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Equity
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Equity  
Equity

10.      Equity

 

A.   Issuance of Common Stock

In March 2017, we issued 11,850,000 shares of common stock.  After underwriting discounts and other offering costs of $29.7 million, the net proceeds of $704.9 million were used to repay borrowings under our credit facility.

 

In May 2016, we issued 6,500,000 shares of common stock. After underwriting discounts and other offering costs of $12.1 million, the net proceeds of $383.5 million were used to repay borrowings under our credit facility.

 

B.Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan

Our Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, or the DRSPP, provides our common stockholders, as well as new investors, with a convenient and economical method of purchasing our common stock and reinvesting their distributions. Our DRSPP also allows our current stockholders to buy additional shares of common stock by reinvesting all or a portion of their distributions. The DRSPP authorizes up to 26,000,000 common shares to be issued.  During the first six months of 2017, we issued 1,013,412 shares and raised approximately $59.6 million under the DRSPP.  During the first six months of 2016, we issued 98,585 shares and raised approximately $5.8 million under the DRSPP.  From the inception of the DRSPP through June 30, 2017, we have issued 13,883,301 shares and raised approximately $651.5 million.

 

Our DRSPP includes a waiver approval process, allowing larger investors or institutions, per a formal approval process, to purchase shares at a small discount, if approved by us. During the first six months of 2017, we issued 927,695 shares and raised $54.7 million under the waiver approval process. These shares are included in the total activity for 2017 noted in the preceding paragraph. We did not issue shares under the waiver approval process during the first six months of 2016.

 

C.At-the-Market (ATM) Program

Through our “at-the-market” equity distribution program, or our ATM program, we can offer and sell up to 12,000,000 shares of common stock. The shares of common stock may be sold to, or through, a consortium of banks acting as our sales agents either by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NYSE at prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. During the first six months of 2017, we issued 935,746 shares and raised approximately $52.4 million under the ATM program. During the first six months of 2016, we issued 710,000 shares and raised approximately $44.6 million under the ATM program. From the inception of our ATM program through June 30, 2017, we have issued 4,429,187 shares and raised $255.6 million.