sold 26 acres of undeveloped land and conveyed 12 acres of non-developable land to a non-profit owners association. The period that it will hold its investments in real estate properties, real estate-related loans, real estate-related debt securities and other real estate-related investments will vary depending on the type of asset, interest rates, market and economic conditions and other factors.
KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s primary offering was subject to certain up-front commissions, fees and expenses similar to those associated with this offering and it has certain fee arrangements with KBS affiliates structured similarly to ours. For more information regarding the fees paid to KBS affiliates by KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and the operating results of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, see Tables II and III under “Prior Performance Tables” in this supplement.
On March 8, 2016, KBS SOR (BVI) Holdings, Ltd. (“KBS SOR BVI”), a wholly owned subsidiary of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, issued 970.2 million Israeli new Shekels (approximately $256 million as of April 7, 2016) of Series A debentures (the “Debentures”) to Israeli investors pursuant to a public offering registered with the Israel Securities Authority. The terms of the Debentures are governed by a deed of trust, dated as of March 1, 2016, among KBS SOR BVI and Reznik Paz Nevo Trusts Ltd., as trustee. The notes will bear interest at the rate of 4.25% per year. Interest on the notes will accrue from March 1, 2016 and will be payable in Israeli new Shekels semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, commencing September 1, 2016. The annual interest rate may increase by increments of 0.25% as a result of downgrades in the credit rating of the Debentures by rating agencies or by increments of 0.5% as a result of violations of certain financial covenants set forth in the deed of trust. The cumulative increase in the interest rate as a result of these events is limited and shall not exceed an aggregate of 1.75%.
The notes have principal installment payments equal to 20% of the face amount of the Debentures on March 1st of each year from 2019 to 2023. The trustee may declare the Debentures due and payable upon the occurrence of certain prohibited events set forth in the deed of trust, including, but not limited to, the violation of specified financial covenants, the payment of distributions in excess of those permitted by the deed of trust, investment in development projects to an extent greater than 10% of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s portfolio, and a greater than 10% increase in the fees percentage paid by KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT to KBS Capital Advisors in a given year. The deed of trust restricts KBS SOR BVI’s ability to make distributions in the event that certain financial requirements have not been met; however, KBS SOR BVI is not restricted from distributing an amount necessary to allow KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT to distribute at least 100% of its taxable income to its stockholders. The deed of trust also restricts KBS SOR BVI from selling any of its properties prior to the investment of 75% of the net proceeds from the offering of the Debentures if the remaining properties will not meet a minimum EBITDA requirement. KBS SOR BVI may voluntarily redeem the Debentures prior to their maturity date subject to certain conditions set forth in the deed of trust.
Liquidity
The KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT prospectus disclosed that the program may seek to publicly list its shares of common stock if its independent directors believe a public listing would be in the best interests of its stockholders. To date, such a determination has not been made. If KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT does not list its shares of common stock on a national securities exchange by July 31, 2019, its charter requires that KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT either (i) seek stockholder approval of the liquidation of the company or (ii) if a majority of its conflicts committee determines that liquidation is not then in the best interests of the stockholders, postpone the decision of whether to liquidate the company. As we have not reached July 31, 2019, none of the actions described in (i) or (ii) above have occurred.
If a majority of the conflicts committee of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT were to determine that liquidation is not then in the best interests of its stockholders, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s charter requires that its conflicts committee revisit the issue of liquidation at least annually. Further postponement of listing or stockholder action regarding liquidation would only be permitted if a majority of the conflicts committee again determined that liquidation would not be in the best interest of the stockholders. If KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of its liquidation, the KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT charter would not require KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT to list or liquidate, and the company could continue to operate as before. If KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT sought and obtained stockholder approval of its liquidation, it would begin an orderly sale of its assets. The precise timing of such sales would take account of the prevailing real estate finance markets and the debt markets generally as well as the federal income tax consequences to its stockholders. In making the decision to apply for listing of its shares, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s directors will try to determine whether listing its shares or liquidating its assets will result in greater value for stockholders.
Estimated Value Per Share
On December 8, 2015, the board of directors of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT approved an estimated value per share of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s common stock of $13.44 based on the estimated value of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s assets less the estimated value of its liabilities, or net asset value, divided by the number of shares outstanding, all as of September 30, 2015. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT provided this estimated value per share to assist broker-dealers that participated in KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s initial public offering in meeting their customer account statement reporting obligations pursuant to applicable FINRA and NASD Conduct Rules. This valuation was performed in accordance with the provisions of and also to comply with the IPA Valuation Guidelines. As with any valuation methodology, the methodologies used are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that may not be accurate or complete. Different parties with different assumptions and estimates could derive a different estimated value per share, and these differences could be significant. The estimated value per share is not audited and does not represent the fair value of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s assets less the fair value of its liabilities according to GAAP, nor does it represent a liquidation value of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s assets and liabilities or the price at which KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s shares of common stock would trade on a national securities exchange. The estimated value per share does not reflect a discount for the fact that KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT is externally managed, nor does it reflect a real estate portfolio premium/discount versus the sum of the individual property values. The estimated value per share also does not take into account estimated disposition costs and fees for real estate properties that are not held for sale, debt prepayment penalties or defeasance costs that could apply upon the prepayment of certain of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s debt obligations or the impact of restrictions on the assumption of debt. The estimated value per share does consider any participation or incentive fees that would be due to KBS Capital Advisors based on the aggregate net asset value of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and that would be payable in a hypothetical liquidation of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT as of the valuation date in accordance with the terms of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s advisory agreement. The value of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s shares will fluctuate over time in response to developments related to individual assets in KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s portfolio and the management of those assets and in response to the real estate and finance markets. For a full description of the methodologies and assumptions used to value KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s assets and liabilities in connection with the calculation of the estimated value per share, see KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 10, 2015.
Share Redemption Program
On December 8, 2015, the board of directors of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT adopted an eighth amended and restated share redemption program (the “Eighth SRP”). Pursuant to the Eighth SRP, redemptions made upon a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” or “determination of incompetence” will be made on the last business day of each month and all other redemptions will be made on the last business day of each quarter. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT may not redeem more than $3.0 million of shares in a given quarter (excluding shares redeemed in connection with a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” or “determination of incompetence”). To the extent that KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT redeems less than $3.0 million of shares (excluding shares redeemed in connection with a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” or “determination of incompetence”) in a given fiscal quarter, any remaining excess capacity to redeem shares in such fiscal quarter will be added to KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s capacity to otherwise redeem shares (excluding shares redeemed in connection with a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” or “determination of incompetence”) during the succeeding fiscal quarter. This limit may be increased or decreased by KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT upon ten business days’ notice to stockholders. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s board of directors may approve an increase in this limit to the extent that KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT has received proceeds from asset sales or the refinancing of debt or for any other reason deemed appropriate by the board of directors.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT redeemed $30.1 million of common stock, which represented all redemption requests received in good order and eligible for redemption through the December 2015 redemption date, except for $3.7 million of shares in connection with redemption requests not made upon a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” or “determination of incompetence,” which redemption requests will be fulfilled subject to the limitations described above. Based on the amount of net proceeds raised from the sale of shares under the dividend reinvestment plan during 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT has $13.6 million available for redemptions during 2016, subject to the limitations described above.
KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT
On March 12, 2010, our sponsors, together with Legacy Partners Residential Realty LLC and certain of its affiliates, launched the initial public offering of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. Its primary initial public offering was for a maximum of 200,000,000 shares of common stock at an initial price of $10.00 per share, plus an additional 80,000,000 shares of common stock initially priced at $9.50 per share pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. On March 12, 2013, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT ceased offering shares in its initial public offering. From commencement of the initial public offering through its termination on March 12, 2013, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT sold 18,088,084 shares of common stock for gross offering proceeds of $179.2 million, including 368,872 shares of common stock under the dividend reinvestment plan for gross offering proceeds of $3.5 million. On March 13, 2013, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT commenced offering shares to the public pursuant to a follow-on public offering for a maximum of $2,000,000,000 of shares of common stock in a primary offering, initially priced at $10.68 per share, plus an additional $760,000,000 of shares of common stock pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan, initially priced at $10.15 per share. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT ceased offering shares of common stock in the primary portion of its follow-on offering on March 31, 2014, but continues to offer shares of common stock under its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT sold an aggregate of 19,215,410 shares of common stock in its primary public offerings for aggregate gross offering proceeds of $191.5 million. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT had sold an aggregate of 1,881,964 shares of common stock pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan for aggregate gross offering proceeds of $18.7 million. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT had approximately 5,800 stockholders. Also, as of December 31, 2015, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT had redeemed $5.9 million of shares sold in its public offerings or 608,977 shares, under its share redemption program. See Table I under “Prior Performance Tables” in this supplement for more information regarding KBS Legacy Apartment REIT’s initial public offering and follow-on offering.
As of December 31, 2015, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT owned 11 apartment communities. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s real estate portfolio was 93% occupied.
KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT has investment objectives that are similar to ours. Like ours, its primary investment objectives are to preserve and return investors’ contributions and realize growth in the value of its investments. In addition, both real estate and real estate-related assets involve similar assessments of the risks and rewards of the operation of the underlying real estate and financing thereof as well as an understanding of the real estate and real estate-finance markets.
KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT made all of its equity investments in core apartment properties that were already well-positioned and producing rental income at acquisition, with the goal of attaining a portfolio of income-producing properties that provide attractive and stable returns to its investors.
KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT used the net proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing to purchase $424.0 million of real estate, including $7.3 million in acquisition fees and expenses. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT had $288.4 million of debt financing on its real estate properties.
With proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT had invested in 11 apartment communities, all located within the United States. As a percentage of amount invested (based on purchase price), the geographic locations of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s investments were as follows: 57% in six properties in the East, 34% in four properties in the Midwest and 9% in one property in the South. All of the real properties purchased by KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT had prior owners and operators.
KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT has not disposed of any properties.
KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s offerings were subject to certain up-front commissions, fees and expenses similar to those associated with this offering and it had and has certain fee arrangements with KBS affiliates structured similarly to ours. For more information with respect to fees paid to affiliates by KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and the operating results of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, see Table II and III under “Prior Performance Tables.”
Liquidity
The KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT prospectus disclosed that the program may seek to publicly list its shares of common stock if its independent directors believe a public listing would be in the best interests of its stockholders. To date, such a determination has not been made. If KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT does not list its shares of common stock on a national securities exchange by January 31, 2020, its charter requires that KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT either (i) seek stockholder approval of the liquidation of the company or (ii) if a majority of its conflicts committee determines that liquidation is not then in the best interests of the stockholders, postpone the decision of whether to liquidate the company. As we have not reached January 31, 2020, none of the actions described in (i) or (ii) above have occurred.
If a majority of the conflicts committee of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT were to determine that liquidation is not then in the best interests of its stockholders, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s charter requires that its conflicts committee revisit the issue of liquidation at least annually. Further postponement of listing or stockholder action regarding liquidation would only be permitted if a majority of the conflicts committee again determined that liquidation would not be in the best interest of the stockholders. If KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of its liquidation, the KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT charter would not require KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT to list or liquidate, and the company could continue to operate as before. If KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT sought and obtained stockholder approval of its liquidation, it would begin an orderly sale of its assets. The precise timing of such sales would take account of the prevailing real estate finance markets and the debt markets generally as well as the federal income tax consequences to its stockholders. In making the decision to apply for listing of its shares, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s directors will try to determine whether listing its shares or liquidating its assets will result in greater value for stockholders.
Estimated Value Per Share
On December 8, 2015, the board of directors of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT approved an estimated value per share of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s common stock of $10.29 based on the estimated value of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s assets less the estimated value of its liabilities, or net asset value, divided by the number of shares outstanding, all as of September 30, 2015. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT provided this estimated value per share to assist broker-dealers that participated in KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s public offerings in meeting their customer account statement reporting obligations under NASD Conduct Rule 2340 as required by FINRA. This valuation was performed in accordance with the provisions of and also to comply with the IPA Valuation Guidelines. As with any valuation methodology, the methodologies used were based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that may not be accurate or complete. Different parties using different assumptions and estimates could derive a different estimated value per share, and this difference could be significant. In particular, due in part to (i) KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s relatively small asset base, (ii) the high concentration of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s total assets in real estate, and (iii) the number of shares of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s common stock outstanding, even modest changes in key assumptions made in appraising KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s real estate properties could have a very significant impact on the estimated value of its shares. The estimated value per share is not audited and does not represent the fair value of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s assets less the fair value of its liabilities according to GAAP, nor does it represent a liquidation value of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s assets and liabilities or the price at which KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s shares of common stock would trade on a national securities exchange. The estimated value per share does not reflect a discount for the fact that KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT is externally managed, nor does it reflect a real estate portfolio premium/discount versus the sum of the individual property values. The estimated value per share also does not take into account estimated disposition costs and fees for real estate properties, debt prepayment penalties that could apply upon the prepayment of certain of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s debt obligations or the impact of restrictions on the assumption of debt.
KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s estimated value per share takes into consideration any potential liability related to a participation fee KBS Capital Advisors is entitled to upon meeting certain stockholder return thresholds in accordance with its advisory agreement. For purposes of determining the estimated value per share, KBS Capital Advisors calculated the potential liability related to this incentive fee based on a hypothetical liquidation of the assets and liabilities at their estimated fair values, after considering the impact of any potential closing costs and fees related to the disposition of real estate properties, and determined that there would be no liability related to the participation fee.
The value of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s shares will fluctuate over time in response to developments related to individual assets in KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s portfolio and the management of those assets and in response to the real estate and finance markets. For a full description of the assumptions and methodologies used to value KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s assets and liabilities in connection with the calculation of the updated offering price and estimated value per share, see KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2015.
Share Redemption Program
Pursuant to KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s share redemption program, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT may redeem only the number of shares that it could purchase with the amount of the net proceeds from the sale of shares under its dividend reinvestment plan during the prior calendar year; provided that KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT may not redeem more than $2.0 million of shares in the aggregate during any calendar year. Furthermore, during any calendar year, once KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT has redeemed $1.5 million of shares under its share redemption program, including redemptions in connection with special redemptions, the remaining $0.5 million of the $2.0 million annual limit shall be reserved exclusively for shares being redeemed in connection with special redemptions, provided that KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s board of directors may increase or decrease the funding available for the redemption of shares pursuant to the share redemption program upon ten business days’ notice to stockholders.
In March 2015, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT exhausted $1.5 million of funds available for redemptions during 2015 and thus, because of the limitations on the dollar value of shares that could be redeemed under the share redemption program, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT was not be able to process ordinary redemptions for the remainder of 2015 and could only process special redemptions. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT had $1.1 million of outstanding and unfulfilled ordinary redemption requests, representing 109,344 shares. The $2.0 million annual limitation was reset beginning January 1, 2016 and $1.0 million of the outstanding and unfulfilled ordinary redemption requests as of December 31, 2015, representing 103,808 shares, were fulfilled in January 2016. In January 2016, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT exhausted $1.5 million of funds available for redemptions for 2016. Because of the limitations on the dollar value of shares that may be redeemed under the share redemption program, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT will only be able to process special redemptions for the remainder of 2016.
KBS REIT III
On October 26, 2010, our sponsors launched the initial public offering of KBS REIT III, a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. Its primary initial public offering was for a maximum of up to 200,000,000 shares, or up to $2,000,000,000 of shares, of common stock at an initial price of $10.00 per share, plus up to 80,000,000 shares, or up to $760,000,000 of shares, of common stock initially priced at $9.50 per share pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. On March 24, 2011, KBS REIT III broke escrow in its initial public offering. KBS REIT III ceased offering shares of common stock in its primary offering on May 29, 2015 and terminated the primary offering on July 28, 2015. KBS REIT III sold 169,006,162 shares of common stock for gross offering proceeds of $1.7 billion in its primary initial public offering. As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT III had sold 10,487,846 shares of common stock under its dividend reinvestment plan for gross offering proceeds of $103.1 million. KBS REIT III has approximately 41,000 stockholders. Additionally, on October 3, 2014, KBS REIT III issued 258,462 shares of common stock, for $2.4 million, in private transactions exempt from the registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT III had redeemed $17.7 million of shares, or 1,829,232 shares, under its share redemption program. See Table I under “Prior Performance Tables” in this supplement for more information regarding KBS REIT III’s initial public offering.
As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT III owned 27 office properties and one mixed-use office/retail property encompassing 10.6 million rentable square feet in the aggregate that were collectively 92% occupied. In addition, KBS REIT III owned one first mortgage loan.
KBS REIT III has investment objectives that are similar to ours. Like ours, its primary investment objectives are to preserve and return investors’ capital contributions and realize growth in the value of its investments. In addition, both real estate and real estate-related assets involve similar assessments of the risks and rewards of the operation of the underlying real estate assets and the financing thereof as well as an understanding of the real estate and real estate-finance markets.
KBS REIT III has invested substantially all of the net proceeds from its now-terminated initial public offering in a diverse portfolio of real estate investments. KBS REIT III has made investments in core real estate properties, which are generally lower risk, existing properties with at least 80% occupancy and minimal near-term lease rollover. KBS REIT III’s primary investment focus is core office properties located throughout the United States, though KBS REIT III may also invest in other types of properties. KBS REIT III’s core property focus in the U.S. office sector has reflected a more value creating core strategy. In many cases, these properties have slightly higher (10% to 15%) vacancy rates and/or higher near-term lease rollover at acquisition than more conservative value-maintaining core properties. All such real estate assets are generally acquired directly by KBS REIT III or the Operating Partnership, though KBS REIT III may invest in other entities that make similar investments. KBS REIT III may also invest in real estate-related investments, such as mortgage loans. KBS REIT III may make adjustments to its target portfolio based on real estate market conditions and investment opportunities.
KBS REIT III had used the net proceeds from its now-terminated initial public offering and debt financing to purchase or fund $3.2 billion of real estate investments as of December 31, 2015, including $44.8 million in acquisition and origination fees and expenses. As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT III had debt financing on its real estate properties in the amount of $1.7 billion.
As of December 31, 2015, with proceeds from its now-terminated initial public offering and debt financing, as a percentage of amount invested (based on purchase price), KBS REIT III had invested 99% in 29 office properties and 1% in one mortgage loan. All of KBS REIT III’s real property investments are located within the United States. As a percentage of amount invested (based on purchase price), the geographic locations of KBS REIT III’s investments in real properties as of December 31, 2015 were as follows: 30% in four properties in the Midwest; 28% in nine properties in the West; 28% in 11 properties in the South; and 14% in five properties in the East. All of the real properties purchased by KBS REIT III had prior owners and operators.
As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT III had disposed of one office property for $43.2 million. See Table V under “Prior Performance Tables” in this supplement for information regarding the sale of the office property.
KBS REIT III’s primary offering was subject to certain up-front commissions, fees and expenses similar to those associated with this offering and KBS REIT III has certain fee arrangements with KBS affiliates structured similarly to ours. For more information regarding the fees paid to KBS affiliates by KBS REIT III and the operating results of KBS REIT III, see Tables II and III under “Prior Performance Tables” in this supplement.
Liquidity
The KBS REIT III prospectus discloses that KBS REIT III may seek to list its shares of common stock if its independent directors believe listing would be in the best interests of its stockholders. To date, the independent directors have not made such a determination. If KBS REIT III does not list its shares of common stock on a national securities exchange by September 2020, its charter requires that KBS REIT III either (i) seek stockholder approval of the liquidation of the company or (ii) if a majority of its conflicts committee determines that liquidation is not then in the best interests of the stockholders, postpone the decision of whether to liquidate the company. As we have not reached September 2020, neither of the actions described in (i) or (ii) above have occurred.
If a majority of the conflicts committee of KBS REIT III were to determine that liquidation is not then in the best interests of its stockholders, KBS REIT III’s charter requires that its conflicts committee revisit the issue of liquidation at least annually. Further postponement of listing or stockholder action regarding liquidation would only be permitted if a majority of the conflicts committee again determined that liquidation would not be in the best interest of the stockholders. If KBS REIT III sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of its liquidation, the KBS REIT III charter would not require KBS REIT III to list or liquidate and would not require the conflicts committee to revisit the issue of liquidation, and KBS REIT III could continue to operate as before. If KBS REIT III sought and obtained stockholder approval of its liquidation, KBS REIT III would begin an orderly sale of its properties and other assets. The precise timing of such sales would take account of the prevailing real estate and financial markets, the economic conditions in the submarkets where its properties are located and the federal income tax consequences to its stockholders. In making the decision to apply for listing of its shares, KBS REIT III’s directors will try to determine whether listing its shares or liquidating its assets will result in greater value for stockholders.
Estimated Value Per Share
On December 8, 2015, the board of directors of KBS REIT III approved an estimated value per share of KBS REIT III’s common stock of $10.04 based on the estimated value of KBS REIT III’s assets less the estimated value of its liabilities, or net asset value, divided by the number of shares outstanding, all as of September 30, 2015, with the exception of a reduction to KBS REIT III’s net asset value for acquisition fees and closing costs related to a real estate acquisition that closed subsequent to September 30, 2015 and deferred financing costs related to a mortgage loan that closed subsequent to September 30, 2015. KBS REIT III provided this estimated value per share to assist broker-dealers that participated in KBS REIT III’s initial public offering in meeting their customer account statement reporting obligations under NASD Conduct Rule 2340 as required by FINRA. This valuation was performed in accordance with the provisions of and also to comply with the IPA Valuation Guidelines. As with any valuation methodology, the methodologies used were based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that may not be accurate or complete. Different parties using different assumptions and estimates could derive a different estimated value per share of its common stock, and this difference could be significant. The estimated value per share is not audited and does not represent the fair value of KBS REIT III’s assets less the fair value of its liabilities according to GAAP, nor does it represent a liquidation value of KBS REIT III’s assets and liabilities or the price at which KBS REIT III’s shares of common stock would trade on a national securities exchange. The estimated value per share does not reflect a discount for the fact that KBS REIT III is externally managed, nor does it reflect a real estate portfolio premium/discount versus the sum of the individual property values. The estimated value per share also does not take into account estimated disposition costs and fees for real estate properties, debt prepayment penalties that could apply upon the prepayment of certain of KBS REIT III’s debt obligations, the impact of restrictions on the assumption of debt or swap breakage fees that may be incurred upon the termination of certain of KBS REIT III’s swaps prior to expiration. In addition, KBS REIT III was still investing proceeds from its now-terminated initial public offering as of the date of its estimated value per share and the estimated value per share does not take into consideration acquisition-related costs and financing costs related to future acquisitions.
KBS REIT III’s estimated value per share takes into consideration any potential liability related to a participation fee KBS Capital Advisors is entitled to upon meeting certain stockholder return thresholds in accordance with its advisory agreement. For purposes of determining the estimated value per share, KBS Capital Advisors calculated the potential liability related to this incentive fee based on a hypothetical liquidation of the assets and liabilities at their estimated fair values, after considering the impact of any potential closing costs and fees related to the disposition of real estate properties, and determined that there would be no liability related to the participation fee.
The value of KBS REIT III’s shares will fluctuate over time in response to developments related to future investments, the performance of individual assets in KBS REIT III’s portfolio and the management of those assets and the real estate and finance markets. For a full description of the assumptions and methodologies used to value KBS REIT III’s assets and liabilities in connection with the calculation of the updated estimated value per share, see KBS REIT III’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 9, 2015.
Share Redemption Program
KBS REIT III continues to process redemption requests and through the December 2015 redemption date has redeemed all redemption requests received in good order and eligible for redemption.
KBS Growth & Income REIT
On June 11, 2015, our sponsors launched the private placement offering of KBS Growth & Income REIT. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Growth & Income REIT had sold 2,151,799 shares of its Class A common stock for gross offering proceeds of $18,760,265 in the private offering, including 6,311 shares of Class A common stock under its distribution reinvestment plan for gross offering proceeds of $53,830. Additionally, on August 11, 2015, two of the individuals who own and control KBS Growth & Income REIT’s sponsor, Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. (who also acts as chief executive officer, the chairman of the board and a director of KBS Growth & Income REIT) and Peter M. Bren (who also acts as president of KBS Growth & Income REIT), purchased 21,181.2380 and 21,181.2390 shares of its Class A common stock, respectively, each for an aggregate purchase price of $172,500, in private transactions exempt from the registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Growth & Income REIT had approximately 300 stockholders.
KBS Growth & Income REIT has filed a registration statement on Form S-11 with the SEC to register an initial public offering of its common stock. As of the date of this supplement, the SEC has not declared the initial public offering of KBS Growth & Income REIT effective and no guarantees can be made that KBS Growth & Income REIT will successfully commence an initial public offering.
As of December 31, 2015, KBS Growth & Income REIT owned one office property, located in the West region of the United States. The office property had a prior owner. KBS Growth & Income REIT used proceeds from its private offering and debt financing to invest $21.8 million in this office property, including $0.6 million of real estate acquisition fees and closing costs. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Growth & Income REIT has $16.3 million of debt financing related to its real estate investment. As of December 31, 2015, the office building was 100% occupied.
As of December 31, 2015, KBS Growth & Income REIT had not sold any investments.
KBS Growth & Income REIT has investment objectives that are similar to ours. Like ours, its primary investment objectives are to preserve and return investors’ capital contributions and realize growth in the value of its investments. In addition, both real estate and real estate-related assets involve similar assessments of the risks and rewards of the operation of the underlying real estate and financing thereof as well as an understanding of the real estate and real estate-finance markets.
KBS Growth & Income REIT intends to use substantially all of the net proceeds from its offerings to invest in a diverse portfolio of core real estate properties and real estate-related assets, including the acquisition of commercial properties and the acquisition and origination of real estate-related assets. Such real estate-related assets may include mortgage, mezzanine, bridge and other loans, debt and derivative securities related to real estate assets, including mortgage-backed securities, and equity securities such as common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible preferred securities of other REITs and real estate companies.
KBS Growth & Income REIT’s private offering is subject to (and its proposed public offering would be subject to) certain up-front commissions, fees and expenses similar to those associated with this offering and it has fee arrangements with KBS affiliates structured similarly to ours.
Liquidity
The KBS Growth & Income REIT prospectus for its proposed initial public offering on file with the SEC discloses that the program may seek to list its shares of common stock on a national securities exchange if its independent directors believes listing would be in the best interests of its stockholders. To date, such a determination has not been made. If KBS Growth & Income REIT does not list its shares of common stock on a national securities exchange within ten years from commencement of an initial public offering, its charter requires that it either (i) seek stockholder approval of the liquidation of the company or (ii) postpone the decision of whether to liquidate the company, if a majority of its conflicts committee determines that liquidation is not then in the best interests of the stockholders. As the potential initial public offering has not yet commenced, neither of the actions described in (i) or (ii) above have occurred.
If a majority of KBS Growth & Income REIT’s conflicts committee does determine that liquidation is not then in the best interests of its stockholders, KBS Growth & Income REIT’s charter requires that its conflicts committee revisit the issue of liquidation at least annually. Further postponement of listing or stockholder action regarding liquidation would only be permitted if a majority of KBS Growth & Income REIT’s conflicts committee again determined that liquidation would not be in the best interest of its stockholders. If KBS Growth & Income REIT sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of its liquidation, KBS Growth & Income REIT’s charter would not require it to list or liquidate and would not require its conflicts committee to revisit the issue of liquidation, and KBS Growth & Income REIT could continue to operate as before. If KBS Growth & Income REIT sought and obtained stockholder approval of its liquidation, KBS Growth & Income REIT would begin an orderly sale of its assets. The precise timing of such sales would take into account the prevailing real estate and financial markets, the economic conditions in the submarkets where KBS Growth & Income REIT’s properties are located and the debt markets generally, as well as the federal income tax consequences to its stockholders. In making the decision to apply for listing of its shares, KBS Growth & Income REIT’s directors would try to determine whether listing KBS Growth & Income REIT’s shares or liquidating its assets would be more likely to result in greater benefit its stockholders.
Private Programs
During the 10-year period ended December 31, 2015, KBS-affiliated investment advisors managed 10 private real estate programs, three of which were multi-investor, commingled programs and seven of which were single-client, separate accounts. All of these private programs were limited partnerships for which affiliates of Messrs. Bren and Schreiber act or acted as a general partner. In all cases, affiliates of Messrs. Bren and Schreiber had responsibility for acquiring, investing, managing, developing and selling the real estate and real estate-related assets of each of the programs. Five of the 10 private programs managed by KBS-affiliated investment advisors during the 10-year period ended December 31, 2015 used private REITs to structure the ownership of some of their investments.
Five of the 10 private real estate programs managed by KBS-affiliated investment advisors raised approximately $846.9 million of equity capital from one institutional investor during the 10-year period ended December 31, 2015. The institutional investor investing in the private programs was a public pension fund. During this 10-year period, the remaining five of the 10 private programs managed by KBS-affiliated investment advisors did not raise any capital as they had completed their respective offering stages.
During the 10-year period ended December 31, 2015, KBS-affiliated investment advisors acquired 31 real estate investments and invested over $1.6 billion in these assets (including equity, debt and reinvestment of income and sales proceeds) on behalf of the five private programs raising capital for new investments during this period. Debt financing was used in acquiring the properties in all of these five private programs.
Each of the private programs managed by KBS-affiliated investment advisors during the 10-year period ended December 31, 2015 have or had (four of the programs have been fully liquidated) investment objectives that are similar to ours. Like ours, their primary investment objectives are to preserve and return investors’ capital contributions and to realize growth in the value of their investments. In addition, investments in real estate and real estate-related assets involve similar assessments of the risks and rewards of the operation of the underlying real estate and financing thereof as well as an understanding of the real estate and real estate-finance markets.
For each of the private programs, the KBS-affiliated investment advisor has focused on acquiring a diverse portfolio of real estate investments. The KBS-affiliated investment advisor typically diversified the portfolios of the private programs by property type and geographic region as well as investment size and investment risk. In constructing the portfolios for eight of the 10 private programs, the KBS-affiliated investment advisor specialized in acquiring a mix of value-added, enhanced-return and core real estate assets, focusing primarily on value-added and enhanced-return properties. Value-added and enhanced-return assets are assets that are undervalued or that could be repositioned to enhance their value. For the remaining two of the 10 private programs, the KBS-affiliated investment advisor is focusing on the acquisition of core real estate assets.
Substantially all of the assets acquired by the private programs have involved commercial properties. The chart below shows amounts invested (based on purchase price) by property type, during the 10-year period ended December 31, 2015, by KBS-affiliated investment advisors on behalf of the private programs.
KBS-AFFILIATED INVESTMENT ADVISORS - PRIVATE PROGRAMS
CAPITAL INVESTED BY PROPERTY TYPE
The KBS-affiliated investment advisors for the private programs also sought to diversify the investments of the programs by geographic region as illustrated by the chart below. This chart shows investments in different geographic regions by amount invested (based on purchase price) during the 10-year period ended December 31, 2015. KBS-affiliated investment advisors have emphasized their investment activity within those regions that have exhibited the potential for strong or sustainable growth. All investments by the private programs were within the United States.
KBS-AFFILIATED INVESTMENT ADVISORS - PRIVATE PROGRAMS
CAPITAL INVESTED BY REGION
In seeking to diversify the portfolios of the private programs by investment risk, KBS-affiliated investment advisors have purchased both low-risk, high-quality properties and high-quality but under-performing properties in need of repositioning. Substantially all of the properties purchased by the private programs had prior owners and operators.
As stated above, during the 10-year period ended December 31, 2015, KBS-affiliated investment advisors invested over $1.6 billion (including equity, debt and reinvestment of income and sales proceeds) for its clients through five private programs. Of the properties acquired during the 10-year period ended December 31, 2015, KBS investment advisors sold one property on behalf of these five private programs, which represents 3% of all properties these five private programs had acquired during this period. During the 10-year period ended December 31, 2015, KBS-affiliated investment advisors sold another 56 properties on behalf of the remaining five programs that did not acquire properties during the period.
Though the private programs were not subject to the up-front commissions, fees and expenses associated with this offering, the private programs have certain fee arrangements with KBS affiliates structured similarly to ours. The percentage of the fees varied based on the market factors at the time the particular program was formed. Historically a majority of the private programs paid (i) asset management fees; (ii) acquisition fees; and (iii) real estate commissions, disposition fees and/or incentive fees based on participation interests in the net cash flows of the programs’ assets after achieving a stipulated return for the investors or based on gains from the sale of assets.
The recession that started in the late 1990s resulted in more business failures among smaller tenants typical to Class B buildings. This resulted in higher vacancy rates for these buildings and in real estate programs investing additional capital to cover the costs of re-letting the properties, these events affected the performance of five of the 10 private programs. These private programs also retained the buildings for a longer period of time so that the buildings would be sufficiently leased for disposition. As a result, rental rates on newly leased space and renewals in the buildings owned by these programs decreased. Higher vacancy rates also increased the period of time it took the KBS-affiliated investment advisors to get the properties to the planned stabilized occupancy level for disposition for these five programs. These adverse market conditions reduced the distributions made by these private programs and may have caused the total returns to investors to be lower than they otherwise would have been. One of these private programs is still in its operating stage, while the other four programs are fully liquidated.
PRIOR PERFORMANCE TABLES
The tables presented in this section provide summary unaudited information related to the historical experience of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT. By purchasing shares in this offering, you will not acquire any ownership interest in any programs to which the information in this section relates and you should not assume that you will experience returns, if any, comparable to those experienced by the investors in the funds discussed.
The information in this section should be read together with the summary information in this supplement under “Prior Performance Summary.” The following tables are included in this section:
| |
• | Table I – Experience in Raising and Investing Funds; |
| |
• | Table II – Compensation to Sponsor; |
| |
• | Table III – Operating Results of Prior Programs; and |
| |
• | Table V – Sales or Disposals of Properties. |
Table IV (Results of Completed Programs) has been omitted since none of the prior public programs sponsored by our sponsors have completed their operations and sold all of their properties during the five years ended December 31, 2015.
TABLE I
EXPERIENCE IN RAISING AND INVESTING FUNDS
(UNAUDITED)
Prior Performance Is Not Indicative of Future Results
Table I provides a summary of the experience of our sponsors in raising and investing funds for the public programs that had offerings close during the three years ended December 31, 2015. These programs have investment objectives similar to ours.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT (Initial Public Offering) | | KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT (Follow-on Offering) | | KBS REIT III |
Dollar amount offered | | $ | 2,000,000,000 |
| | $ | 2,000,000,000 |
| | $ | 2,760,000,000 |
|
Dollar amount raised | | $ | 175,633,000 |
| | $ | 15,864,000 |
| | $ | 1,722,838,000 |
|
Length of offering (in months) | | 36 (1) |
| | 12 (1) |
| | 56 (3) |
|
Months to invest 90% of amount available for investments (4) | | 47 |
| | N/A (2) |
| | 55 |
|
_____________________(1) KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT is a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT launched its initial public offering on March 12, 2010 and then commenced real estate operations. On December 9, 2010, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT broke escrow in its initial public offering. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT ceased offering shares of common stock in its initial public offering on March 12, 2013. On March 13, 2013, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT commenced its follow-on offering for a maximum of $2,000,000,000 of shares of common stock in its primary offering plus an additional $760,000,000 of shares of common stock pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT ceased offering shares of common stock in its primary follow-on offering on March 31, 2014 and completed subscription processing procedures on April 30, 2014. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT continues to offer shares under its dividend reinvestment plan; dollar amount of shares offered under and proceeds from the dividend reinvestment plan are omitted from Table I. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT sold an aggregate of 19,215,410 shares of common stock in both the initial and follow-on primary offerings for gross primary offering proceeds of $191.5 million. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT had acquired 11 apartment communities.
(2) Upon completion of the follow-on offering, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT did not anticipate making additional acquisitions.
(3) KBS REIT III is a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. KBS REIT III launched its initial public offering on October 26, 2010. On March 24, 2011, KBS REIT III broke escrow in its initial public offering and then commenced real estate operations. KBS REIT III ceased offering shares of common stock in its primary offering on May 29, 2015 and terminated the primary offering on July 28, 2015. KBS REIT III continues to issue shares under its dividend reinvestment plan; dollar amount of shares offered under and proceeds from the dividend reinvestment plan are omitted from Table I. KBS REIT III sold 169,006,162 shares of common stock in the primary offering for gross proceeds of $1.7 billion. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had also sold 10,487,846 shares of common stock under the dividend reinvestment plan for gross offering proceeds of $103.1 million. With proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing, KBS REIT III had acquired 28 office properties and one mixed-use office/retail property and one first mortgage loan through December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015 KBS REIT III had sold one office property.
(4) Includes the length of offering.
TABLE II
COMPENSATION TO SPONSOR
(UNAUDITED)
Prior Performance Is Not Indicative of Future Results
Table II summarizes the amount and type of compensation paid to KBS affiliates in connection with (1) each public program sponsored by our sponsors that had offerings close during the three years ended December 31, 2015 and (2) KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II and KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, the remaining public programs that have made payments to KBS affiliates during the three years ended December 31, 2015. Each of the programs represented has investment objectives similar to ours. All figures are as of December 31, 2015.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT (3) | | | KBS REIT III (4) | | | KBS REIT I (5) | | KBS REIT II (6) | | KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT (7) |
Date offering commenced | | (3) | | | (4) | | | (5) | | (6) | | (7) |
Dollar amount raised | | $ | 210,166,000 |
| | | $ | 1,825,928,000 |
| | | $ | 1,936,784,000 |
| | $ | 2,118,756,000 |
| | $ | 614,501,000 |
|
Amount paid to sponsor from proceeds of offering: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Underwriting fees (1) | | $ | 2,724,000 |
| | | $ | 39,229,000 |
| | | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 5,000 |
|
Acquisition fees: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
real estate commissions | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
advisory fees (2) | | 4,362,000 |
| | | 30,932,000 |
| | | — |
| | 1,797,000 |
| | 7,074,000 |
|
other | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Other | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Dollar amount of cash generated from operations before deducting payments to sponsors | | $ | 37,578,000 |
| | | $ | 208,035,000 |
| | | $ | 102,518,000 |
| | $ | 296,865,000 |
| | $ | 83,305,000 |
|
Amount paid to sponsor from operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property management fees | | $ | 4,000,000 |
| | | $ | — |
| | | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
Partnership and asset management fees | | 3,195,000 |
| (8) | | 28,015,000 |
| (9) | | 30,573,000 |
| | 54,247,000 |
| | 20,169,000 |
|
Reimbursements | | 2,187,000 |
| | | 823,000 |
| | | 649,000 |
| | 572,000 |
| | 415,000 |
|
Leasing commissions | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Construction management fees | | 134,000 |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Loan servicing fees | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Dollar amount of property sales and refinancing before deducting payments to sponsors: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash from property | | $ | — |
| | | $ | 42,739,000 |
| | | $ | 616,885,000 |
| | $ | 1,719,764,000 |
| | $ | 71,421,000 |
|
Notes | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Amounts paid to sponsor from property sales and refinancing: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Real estate commissions | | $ | — |
| | | $ | — |
| | | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
Disposition fees related to property sales | | — |
| | | — |
| | | 7,733,000 |
| | 17,440,000 |
| | 598,000 |
|
Disposition fees related to notes receivable sales | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | 1,143,000 |
| | — |
|
Incentive fees | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Other | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
TABLE II
COMPENSATION TO SPONSOR (CONTINUED)
(UNAUDITED)
Prior Performance Is Not Indicative of Future Results
_____________________
(1) Underwriting fees include (i) dealer manager fees paid to the KBS‑affiliated dealer manager that are not reallowed to participating broker‑dealers as a marketing fee, (ii) the reimbursed portion of a dual employee’s salary paid by the KBS‑affiliated dealer manager attributable to time spent planning and coordinating training and education meetings on behalf of the respective program, (iii) the reimbursed travel, meal and lodging costs of wholesalers and other registered persons of the KBS‑affiliated dealer manager attending retail conferences and training and education meetings, (iv) reimbursed costs for promotional items for broker‑dealers paid for by the KBS‑affiliated dealer manager, (v) reimbursed legal fees paid for by the KBS‑affiliated dealer manager and (vi) reimbursed attendance and sponsorship fees incurred by employees of the KBS‑affiliated dealer manager and its affiliates to attend retail conferences sponsored by participating broker-dealers and other meetings with participating broker‑dealers.
(2) Advisory fees are acquisition fees and origination fees that are calculated as a percentage of purchase price (including any portion of the investment that was funded with debt financings) plus acquisition or origination expenses and are paid to the advisor of each program.
(3) KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT is a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT launched its initial public offering on March 12, 2010 and then commenced real estate operations. On December 9, 2010, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT broke escrow in its initial public offering. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT ceased offering shares of common stock in its initial public offering on March 12, 2013. On March 13, 2013, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT commenced a follow-on offering, the primary portion of which terminated on March 31, 2014. KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT continues to offer shares under its dividend reinvestment plan; proceeds from the dividend reinvestment plan are included in “Dollar amount raised” in this table, but are omitted from Table I. Compensation paid to KBS affiliates includes all compensation paid since the program’s inception. With proceeds from its public offerings and debt financing, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT acquired 11 apartment communities.
(4) KBS REIT III is a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. KBS REIT III launched its initial public offering on October 26, 2010. On March 24, 2011, KBS REIT III broke escrow in its initial public offering and then commenced real estate operations. KBS REIT III ceased offering shares of common stock in its primary offering on May 29, 2015 and terminated the primary offering on July 28, 2015. KBS REIT III continues to offer shares under its dividend reinvestment plan; proceeds from the dividend reinvestment plan are included in “Dollar amount raised” in this table, but are omitted from Table I. Compensation paid to KBS affiliates includes all compensation paid since the program’s inception. With proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing, KBS REIT III had acquired 28 office buildings and one mixed-use office/retail and one mortgage loan through December 31, 2015.
(5) KBS REIT I is a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. KBS REIT I launched its initial public offering on January 27, 2006. On July 5, 2006, KBS REIT I broke escrow in its initial public offering and then commenced real estate operations. KBS REIT I ceased offering shares of common stock in its primary offering on May 30, 2008. KBS REIT I terminated its dividend reinvestment plan effective April 10, 2012; proceeds from the dividend reinvestment plan are included in “Dollar amount raised.” Compensation paid to KBS affiliates only includes amounts paid in the three years ended December 31, 2015. With proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing, KBS REIT I acquired 64 real estate properties, one master lease, 21 real estate loans receivable and two investments in securities directly or indirectly backed by commercial mortgage loans. After KBS REIT I’s acquisition of these properties, loans and other investments, KBS REIT I’s portfolio composition changed when it restructured certain investments, took title to properties underlying investments in loans, sold assets and received repayment of debt investments.
(6) KBS REIT II is a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. KBS REIT II launched its initial public offering on April 22, 2008. On June 24, 2008, KBS REIT II broke escrow in its initial public offering and then commenced real estate operations. KBS REIT II ceased offering shares of common stock in its primary offering on December 31, 2010. KBS REIT II terminated its dividend reinvestment plan effective May 29, 2014; proceeds from the dividend reinvestment plan are included in “Dollar amount raised.” Compensation paid to KBS affiliates only includes amounts paid in the three years ended December 31, 2015. With proceeds from its initial public offering and debt financing, KBS REIT II acquired 28 real estate properties, a leasehold interest in one industrial property, eight real estate loans receivable and an investment in real estate securities. After KBS REIT II’s acquisition of these properties and loans, KBS REIT II’s portfolio composition changed when it sold assets and received repayment of debt investments.
(7) KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT is a publicly registered, non-traded REIT. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT launched its initial public offering on November 20, 2009. On April 19, 2010, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT broke escrow in its initial public offering and then commenced real estate operations. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT ceased offering shares of common stock in its primary offering on November 14, 2012. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT continues to issue shares under its dividend reinvestment plan; proceeds from the dividend reinvestment plan are included in “Dollar amount raised” in this table. Compensation paid to KBS affiliates only includes amounts paid in the three years ended December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT had acquired 10 office properties, one office campus consisting of nine office buildings, one retail property, one office portfolio consisting of five office buildings and 63 acres of undeveloped land, one office portfolio consisting of three office buildings, two investments in undeveloped land, one apartment property, and investments in two unconsolidated joint ventures and acquired or originated 10 real estate loans receivable. After KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s acquisition of these investments, its portfolio composition changed when it received title to the properties which secured seven of its original investments in real estate loans receivable, negotiated a discounted payoff with respect to one of its real estate-related loans, received repayment of one of its real estate-related loans and sold assets.
(8) As of December 31, 2015, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT accrued and deferred payment of $1.5 million of asset management fees for February 2013 through July 2013 under the advisory agreement and deferred payment of $3.3 million of asset management fees for August 2013 through December 31, 2014 under the advisory agreement as, pursuant to the terms of the advisory agreement, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT believed the payment of these amounts to its advisor were considered probable at the time they were recorded. During the year ended December 31, 2015, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT incurred $2.8 million of asset management fees. However, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT only recorded $0.7 million pursuant to the limitations in the advisory agreement and did not accrue the remaining $2.1 million of these deferred asset management fees as it is uncertain whether any of these amounts will be paid in the future. The deferred asset management fees are excluded from the partnership and asset management fees paid amount.
(9) As of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT III had accrued and deferred payment of $10.1 million of asset management fees under the advisory agreement. The deferred asset management fees are excluded from the partnership and asset management fees paid amount. Pursuant to the terms of the advisory agreement, KBS REIT III believes payment of this amount to its advisor is probable.
TABLE III
OPERATING RESULTS OF PRIOR PROGRAMS
(UNAUDITED)
Prior Performance Is Not Indicative of Future Results
This table summarizes the operating results of public programs sponsored by our sponsors that have had offerings close during the five years ended December 31, 2015. For these programs, this table shows: the income or loss of such programs (based upon U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)); the cash they generated from operations, sales and refinancings; and information regarding cash distributions. Each of these programs represented has investment objectives similar to ours. All figures are as of December 31 of the year indicated, except as otherwise noted.
TABLE III
OPERATING RESULTS OF PRIOR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED)
(UNAUDITED)
Prior Performance Is Not Indicative of Future Results
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| KBS REIT II |
| 2011 | | 2012 | | 2013 | | 2014 | | 2015 |
Selected Operating Results (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating revenues | $ | 320,156,000 |
| | $ | 348,635,000 |
| | $ | 360,634,000 |
| | $ | 279,400,000 |
| | $ | 165,295,000 |
|
Operating expenses | | (115,629,000 | ) | | | (129,250,000 | ) | | | (140,107,000 | ) | | | (113,796,000 | ) | | | (68,679,000 | ) |
Interest expense | | (50,554,000 | ) | | | (58,624,000 | ) | | | (65,687,000 | ) | | | (62,944,000 | ) | | | (22,115,000 | ) |
Operating income (2) | | 153,973,000 |
| | | 160,761,000 |
| | | 154,840,000 |
| | | 102,660,000 |
| | | 74,501,000 |
|
Net income - GAAP basis | | 21,793,000 |
| | | 48,374,000 |
| | | 55,779,000 |
| | | 445,507,000 |
| | | 18,377,000 |
|
Summary Statements of Cash Flows (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows provided by operating activities | $ | 113,226,000 |
| | $ | 128,669,000 |
| | $ | 133,146,000 |
| | $ | 67,336,000 |
| | $ | 42,136,000 |
|
Cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities | | (673,682,000 | ) | | | 22,510,000 |
| | | (71,706,000 | ) | | | 1,656,313,000 |
| | | 158,128,000 |
|
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities | | 573,597,000 |
| | | (198,343,000 | ) | | | 65,212,000 |
| | | (1,719,670,000 | ) | | | (306,598,000 | ) |
Amount and Source of Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amount of cash distributions paid to common stockholders | $ | (54,001,000 | ) | | $ | (57,601,000 | ) | | $ | (64,694,000 | ) | | $ | (944,224,000 | ) | | $ | (57,468,000 | ) |
Amount of reinvested distributions paid to common stockholders | | (67,789,000 | ) | | | (66,460,000 | ) | | | (70,562,000 | ) | | | (26,885,000 | ) | | | — |
|
Total distributions paid to common stockholders | $ | (121,790,000 | ) | | $ | (124,061,000 | ) | | $ | (135,256,000 | ) | | $ | (971,109,000 | ) | | $ | (57,468,000 | ) |
Source of Distributions (per $1,000 invested): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
From operations (3) | | 60 |
| | | 65 |
| | | 68 |
| | | 36 |
| | | 21 |
|
From sales of properties | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | 470 |
| | | — |
|
From debt financing | | 5 |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
|
From all other sources (4) | | — |
| | | — |
| | | 2 |
| | | 1 |
| | | 8 |
|
Summary Balance Sheet (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets (before depreciation/amortization) | $ | 3,159,886,000 |
| | $ | 3,085,459,000 |
| | $ | 3,309,321,000 |
| | $ | 1,776,450,000 |
| | $ | 1,477,990,000 |
|
Total assets (after depreciation) | | 2,976,031,000 |
| | | 2,814,921,000 |
| | | 2,946,499,000 |
| | | 1,654,323,000 |
| | | 1,364,530,000 |
|
Total liabilities | | 1,488,898,000 |
| | | 1,419,464,000 |
| | | 1,606,455,000 |
| | | 844,796,000 |
| | | 546,077,000 |
|
Share Valuation (5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Estimated per share at December 31, | $ | 10.11 |
| | $ | 10.29 |
| | $ | 10.29 |
| | $ | 5.86 |
| | $ | 5.62 |
|
_____________________
(1) Amounts include discontinued operations.
(2) Operating income is operating revenues less operating expenses (which include operating, maintenance and management, real estate taxes and insurance and asset management fees to affiliate) and interest expense.
(3) Cash distributions to investors from “operations,” assumes that KBS REIT II used cash flow from operating activities from the quarter corresponding to the payment of the distribution or prior period surplus to fund distribution payments.
(4) Cash distributions to investors from “all other sources” were funded with cash on hand.
(5) Prior to December 19, 2011, KBS REIT II valued its shares at $10.00 per share based solely on the offering price in the primary portion of its initial public offering. For a full description of the assumptions and methodologies used to value KBS REIT II’s assets and liabilities in connection with the calculation of the estimated value per share for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 see Part II, Item 5, “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - Market Information” in KBS REIT II's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.
TABLE III
OPERATING RESULTS OF PRIOR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED)
(UNAUDITED)
Prior Performance Is Not Indicative of Future Results
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| KBS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY REIT |
| 2011 | | 2012 | | 2013 | | 2014 | | 2015 |
Selected Operating Results (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating revenues (2) | $ | 4,278,000 |
| | $ | 19,909,000 |
| | $ | 69,883,000 |
| | $ | 106,154,000 |
| | $ | 112,128,000 |
|
Operating expenses (2) | | (4,173,000 | ) | | | (13,216,000 | ) | | | (37,393,000 | ) | | | (57,805,000 | ) | | | (60,425,000 | ) |
Interest expense (2) | | (313,000 | ) | | | (2,505,000 | ) | | | (3,146,000 | ) | | | (15,598,000 | ) | | | (14,986,000 | ) |
Operating income (loss) (2) (3) | | (208,000 | ) | | | 4,188,000 |
| | | 29,344,000 |
| | | 32,751,000 |
| | | 36,717,000 |
|
Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders - GAAP basis | | (7,581,000 | ) | | | (9,762,000 | ) | | | 11,493,000 |
| | | (23,194,000 | ) | | | 2,444,000 |
|
Summary Statements of Cash Flows (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities | $ | (3,507,000 | ) | | $ | (1,028,000 | ) | | $ | 24,630,000 |
| | $ | 11,450,000 |
| | $ | 27,056,000 |
|
Cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities | | (154,405,000 | ) | | | (242,074,000 | ) | | | (289,875,000 | ) | | | (285,814,000 | ) | | | 1,992,000 |
|
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities | | 220,649,000 |
| | | 282,683,000 |
| | | 197,281,000 |
| | | 235,461,000 |
| | | (25,083,000 | ) |
Amount and Source of Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amount of cash distributions paid to common stockholders | $ | (2,318,000 | ) | | $ | (4,341,000 | ) | | $ | (9,038,000 | ) | | $ | (5,785,000 | ) | | $ | (8,707,000 | ) |
Amount of reinvested distributions paid to common stockholders | | (4,087,000 | ) | | | (8,544,000 | ) | | | (16,641,000 | ) | | | (9,911,000 | ) | | | (13,573,000 | ) |
Total distributions paid to common stockholders | $ | (6,405,000 | ) | | $ | (12,885,000 | ) | | $ | (25,679,000 | ) | | $ | (15,696,000 | ) | | $ | (22,280,000 | ) |
Source of Distributions (per $1,000 invested): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
From operations (4) | | — |
| | | — |
| | | 22 |
| | | 26 |
| | | 38 |
|
From sales of properties | | — |
| | | 2 |
| | | 22 |
| | | — |
| | | — |
|
From debt financing | | 30 |
| | | 38 |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
|
From all other sources | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
|
Summary Balance Sheet (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets (before depreciation/amortization) | $ | 259,909,000 |
| | $ | 545,606,000 |
| | $ | 801,043,000 |
| | $ | 1,080,484,000 |
| | $ | 1,095,774,000 |
|
Total assets (after depreciation) | | 257,326,000 |
| | | 537,085,000 |
| | | 771,184,000 |
| | | 1,016,313,000 |
| | | 1,004,214,000 |
|
Total liabilities | | 65,491,000 |
| | | 43,782,000 |
| | | 278,925,000 |
| | | 556,266,000 |
| | | 585,565,000 |
|
Share Valuation (5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Estimated per share at December 31, | $ | N/A |
| | $ | N/A |
| | $ | N/A |
| | $ | 12.24 |
| | $ | 13.44 |
|
_____________________
(1) Amounts include discontinued operations.
(2) Amounts include non-controlling portion of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s consolidated joint ventures.
(3) Operating income (loss) is operating revenues less operating expenses (which include operating, maintenance and management, real estate taxes and insurance and asset management fees to affiliate) and interest expense.
(4) Cash distributions to investors from “operations,” assumes that KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT used cash flow from operating activities from the quarter corresponding to the payment of the distribution or prior period surplus to fund distribution payments.
(5) Prior to March 25, 2014, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT valued its shares at $10.00 per share based solely on the offering price in the primary portion of its initial public offering. For a full description of the assumptions and methodologies used to value KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s assets and liabilities in connection with the calculation of the estimated value per share for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, see Part II, Item 5, “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - Market Information” in KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.
TABLE III
OPERATING RESULTS OF PRIOR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED)
(UNAUDITED)
Prior Performance Is Not Indicative of Future Results
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| KBS LEGACY PARTNERS APARTMENT REIT |
| | 2011 | | 2012 | | 2013 | | 2014 | | 2015 |
Selected Operating Results | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating revenues | | $ | 5,372,000 |
| | $ | 16,105,000 |
| | $ | 32,825,000 |
| | $ | 42,200,000 |
| | $ | 44,613,000 |
|
Operating expenses | | | (2,850,000 | ) | | | (8,211,000 | ) | | | (15,873,000 | ) | | | (19,660,000 | ) | | | (19,070,000 | ) |
Interest expense | | | (1,323,000 | ) | | | (4,688,000 | ) | | | (8,000,000 | ) | | | (10,261,000 | ) | | | (10,501,000 | ) |
Operating income (1) | | | 1,199,000 |
| | | 3,206,000 |
| | | 8,952,000 |
| | | 12,279,000 |
| | | 15,042,000 |
|
Net (loss) income - GAAP basis | | | (2,093,000 | ) | | | (10,233,000 | ) | | | (7,745,000 | ) | | | (3,560,000 | ) | | | 791,000 |
|
Summary Statements of Cash Flows | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities | | $ | (845,000 | ) | | $ | (1,533,000 | ) | | $ | 8,196,000 |
| | $ | 12,086,000 |
| | $ | 12,902,000 |
|
Cash flows (used in) investing activities | | | (1,595,000 | ) | | | (196,336,000 | ) | | | (122,114,000 | ) | | | (17,372,000 | ) | | | (1,885,000 | ) |
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities | | | 22,387,000 |
| | | 206,646,000 |
| | | 118,767,000 |
| | | (7,534,000 | ) | | | (14,702,000 | ) |
Amount and Source of Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amount of cash distributions paid to common stockholders | | $ | (553,000 | ) | | $ | (3,038,000 | ) | | $ | (6,349,000 | ) | | $ | (7,259,000 | ) | | $ | (7,416,000 | ) |
Amount of reinvested distributions paid to common stockholders | | | (350,000 | ) | | | (2,229,000 | ) | | | (4,761,000 | ) | | | (5,591,000 | ) | | | (5,736,000 | ) |
Total distributions paid to common stockholders | | $ | (903,000 | ) | | $ | (5,267,000 | ) | | $ | (11,110,000 | ) | | $ | (12,850,000 | ) | | $ | (13,152,000 | ) |
Source of Distributions (per $1,000 invested): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
From operations (2) | | | — |
| | | 21 |
| | | 48 |
| | | 61 |
| | | 64 |
|
From sales of properties | | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
|
From debt financing | | | 65 |
| | | 44 |
| | | 17 |
| | | 4 |
| | | 1 |
|
From all other sources | | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
|
Summary Balance Sheet | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets (before depreciation/amortization) | | $ | 62,959,000 |
| | $ | 265,583,000 |
| | $ | 389,626,000 |
| | $ | 443,933,000 |
| | $ | 441,892,000 |
|
Total assets (after depreciation) | | | 60,310,000 |
| | | 260,285,000 |
| | | 376,197,000 |
| | | 419,589,000 |
| | | 406,179,000 |
|
Total liabilities | | | 25,779,000 |
| | | 171,707,000 |
| | | 250,376,000 |
| | | 302,326,000 |
| | | 297,914,000 |
|
Share Valuation (3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Estimated per share at December 31, | | $ | N/A |
| | $ | N/A |
| | $ | 10.68 |
| | $ | 10.14 |
| | $ | 10.29 |
|
_____________________
(1) Operating income is operating revenues less operating expenses (which include operating, maintenance and management, real estate taxes and insurance, asset management fees to affiliate and property management fees to affiliate) and interest expense.
(2) Cash distributions to investors from “operations,” assumes that KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT used cash flow from operating activities from the quarter corresponding to the payment of the distribution or prior period surplus to fund distribution payments.
(3) Prior to December 9, 2014 KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT valued its shares based solely on the offering price to acquire a share in its then-current primary public offering. From its inception through March 3, 2013, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT valued its shares at $10.00 per share based solely on its initial offering price to acquire a share in its primary initial public offering.
On March 4, 2013, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s board of directors established an updated offering price for shares of common stock to be sold in KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s initial public offering of $10.68 per share, effective on March 5, 2013. This offering price was based on the estimated value of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s assets less the estimated value of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s liabilities, or net asset value (which estimated net asset value per share was equal to $9.08), divided by the number of shares outstanding, all as of December 31, 2012, and increased for certain offering and other costs (which were equal to $1.60). For a full description of the assumptions and methodologies used to value KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s assets and liabilities in connection with the establishment of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s updated offering price and estimated net asset value per share as of March 4, 2013, see KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 4, 2013.
For a full description of the assumptions and methodologies used to value KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s assets and liabilities in connection with the establishment of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s estimated value per share for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, see Part II, Item 5, “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - Market Information” in KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015.
TABLE III
OPERATING RESULTS OF PRIOR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED)
(UNAUDITED)
Prior Performance Is Not Indicative of Future Results
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| KBS REIT III |
| | 2011 | | 2012 | | 2013 | | 2014 | | 2015 |
Selected Operating Results | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating revenues | | $ | 2,512,000 |
| | $ | 27,283,000 |
| | $ | 80,423,000 |
| | $ | 188,896,000 |
| | $ | 315,709,000 |
|
Operating expenses | | | (913,000 | ) | | | (12,221,000 | ) | | | (39,657,000 | ) | | | (89,322,000 | ) | | | (145,690,000 | ) |
Interest expense | | | (300,000 | ) | | | (3,568,000 | ) | | | (9,751,000 | ) | | | (27,003,000 | ) | | | (45,370,000 | ) |
Operating income (1) | | | 1,299,000 |
| | | 11,494,000 |
| | | 31,015,000 |
| | | 72,571,000 |
| | | 124,649,000 |
|
Net loss - GAAP basis | | | (2,440,000 | ) | | | (7,682,000 | ) | | | (21,637,000 | ) | | | (12,352,000 | ) | | | (29,015,000 | ) |
Summary Statements of Cash Flows | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows provided by operating activities | | $ | 724,000 |
| | $ | 7,657,000 |
| | $ | 20,164,000 |
| | $ | 50,346,000 |
| | $ | 101,129,000 |
|
Cash flows (used in) investing activities | | | (93,527,000 | ) | | | (233,423,000 | ) | | | (938,610,000 | ) | | | (1,035,952,000 | ) | | | (831,986,000 | ) |
Cash flows provided by financing activities | | | 129,782,000 |
| | | 212,105,000 |
| | | 928,117,000 |
| | | 1,051,552,000 |
| | | 739,964,000 |
|
Amount and Source of Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amount of cash distributions paid to common stockholders | | $ | (922,000 | ) | | $ | (6,352,000 | ) | | $ | (13,773,000 | ) | | $ | (27,126,000 | ) | | $ | (47,603,000 | ) |
Amount of reinvested distributions paid to common stockholders | | | (740,000 | ) | | | (5,241,000 | ) | | | (12,414,000 | ) | | | (29,329,000 | ) | | | (55,367,000 | ) |
Total distributions paid to common stockholders | | $ | (1,662,000 | ) | | $ | (11,593,000 | ) | | $ | (26,187,000 | ) | | $ | (56,455,000 | ) | | $ | (102,970,000 | ) |
Source of Distributions (per $1,000 invested): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
From operations (2) | | | — |
| | | 41 |
| | | 50 |
| | | 52 |
| | | 64 |
|
From sales of properties | | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
|
From debt financing | | | 34 |
| | | 24 |
| | | 15 |
| | | 13 |
| | | 1 |
|
From all other sources (3) | | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
|
Summary Balance Sheet | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets (before depreciation/amortization) | | $ | 131,717,000 |
| | $ | 362,571,000 |
| | $ | 1,352,055,000 |
| | $ | 2,486,069,000 |
| | $ | 3,356,305,000 |
|
Total assets (after depreciation) | | | 130,616,000 |
| | | 348,481,000 |
| | | 1,305,447,000 |
| | | 2,375,288,000 |
| | | 3,133,874,000 |
|
Total liabilities | | | 45,605,000 |
| | | 136,456,000 |
| | | 790,216,000 |
| | | 1,412,863,000 |
| | | 1,791,675,000 |
|
Share Valuation (4) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Estimated per share at December 31, | | $ | N/A |
| | $ | N/A |
| | $ | N/A |
| | | 10.51 |
| | | 10.04 |
|
_____________________
(1) Operating income is operating revenues less operating expenses (which include operating, maintenance and management, real estate taxes and insurance and asset management fees to affiliate) and interest expense.
(2) Cash distributions to investors from “operations,” assumes that KBS REIT III used cash flow from operating activities from the quarter corresponding to the payment of the distribution or prior period surplus to fund distribution payments.
(3) Cash distributions to investors from “all other sources” were funded with debt and cash on hand.
(4) Prior to December 8, 2015 KBS REIT III valued its shares based solely on the offering price to acquire a share in its then-current primary public offering. From its inception through May 7, 2014, KBS REIT III valued its shares at $10.00 per share based solely on its initial offering price to acquire a share in its primary initial public offering. On December 9, 2014, KBS REIT III’s board of directors established an updated offering price for shares of common stock to be sold in KBS REIT III’s initial public offering of $10.51 per share, effective on December 12, 2014. This offering price was based on the estimated value of KBS REIT III’s assets less the estimated value of KBS REIT III’s liabilities, or net asset value (which estimated net asset value per share was equal to $9.42), divided by the number of shares outstanding, all as of September 30, 2014, with certain adjustments, and then increased for certain offering and other costs (which were equal to $1.09). For a full description of the assumptions and methodologies used to value KBS REIT III’s assets and liabilities in connection with the establishment of KBS REIT III’s updated offering price and estimated net asset value per share as of December 9, 2014, see Part II, Item 5, “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - Market Information” in KBS REIT III’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. For a full description of the assumptions and methodologies used to value KBS REIT III’s assets and liabilities in connection with the establishment of KBS REIT III’s estimated value per share for the year ended December 31, 2015, see Part II, Item 5, “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - Market Information” in KBS REIT III’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
TABLE V
SALES OR DISPOSALS OF PROPERTIES
(UNAUDITED)
Prior Performance Is Not Indicative of Future Results
Table V presents summary information with respect to the results of sales or disposals of properties by public programs sponsored by our sponsors during the three years ended December 31, 2015. The table includes information about the sales proceeds received, the cash invested in the properties, the taxable gain or loss from the sales and the cash flow from the operation of the properties. Each of the programs represented has investment objectives similar to ours.
TABLE V
SALES OR DISPOSALS OF PROPERTIES (CONTINUED)
(UNAUDITED)
Prior Performance Is Not Indicative of Future Results
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property (1) | | Date Acquired | | Date of Sale | | Selling Price, Net of Closing Costs and GAAP Adjustments | | Cost of Properties Including Closing and Soft Costs | | Excess (Deficiency) of Property Operating Cash Receipts Over Cash Expenditures (3) |
| | | Cash Received Net of Closing Costs | | Mortgage Balance at Time of Sale | | Purchase Money Mortgage Taken Back by Sale | | Adjustments Resulting from Application of GAAP | | Total | | Original Mortgage Financing | | Total Acquisitions Costs, Capital Improvements, Closing and Soft Costs (2) | | Total | |
KBS REIT I (4) (5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Five Tower Bridge | | 10/08 | | 01/12 | | $ | 27,469,874 |
| | $ | 40,162,087 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 67,631,961 |
| | $ | 41,000,000 |
| | $ | 37,938,736 |
| | $ | 78,938,736 |
| | $ | 11,705,404 |
|
2200 West Loop | | 09/07 | | 01/12 | | 10,329,574 |
| | 17,426,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 27,755,574 |
| | 17,426,000 |
| | 18,344,454 |
| | 35,770,454 |
| | 9,008,847 |
|
Kensington | | 03/07 | | 02/12 | | 6,614,345 |
| | 18,500,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 25,114,345 |
| | 18,500,000 |
| | 12,857,510 |
| | 31,357,510 |
| | 5,701,712 |
|
Hartman Business Center | | 07/07 | | 06/12 | | 74,994 |
| | 15,525,091 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 15,600,085 |
| | 9,479,000 |
| | 4,781,556 |
| | 14,260,556 |
| | 3,574,852 |
|
South Towne I & II | | 11/07 | | 06/12 | | 15,516,189 |
| | 27,500,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 43,016,189 |
| | 25,200,000 |
| | 24,534,196 |
| | 49,734,196 |
| | 6,464,880 |
|
Plano Corporate Center | | 08/07 | | 08/12 | | 6,966,919 |
| | 30,591,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 37,557,919 |
| | 30,591,000 |
| | 12,279,275 |
| | 42,870,275 |
| | 4,035,887 |
|
Patrick Henry | | 11/07 | | 08/12 | | 227,334 |
| | 13,431,680 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 13,659,014 |
| | 11,100,000 |
| | 9,287,534 |
| | 20,387,534 |
| | 6,118,991 |
|
Greenbriar | | 11/07 | | 09/12 | | 11,999,715 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 11,999,715 |
| | 10,200,000 |
| | 6,425,135 |
| | 16,625,135 |
| | 6,550,833 |
|
Great Oaks - SunGard | | 08/08 | | 11/12 | | 3,361,730 |
| | 9,000,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 12,361,730 |
| | 6,352,000 |
| | 5,693,605 |
| | 12,045,605 |
| | 5,242,228 |
|
Rickenbacker IV | | 08/07 | | 11/12 | | 5,497,209 |
| | 6,096,903 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 11,594,112 |
| | — |
| | 15,265,382 |
| | 15,265,382 |
| | 4,340,505 |
|
Millennium Building | | 06/08 | | 12/13 | | 79,954,560 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 79,954,560 |
| | 36,000,000 |
| | 56,514,333 |
| | 92,514,333 |
| | 23,028,017 |
|
Crescent Green Buildings | | 01/07 | | 01/14 | | 11,038,991 |
| | 25,400,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 36,438,991 |
| | 40,800,000 |
| | 13,151,552 |
| | 53,951,552 |
| | 13,675,951 |
|
2230 Avenue J | | 07/07 | | 06/14 | | 6,282,941 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 6,282,941 |
| | — |
| | 9,229,471 |
| | 9,229,471 |
| | 3,489,686 |
|
Nashville Portfolio Consolidated | | 11/07 | | 06/14 | | 26,183,542 |
| | 6,250,688 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 32,434,230 |
| | 22,230,000 |
| | 19,149,528 |
| | 41,379,528 |
| | 4,424,954 |
|
Sabal VI | | 07/06 | | 03/15 | | 6,955,936 |
| | 5,700,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 12,655,936 |
| | 11,030,467 |
| | 5,410,120 |
| | 16,440,587 |
| | 2,360,841 |
|
Royal Ridge | | 06/07 | | 03/15 | | 15,927,563 |
| | 11,418,750 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 27,346,313 |
| | 21,718,000 |
| | 13,582,191 |
| | 35,300,191 |
| | 5,259,360 |
|
Plainfield Business Center | | 07/07 | | 12/15 | | 14,260,935 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 14,260,935 |
| | 10,675,000 |
| | 6,046,610 |
| | 16,721,610 |
| | 3,646,601 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
KBS REIT II | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Hartman II | | 04/10 | | 06/12 | | $ | 5,454,169 |
| | $ | 6,755,627 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 12,209,796 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 10,926,522 |
| | $ | 10,926,522 |
| | $ | 1,534,061 |
|
Mountain View Corporate Center | | 07/08 | | 05/14 | | 24,394,290 |
| | — |
| | | | | | $ | 24,394,290 |
| | 9,500,000 |
| | 25,743,020 |
| | $ | 35,243,020 |
| | 13,054,391 |
|
Dallas Cowboys Distrib. Center | | 07/10 | | 06/14 | | 9,911,326 |
| | 11,793,117 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 21,704,443 |
| | — |
| | 19,482,482 |
| | $ | 19,482,482 |
| | 3,754,620 |
|
601 Tower at Carlson Center | | 02/11 | | 06/14 | | 56,702,430 |
| | 16,320,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 73,022,430 |
| | — |
| | 63,048,134 |
| | $ | 63,048,134 |
| | 11,106,247 |
|
Plano Business Park | | 03/10 | | 06/14 | | 12,507,859 |
| | 10,226,968 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 22,734,827 |
| | — |
| | 18,644,658 |
| | $ | 18,644,658 |
| | 4,894,669 |
|
Metropolitan Center | | 12/11 | | 06/14 | | 72,044,679 |
| | 33,360,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 105,404,679 |
| | 65,000,000 |
| | 45,064,617 |
| | $ | 110,064,617 |
| | 15,544,550 |
|
300 N. LaSalle Building | | 07/10 | | 07/14 | | 486,932,489 |
| | 344,600,796 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 831,533,285 |
| | 350,000,000 |
| | 324,152,677 |
| | $ | 674,152,677 |
| | 79,141,040 |
|
Torrey Reserve West | | 09/10 | | 07/14 | | 21,421,050 |
| | 16,827,945 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 38,248,995 |
| | 16,985,382 |
| | 14,039,473 |
| | $ | 31,024,855 |
| | 7,040,324 |
|
Two Westlake Park | | 02/11 | | 07/14 | | 64,543,098 |
| | 53,130,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 117,673,098 |
| | 48,300,000 |
| | 53,934,827 |
| | $ | 102,234,827 |
| | 21,015,905 |
|
City Place Tower | | 04/11 | | 08/14 | | 74,920,077 |
| | 71,000,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 145,920,077 |
| | — |
| | 133,629,297 |
| | $ | 133,629,297 |
| | 18,611,046 |
|
I-81 Industrial Portfolio | | 02/11 | | 11/14 | | 45,656,113 |
| | 56,475,714 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 102,131,827 |
| | 51,085,375 |
| | 40,949,350 |
| | $ | 92,034,725 |
| | 16,862,540 |
|
Crescent VIII Building | | 05/10 | | 11/14 | | 7,432,433 |
| | 8,599,384 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 16,031,817 |
| | — |
| | 14,642,830 |
| | $ | 14,642,830 |
| | 2,966,624 |
|
One Main Place Building | | 02/10 | | 12/14 | | 66,710,714 |
| | 16,938,500 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 83,649,214 |
| | — |
| | 67,889,814 |
| | $ | 67,889,814 |
| | 19,930,981 |
|
National City Tower | | 12/10 | | 02/15 | | 33,473,823 |
| | 89,700,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 123,173,823 |
| | 69,000,000 |
| | 56,159,202 |
| | $ | 125,159,202 |
| | 32,161,280 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
KBS REIT III | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Las Cimas IV | | 10/11 | | 02/14 | | $ | 42,738,811 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 42,738,811 |
| | $ | 24,000,000 |
| | $ | 13,026,027 |
| | $ | 37,026,027 |
| | $ | 3,537,245 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
TABLE V
SALES OR DISPOSALS OF PROPERTIES (CONTINUED)
(UNAUDITED)
Prior Performance Is Not Indicative of Future Results
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property (1) | | Date Acquired | | Date of Sale | | Selling Price, Net of Closing Costs and GAAP Adjustments | | Cost of Properties Including Closing and Soft Costs | | Excess (Deficiency) of Property Operating Cash Receipts Over Cash Expenditures (3) |
| | | Cash Received Net of Closing Costs | | Mortgage Balance at Time of Sale | | Purchase Money Mortgage Taken Back by Sale | | Adjustments Resulting from Application of GAAP | | Total | | Original Mortgage Financing | | Total Acquisitions Costs, Capital Improvements, Closing and Soft Costs (2) | | Total | |
KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
10564 Roseville | | 09/10 | | 01/12 | | $ | 1,143,062 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,143,062 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,149,374 |
| | $ | 1,149,374 |
| | $ | 509,099 |
|
Land- Roseville Commerce Center | | 09/10 | | 05/12 | | 709,055 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 709,055 |
| | — |
| | 653,400 |
| | 653,400 |
| | (12,815 | ) |
Greenway II Building (6) | | 11/11 | | 01/13 | | 2,418,534 |
| | 5,207,275 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 7,625,809 |
| | 3,389,396 |
| | — |
| | 3,389,396 |
| | (1,292,201 | ) |
10556, 10560, 10600 and 10604 Roseville | | 09/10 | | 10/13 | | 5,585,085 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 5,585,085 |
| | — |
| | 4,876,454 |
| | 4,876,454 |
| | 553,802 |
|
6151 and 6201 Powers Ferry | | 09/12 | | 10/13 | | 14,708,953 |
| | 2,822,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 17,530,953 |
| | — |
| | 12,152,540 |
| | 12,152,540 |
| | 144,896 |
|
Village Overlook | | 08/10 | | 08/14 | | 1,392,939 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,392,939 |
| | — |
| | 2,204,998 |
| | 2,204,998 |
| | 27,502 |
|
1635 N Cahuenga | | 08/11 | | 03/15 | | 11,201,427 |
| | 4,650,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 15,851,427 |
| | — |
| | 9,109,680 |
| | 9,109,680 |
| | 757,076 |
|
Academy Point Atrium I | | 09/10 | | 09/15 | | 3,319,656 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3,319,656 |
| | — |
| | 4,100,071 |
| | 4,100,071 |
| | (747,800 | ) |
_____________________
(1) Table V includes information only with respect to the results of sales or disposals of real properties. Sales, disposals, restructuring, pay-offs, discounted payoffs and settlements of investments in loans and real estate-related investments are omitted from Table V. For information with respect to loan investments by public programs, see the “Prior Performance Summary.” Upon request, prospective investors may obtain from us without charge copies of any public reports prepared in connection with public programs sponsored by our sponsors, including a copy of the most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.
(2) Total acquisition costs, capital improvements and soft costs is gross of depreciation and impairments. Acquisition costs include acquisition fees paid to the program’s advisor. Soft costs include legal fees, environmental studies, title and closing costs related to the acquisition and closing of the asset. Amounts shown do not include pro rata share of program offering costs nor do they include any program administration costs not related to the operation of the property.
(3) Does not include any program administration costs not related to the operation of the property.
(4) This table does not include KBS REIT I’s agreement in lieu of foreclosure to transfer the National Industrial Portfolio properties to an affiliate of the lender of certain mortgage and mezzanine loans related to the properties.
(5) On September 1, 2011, KBS REIT I entered into a Collateral Transfer and Settlement Agreement with, among other parties, GKK Stars Acquisition LLC, the wholly owned subsidiary of Gramercy Property Trust, Inc. (“Gramercy”) that indirectly owned the Gramercy real estate portfolio, to effect the orderly transfer of certain assets and liabilities of the Gramercy real estate portfolio to KBS REIT I in satisfaction of certain debt obligations owed by wholly owned subsidiaries of Gramercy to KBS REIT I. Pursuant to the Collateral Transfer and Settlement Agreement, the subsidiaries of Gramercy transferred to KBS REIT I the equity interests in the indirect owners of or holders of leasehold interests in approximately 867 properties (the “GKK Properties”). Through December 31, 2015, KBS REIT I has sold or terminated the leasehold interests in 362 GKK Properties for net sales proceeds of $1.2 billion. The original purchase price allocated to these properties was $1.0 billion. In addition, as of December 31, 2015, KBS REIT I had transferred 153 GKK Properties to the respective lenders of the mortgage loans for which these properties served as security, in exchange for the release from the debt outstanding and other obligations related to, these mortgage loans. The purchase price allocated to these properties was $266.2 million and the carrying value of the debt and accrued liabilities extinguished was $272.9 million.
(6) KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT owned a 90% equity interest in the Greenway II Building.
KBS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.
SUPPLEMENT NO. 6 DATED APRIL 26, 2016
TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED FEBRUARY 17, 2016
This document supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the prospectus of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. dated February 17, 2016, as supplemented by supplement no. 5 dated April 26, 2016. As used herein, the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer to KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. and, as required by context, KBS Strategic Opportunity Limited Partnership II, which we refer to as our “Operating Partnership,” and to their subsidiaries. Capitalized terms used in this supplement have the same meanings as set forth in the prospectus. The purpose of this supplement is to disclose:
| |
• | the status of the offering; |
| |
• | updated risks related to an investment in us; |
| |
• | our entry into an amended and restated advisory agreement; |
| |
• | cash distributions and stock dividends declared and paid or issued for the year ended December 31, 2015; |
| |
• | the declaration of cash distributions for March 2016 through May 2016 and stock dividends for the first quarter of 2016 and the months of April 2016 and May 2016; |
| |
• | updated information regarding our plans with respect to the declaration of stock dividends; |
| |
• | our entry into an agreement with Equity Trust Company relating to IRA custodial services with respect to our Class T shares; |
| |
• | an update regarding allocation of investment opportunities; |
| |
• | information with respect to our real estate and real estate-related investments; |
| |
• | selected financial data; |
| |
• | fees earned by and expenses reimbursable to our advisor and the dealer manager; |
| |
• | information with respect to our share redemption program; |
| |
• | information regarding the net tangible book value of our shares; |
| |
• | quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk; and |
| |
• | information incorporated by reference. |
Status of the Offering
We commenced this offering of up to 180,000,000 shares of common stock, or up to $1,760,000,000 of shares of common stock on August 12, 2014. Effective February 17, 2016, we are offering any combination of two classes of shares of common stock: Class A shares and Class T shares. As of April 21, 2016, we had accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds of $69.7 million related to the sale of 7,048,507 shares of our common stock in this offering, including 68,308 shares of common stock sold under our dividend reinvestment plan for gross offering proceeds of $0.6 million. Accordingly, as of April 21, 2016, there were $1,690.3 million of shares of common stock available for sale in this offering, including $759.4 million of shares under our dividend reinvestment plan.
Risk Factors
The following risk factors update and supplement the risk factors appearing in the prospectus.
Because the offering price in this offering exceeds our net tangible book value per share, investors in this offering will experience immediate dilution in the net tangible book value of their shares.
We are currently offering shares of our Class A common stock and our Class T common stock in this offering at $10.00 and $9.59 per share, respectively, with discounts available to certain categories of purchasers. Our current primary public offering price exceeds our net tangible book value per share. Our net tangible book value per share is a rough approximation of value calculated as total book value of assets minus total book value of liabilities, divided by the total number of shares of common stock outstanding. Net tangible book value is used generally as a conservative measure of net worth that we do not believe reflects our estimated value per share. It is not intended to reflect the value of our assets upon an orderly liquidation of the company in accordance with our investment objectives. However, net tangible book value does reflect certain dilution in value of our common stock from the issue price in this offering primarily as a result of (i) the substantial fees paid in connection with this offering and our now terminated private offering, including selling commissions and marketing fees re-allowed by our dealer manager to participating broker-dealers, (ii) the fees and expenses paid to our advisor and its affiliates in connection with the selection, acquisition, management and sale of our investments, (iii) general and administrative expenses, (iv) accumulated depreciation and amortization of real estate investments, and (v) the issuance of shares in our now-terminated private offering at a purchase price of less than $10.00.
As of December 31, 2015, our net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock, which was the only class of common stock outstanding, was $7.47. The offering price of shares of our common stock under this primary offering (ignoring purchase price discounts for certain categories of purchasers is $10.00 per Class A share and $9.59 per Class T share. To the extent we are able to raise additional proceeds in this offering, some of the expenses that cause dilution of the net tangible book value per share are expected to decrease on a per share basis, resulting in increases in the net tangible book value per share. This increase would be partially offset by increases in depreciation and amortization expenses related to our real estate investments.
We face risks associated with security breaches through cyber-attacks, cyber intrusions or otherwise, as well as other significant disruptions of our information technology (IT) networks and related systems.
We face risks associated with security breaches, whether through cyber-attacks or cyber intrusions over the Internet, malware, computer viruses, attachments to e-mails, persons inside our organization or persons with access to systems inside our organization, and other significant disruptions of our IT networks and related systems. The risk of a security breach or disruption, particularly through cyber-attack or cyber intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments and cyber terrorists, has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased. Our IT networks and related systems are essential to the operation of our business and our ability to perform day-to-day operations. Although we make efforts to maintain the security and integrity of these types of IT networks and related systems, and we have implemented various measures to manage the risk of a security breach or disruption, there can be no assurance that our security efforts and measures will be effective or that attempted security breaches or disruptions would not be successful or damaging. Even the most well protected information, networks, systems and facilities remain potentially vulnerable because the techniques used in such attempted security breaches evolve and generally are not recognized until launched against a target, and in some cases are designed not be detected and, in fact, may not be detected. Accordingly, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate security barriers or other preventative measures, and thus it is impossible for us to entirely mitigate this risk.
A security breach or other significant disruption involving our IT networks and related systems could:
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• | disrupt the proper functioning of our networks and systems and therefore our operations; |
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• | result in misstated financial reports, violations of loan covenants and/or missed reporting deadlines; |
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• | result in our inability to properly monitor our compliance with the rules and regulations regarding our qualification as a REIT; |
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• | result in the unauthorized access to, and destruction, loss, theft, misappropriation or release of, proprietary, confidential, sensitive or otherwise valuable information of ours or others, which others could use to compete against us or which could expose us to damage claims by third-parties for disruptive, destructive or otherwise harmful purposes and outcomes; |
| |
• | require significant management attention and resources to remedy any damages that result; |
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• | subject us to claims for breach of contract, damages, credits, penalties or termination of leases or other agreements; or |
| |
• | damage our reputation among our stockholders. |
Any or all of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
KBS Capital Advisors and its affiliates face conflicts of interest relating to the acquisition and origination of assets and leasing of properties due to their relationship with other KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors, which could result in decisions that are not in our best interest or the best interests of our stockholders.
We rely on key real estate and debt finance professionals at KBS Capital Advisors, including Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., to identify suitable investment opportunities for us. KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II and KBS Growth & Income REIT are also advised by KBS Capital Advisors and rely on many of the same real estate and debt finance professionals as will future KBS-sponsored programs advised by our advisor. Messrs. Bren and Schreiber and several of the other key real estate professionals at KBS Capital Advisors are also the key real estate professionals at KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliates, the advisors to the private KBS-sponsored programs and the investment advisors to KBS-advised investors. As such, we and the other KBS-sponsored programs that currently have funds available for investment and KBS-advised investors rely on many of the same real estate and debt finance professionals, as will future KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors. Many investment opportunities that are suitable for us may also be suitable for other KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors. When these real estate and debt finance professionals direct an investment opportunity to any KBS-sponsored program or KBS-advised investor they, in their sole discretion, will offer the opportunity to the program or investor for which the investment opportunity is most suitable based on the investment objectives, portfolio and criteria of each program or investor. Our current acquisition stage will overlap to some extent with KBS REIT III, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and KBS Growth & Income REIT, five private KBS-sponsored programs and possibly future KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors. In particular, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, which has investment objectives similar to ours, has recently raised approximately $250 million in proceeds from a foreign bond offering in the Israeli debt markets and will be investing the proceeds from this bond offering while we are raising and investing proceeds from our offering stage.
For so long as we are externally advised, our charter provides that it shall not be a proper purpose of the corporation for us to make any significant investment unless KBS Capital Advisors has recommended the investment to us. Thus, the real estate and debt finance professionals of KBS Capital Advisors could direct attractive investment opportunities to other KBS-sponsored programs or KBS-advised investors. Such events could result in us investing in properties that provide less attractive returns, which would reduce the level of distributions we may be able to pay our stockholders.
We and other KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors may also rely on these real estate professionals to supervise the property management and leasing of properties. If we engage a KBS-affiliated property manager and the KBS team of real estate professionals directs creditworthy prospective tenants to properties owned by another KBS-sponsored program or KBS-advised investor when it could direct such tenants to our properties, our tenant base may have more inherent risk and our properties’ occupancy may be lower than might otherwise be the case.
Further, existing and future KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors and Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber generally are not and will not be prohibited from engaging, directly or indirectly, in any business or from possessing interests in any other business venture or ventures, including businesses and ventures involved in the acquisition, origination, development, ownership, leasing or sale of real estate-related investments.
Investments in non-performing real estate assets involve greater risks than investments in stabilized, performing assets and make our future performance more difficult to predict.
Traditional performance metrics of real estate assets are generally not meaningful for non-performing real estate assets. Non-performing properties, for example, do not have stabilized occupancy rates to provide a useful measure of revenue. Similarly, non-performing loans do not have a consistent stream of loan servicing or interest payments to provide a useful measure of revenue. In addition, for non-performing loans, often there is no expectation that the face amount of the note will be paid in full. Appraisals may provide a sense of the value of the investment, but any appraisal of the property or underlying property will be based on numerous estimates, judgments and assumptions that significantly affect the appraised value of the underlying property. Further, an appraisal of a nonstabilized property, in particular, involves a high degree of subjectivity due to high vacancy levels and uncertainties with respect to future market rental rates and timing of lease-up and stabilization. Accordingly, different assumptions may materially change the appraised value of the property. In addition, the value of the property will change over time.
In addition, we may pursue more than one strategy to create value in a non-performing real estate investment. With respect to a property, these strategies may include development, redevelopment, or lease-up of such property. With respect to a loan, these strategies may include negotiating with the borrower for a reduced payoff, restructuring the terms of the loan or enforcing our rights as lender under the loan and foreclosing on the collateral securing the loan.
The factors described above make it challenging to evaluate non-performing investments.
We have paid distributions in part from financings and expect that in the future we may not pay distributions solely from our cash flow from operating activities. To the extent that we pay distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operating activities, we will have less funds available for investment in properties and other assets, the overall return to our stockholders may be reduced and subsequent investors will experience dilution.
Our organizational documents permit us to pay distributions from any source, including offering proceeds or borrowings (which may constitute a return of capital), and our charter does not limit the amount of funds we may use from any source to pay such distributions. We have paid distributions in part from financings and expect that in the future we may not pay distributions solely from our cash flow from operating activities, in which case distributions may be paid in whole or in part from debt financing. We may also fund such distributions with proceeds from the sale of assets or from the maturity, payoff or settlement of debt investments. If we fund distributions from borrowings, our interest expense and other financing costs, as well as the repayment of such borrowings, will reduce our earnings and cash flow from operating activities available for distribution in future periods. If we fund distributions from the sale of assets or the maturity, payoff or settlement of debt investments, this will affect our ability to generate cash flow from operating activities in future periods. To the extent that we pay distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operating activities, we will have fewer funds available with which to make real estate investments, the overall return to our stockholders may be reduced and subsequent investors will experience dilution. In addition, to the extent distributions exceed cash flow from operating activities, a stockholder’s basis in our stock will be reduced and, to the extent distributions exceed a stockholder’s basis, the stockholder may recognize capital gain. There is no limit on the amount of distributions we may fund from sources other than from cash flow from operating activities.
During our public offering stage, when we may raise capital in this offering (and possibly future offerings) more quickly than we acquire income-producing assets, and from time to time during our operational stage, we may not pay distributions solely from our cash flow from operating activities.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, we paid aggregate distributions of $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, including $0.4 million of distributions paid in cash and $0.6 million of distributions reinvested in shares of our Class A common stock through our dividend reinvestment plan. Our net loss attributable to common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $2.1 million. Cash flow provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $0.3 million. We funded our total distributions paid, which includes net cash distributions and dividends reinvested by stockholders, with $0.3 million of cash flow provided by operating activities and $0.7 million of debt financing.
Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement
On March 21, 2016, we entered an amended and restated advisory agreement (the “Amended and Restated Agreement”) with our advisor to provide that if our advisor were entitled to a termination fee upon the termination of the advisory agreement, the promissory note received in connection with the payment of such a fee would not bear interest.
The Amended and Restated Agreement remains effective through August 12, 2016; however, either party may terminate the Amended and Restated Agreement without cause or penalty upon providing 60 days’ written notice. Except as described herein, in all other material respects, the terms of the Amended and Restated Agreement are consistent with those of the advisory agreement that was previously in effect.
Stock Dividends Declared and Issued for the Year Ended December 31, 2015
Our board of directors has declared and issued the following stock dividends on our shares of common stock for the year ended December 31, 2015:
|
| | | | | | | | |
Declaration Date | | Record Date | | Issue Date | | Amount Declared per Share Outstanding | | Total Shares Issued |
March 24, 2015 | | March 25, 2015 | | March 27, 2015 | | 0.01 shares | | 44,538 |
April 7, 2015 | | June 24, 2015 | | June 29, 2015 | | 0.01 shares | | 56,219 |
August 6, 2015 | | September 22, 2015 | | September 29, 2015 | | 0.01 shares | | 65,710 |
November 10, 2015 | | December 16, 2015 | | December 22, 2015 | | 0.01 shares | | 85,591 |
December 10, 2015 | | December 16, 2015 | | December 21, 2015 | | 0.06 shares | | 513,546 |
Stock dividends are non-taxable to stockholders at the time of issuance.
Cash Distributions Declared and Paid For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
On December 10, 2015, our board of directors declared a cash distribution in the amount of $0.12 per share of common stock to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 16, 2015. We paid $1.0 million, comprised of $0.4 million of cash dividends and $0.6 million of distributions reinvested by stockholders in shares of our Class A common stock, on December 18, 2015. The distribution amount was generally determined based on both our estimated undistributed taxable income and the results of operations.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, we paid aggregate distributions of $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, including $0.4 million of distributions paid in cash and $0.6 million of distributions reinvested in shares of our Class A common stock through our dividend reinvestment plan. Our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $2.1 million. Cash flow provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $0.3 million. We funded our total distributions paid, which includes net cash distributions and dividends reinvested by stockholders, with $0.3 million of cash flow provided by operating activities and $0.7 million of debt financing.
To the extent that we pay distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operating activities, we will have less funds available for the acquisition of real estate investments, the overall return to our stockholders may be reduced and subsequent investors will experience dilution.
Stock Dividends Declared Subsequent to December 31, 2015
On March 21, 2016, our board of directors authorized a stock dividend for the first quarter of 2016, of 0.005 shares of our common stock on each outstanding share of common stock issuable to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 31, 2016. We issued this stock dividend, consisting of 57,095 shares of our Class A common stock and 77 shares of our Class T common stock, on April 1, 2016. Stock dividends are non-taxable to stockholders at the time of issuance.
Also, on March 21, 2016, our board of directors authorized stock dividends for the months of April and May 2016, each in the amount of 0.001667 shares of our common stock on each outstanding share of common stock issuable to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 30, 2016 and May 31, 2016, respectively. We expect to issue these stock dividends on or about May 1, 2016 and June 1, 2016, respectively.
Cash Distributions Declared Subsequent to December 31, 2015
On February 29, 2016, our board of directors declared cash distributions on the outstanding shares of all classes of common stock based on daily record dates for the period from March 1, 2016 through March 31, 2016, which we paid on April 1, 2016. Distributions for this period were calculated based on stockholders of record each day during this period at a rate of (i) $0.00026202 per share per day less (ii) the daily class-specific expense accrued for and allocable to any class of common stock, divided by the number of shares of common stock of such class outstanding as of the close of business on each respective record date. Given the distribution rate declared for the period and because the stockholder servicing fee is a class-specific expense of the Class T shares of our common stock, we did not pay cash distributions on shares of Class T common stock for record dates from March 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016.
On March 21, 2016, our board of directors declared cash distributions on the outstanding shares of all classes of common stock based on daily record dates for the period from April 1, 2016 through April 30, 2016, which we expect to pay in May 2016 and cash distributions on the outstanding shares of all classes of common stock based on daily record dates for the period from May 1, 2016 through May 31, 2016, which we expect to pay in June 2016. Distributions for these periods will be calculated based on stockholders of record each day during these periods at a rate of (i) $0.00052404 per share per day less (ii) the daily class-specific expense accrued for and allocable to any class of common stock, divided by the number of shares of common stock of such class outstanding as of the close of business on each respective record date.
Declaration of Stock Dividends
Commencing with stock dividends declared in the second quarter of 2016, we currently expect that during our offering stage, our board of directors will declare stock dividends on a set monthly basis based on a monthly record date as of the end of the month. Previously our board of directors was declaring quarterly stock dividends based on a record date as of the end of the fiscal quarter.
IRA Account Investments through Equity Trust Company
If you would like to establish a new IRA account with Equity Trust Company for an investment in our Class T shares, we will pay the fees related to the establishment of the investor account with Equity Trust Company. Investors will be responsible for the annual IRA maintenance fees charged by Equity Trust Company, including the first year annual maintenance fees.
Previously, only purchasers of our Class A shares were eligible to establish a new IRA account through Equity Trust Company under the terms described above. NuView IRA and Community National Bank previously had agreed to act as IRA custodians for purchasers of both classes of our common stock as described in the prospectus; however, we do not require that you use either NuView IRA, Equity Trust Company or Community National Bank. Further information about custodial services is available through your broker or our dealer manager at www.kbs-cmg.com.
Allocation of Investment Opportunities
Our acquisition stage will overlap to some extent with KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, a public KBS-sponsored program with a primary investment focus similar to ours. KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT has recently raised approximately $250 million in proceeds from a foreign bond offering in the Israeli debt markets and will be investing the proceeds from this debt offering while we are raising and investing proceeds from our offering stage. In considering whether to direct an investment opportunity to us or KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, our advisor will consider our cash flow requirements, operating needs, diversification goals and overall portfolio mix, along with the amount of funds we have available for investment and current market conditions. Our advisor does not believe, however, it is likely we will be competing directly with KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT for investment opportunities because our advisor believes the initial investment opportunities appropriate for our portfolio will generally be in a price range of $60 million or less, while KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT will generally be considering investments at a purchase price in excess of $60 million based on its current portfolio composition and available cash for investment.
Real Estate and Real Estate-Related Investments Summary
Real Estate Investments
As of December 31, 2015, we owned two hotel properties and one office building. We acquired each of these properties from third parties unaffiliated with us or our advisor. The following table provides summary information regarding our hotel properties as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property | | Location | | Number of Rooms | | Date Acquired | | Purchase Price (1) | | Average Revenue per Available Room | | Average Daily Rate | | Percentage Occupied for the Year ended December 31, 2015 | | Ownership % |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Springmaid Beach Resort (2) | | Myrtle Beach, SC | | 452 | | 12/30/2014 | | $ | 41,638 |
| | $ | 68.65 |
| | $ | 108.72 |
| | 63.1 | % | | 90 | % |
Q&C Hotel (3) | | New Orleans, LA | | 196 | | 12/17/2015 | | 52,469 |
| | 43.28 |
| | 174.09 |
| | 24.9 | % | | 90 | % |
| | | | | | | | $ | 94,107 |
| | | | | | | | |
_____________________(1) Purchase price includes acquisition fees and closing costs.
(2) In November 2015, Springmaid Beach Resort took 238 rooms of the 452 rooms available offline to complete a renovation of a building. The 238 rooms were excluded from the percentage occupied and average revenue per available room for the period they were offline. In January 2016, the 238 rooms were put back into service and we took the remaining 214 rooms offline to complete a renovation of a building.
(3) We acquired the Q&C Hotel on December 17, 2015. Occupancy, average revenue per available room and average daily rate reflects the results of operation for the 15 days that we owned the property during 2015 and is not indicative of future results.
The following table provides summary information regarding our office property as of December 31, 2015:
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property Location of Property | | Date Acquired | | Property Type | | Rentable Square Feet | | Purchase Price (1) | | Annualized Base Rent (2) (in thousands) | | Average Annualized Base Rent per Sq. Ft. (3) | | Average Remaining Lease Term in Years | | Occupancy | | Ownership % |
2200 Paseo Verde Henderson, NV | | 12/23/2015 | | Office | | 59,818 |
| | $ | 13,661 |
| | $ | 1,370 |
| | $ | 29.34 |
| | 2.3 | | 78.0% | | 100.0% |
_____________________
(1) Purchase price includes acquisition fees and closing costs.
(2) Annualized base rent represents annualized contractual base rental income as of December 31, 2015, adjusted to straight-line any contractual tenant concessions (including free rent), rent increases and rent decreases from the lease’s inception through the balance of the lease term.
(3) Average annualized base rent per square foot is calculated as the annualized base rent divided by the leased square feet.
Other than Springmaid Beach Resort, we do not intend to make significant renovations or improvements to any individual real estate property listed above in the near term. We have projected an investment of approximately $19.4 million for renovations and improvements to the Springmaid Beach Resort. On September 7, 2015, we commenced renovation of the hotel property which resulted in the elimination of 39 rooms. As of December 31, 2015, we had invested approximately $6.8 million for renovations and improvements to Springmaid Beach Resort. We expect to fund these renovations and improvements with proceeds from debt financing and proceeds from this offering.
We believe that our real estate investments are suitable for their respective intended purpose and adequately insured.
Probable Real Estate Investment
On April 20, 2016, we, through an indirect wholly owned subsidiary entered into an agreement of purchase and sale to acquire a three-story Class A office building containing 123,529 rentable square feet located on approximately 4.2 acres of land in Campbell, California (“Lincoln Court”). The seller is not affiliated with us or our advisor. The contractual purchase price of Lincoln Court is approximately $51.5 million plus closing costs. We intend to fund the purchase of Lincoln Court with proceeds from this offering and proceeds from a mortgage loan from an unaffiliated lender. We are currently negotiating the terms of the mortgage loan. Pursuant to the agreement of purchase and sale, we would be obligated to purchase the property only after satisfaction of agreed upon closing conditions. There can be no assurance that we will complete the acquisition. As of April 26, 2016, we had made deposits in the aggregate of $3.0 million and, in some circumstances, if we fail to complete the acquisition, we may forfeit up to $3.0 million of earnest money.
Lincoln Court was built in 1985 and consistently renovated since completion. As of April 1, 2016, Lincoln Court was approximately 98% leased to 34 tenants. The current annualized base rent for the tenants of Lincoln Court is approximately $5.0 million. The current weighted-average remaining lease term for the tenants is approximately 2.0 years. The current weighted-average rental rate (net of rental abatements) over the remaining lease term is $32.75 per square foot.
Currently, Firetide, Inc., a tenant in Lincoln Court in the telecommunications industry, individually occupies 14,466 rentable square feet or approximately 12% of the total property rentable square feet at Lincoln Court. Its lease expires on September 30, 2018, with a five-year extension option. The current annualized base rent for this tenant is approximately $0.5 million and the current remaining lease term is approximately 2.5 years. The current average rental rate over the remaining lease term is $35.94 per square foot. This tenant represents approximately 11% of the aggregate annual effective base rent of Lincoln Court.
The average occupancy rate for Lincoln Court for the last five years was as follows:
|
| | |
Year | | Average Occupancy Rate |
2011 | | (1) |
2012 | | (1) |
2013 | | (1) |
2014 | | 87% |
2015 | | 93% |
_____________________
(1) Information for 2011, 2012 and 2013 are not available because the seller did not own the property during these periods.
The average effective annual rental rate per square foot for each of the last five years for Lincoln Court was:
|
| | |
Year | | Average Effective Annual Rental Rate per Square Foot (1) |
2011 | | (2) |
2012 | | (2) |
2013 | | (2) |
2014 | | $33.35 |
2015 | | $40.55 |
_____________________
(1) Average effective annual rental rate per square foot is calculated as the annualized contractual base rental income for the year, net of rental abatements, divided by the average leased square feet.
(2) Information for 2011, 2012 and 2013 are not available because the seller did not own the property during these periods.
We believe that Lincoln Court is suitable for its intended purpose and will be adequately insured at acquisition. For federal income tax purposes, the cost of Lincoln Court, excluding the cost attributable to land, will be depreciated on a straight-line basis over 39 years.
TRS Leases
Our hotels are leased by the respective joint venture owners of each hotel (the “Hotel Owner Joint Venture”) to a second joint venture (the “Hotel Operations Joint Venture”) we have formed between each hotel’s respective joint venture partner and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary we have formed with respect to each hotel that we have elected to treat as a TRS.
Each lease agreement provides for a five-year term with the right for the respective Hotel Operations Joint Venture to extend the term of the lease for up to three additional terms of three years each; provided, however, that the Hotel Owner Joint Venture has the right to terminate the lease upon the sale of the hotel or any members of the Hotel Owner Joint Venture buying out any other member, as well as upon the occurrence of an event of default under the respective lease agreement.
Pursuant to the lease agreements, the Hotel Operations Joint Venture will pay to the Hotel Owner Joint Venture, on a monthly basis, an annual basic rent. The annual basic rent will be adjusted as set forth in the lease agreements beginning in 2016 as well as prorated for any partial years. For the Springmaid Beach Resort the annual basic rent is $3.2 million for 2015 and $3.3 million for 2016. For the Q&C Hotel the annual basic rent is $3.2 million for 2015 and 2016.
In addition to annual basic rent, each respective Hotel Operations Joint Venture will pay a monthly percentage rent to the respective Hotel Owner Joint Venture equal to (i) an agreed percentage of year-to-date gross revenue that exceeds certain annual threshold amounts, less (ii) all prior percentage rent payments. Each respective Hotel Operations Joint Venture is also required to establish and fund a repairs and replacement reserve for the periodic refurbishment, replacements and non-routine repairs of all tangible personal property owned by the respective Hotel Owner Joint Venture. For each lease, the reserve is a percentage of gross receipts as set forth in the lease agreement. For Springmaid Beach Resort, this percentage ranges from 1% to 4%. For Q&C Hotel, this percentage ranges from 2% to 5%. In addition, the lease agreements require each Hotel Operations Joint Venture to pay all income taxes, rent, and all costs and expenses and utility and other charges incurred in the operations of the respective hotel.
Management Agreements
For us to qualify as a REIT, we cannot directly or indirectly operate any of our hotels. Third parties must operate our hotels. As described above, our hotels are leased to TRS lessees, which in turn have engaged property managers to manage our hotels pursuant to a hotel management agreement.
Springmaid Beach Resort
The Springmaid Hotel Operations Joint Venture has entered a management agreement with Doubletree Management LLC, an independent third-party hotel operator (“Doubletree”) pursuant to which Doubletree will manage and operate the Springmaid Beach Resort and the hotel will be branded a DoubleTree by Hilton on or before September 30, 2016, subject to the completion of certain property improvement requirements.
The management agreement requires us to maintain a minimum working capital reserve for the Springmaid Beach Resort. In addition, the Springmaid Hotel Owner Joint Venture is responsible for providing funds to meet the cash needs for the hotel operations if at any time the funds available from hotel operations are insufficient to meet the financial requirements of the hotel. The management agreement expires on December 31 of the 20th full year following the date on which the hotel begins operations under the Doubletree by Hilton name (the “Brand Commencement Date”). Upon mutual agreement, the parties may extend the term of the agreement for two successive periods of five years each. If an event of default occurs and continues beyond any applicable notice and cure periods set forth in the management agreement, the non-defaulting party generally has, among other remedies, the option of terminating the management agreement upon written notice to the defaulting party with no termination fee payable to Doubletree. In addition, we have the right to terminate the management agreement without the payment of a termination fee if Doubletree fails to achieve certain criteria relating to the performance of the hotel for any two consecutive years following the Brand Commencement Date. Under certain circumstances following a casualty or condemnation event, either party may terminate the management agreement provided Doubletree receives a termination fee an amount equal to two years of the base fee. Also, Doubletree may terminate the management agreement if the Brand Commencement Date is delayed beyond September 30, 2016 and is entitled to a termination fee equal to $452,000. We are permitted to terminate the management agreement upon a sale, lease or other transfer of the Springmaid Beach Resort any time after January 1, 2017 so long as the buyer is approved for, and enters into a DoubleTree by Hilton franchise agreement for the balance of the agreement’s term. Finally, we are restricted in our ability to assign the management agreement upon a sale, lease or other transfer the Springmaid Beach Resort unless the transferee is approved by Doubletree to assume the management agreement.
Pursuant to the management agreement Doubletree receives the following fees:
| |
• | a base fee, which is a percentage of total operating revenue that starts at 2.5% and increases to 2.75% in the second year following the Brand Commencement Date and further increases in the third year following the Brand Commencement Date and thereafter to 3.0%; |
| |
• | a campground area management fee, which is 2% of any campground revenue; |
| |
• | an incentive fee, which is 15% of operating cash flow (after deduction for capital renewals reserve and the Springmaid Hotel Owner Joint Venture’s priority, which is 12% of the Springmaid Hotel Owner Joint Venture’s total investment); |
| |
• | an additional services fee in the amount reasonably determined by Doubletree from time to time; and |
| |
• | commencing on the Brand Commencement Date, a brand services fee in the amount of 4% of total rooms revenue, and an other brand services fee in an amount determined by Doubletree from time to time. |
Q&C Hotel
A wholly owned subsidiary of the Q&C Hotel Operations Joint Venture (“Q&C Hotel Operations”) has entered a management agreement with Encore Hospitality, LLC (“Encore Hospitality”), an affiliate of the Q&C JV Partner, pursuant to which Encore Hospitality will manage and operate the Q&C Hotel. The management agreement expires on December 17, 2035. Subject to certain conditions, Encore Hospitality may extend the term of the agreement for a period of five years. Q&C Hotel Operations may terminate the management agreement upon (1) the occurrence of an event of default that continues beyond any applicable notice and cure periods, (2) a sale of the Q&C Hotel, (3) a change of control of Encore Hospitality without Q&C Hotel Operations’ approval, (4) a failure of Encore Hospitality to meet certain performance thresholds, (5) a sale of the Q&C Joint Venture Partner’s interest in the joint venture to us, and (6) if Q&C Hotel Operations is required to do so pursuant to the terms of the loan documents or the franchise agreement. Pursuant to the management agreement Encore Hospitality will receive a base fee, which is 4.0% of gross revenue (as defined in the management agreement).
Q&C Hotel Operations has also entered a franchise agreement with Marriott International (“Marriott”) pursuant to which Marriott has granted Q&C Hotel Operations a limited, non-exclusive license to establish and operate the Q&C Hotel using certain of Marriott’s proprietary marks and systems and the hotel will be branded as a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel on or before June 30, 2016, subject to the completion of certain property improvement requirements. The franchise agreement expires on the 25th anniversary of the opening date (as defined in the agreement) with no renewal options. Marriott may terminate the franchise agreement immediately upon certain defaults and after an opportunity to cure with respect to certain other defaults. Pursuant to the franchise agreement, commencing on the opening date, Q&C Hotel Operations will pay Marriott a monthly franchise fee equal to a percent of gross room sales on a sliding scale that is initially 2% and increases to 5% after the third anniversary of the opening date and a monthly marketing fund contribution fee equal to 1.5% of the Q&C Hotel’s gross room sales. In addition, the franchise agreement requires the maintenance of a reserve account to fund all renovations at the hotel based on a percentage of gross revenues which starts at 2% of gross revenues and increases to 5% of gross revenues following the third anniversary of the opening date. Q&C Hotel Operations will also be responsible for the payment of certain other fees, charges and costs as set forth in the agreement.
In addition, in connection with the execution of the franchise agreement, KBS SOR US Properties II LLC (“SOR US Properties II”), our indirect wholly owned subsidiary, is providing an unconditional guarantee that all Q&C Hotel Operations’ obligations under the franchise agreement will be punctually paid and performed. Finally, certain transfers of the Q&C Hotel or an ownership interest therein are subject to a notice and consent requirement, and the franchise agreement further provides Marriott with a right of first refusal with respect to a sale of the hotel to a competitor of Marriott.
Real Estate-Related Investment
As of December 31, 2015, we, through an indirect wholly owned subsidiary, had originated a real estate loan receivable as follows (in thousands):
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Date Acquired / Originated | | Property Type | | Loan Type | | Payment Type | | Outstanding Principal Balance as of December 31, 2015 (1) | | Purchase/ Origination Price (2) | | Book Value as of December 31, 2015 (3) | | Contractual Interest Rate (4) | | Annualized Effective Interest Rate (4) | | Loan-to- Value (5) | | Maturity Date |
Loan Name Location of Related Property or Collateral | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
655 Summer Street First Mortgage Loan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Boston, Massachusetts | | 09/04/2014 | | Office | | Mortgage | | Interest Only | | $ | 3,500 |
| | $ | 3,500 |
| | $ | 3,372 |
| | 9.25 | % | | 11.68 | % | | 53% | | 10/01/2017 |
____________________(1) Outstanding principal balance as of December 31, 2015 represents original principal balance outstanding under the loan, increased for any subsequent fundings and reduced for any principal paydowns, and does not include closing costs and direct acquisition and origination fees.
(2) Purchase/origination price represents the amount funded by us to acquire or originate the loan, increased for any subsequent fundings, decreased for any principal repayments, and does not include closing costs and direct acquisition and origination fees.
(3) Book value represents outstanding principal balance, adjusted for unamortized origination fees and direct acquisition and origination expenses.
(4) Contractual interest rate is the stated interest rate on the face of the loan. Annualized effective interest rate is calculated as the actual interest income recognized in 2015, using the interest method, divided by the average amortized cost basis of the investment. The annualized effective interest rate and contractual interest rate presented are as of December 31, 2015.
(5) The loan-to-value ratio is based upon the amount funded at origination (excluding closing costs and certain other fees) and the “as-is” appraised value of the property the loan. Appraisals are based on numerous estimates, judgments and assumptions that significantly affect the appraised value of the underlying property. Differing assumptions may materially change the appraised value of the property. In addition, the value of the property will change over time due to various factors.
Outstanding Debt Obligations
As of December 31, 2015, our borrowings and other liabilities were approximately 49% of the cost (before depreciation or other noncash reserves) and book value (before depreciation) of our tangible assets.
The following table details our outstanding debt as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Outstanding Principal Balance | | Contractual Interest Rate (1) | | Effective Interest Rate (1) | | Payment Type | | Maturity Date (2) | | % of Total Indebtedness |
| | | | | | |
Springmaid Beach Resort Mortgage Loan (3) | | $ | 26,000 |
| | One-month LIBOR +3.00% | | 3.24% | | Interest Only | | 12/30/2017 | | 42 | % |
Q&C Hotel Mortgage Loan (4) | | 28,330 |
| | One-month LIBOR +3.25% | | 3.60% | | (4) | | 12/17/2018 | | 46 | % |
2200 Paseo Verde Mortgage Loan | | 7,430 |
| | One-month LIBOR +2.25% | | 2.67% | | Interest Only | | 01/01/2017 | | 12 | % |
| | $ | 61,760 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
____________________(1) Contractual interest rate represents the interest rate in effect under the loan as of December 31, 2015. Effective interest rate is calculated as the actual interest rate in effect as of December 31, 2015 (consisting of the contractual interest rate and the effect of interest rate swaps, if applicable), using interest rate indices as of December 31, 2015, where applicable.
(2) Represents the maturity date as of December 31, 2015; subject to certain conditions, the maturity date of the loan may be extended beyond the date shown.
(3) As of April 21, 2016, $31.6 million of the loan was funded and $6.4 million remained available under the loan for future disbursements to be used for renovation costs, subject to certain terms and conditions contained in the loan documents.
(4) As of April 21, 2016, $28.3 million of the loan was funded and $1.7 million remained available under the loan for future disbursements to be used for renovation costs, subject to certain terms and conditions contained in the loan documents. Initially, monthly payments are interest-only. Beginning on February 1, 2018, monthly payments also include principal amortization payments of $55,000 per month, unless certain conditions described in the loan documents are satisfied.
With respect to the Springmaid Beach Resort Mortgage Loan, SOR US Properties II is providing a: (a) guaranty of the sum of $5.5 million plus certain other sums described in the loan documents, which guaranteed amount shall decrease pursuant to the terms of the equity contribution guaranty executed by SOR US Properties II in favor of the lender; (b) guaranty of Springmaid Hotel Owner Joint Venture’s obligations to complete the renovations to the Springmaid Beach Resort, as described in the completion guaranty executed by SOR US Properties II in favor of the lender; (c) limited guaranty of the Springmaid Beach Resort Mortgage Loan with respect to certain potential fees, costs, expenses, losses or damages incurred or suffered by the lender as a result of certain intentional actions committed by us, Springmaid Hotel Owner Joint Venture, SOR US Properties II, and/or any affiliates of us, as applicable, in violation of the loan documents as well as Springmaid Hotel Owner Joint Venture’s obligation to refund certain key money amounts to the independent third-party hotel operator under the management agreement; and (d) guaranty of the principal balance and any interest or other sums outstanding under the Springmaid Beach Resort Mortgage Loan in the event of certain bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings involving Springmaid Hotel Owner Joint Venture or Springmaid Hotel Operations Joint Venture.
With respect to the Q&C Hotel Mortgage Loan, SOR US Properties II is providing a: (a) guaranty of the lesser of the currently outstanding loan amount or 25% of the outstanding principal balance, which principal balance may decrease pursuant to the terms of the partial repayment and limited guaranty executed by SOR US Properties II in favor of the Lender; (b) guaranty of the Borrower’s obligations to complete the renovations to the Q&C Hotel required by the franchise agreement, as described in the completion guaranty executed by SOR US Properties II in favor of the Q&C Hotel Lender; (c) limited guaranty entered with Marriott International with respect to certain potential fees, costs, expenses, losses or damages incurred or suffered by the Q&C Hotel Lender in relation to the Q&C Hotel Mortgage Loan as a result of certain intentional actions committed by us, the direct owner of the Q&C Hotel, SOR US Properties II, and/or any of their affiliates in violation of the loan documents; (d) a limited guaranty of the joint venture through which we lease the Q&C Hotel obligation to refund certain key money amounts to the third party hotel operator under the management agreement; and (e) guaranty of the principal balance and any interest or other sums outstanding under the Q&C Hotel Mortgage Loan in the event of certain bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings involving the Borrowers.
With respect to the 2200 Paseo Verde Mortgage Loan, SOR US Properties II is providing a guaranty of all principal and interest outstanding upon the commission of certain intentional actions by the buyer, SOR US Properties II or any of their affiliates in violation of the loan documents (the “Triggering Events”). SOR US Properties II is also providing a limited guaranty with respect to certain potential losses or damages suffered by the lender as a result of the occurrence of a Triggering Event.
Selected Financial Data
The following selected financial data as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and for the year ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and the period from July 3, 2013 to December 31, 2013 should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, both incorporated by reference into the prospectus (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| As of December 31, |
| 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 |
Balance sheet data | | | | | |
Total real estate and real estate-related investments, net | $ | 113,345 |
| | $ | 43,374 |
| | $ | — |
|
Total assets | 139,729 |
| | 57,873 |
| | 724 |
|
Total notes payable, net | 60,836 |
| | 25,341 |
| | — |
|
Total liabilities | 67,895 |
| | 27,215 |
| | 642 |
|
Redeemable common stock | 1,092 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Total equity | 70,742 |
| | 30,658 |
| | 82 |
|
| | | |
| For the Years Ended December 31, | | For the Period from July 3, 2013 to December 31, 2013 |
Operating data | 2015 | | 2014 | |
Total revenues | $ | 17,025 |
| | $ | 184 |
| | $ | — |
|
Net loss attributable to common stockholders | (2,056 | ) | | (2,456 | ) | | (71 | ) |
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted | (0.31 | ) | | (0.89 | ) | | (0.08 | ) |
Other data | | | | | |
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 256 |
| | $ | (1,661 | ) | | $ | — |
|
Cash flows used in investing activities | (69,343 | ) | | (43,635 | ) | | — |
|
Cash flows provided by financing activities | 80,598 |
| | 57,840 |
| | 513 |
|
Distributions declared | 1,027 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Distributions declared per common share | 0.12 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Stock dividends declared per common share | 0.10 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 6,528,874 |
| | 2,762,160 |
| | 872,754 |
|
Fees Earned by and Expenses Reimbursable to Our Advisor and the Dealer Manager
Summarized below are the fees earned by and expenses reimbursable to our advisor and our dealer manager for the the year ended December 31, 2015, the amounts paid, and any related amounts payable as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Incurred in the Year Ended December 31, 2015 | | Paid as of December 31, 2015 | | Payable as of December 31, 2015 |
| | | |
Form of Compensation | | | | | | |
Organization and Offering Stage | | | | | | |
Selling commissions | | $ | 2,618 |
| | $ | 2,618 |
| | $ | — |
|
Dealer manager fees | | 1,437 |
| | 1,437 |
| | — |
|
Reimbursable other offering costs | | 3,265 |
| | 1,043 |
| | 2,222 |
|
Acquisition and Development Stage | | | | | | |
Acquisition and origination fees | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Origination fees on real estate loan receivable | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Operational Stage | | | | | | |
Asset management fees | | 380 |
| | 381 |
| | — |
|
Reimbursable operating expenses (1) | | 238 |
| | 356 |
| | 26 |
|
Real estate acquisition fees | | 995 |
| | 1,442 |
| | 108 |
|
Operational and Liquidation/Listing Stage | | | | | | |
Disposition fee | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Subordinated participation in net cash flows | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
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Subordinated incentive fee | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
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| | $ | 8,933 |
| | $ | 7,277 |
| | $ | 2,356 |
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_____________________
(1) Reimbursable operating expenses primarily consists of internal audit personnel costs, accounting software and cybersecurity related expenses incurred by our advisor
under the advisory agreement. Our advisor will reimburse us at the end of any fiscal quarter for total operating expenses that in the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended exceed the greater of 2% of its average invested assets or 25% of its net income, unless our conflicts committee has determined that such excess expenses were justified based on unusual and non-recurring factors. Operating expense reimbursements for the four fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2015 exceeded this limitation; however, the conflicts committee determined that the relationship of our operating expenses to our average invested assets was justified for these periods given the costs of operating a public company and the early stage of our operations.
We will reimburse the expenses incurred by our advisor or its affiliates in connection with their provision of services to us, including our allocable share of our advisor’s overhead, such as rent, employee costs, utilities, accounting software expense and IT costs. Our advisor may seek reimbursement for employee costs under the advisory agreement. We have reimbursed our advisor for our allocable portion of the salaries, benefits and overhead of internal audit department personnel providing services to us. These amounts totaled $204,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015, and were the only employee costs reimbursed under the Advisory Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2015. We will not reimburse our advisor or its affiliates for employee costs in connection with services for which our advisor or its affiliates receive acquisition and origination fees or disposition fees (other than reimbursement of travel and communication expenses) or for the salaries and benefits our advisor or its affiliates may pay to our executive officers.
Offering Costs
We reimburse our advisor and dealer manager for commercially reasonable organization and other offering expenses they incur on our behalf in connection with this offering; however, no reimbursements made by us to our advisor or our dealer manager may cause total organization and offering expenses incurred by us (including selling commissions, dealer manager fees, the stockholder servicing fee and all other items of organization and offering expenses) to exceed 15% of the aggregate gross proceeds from this primary offering and the offering under our dividend reinvestment plan as of the date of reimbursement.
We also pay organization and other offering expenses directly. At the termination of our primary offering, our advisor and its affiliates will reimburse us to the extent that the organization and other offering expenses (which exclude selling commissions, dealer manager fees and stockholder servicing fees) paid directly or reimbursed by us in connection with this primary offering exceed 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds. Our advisor and its affiliates will be responsible for any organization and other offering expenses related to the primary offering to the extent they exceed 1.0% of gross primary offering proceeds as of the termination of the primary offering. Prior to the termination of the primary offering, at which time the advisor will reimburse us as described above, we will be responsible the payment of all organization and other offering expenses we incur directly and the reimbursement of organization and other offering expenses our advisor and dealer manager incur on our behalf in connection with this offering subject to the 15% limit on reimbursements discussed above.
Organization and other offering expenses include all expenses to be paid or reimbursed by us in connection with this offering, excluding selling commissions, the dealer manager fee and the ongoing stockholder servicing fee with respect to Class T share sold in the primary offering. Organization and other offering expenses include our legal, accounting, printing, mailing and filing fees, charges of our escrow holder and transfer agent, charges of our advisor for administrative services related to the issuance of shares in this offering, reimbursement of bona fide due diligence expenses of broker-dealers, reimbursement of our advisor for costs in connection with preparing supplemental sales materials, the cost of bona fide training and education meetings held by us (primarily the travel, meal and lodging costs of registered representatives of broker-dealers), attendance and sponsorship fees payable to participating broker-dealers hosting retail seminars and travel, meal and lodging costs for registered persons associated with our dealer manager and officers and employees of our affiliates to attend retail seminars conducted by broker-dealers, legal fees of our dealer manager, and promotional items.
We do not reimburse our dealer manager for wholesaling compensation expenses.
Through December 31, 2015, our advisor and its affiliates had incurred organization and offering costs on our behalf in connection with our initial public offering of approximately $4.9 million.
As of December 31, 2015, we had paid or accrued $4.1 million in selling commissions and dealer manager fees and $3.3 million of organization and other offering expenses in connection with this offering, which amounts represent our maximum liability for organization and offering costs as of December 31, 2015.
During our private offering, there was no limit on the amount of organization and offering costs we could incur. As of December 31, 2015, we had recorded $1.0 million of offering costs (other than selling commissions and dealer manager fees) related to our private offering, all of which have been reimbursed from proceeds from our now terminated private offering.
Insurance
On January 6, 2014, we, together with KBS Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc., KBS Real Estate Investment Trust II, Inc., KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc., KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, Inc. and KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, Inc., our dealer manager, our advisor and other KBS-affiliated entities, entered into an errors and omissions and directors and officers liability insurance program where the lower tiers of such insurance coverage are shared. The cost of these lower tiers is allocated by our advisor and its insurance broker among each of the various entities covered by the program, and is billed directly to each entity. The allocation of these shared coverage costs is proportionate to the pricing by the insurance marketplace for the first tiers of directors and officers liability coverage purchased individually by each REIT. Our advisor’s and our dealer manager’s portion of the shared lower tiers’ cost is proportionate to the respective entities’ prior cost for the errors and omissions insurance. In June 2015, KBS Growth & Income REIT, Inc. was added to the insurance program.
Share Redemption Program
Our share redemption program contains numerous restrictions on your ability to redeem your shares. Among other restrictions, during each calendar year, redemptions are limited to the amount of net proceeds from the sale of shares under our dividend reinvestment plan during the prior calendar year, provided that we may increase or decrease the funding available for the redemption of shares upon 10 business days’ notice. This restriction may significantly limit your ability to have your shares redeemed pursuant to our share redemption program because our initial distributions have been in the form of stock dividends and we do not expect to have cash flow sufficient to pay a significant cash distribution.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we did not receive any redemption requests and therefore we did not redeem any shares pursuant to our share redemption program.
Based on the amount of net proceeds raised from the sale of shares under the dividend reinvestment plan during 2015 and the $0.5 million set aside for stockholder’s death, qualifying disability or determination of incompetence, we have $1.1 million available for all redemptions in 2016, including shares that are redeemed in connection with a Special Redemption.
Net Tangible Book Value Per Share
In connection with this offering of shares of our common stock, we are providing information about our net tangible book value per share. Our net tangible book value per share is a rough approximation of value calculated as total book value of assets minus total book value of liabilities, divided by the total number of shares of common stock outstanding. Net tangible book value is used generally as a conservative measure of net worth that we do not believe reflects our estimated value per share. It is not intended to reflect the value of our assets upon an orderly liquidation of the company in accordance with our investment objectives. However, net tangible book value does reflect certain dilution in value of our common stock from the issue price in this offering primarily as a result of (i) the substantial fees paid in connection with this offering and our now terminated private offering, including selling commissions and marketing fees re-allowed by our dealer manager to participating broker dealers, (ii) the fees and expenses paid to our advisor and its affiliates in connection with the selection, acquisition, management and sale of our investments, (iii) general and administrative expenses, (iv) accumulated depreciation and amortization of real estate investments, and (v) the issuance of shares in our now-terminated private offering at a purchase price of less than $10.00. As of December 31, 2015, our net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock, which was the only class of common stock outstanding, was $7.47. The offering price of shares of our Class A common stock under this primary offering (ignoring purchase price discounts for certain categories of purchasers) is $10.00 per share. To the extent we are able to raise substantial proceeds in this offering, some of the expenses that cause dilution of the net tangible book value per share are expected to decrease on a per share basis, resulting in increases in the net tangible book value per share. This increase would be partially offset by increases in depreciation and amortization expenses related to our real estate investments.
The factors described above with respect to the dilution in the value of our common stock are likely to cause our offering price to be higher than the amount you would receive per share if we were to liquidate at this time.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We are exposed to the effects of interest rate changes as a result of borrowings used to maintain liquidity and to fund the financing of our real estate investment portfolio and operations. We are also exposed to the effects of changes in interest rates as a result of the origination of a mortgage loan. Our profitability and the value of our investment portfolio may be adversely affected during any period as a result of interest rate changes. Our interest rate risk management objectives are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings, prepayment penalties and cash flows and to lower overall borrowing costs. We may manage interest rate risk by maintaining a ratio of fixed rate, long-term debt such that floating rate exposure is kept at an acceptable level. In addition, we may utilize a variety of financial instruments, including interest rate caps, floors, and swap agreements, in order to limit the effects of changes in interest rates on our operations. When we use these types of derivatives to hedge the risk of interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities, we may be subject to certain risks, including the risk that losses on a hedge position will reduce the funds available for payments to holders of our common stock and that the losses may exceed the amount we invested in the instruments.
As of December 31, 2015, we owned one fixed-rate real estate loan receivable. Interest rate fluctuations will generally not affect our future earnings or cash flows on our fixed rate real estate loan receivable unless such instrument matures or is otherwise terminated. However, interest rate changes will affect the fair value of our fixed rate instrument. At December 31, 2015, the fair value and carrying value of our fixed rate real estate loan receivable was $3.3 million and $3.4 million, respectively. The fair value estimate of our real estate loan receivable is estimated using an internal valuation model that considers the expected cash flows for the loan, underlying collateral value and the estimated yield requirements of institutional investors for loans with similar characteristics, including remaining loan term, loan-to-value, type of collateral and other credit enhancements. As we expect to hold our fixed rate instrument to maturity and the amounts due under such instrument would be limited to the outstanding principal balance and any accrued and unpaid interest, we do not expect that fluctuations in interest rates, and the resulting change in fair value of our fixed rate instrument, would have a significant impact on our operations.
Conversely, movements in interest rates on variable rate debt would change our future earnings and cash flows, but would not significantly affect the fair value of those instruments. However, changes in required risk premiums would result in changes in the fair value of floating rate instruments. As of December 31, 2015, we were exposed to market risks related to fluctuations in interest rates on $61.8 million of variable rate debt outstanding. Based on interest rates as of December 31, 2015, if interest rates were 100 basis points higher during the 12 months ending December 31, 2016, interest expense on our variable rate debt would increase by $0.6 million. As of December 31, 2015, one-month LIBOR was 0.42950% and if the LIBOR index was reduced to 0% during the 12 months ending December 31, 2016, interest expense on our variable rate debt would decrease by $0.3 million.
For a discussion of the interest rate risks related to the current capital and credit markets, see “Risk Factors” in the prospectus, in Part I, Item 1, “Business - Real Estate Portfolio - Market Outlook - Real Estate and Real Estate Finance Markets” and Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Market Outlook - Real Estate and Real Estate Finance Markets” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, incorporated by reference herein.
Experts
The consolidated financial statements of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. appearing in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (including schedule appearing therein) have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The carve-out financial statements of Springmaid Beach Resort and Conference Center for the nine-months ended September 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, incorporated by reference in this prospectus from KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2015 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The financial statements of AGRE NV Q&C Property Owner, LLC for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014, incorporated by reference in this prospectus from KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2016 have been audited by Squar Milner LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference
We have elected to “incorporate by reference” certain information into this prospectus. By incorporating by reference, we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to documents we have filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for information incorporated by reference that is superseded by information contained in this prospectus. You can access documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus at the website maintained for us, other KBS-sponsored programs and our advisor and its affiliates at www.kbsreits.com (URL for documents: https://kbs-cmg.com/offerings/kbs-strategic-opportunity-reit-ii/investor-information/). There is additional information about us and our affiliates at our website, but unless specifically incorporated by reference herein as described in the paragraphs below, the contents of that site are not incorporated by reference in or otherwise a part of this prospectus.
The following documents filed with the SEC are incorporated by reference in this prospectus (Commission File No. 333-192331), except for any document or portion thereof deemed to be “furnished” and not filed in accordance with SEC rules:
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• | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on March 22, 2016; |
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• | Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 19, 2016; |
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• | Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2016; |
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• | Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 22, 2016; |
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• | Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2016; |
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• | Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on March 17, 2015; and |
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• | Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on April 16, 2015. |
We hereby undertake to provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of that person, a copy of any document incorporated herein by reference (or incorporated into the documents that this prospectus incorporates by reference). To receive a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference in those documents, call or write us at:
KBS Capital Markets Group LLC
800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700
Newport Beach, California 92660
Telephone: (866) 527-4264
Fax: (949) 417-6501
www.kbs-cmg.com
The information relating to us contained in this prospectus does not purport to be comprehensive and should be read together with the information contained in the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Where You Can Find More Information
We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents filed by us at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. We have filed with the SEC a registration statement relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document of ours, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s Internet site.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - The prospectus of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. consists of this sticker, the prospectus dated February 17, 2016, supplement no. 5 dated April 26, 2016, supplement no. 6 dated April 26, 2016 and any supplements filed subsequent thereto.
Supplement no. 5 includes:
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• | prior performance information as of December 31, 2015. |
Supplement no. 6 includes:
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• | the status of the offering; |
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• | updated risks related to an investment in us; |
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• | our entry into an amended and restated advisory agreement; |
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• | cash distributions and stock dividends declared and paid or issued for the year ended December 31, 2015; |
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• | the declaration of cash distributions for March 2016 through May 2016 and stock dividends for the first quarter of 2016 and the months of April 2016 and May 2016; |
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• | updated information regarding our plans with respect to the issuance of stock dividends; |
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• | our entry into an agreement with Equity Trust Company relating to IRA custodial services with respect to our Class T shares; |
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• | an update regarding allocation of investment opportunities; |
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• | information with respect to our real estate and real estate-related investments; |
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• | selected financial data; |
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• | fees earned by and expenses reimbursable to our advisor and the dealer manager; |
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• | information with respect to our share redemption program; |
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• | information regarding the net tangible book value of our shares; |
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• | quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk; and |
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• | information incorporated by reference. |
PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 31. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the distribution of the securities being registered, other than selling commissions and the dealer manager fee. All amounts are estimated except the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee.
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Item | | Amount |
SEC registration fee | | $ | 231,840 |
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FINRA filing fee | | 225,500 |
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Legal fees and expenses | | 2,750,000 |
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Blue sky fees and expenses | | 128,875 |
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Accounting fees and expenses | | 1,000,000 |
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Sales and advertising expenses | | 1,000,000 |
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Issuer costs regarding bona fide training and education meetings and retail seminars | | 450,000 |
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Printing | | 2,200,000 |
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Postage and delivery of materials | | 1,300,000 |
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Transfer agent, escrow agent, and administrative services relating to the issuance of shares in the offering | | 2,000,000 |
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Due diligence expenses (retailing) | | 150,000 |
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Telephone | | 100,000 |
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Miscellaneous expenses | | 400,000 |
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Expense reimbursement for broker-dealer technology and other costs | | 150,000 |
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Expense reimbursements for retail and wholesaling activities | | 1,924,800 |
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Legal fees—dealer manager portion | | 100,000 |
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Promotional items | | 175,000 |
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Total | | $ | 14,286,015 |
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Item 32. Sales to Special Parties
The Company’s directors and officers and, to the extent consistent with applicable laws and regulations, the employees of KBS Capital Advisors LLC (“KBS Capital Advisors”) and affiliated entities, business associates and others purchasing pursuant to the Company’s “friends and family” program, participating broker-dealers, their retirement plans, their representatives and the family members, IRAs and the qualified plans of their representatives will be allowed to purchase shares, in either class, in the Company’s primary offering at a discount from the public offering price. The purchase price for the Class A shares will be $9.35 per share, reflecting the fact that selling commissions in the amount of $0.65 per share will not be payable in connection with such sales. The purchase price for the Class T shares will be $9.302, reflecting the fact that selling commissions in the amount of $0.288 per share will not be payable in connection with such sales. The dealer manager has agreed to sell up to 5% of the shares offered in the primary offering, in either class, to persons to be identified by the Company at a discount from the public offering price pursuant to the “friends and family” program. The net proceeds to the Company from the sales of Class A shares and Class T shares made net of commissions will be the same as the net proceeds we receive from other sales of Class A shares and Class T shares in the primary offering, respectively.
Item 33. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Sale to KBS Capital Advisors
In connection with the Company’s organization, on July 3, 2013, it issued 21,739 shares of its common stock to KBS Capital Advisors at a purchase price of $9.20 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $200,000. The Company issued these shares in a private transaction exempt from the registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Act.
Private Offering
Additionally, the Company conducted a private offering for the sale of a maximum of $105,000,000 of shares of its common stock to accredited investors through a best efforts private placement offering pursuant to Regulation D of the Act, which offering commenced on July 5, 2013 (the “Private Offering”). $100,000,000 of shares in the primary Private Offering were sold at a purchase price of $9.20 or $9.40 per share depending upon the amount of gross proceeds the Company had raised in the Private Offering with discounts available to some categories of purchasers. Shares were sold at $9.20 until August 6, 2014. As of August 7, 2014 until the termination of the Private Offering on August 11, 2014, shares were sold at $9.40. From inception through the termination of the Private Offering, the Company raised approximately $32.2 million related to the sale of 3,619,851 shares of common stock in the Private Offering.
Sales to Willowbrook Capital Group LLC
On April 1, 2014, the Company issued $1,000,000 of shares of its common stock to Willowbrook Capital Group LLC, an entity owned and controlled by Keith D. Hall, one of the Company’s directors and its Chief Executive Officer, and Peter McMillan III, one of the Company’s directors and its President, for $8.326 per share. The per share purchase price was the $9.20 offering price of shares in the Private Offering, net of selling commission and the dealer manager fee. The Company issued these shares of common stock in a private transaction exempt from the registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Act.
On July 31, 2014, the Company issued $1,000,000 of shares of its common stock to Willowbrook Capital Group LLC for $8.326 per share. The per share purchase price was the $9.20 offering price of shares in the Private Offering, net of selling commission and the dealer manager fee. The Company issued these shares of common stock in a private transaction exempt from the registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Act.
Sale to Certain Business Associates
On July 31, 2014, the Company issued $100,000 of shares of its common stock to Victor Calandra, a business associate of Keith D. Hall and Peter McMillan III, for $8.326 per share. The Company issued these shares of common stock in a private transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Act pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Act.
Item 34. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Subject to the significant conditions set forth below, the Company has included in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the Company and its stockholders for money damages. In addition to the limitations set forth below, under Maryland law such exculpation is not permitted for any liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action.
Subject to the significant conditions set forth below, the charter also provides that the Company shall indemnify a director, officer or the advisor or any of its affiliates against any and all losses or liabilities reasonably incurred by them (other than when sued by or in right of the Company) in connection with or by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted to be performed on behalf of the Company in such capacity.
Under the Company’s charter, the Company shall not indemnify a director, the advisor or any of the advisor’s affiliates (each an “Indemnitee”) for any liability or loss suffered by an Indemnitee, nor shall it exculpate an Indemnitee, unless all of the following conditions are met: (i) an Indemnitee has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Company; (ii) the Indemnitee was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Company; (iii) such liability or loss was not the result of (A) negligence or misconduct by the Indemnitee, excluding an Independent Director, or (B) gross negligence or willful misconduct by an Independent Director; and (iv) such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of the Company’s net assets and not from its common stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Indemnitee shall not be indemnified by the Company for any losses, liability or expenses arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws by such party unless one or more of the following conditions are met: (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular Indemnitee; (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular Indemnitee; and (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular Indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which securities of the Company were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.
The charter provides that the advancement of Company funds to an Indemnitee for legal expenses and other costs incurred as a result of any legal action for which indemnification is being sought is permissible only if (in addition to the procedures required by Maryland law) all of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the legal action relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company; (ii) the legal action is initiated by a third party who is not a common stockholder or the legal action is initiated by a common stockholder acting in his or her capacity as such and a court of competent jurisdiction specifically approves such advancement; and (iii) the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the advanced funds to the Company, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, if the Indemnitee is found not to be entitled to indemnification.
It is the position of the SEC that indemnification of directors and officers for liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and is unenforceable pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Act.
The Company will also purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of all of its directors and executive officers against liability asserted against or incurred by them in their official capacities with the Company, whether or not the Company is required or has the power to indemnify them against the same liability.
Item 35. Treatment of Proceeds from Stock Being Registered
Not applicable.
Item 36. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Financial Statements.
The following financial statements are incorporated into this registration statement by reference:
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• | The consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on March 22, 2016. |
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• | The financial statements of AGRE NV Q&C Property Owner, LLC for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and year ended December 31, 2014 and the related pro forma financial statements of the Company contained in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2016. |
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• | The carve-out financial statements of Springmaid Beach Resort and Conference Center for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and year ended December 31, 2013 and the related pro forma financial statements of the Company contained in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on March 17, 2015. |
The following financial statements are included in this registration statement:
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• | The prior performance tables contained in supplement no. 5 dated April 26, 2016, which is a part of this registration statement. |
(b) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement or incorporated into this registration statement by reference:
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Ex. | | Description |
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1.1 | | Dealer Manager Agreement, between KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. and KBS Capital Markets Group LLC, dated August 12, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2014, filed November 13, 2014 |
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1.3 | | Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement, by and between the Company and KBS Capital Markets Group LLC, dated February 17, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 22, 2016 |
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3.1 | | Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement adopted on August 11, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2014, filed September 19, 2014 |
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3.2 | | Second Amended and Restated Bylaws adopted August 6, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2015, filed August 11, 2015 |
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Ex. | | Description |
3.3 | | Articles Supplementary for the Class T Shares of common stock, dated February 16, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed November 14, 2013 |
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3.4 | | Articles Supplementary for the Class A Shares of common stock, dated February 16, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed November 14, 2013 |
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3.5 | | Articles of Amendment, dated February 16, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed November 14, 2013 |
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4.1* | | Form of Subscription Agreement, incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the prospectus |
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4.2 | | Statement regarding restrictions on transferability of shares of common stock (to appear on stock certificate or to be sent upon request and without charge to stockholders issued shares without certificates), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2014, filed September 19, 2014 |
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4.3 | | Third Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment Plan, adopted February 16, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 22, 2016 |
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4.4 | | Escrow Agreement dated May 6, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Registration Statement filing on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) dated August 8, 2014 |
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4.5 | | Escrow Agreement dated January 22, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Post-Effective Amendment No.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement filing on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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4.6 | | Multiple Class Plan, dated February 16, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed March 23, 2016 |
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5.1 | | Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) re: legality, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.1 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331), filed February 11, 2016 |
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8.1 | | Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) re: tax matters, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8.1 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331), filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.1 | | Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, between KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. and KBS Capital Advisors LLC, dated August 12, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2014, filed November 13, 2014 |
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10.2 | | Advisory Agreement, between KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. and KBS Capital Advisors LLC, dated July 3, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement filing on Form S-11 dated November 14, 2013 |
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10.3 | | Amendment no. 1 to the Advisory Agreement, between KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. and KBS Capital Advisors LLC, dated October 11, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement filing on Form S-11 dated November 14, 2013 |
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10.4 | | Amendment no. 2 to the Advisory Agreement, between KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. and KBS Capital Advisors LLC, dated June 26, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement filing on Form S-11 dated August 8, 2014 |
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10.5 | | Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. and IC Myrtle Beach LLC, dated as of September 12, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.6 | | First Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. and IC Myrtle Beach LLC, dated October 17, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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Ex. | | Description |
10.7 | | Reinstatement of and Second Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. and IC Myrtle Beach LLC, dated October 24, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.8 | | Reinstatement of and Third Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. and IC Myrtle Beach LLC, dated November 17, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.9 | | Fourth Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. and IC Myrtle Beach LLC, dated December 2, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.10 | | Fifth Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. and IC Myrtle Beach LLC, dated December 9, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.11 | | Reinstatement of and Sixth Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. and IC Myrtle Beach LLC, dated December 22, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.12 | | Loan Agreement by and between IC Myrtle Beach LLC, IC Myrtle Beach Operations LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., dated as of December 30, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.13 | | Promissory Note (related to Myrtle Beach), by IC Myrtle Beach LLC for the benefit of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., dated as of December 30, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.14 | | Limited Liability Company Agreement of KBS SOR II IC Myrtle Beach Operations, LLC by and between IC Myrtle Beach Holdings LLC and KBS SOR II Myrtle Beach TRS JV, LLC, dated as of December 30, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.15 | | Limited Liability Company Agreement of KBS SOR II IC Myrtle Beach Property, LLC by and between IC Myrtle Beach Holdings LLC and KBS SOR II Myrtle Beach JV, LLC, dated as of November 14, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.16 | | Lease by and between IC Myrtle Beach LLC, an affiliate of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc., and IC Myrtle Beach Operations LLC, dated as of December 30, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.17 | | Management Agreement by and between IC Myrtle Beach Operations LLC and Doubletree Management LLC, dated as of December 30, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.18 | | Completion Guaranty by KBS SOR US Properties II LLC in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., dated as of December 30, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.19 | | Limited Guaranty by KBS SOR US Properties II LLC in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., dated as of December 30, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.20 | | Equity Contribution Guaranty by KBS SOR US Properties II LLC in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., dated as of December 30, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed March 26, 2015 |
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10.21 | | Second Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement between the Company and KBS Capital Advisors LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015, filed November 12, 2015 |
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Ex. | | Description |
10.22 | | Contract of Sale between AGRE NV Q&C Property Owner LLC and KBS SOR II Q&C Property LLC, dated October 12, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.23 | | Loan Agreement (related to Q&C Hotel), by and between KBS SOR II Q&C Property, LLC, KBS SOR II Q&C Operations, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated as of December 17, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.24 | | Promissory Note (related to Q&C Hotel), by KBS SOR II Q&C Property, LLC, for the benefit of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated as of December 17, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.25 | | Limited Liability Company Agreement of KBS SOR II IC Q&C Operations JV, LLC by and between EH Q&C, LLC and KBS SOR II Q&C TRS JV, LLC, dated as of October 9, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.26 | | Limited Liability Company Agreement of KBS SOR II Q&C Property JV, LLC by and between EH Q&C, LLC, and KBS SOR II Q&C JV, LLC, dated as of October 12, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.27 | | Lease by and between KBS SOR II Q&C Property, LLC and KBS SOR II Q&C Operations, LLC, dated as of December 17, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.28 | | Hotel Management Agreement by and between KBS SOR II Q&C Operations LLC and Encore Hospitality, LLC, dated as of December 17, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.29 | | Completion Guaranty by KBS SOR US Properties II LLC in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated as of December 17, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.30 | | Partial Repayment and Limited Guaranty by KBS SOR US Properties II LLC in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated as of December 17, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.31 | | Autograph Collection Franchise Agreement by and between KBS SOR II Q&C Operations, LLC and Marriott International, Inc., dated as of December 17, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.32 | | Guaranty by KBS SOR US Properties II LLC for the benefit of Marriott International, Inc., dated as of December 17, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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10.33 | | Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, by and between the Company and KBS Capital Advisors LLC, dated February 17, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 22, 2016 |
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10.34 | | Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement, between KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. and KBS Capital Markets Group LLC, dated October 14, 2013, entered into in connection with the private offering, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement filing on Form S-11 dated November 14, 2013 |
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10.35 | | Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement by and between the Company and KBS Capital Advisors LLC, dated March 21, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to to Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-192331) filed February 11, 2016 |
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Ex. | | Description |
21.1* | | Subsidiaries of the Company |
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23.1 | | Consent of DLA Piper LLP (US) (included in Exhibit 5.1 and Exhibit 8.1) |
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23.2* | | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP |
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23.3* | | Consent of Squar Milner LLP |
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24.1 | | Power of Attorney of Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III, David E. Snyder and Stacie K. Yamane, incorporated by reference to the signature page of the Company’s Registration Statement filing on Form S-11 dated November 14, 2013 |
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24.2 | | Power of Attorney of Laurent Degryse and Michael L. Meyer, incorporated by reference to the signature page of the Company’s Registration Statement filing on Form S-11 dated May 2, 2014 |
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24.3 | | Power of Attorney of William M. Petak, incorporated by reference to the signature page of the Company’s Registration Statement filing on Form S-11 dated June 12, 2014 |
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99.1 | | Third Amended and Restated Share Redemption Program, adopted February 16, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 22, 2016 |
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* Filed herewith | |
Item 37. Undertakings
(a) The Company undertakes to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the Registration Statement; and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.
(b) The Company undertakes (i) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof, (ii) that all post-effective amendments will comply with the applicable forms, rules and regulations of the SEC in effect at the time such post-effective amendments are filed, and (iii) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(c) The Company undertakes that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Act to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(d) For the purpose of determining liability of the Company under the Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the Company undertakes that in a primary offering of securities pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the Company will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: (i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the Company relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424, (ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company, (iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the Company or its securities provided by or on behalf of the Company, and (iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the Company to the purchaser.
(e) The Company undertakes to send to each stockholder, at least on an annual basis, a detailed statement of any transaction with the Advisor or its affiliates, and of fees, commissions, compensation and other benefits paid or accrued to the Advisor or its affiliates for the fiscal year completed, showing the amount paid or accrued to each recipient and the services performed.
(f) The Company undertakes to file a sticker supplement pursuant to Rule 424(c) under the Act during the distribution period describing each significant property not identified in the prospectus at such time as there arises a reasonable probability that such property will be acquired and to consolidate all such stickers into a post-effective amendment filed at least once every three months, with the information contained in such amendment provided simultaneously to the existing stockholders. Each sticker supplement should disclose all compensation and fees received by the Advisor and its affiliates in connection with any such acquisition. The post-effective amendment shall include or incorporated by reference audited financial statements meeting the requirements of Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X that have been filed or should have been filed on Form 8-K for all significant properties acquired during the distribution period.
(g) The Company also undertakes to file, after the distribution period, a current report on Form 8-K containing the financial statements and any additional information required by Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X for each significant property acquired and to provide the information contained in such report to the stockholders at least once each quarter after the distribution period of the offering has ended.
(h) The Company undertakes to provide to the stockholders the financial statements required by Form 10-K for the first full fiscal year of operations.
(i) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(j) The Company undertakes to provide to the dealer manager at the closings specified in the dealer manager agreement the following: (i) if the securities are certificated, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the dealer manager to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser or (ii) if the securities are not certificated, a written statement of the information required on certificates that is required to be delivered to stockholders to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-11 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Newport Beach, State of California, on the 26th day of April, 2016.
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| KBS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC. |
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| By: | /s/ Jeffrey K. Waldvogel |
| | Jeffrey K. Waldvogel |
| | Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (Principal Financial Officer) |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
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Name | | Title | | Date |
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* | | Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | | April 26, 2016 |
Keith D. Hall | | | | |
* | | Chairman of the Board, President and Director | | April 26, 2016 |
Peter D. McMillian III | | | | |
/s/ Jeffrey K. Waldvogel | | Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (Principal Financial Officer) | | April 26, 2016 |
Jeffrey K. Waldvogel | | | | |
* | | Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | | April 26, 2016 |
Stacie K. Yamane | | | | |
* | | Independent Director | | April 26, 2016 |
Laurent Degryse | | | | |
* | | Independent Director | | April 26, 2016 |
Michael L. Meyer | | | | |
* | | Independent Director | | April 26, 2016 |
William M. Petak | | | | |
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*By: | /s/ Jeffrey K. Waldvogel | |
| Jeffrey K. Waldvogel | |
| Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, Attorney-in-Fact |