SEC Form 424B5 filed by Mack-Cali Realty Corporation

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-236698

Prospectus Supplement 

(To Prospectus dated February 27, 2020)

$200,000,000

Veris Residential, Inc.

Common Stock

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate to the offer and sale from time to time of shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $200,000,000, through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, Capital One Securities, Inc., Comerica Securities, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, R. Seelaus & Co., LLC and Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc. (each, a “sales agent” and collectively, the “sales agents”), as our exclusive sales agents, pursuant to the terms of a Distribution Agreement among us, Veris Residential, L.P., our operating partnership, and the sales agents (the “Distribution Agreement”), dated as of the date hereof.

The shares of our common stock to which this prospectus supplement relates may be offered and sold through the sales agents over a period of time and from time to time in negotiated transactions, including block trades, or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, including sales made directly on the NYSE, sales made to or through a market maker and sales made through other securities exchanges or electronic communications networks or in other transactions permitted by law, pursuant to the Distribution Agreement. Accordingly, an indeterminate number of shares of our common stock may be sold up to the number of shares of our common stock that will result in an aggregate gross sales price of up to $200,000,000.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), under the symbol “VRE.” On December 13, 2021, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE was $17.86 per share. Prior to December 10, 2021, our common stock traded under the symbol “CLI” and our former corporate name, Mack-Cali Realty Corporation.

We elected to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1994. To assist us in complying with U.S. federal income tax requirements applicable to REITs, among other purposes, our charter contains certain restrictions on the transfer and ownership of our common stock, including an ownership limit of 9.8% of our common stock. See “Description of Capital Stock—Ownership Limitations and Restrictions on Transfer” in the accompanying prospectus.

The sales agents are not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of our common stock, but, subject to the terms and conditions of the Distribution Agreement, each sales agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, to sell on our behalf any shares of our common stock to be designated by us under the Distribution Agreement. We will pay each sales agent a commission that will not exceed, but may be lower than, 2% of the gross sales price of the sale of shares of our common stock sold by such sales agent pursuant to this prospectus supplement.

Under the Distribution Agreement, we may also sell shares of common stock to a sales agent as principal for its own account, at a price to be agreed upon at the time of sale. If we sell shares to a sales agent as principal, we will enter into a separate terms agreement with such sales agent, and we will describe the agreement in a separate prospectus supplement or pricing supplement. The net proceeds we receive will be the gross proceeds received from such sales less the commissions and any other costs we may incur in issuing the shares of our common stock. See “Plan of Distribution” for further information.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-1 of this prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

J.P. Morgan 

BofA Securities 

BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC 

Capital One Securities 

Comerica Securities 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC 

R. Seelaus & Co., LLC 

Ramirez & Co., Inc.

The date of this prospectus supplement is December 13, 2021.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

Prospectus

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by us. Neither we nor the sales agents have authorized any other person to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with additional or different information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, and this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction where, or to any person to whom, it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by us and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of their respective dates or such other dates as may be specified therein. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. References to documents “incorporated by reference” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus shall also include documents that are deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and therein pursuant to applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

You should read this prospectus supplement along with the accompanying prospectus, as well as the information incorporated by reference herein and therein, carefully before you invest in our common stock. These documents contain important information you should consider before making your investment decision. This prospectus supplement describes the terms of the offer and sale from time to time of shares of our common stock pursuant to the Distribution Agreement. The accompanying prospectus contains information about our securities generally, some of which does not apply to the common stock covered by this prospectus supplement.

To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference prior to the date hereof, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. In addition, information that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement and that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or previously incorporated documents. Any information in such subsequent filings that is inconsistent with this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or a previously incorporated document will supersede the earlier information.

Veris Residential, Inc. (the “Corporation”) is a Maryland corporation that operates as a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust (“REIT”). The Corporation owns properties and conducts operations through Veris Residential, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), of which the Corporation is the sole general partner and holds approximately 91.0% of the partnership interests as of September 30, 2021.

Unless this prospectus supplement otherwise indicates or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to “Veris,” “Mack-Cali,” “Corporation,” or “General Partner” mean Veris Residential, Inc., (formerly known as Mack-Cali Realty Corporation prior to December 10, 2021) and references to the “Operating Partnership” mean Veris Residential, L.P. (formerly known as Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. prior to December 10, 2021) and its consolidated subsidiaries in cases where it is important to distinguish between the Corporation and the Operating Partnership. The Corporation and the Operating Partnership file combined periodic reports with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference herein. We use the terms “we,” “our” or “the company” to refer to the Corporation and its subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership together, unless the context indicates otherwise.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

We consider portions of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such forward-looking statements relate to, without limitation, our future economic performance, plans and objectives for future operations and projections of revenue and other financial items. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “potential,” “projected,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “target,” “continue” or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which we cannot predict with accuracy and some of which we might not even anticipate. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions at the time made, we can give no assurance that such expectations will be achieved. Future events and actual results, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

In addition, the extent to which the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacts us and our tenants will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, severity and duration of the pandemic, the actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures, among others. Moreover, investors are cautioned to interpret many of the risks identified in the risk factors discussed in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as the risks set forth below, as being heightened as a result of the ongoing and numerous adverse impacts of COVID-19.

Among the factors about which we have made assumptions and that, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements are:

For further information on factors which could impact us and the statements contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, see the risk factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” herein and in the accompanying prospectus and under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect our analysis only and speak as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, as applicable, or as of the dates indicated in the statements. All of our forward-looking statements, including those included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, such as our outlook for 2021, are qualified in their entirety by this statement. We assume no obligation to update and supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise.

THE COMPANY

The Corporation is a fully-integrated self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”). The Corporation controls the Operating Partnership as its sole general partner and owned a 91.0 percent common unit interest in the Operating Partnership as of September 30, 2021. The Corporation’s business is the ownership of interests in and operation of the Operating Partnership and all of the Corporation’s expenses are incurred for the benefit of the Operating Partnership. The Corporation is reimbursed by the Operating Partnership for all expenses it incurs relating to the ownership and operation of the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership conducts the business of providing leasing, management, acquisition, development and tenant-related services for the Corporation. The Operating Partnership, through its operating divisions and subsidiaries, including the Veris property-owning partnerships and limited liability companies, is the entity through which all of the Corporation’s operations are conducted.

As of September 30, 2021, we owned or had interests in 36 real estate properties (the “Properties”). The Properties are comprised of eight office buildings totaling approximately 5.1 million square feet and leased to approximately 110 tenants, 20 multi-family properties, totaling 6,018 apartment units (which include six properties aggregating 1,786 apartment units owned by unconsolidated joint ventures in which the Company has investment interests), four parking/retail properties totaling approximately 108,000 square feet (which include a building aggregating 51,000 square feet owned by an unconsolidated joint venture in which the Company has an investment interest), three hotels containing 723 rooms (one of which is owned by an unconsolidated joint venture in which the Company has an investment interest) and one parcel of land leased to a third party. The Properties are located in three states in the Northeast, plus the District of Columbia.

The address of our principal executive office is Harborside 3, 210 Hudson Street, Suite 400, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311. Our telephone number is (732) 590-1010. Our Internet website address is www.verisresidential.com. The information found on, or otherwise accessible through, our website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this prospectus supplement.

RISK FACTORS

Your investment in our common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus involves risks. In consultation with your own financial, tax and legal advisers, you should carefully consider, among other matters, the factors set forth below, as well as the risk factors discussed in the accompanying prospectus, incorporated by reference herein from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K and other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as the same may be updated from time to time by our future filings under the Exchange Act, before deciding whether an investment in our common stock is suitable for you. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. For more information, see the section entitled “Incorporation by Reference” in this prospectus supplement.

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS OFFERING

You may experience significant dilution as a result of this offering and additional issuances of our securities, which could harm our stock price.

Our charter permits our board of directors to authorize without stockholder approval the issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into equity securities. The registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and related prospectus are part relates to the issuance of common stock, preferred stock or other equity securities (including the shares of common stock being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement). We actively monitor the markets for our common stock. We may, from time to time and at any time, seek to offer and sell common stock, through the sales agents as our exclusive sales agents in the offering described herein, or otherwise, if and when, in our judgment, the terms and conditions for any such offer and sale are favorable to us in light of all of the surrounding facts and circumstances. We may also consider issuing additional securities that are convertible or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock or preferred stock, or any substantially similar security. In addition, we will issue shares of common stock pursuant to existing and future employee benefit plans. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market pursuant to this offering, or otherwise, or as a result of the perception or expectation that such sales could occur.

Affiliates of the sales agents may receive benefits in connection with this offering.

As of the date of this prospectus supplement, affiliates of certain of the sales agents in this offering are lenders and, in certain cases, agents, under our revolving credit and term loan agreement dated as of May 6, 2021, for our $250 million senior secured revolving credit and $150 million senior secured term loan facility (collectively, the “Credit Facility”). To the extent that we use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to repay the outstanding balance under our Credit Facility, such affiliates of the applicable agents will receive their proportionate share of any amount that is repaid with the net proceeds from this offering. These transactions create potential conflicts of interest because the agents have an interest in the successful completion of this offering beyond the sales commissions they will receive. These interests may influence the decision regarding the terms and circumstances under which the offering is completed.

INVESTMENT RISKS

The market price of our common stock may be adversely affected by market conditions affecting the stock markets in general, including price and trading fluctuations on the NYSE.

The market price of our common stock may be adversely affected by market conditions affecting the stock markets in general, including price and trading fluctuations on the NYSE. These conditions may result in volatility in the level of, and fluctuations in, the market prices of stocks generally and, in turn, our common stock and sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the market, in each case being unrelated or disproportionate to changes in our operating performance. Our stock price can fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors may include:

USE OF PROCEEDS

We may issue and sell, from time to time, shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $200 million. The amount of net proceeds from this offering will depend upon the number of shares of our common stock sold and the market price at which they are sold. There can be no assurance that we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the Distribution Agreement with our sales agents as a source of financing. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our common stock from time to time for general corporate purposes, which may include repaying indebtedness (including amounts outstanding from time to time under our revolving credit facility), and working capital. Pending application of the net proceeds, we may invest the proceeds in short-term securities.

As of the date of this prospectus supplement, affiliates of certain of the sales agents in this offering are lenders and, in certain cases agents, under our revolving credit facility. To the extent that we use a portion of the net proceeds we receive from this offering to repay borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility, such affiliates of the applicable agents will receive their proportionate share of any amount that is repaid with the net proceeds we receive from this offering.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We have entered into the Distribution Agreement with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, Capital One Securities, Inc., Comerica Securities, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, R. Seelaus & Co., LLC and Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc., as sales agents, under which we may issue and sell from time to time shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $200,000,000 through any of the sales agents. Sales of our common stock, if any, may be made in negotiated transactions, including block trades, or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market offerings,” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act, by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, including sales made directly on the NYSE, sales made to or through a market maker and sales made through other securities exchanges or electronic communications networks or in other transactions permitted by law.

Each sales agent will offer our common stock subject to the terms and conditions of the Distribution Agreement on a daily basis or otherwise as agreed upon by us and such sales agent. We will determine the amount of our shares to be sold together with such sales agent. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Distribution Agreement, each sales agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, to sell on our behalf the common stock we designate from time to time. We may instruct the sales agents not to sell our common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any such instruction. We or the sales agents may suspend the offering of our common stock under the Distribution Agreement upon proper notice and subject to other conditions.

Each sales agent will receive from us a commission that will not exceed, but may be lower than, 2% of the gross sales price per share of our common stock for any shares sold through such sales agent under the Distribution Agreement. The remaining sales proceeds, after deducting any expenses payable by us and any transaction fees imposed by any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory organization in connection with the sales, will equal our net proceeds for the sale of such shares. We have agreed to pay for certain of the sales agents’ expenses in certain circumstances.

Each sales agent will provide written confirmation to us following the close of trading on the NYSE each day on which shares of our common stock are sold by such sales agent for us under the Distribution Agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares sold on that day, the gross sales price per share and the net proceeds to us.

Settlement for sales of our common stock will occur, unless the parties agree otherwise, on the second business day following the date on which any sales were made in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

Under the terms of the Distribution Agreement, we also may sell our common stock to a sales agent as principal for its own account, at a price agreed upon at the time of sale. If we sell shares to a sales agent as principal, we will enter into a separate terms agreement with such sales agent, and we will describe such agreement in a separate prospectus supplement or pricing supplement.

We will report in a prospectus supplement and/or our filings with the SEC under the Exchange Act at least quarterly the number of shares of our common stock sold through the sales agents under the Distribution Agreement, the net proceeds to us and the compensation paid by us to the sales agents in connection with the sales of our common stock.

In connection with the sale of our common stock on our behalf, a sales agent may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid to such sales agent may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed in the Distribution Agreement to provide indemnification and contribution to the sales agents against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

Each sales agent and its respective affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions. Affiliates of certain of the sales agents are lenders and, in certain cases agents, under our revolving credit facility. Such affiliates may receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of our common stock in this offering in the event that such proceeds are used to repay borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the sales agents and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The sales agents and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Associated Investment Services, Inc. (AIS), a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority member and a subsidiary of Associated Banc-Corp, is being paid a referral fee by Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

If either any sales agent or we have reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied, that party will promptly notify the other and sales of our common stock under the Distribution Agreement will be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of such sales agent and us.

The offering of our common stock pursuant to the Distribution Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all shares of our common stock subject to the Distribution Agreement, or (ii) the termination of the Distribution Agreement by us and/or by the sales agents.

We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding discounts and commissions and other amounts payable to the sales agents under the Distribution Agreement, will be approximately $1.6 million over the term of the Distribution Agreement. We have also agreed to pay for the reasonable fees and disbursements of the sales agents in connection with the offering, subject to certain limits.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters relating to this offering will be passed on for us by Seyfarth Shaw, LLP, New York, New York. Certain matters of Maryland law will be passed on for us by Ballard Spahr LLP, Baltimore, Maryland and certain tax matters related to our qualification as a REIT will be passed on for us by Seyfarth Shaw, LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters relating to this offering will be passed on for the sales agents by Sidley Austin, LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” certain information into this prospectus supplement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information that we incorporate by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement, and subsequent information that we file later with the SEC prior to the termination of this offering will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus supplement. We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed below or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings made by us with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of this offering (in each case, other than information in such documents that is deemed not to be filed):

The accompanying prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act. Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus contains all of the information in the registration statement. We have omitted certain parts of the registration statement, as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. You may access the registration statement, including exhibits, on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or on our website at http://www.verisresidential.com. Information contained on our website is not and should not be deemed a part of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any other report or filing filed with the SEC. Our statements in this prospectus supplement concerning the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete. You should refer to the copy of each contract or other document we have filed as an exhibit to the registration statement for complete information.

Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding all exhibits unless we have specifically incorporated by reference the exhibit in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. You may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from:

Veris Residential, Inc. 

Harborside 3, 210 Hudson Street, Suite 400 

Jersey City, New Jersey 07311 

Attn: Secretary 

Telephone: (732) 590-1010.

PROSPECTUS

$2,000,000,000

MACK-CALI REALTY CORPORATION

Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares and Warrants

Mack-Cali Realty Corporation may, from time to time, in one or more series, offer the following securities:

· common stock;

· preferred stock;

· preferred stock represented by depositary shares; or

· warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock.

We will describe the terms of any such offering in a supplement to this prospectus. Such prospectus supplement will contain the following information about the offered securities:

· title and amount;

· offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions and our net proceeds;

· any market listing and trading symbol;

·  names of lead or managing underwriters and description of underwriting arrangements; and

· the specific terms of the offered securities.

Our common stock is listed on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CLI.” The closing price of our common stock as reported on The New York Stock Exchange on February 26, 2020 was $20.03 per share. If any other securities offered hereby will be listed on a national securities exchange, such listing will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

You should carefully read and consider the risk factors under Part I, Item 1A contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for risks relating to investments in our securities, as such risk factors may be supplemented or amended from time to time under Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Our mailing address and telephone number are: 

Harborside 3, 210 Hudson St., Ste. 400 

Jersey City, New Jersey 07311 

(732) 590-1010

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is February 27, 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

We have not authorized any person to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and, if given or made, you must not rely upon such information or representations as having been authorized. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities described in this prospectus or an offer to sell or the solicitation to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made under this prospectus will, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information.

Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to the “registrant,” “General Partner,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or “the Company” include Mack-Cali Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation, and any subsidiaries or other entities controlled by us, including Mack-Cali Realty, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.  All references in this prospectus to the “Operating Partnership” include Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. and any subsidiaries or other entities that the Operating Partnership owns or controls. All references in this prospectus to “common stock” refer to our common stock, par value $.01 per share. All references in this prospectus to “units” refer to the units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3. Under this shelf registration statement, we may sell, in one or more offerings for total proceeds of up to $2,000,000,000, any combination of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or warrants of the Company.  This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. If required, each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and those securities. The prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Before you buy any of our securities, it is important for you to consider the information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Information About Us.”

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

We consider portions of this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.  Such forward-looking statements relate to, without limitation, our future economic performance, plans and objectives for future operations and projections of revenue and other financial items.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “potential,” “projected,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “target,” “continue” or comparable terminology.  Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which we cannot predict with accuracy and some of which we might not even anticipate.  Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions at the time made, we can give no assurance that such expectations will be achieved.  Future events and actual results, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Among the factors about which we have made assumptions are:

For further information on factors which could impact us and the statements contained herein, see the “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for risks relating to investments in our securities, as such risk factors may be supplemented or amended from time to time under Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.  We assume no obligation to update and supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any documents filed by us at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room of the Securities and Exchange Commission by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. You also can request copies of such documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the public reference room of the Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The address of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s web site is: http://www.sec.gov. In addition, our common stock is listed on The New York Stock Exchange, and similar information concerning us can be inspected and copied at the offices of The New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. In addition, copies of our annual, quarterly, and current reports may be obtained from our website at http://www.mack-cali.com.  The information available on or through our website is not a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (of which this prospectus is a part) under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, certain portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance please see the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information regarding us and the securities offered by this prospectus, please refer to the registration statement and such exhibits and schedules which may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission at its principal office in Washington, D.C. upon payment of the fees prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or from its web site.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

In this document, we “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to that information. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and later information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission will update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission under

Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this prospectus until the offering is completed:

i.              Our Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated August 9, 1994;

ii.             Our Articles of Restatement dated September 18, 2009;

iii.            The Articles of Amendment to our Articles of Restatement dated May 12, 2014; and

iv.            Any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

Except as otherwise indicated, all documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this prospectus and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

We will provide, free of charge, to any person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless specifically incorporated by reference.  To request a copy of those documents, you should contact us as set forth below under “Information About Us.”

INFORMATION ABOUT US

Mack-Cali Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation, together with its subsidiaries (collectively the “General Partner”), is a fully-integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”).  The General Partner controls Mack-Cali Realty, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, together with its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Operating Partnership”), as its sole general partner and owned an 90.4 percent and 89.8 percent common unit interest in the Operating Partnership as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.  The General Partner’s business is the ownership of interests in and operation of the Operating Partnership and all of the General Partner’s expenses are incurred for the benefit of the Operating Partnership.  The General Partner is reimbursed by the Operating Partnership for all expenses it incurs relating to the ownership and operation of the Operating Partnership.

The Operating Partnership conducts the business of providing leasing, management, acquisition, development, construction and tenant-related services for its General Partner.  The Operating Partnership, through its operating divisions and subsidiaries, including the Mack-Cali property-owning partnerships and limited liability companies, is the entity through which all of the General Partner’s operations are conducted.  Unless stated otherwise or the context requires, the “Company” refers to the General Partner and its subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries.

The General Partner’s shares of common stock are listed on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CLI.”  The General Partner has paid regular quarterly distributions on its common stock since it commenced operations as a REIT in 1994.  The General Partner intends to continue making regular quarterly distributions to the holders of its common stock.  Distributions depend upon a variety of factors, and there can be no assurance that distributions will be made in the future.

Our executive offices are located at Harborside 3, 210 Hudson Street, Suite 400, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311, and its telephone number is (732) 590-1010.  We maintain an Internet website at www.mack-cali.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information in, or that can be accessed through, our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes and working capital. As required by the terms of the limited partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, we must invest the net proceeds of any sale of our common stock or preferred stock in the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional units of limited partnership interest.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The following description of our common stock in this prospectus contains the general terms and provisions of our common stock. The particular terms of any offering of our common stock will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such offering. The prospectus supplement may provide that our common stock will be issuable upon conversion of preferred stock or upon the exercise of warrants to purchase our common stock. The statements below describing our common stock are subject to and qualified by, the applicable provisions of our charter and bylaws.

General

We are authorized under our charter to issue 190,000,000 shares of our common stock. Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters presented to stockholders for a vote. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or cumulative voting rights. At February 24, 2020, 90,595,470 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding. Our common stock currently is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CLI.”

All shares of common stock to be outstanding following this offering will be, upon our receipt of the consideration therefor, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. We may pay dividends to the holders of our common stock if and when declared by our board of directors out of legally available funds. We intend to continue to pay quarterly dividends on our common stock. Dividends depend on a variety of factors, and there can be no assurances that distributions will be made in the future.

Under Maryland law, our stockholders generally are not liable for our debts or obligations. If we are liquidated, subject to the right of any holders of preferred stock to receive preferential distributions, each outstanding share of common stock will participate pro rata in any assets remaining after our payment of, or adequate provision for, all of our known debts and liabilities, including debts and liabilities arising out of our status as general partner of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. All shares of our common stock have equal distribution, liquidation and voting rights, and have no preferences or exchange rights, subject to the ownership limits set forth in our charter or as permitted by our board of directors.

Ownership Limitations and Restrictions on Transfer

Generally, our charter provides that no person may beneficially own or be deemed to beneficially own by virtue of the attribution rules of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), more than 9.8% of our issued and outstanding capital stock. In addition, our charter and bylaws contain provisions that would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control.  See “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and our Charter and Bylaws.”

In order for us to maintain our REIT qualification under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (including certain entities treated as individuals for these purposes) during the last half of a taxable year, and at least 100 persons must beneficially own our outstanding capital stock for at least 335 days per 12 month taxable year, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months.  To help ensure that we meet these tests, our charter provides that no holder may beneficially own or be deemed to beneficially own by virtue of the attribution rules of the Code, more than 9.8% of our issued and outstanding capital stock. Our board of directors may waive this ownership limit if it receives evidence that ownership in excess of the limit will not jeopardize our REIT status under the Code.

The ownership limitations and restrictions on transfer will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interest to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT under the Code.

All certificates representing shares of our capital stock will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.

If you beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock, you must file a written response to our request for stock ownership information, which we will mail to you no later than January 30th of each year. This notice should contain your name and address, the number of shares of each class or series of stock you beneficially own and a description of how you hold the shares.  In addition, you must disclose to us in writing any additional information we request in order to determine the effect of your ownership of such shares on our status as a REIT under the Code.

These ownership limitations could have the effect of precluding a third party from obtaining control over us unless our board of directors and our stockholders determine that maintaining REIT status is no longer desirable.

Operating Partnership Agreement

The partnership agreement of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. requires that the consent of the holders of at least 85% of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.’s partnership units is required:

As of December 31, 2019, we, as general partner of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P., held approximately 90.4 percent of the outstanding common partnership units of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. Consequently, approval of any of the foregoing transactions currently would not require the consent of any of the limited partners of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.

The partnership agreement also contains provisions restricting us from engaging in a merger or sale of substantially all of our assets, unless such transaction was one where all of the limited partners received for each partnership unit, an amount of cash, securities, or other property equal to the number of shares of common stock into which such partnership unit is convertible multiplied by the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid to a holder of one share of common stock in consideration of one share of common stock.  However, if, in connection with a merger or sale of substantially all of our assets, a purchase, tender or exchange offer was made to all of the outstanding common stockholders, each partnership unit holder would receive the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property which such partnership unit holder would have received had it exercised its redemption rights and received common stock in exchange for its partnership units immediately before such purchase, tender or exchange offer expires.

We may merge with another entity, without any of the restrictions identified in the immediately preceding paragraph, so long as each of the following requirements are satisfied:

Redemption Rights

Certain individuals who received common units in Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. have the right to have their common units redeemed for cash, based upon the fair market value of an equivalent number of shares of our common stock at the time of such redemption, or, at our election, shares of our common stock, on a one-for-one basis.  However, we may not pay for such redemption with shares of common stock if, after giving effect to such redemption, any person would beneficially or constructively own shares in excess of the ownership limit described in “Ownership Limitations and Restrictions on Transfer.” As of December 31, 2019, the limited partners of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. owned 9,488,794 common units, 1,949,601 vested and unvested Long-Term Incentive Plan Units that are convertible on a one-for-one basis into common units, 625,000 Class AO Long-Term Incentive Plan Units that are convertible into common units in accordance with a formula based on the market price of the General Partner’s common stock subject to the attainment of certain price-vesting conditions, 42,800 series A 3.5% preferred limited partnership units that are convertible into up to 1,204,820 common units, and 9,213 series A-1 3.5% preferred limited partnership units that are convertible into up to 257,375 common units.  All common units may be redeemed, at our election, for an equal number of shares of our common stock.

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent for our common stock is:

Computershare Trust Company, N.A. 

P.O. Box 505000 

Louisville, KY 40233-5000 

1-800-317-4445 

www.computershare.com/investor

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

The following description of our preferred stock in this prospectus contains the general terms and provisions of our preferred stock. The particular terms of any offering of preferred stock will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such offering. The statements below describing our preferred stock are subject to and qualified by, the applicable provisions of our charter, bylaws and any articles supplementary.

General

We are authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Under our charter, we may issue shares of preferred stock from time to time, in one or more series, as authorized by our board of directors. Before the issuance of shares of each series, our board of directors is required by Maryland law and our charter to adopt resolutions and file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation of Maryland, setting forth for each such series: the designation of the series to distinguish it from other series and classes of our stock, the number of shares to be included in the series and the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption of the shares of the series.

Because our board of directors has the power to establish the terms and conditions of each series of preferred stock, it may afford the holders of any series of preferred stock powers, preferences and rights, voting or otherwise, senior to the rights of holders of shares of our common stock. Our issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control.

Terms

When we issue preferred stock and receive the consideration therefor, such preferred stock will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The preferred stock will not have any preemptive rights.

Articles supplementary that will become part of our charter will reflect the specific terms of any new series of preferred stock offered. A prospectus supplement will describe these specific terms, including:

· the title and stated value;

· the number of shares, liquidation preference and offering price;

· the dividend rate, dividend periods and payment dates;

· the date on which dividends begin to accrue or accumulate;

· any auction and remarketing procedures;

· any retirement or sinking fund requirement;

· the price and the terms and conditions of any redemption right;

· any listing on any securities exchange;

· the price and the terms and conditions of any conversion or exchange right;

· whether interests will be represented by depositary shares;

· any voting rights;

· the relative ranking and preferences as to dividends, liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

· any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer;

· any U.S. federal income tax considerations, if appropriate; and

· any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions.

Rank

Unless otherwise described in the prospectus supplement, the preferred stock will have the following ranking as to dividends, liquidation, dissolution or winding up:

· senior to our common stock and to all other equity securities ranking junior to the preferred stock;

· on a parity with all equity securities issued by us which by their terms rank on a parity with the preferred stock; and

· junior to all equity securities issued by us which by their terms rank senior to the preferred stock.

Dividends

If declared by our board of directors, preferred stockholders will be entitled to receive cash dividends at the rate set forth in the prospectus supplement. We will pay dividends to stockholders of record on the record date fixed by our board of directors. The prospectus supplement will specify whether dividends on any series of preferred stock are cumulative or non-cumulative. If dividends are cumulative, they will be cumulative from the date set forth in the prospectus supplement. If dividends are non-cumulative and our board of directors does not declare a dividend payable on a dividend payment date, then the holders of that series will have no right to receive a dividend, and we will not be obligated to pay an accrued dividend later for the missed dividend period, whether or not our board of directors declares dividends on the series on any future date.

If any preferred stock is outstanding, we will not declare or pay dividends on, or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of, our common stock or any capital stock ranking junior to a series of preferred stock, other than dividends paid in, or conversions or exchanges for, common stock or other capital stock junior to the preferred stock, unless:

· if the series of preferred stock has cumulative dividends, we have declared and paid full cumulative dividends for all past dividend periods or declared and reserved funds for payment therefor before or at the same time as the declaration and payment on the junior series; or

· if the series of preferred stock does not have cumulative dividends, we have declared and paid full dividends for the current dividend period or declared and reserved funds for payment therefor before or at the same time as the declaration and payment on the junior series.

Unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise, when we do not pay dividends on shares from more than one series of preferred stock ranking in parity as to dividends in full (or we have not reserved a sufficient sum for full payment), all of these dividends will be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share in each series will in all cases bear the same ratio of accrued dividends owed. These pro rata payments per share will not include interest, nor will they include any accumulated unpaid dividends from prior periods if the dividends in question are non-cumulative.

Redemption

If specified in the prospectus supplement, we will have the right to redeem all or any part of the preferred stock in each series at our option, or the preferred stock will be subject to mandatory redemption.

If the series of preferred stock is subject to mandatory redemption, the prospectus supplement will specify:

· the number of shares we will redeem in each year;

· the date after which we may or must commence the redemption; and

· the redemption price per share, which will include all accrued and unpaid dividends other than non-cumulative dividends for prior dividend periods.

Except as otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, the redemption price may be payable in cash or other property.

Unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we will not redeem less than all of a series of preferred stock, or purchase or acquire any shares of a series of preferred stock, other than conversions or exchanges for common stock or other capital stock junior to the preferred stock, unless:

We may, however, purchase or acquire preferred stock of any series to preserve our status as a REIT under the Code or pursuant to an offer made on the same terms to all holders of preferred stock of that series.

If we redeem fewer than all outstanding shares of preferred stock of any series, we will determine the number of shares to be redeemed and whether we will redeem shares pro rata by shares held or shares requested to be redeemed or by lot in a manner that we determine.

We will mail redemption notices at least 30 days, but not more than 60 days, before the redemption date to each holder of record of a series of preferred stock to be redeemed at the address shown on the share transfer books. Each notice will state:

· the redemption date;

· the number of shares and series of the preferred stock to be redeemed;

· the redemption price;

· the place to surrender certificates for payment of the redemption price;

· that dividends on the shares redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date; and

· the date upon which any conversion rights will terminate.

If we redeem fewer than all outstanding shares of a series of preferred stock, the notice also will specify the number of shares we will redeem from each holder. If we give notice of redemption and have set aside sufficient funds necessary for the redemption in trust for the benefit of stock we will redeem, then dividends will thereafter cease to accrue and all rights of the holders of the shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price.

Liquidation Preference

If we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs, then holders of each series of preferred stock will receive out of our legally available assets a liquidating distribution in the amount of the liquidation preference per share for that series as specified in the prospectus supplement, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid, but not including amounts from prior periods for non-cumulative dividends, before we make any distributions to holders of our common stock or any other capital stock ranking junior to the preferred stock. Once holders of outstanding preferred stock receive their respective liquidating distributions, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. In the event that our assets are not sufficient to pay the full liquidating distributions to the holders of all outstanding preferred stock and all other classes or series of its capital stock ranking on a parity with our preferred stock, then we will distribute our assets to those holders in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise have received.

After we have paid liquidating distributions in full to all holders of our preferred stock, we will distribute our remaining assets among holders of any other capital stock ranking junior to the preferred stock according to their respective rights and preferences and number of shares. For this purpose, our consolidation or merger with any other corporation or entity, or a sale of all or substantially all of our property or business, does not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs.

Voting Rights

Holders of preferred stock will not have any voting rights, except as set forth below or otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement.

Unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise, whenever we have not paid dividends on any shares of preferred stock for six or more consecutive quarterly periods, the holders of such shares may vote, separately as a class with all other series of preferred stock on which we have not paid dividends, for the election of two additional directors to our board of directors. In this event, our board of directors will be increased by two directors. The holders of a series of preferred stock on which we have not paid dividends may vote for the additional directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting until:

Unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we cannot take any of the following actions without the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of each series of preferred stock:

For these purposes, the following events do not materially and adversely affect a series of preferred stock, unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement:

The holders of a series of preferred stock will have such voting rights as provided for in the articles supplementary establishing any such series of preferred stock and as described in the applicable prospectus supplement, however, if we redeem or call for redemption all outstanding shares of a series and deposit sufficient funds in a trust to effect the redemption on or before the occurrence of the act requiring the vote, such holders of a series of preferred stock will have no voting rights.

Conversion Rights

If any series of preferred stock is convertible into common stock, the prospectus supplement will describe the following terms:

· the number of shares of common stock into which the shares of preferred stock are convertible;

· the conversion price or manner by which we will calculate the conversion price;

· the conversion period;

· whether conversion will be at our option or the option of the holders of the preferred stock;

· any events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price; and

· provisions affecting conversion in the event of the redemption of the series of preferred stock.

Ownership Limitations and Restrictions on Transfer

As further discussed under “Description of Common Stock—Ownership Limitations and Restrictions on Transfer,” in order for us to maintain our REIT qualification under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (including certain entities treated as individuals for these purposes) during the last half of a taxable year. As a result, our charter provides that no person may beneficially own or be deemed to beneficially own by virtue of the attribution rules of the Code, more than 9.8% of our issued and outstanding shares of capital stock. Accordingly, the articles supplementary designating the terms of each series of preferred stock may contain provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of the preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will specify any additional ownership limitations and restrictions on transfer relating to a series of preferred stock. Our board of directors may waive this ownership limit if it receives evidence that ownership in excess of the limit will not jeopardize our REIT status under the Code.

These ownership limitations could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction in which holders of some shares of our capital stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then prevailing market price or which such holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interest.

Stockholder Liability

Under Maryland law, none of the holders of our outstanding stock, including holders of preferred stock, will be personally liable for our acts and obligations solely as a result of their status as holders of such stock, and our funds and property are the only recourse for our acts or obligations.

Transfer Agent

The prospectus supplement will identify the transfer agent for the preferred stock.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

The following description of our depositary shares in this prospectus contains the general terms and provisions of the depositary shares. The particular terms of any offering of depositary shares will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such offering. The statements below describing the depositary shares are subject to and qualified by, the applicable provisions of our charter, bylaws and any articles supplementary.

General

We may offer and sell depositary shares, each of which would represent a fractional interest of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. We will issue shares of preferred stock to be represented by depositary shares and deposit such shares of preferred stock with a preferred stock depositary under a separate deposit agreement among us, a preferred stock depositary and the holders of the depositary shares. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement and as further set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement, each owner of a depositary share will possess, in proportion to the fractional interest of a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary shares.

Depositary receipts will evidence the depositary shares issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Immediately after we issue and deliver preferred stock to a preferred stock depositary, the preferred stock depositary will issue the depositary receipts.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The preferred stock depositary will distribute all cash dividends on the preferred stock to the record holders of the depositary shares. Holders of depositary shares generally must file proofs, certificates and other information and pay charges and expenses of the preferred stock depositary in connection with distributions.

Unless otherwise provided in the deposit agreement or an applicable prospectus supplement, if a distribution on the preferred stock is other than in cash and it is feasible for the preferred stock depositary to distribute the property it receives, the preferred stock depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. If such a distribution is not feasible and we approve, the preferred stock depositary may sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the record holders of the depositary shares.

No distribution will be made on any depositary share to the extent that it represents any class or series of preferred stock that has been converted or exchanged.

Withdrawal of Stock

Unless we have previously called the depositary shares for redemption or the holder of the depositary shares has converted such shares and unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, a holder of depositary shares may surrender them at the corporate trust office of the preferred stock depositary in exchange for whole or fractional shares of the underlying preferred stock together with any money or other property represented by the depositary shares. Once a holder has exchanged the depositary shares, the holder may not redeposit the preferred shares and receive depositary shares again. If a depositary receipt presented for exchange into preferred stock represents more shares of preferred stock than the number to be withdrawn, the preferred stock depositary will deliver a new depositary receipt for the excess number of depositary shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

Unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by a depositary, the depositary will redeem the corresponding amount of depositary shares. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price and any other amounts payable with respect to the preferred stock. If we intend to redeem fewer than all of the depositary shares, we and the preferred stock depositary will select the depositary shares to be redeemed as nearly pro rata as practicable without creating fractional depositary shares or by any other equitable method that we determine preserves our REIT status.

On the redemption date:

Voting of the Preferred Stock

When a preferred stock depositary receives notice regarding a meeting at which the holders of the underlying preferred stock have the right to vote, it will mail that information to the holders of the depositary shares. Each record holder of depositary shares on the record date may then instruct the preferred stock depositary to exercise its voting rights for the amount of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The preferred stock depositary will vote in accordance with these instructions. The preferred stock depositary will abstain from voting to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares. A preferred stock depositary will not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote, or for the manner or effect of any vote, as long as any action or non-action is in good faith and does not result from negligence or willful misconduct of the preferred stock depositary.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, a holder of depositary shares will receive the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of underlying preferred stock represented by the depositary share, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Conversion of Depositary Shares

Depositary shares will not themselves be convertible into common stock or any other of our securities or property, except in connection with preserving our status as a REIT under the Code, unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement. However, if the underlying preferred stock is convertible, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of depositary shares may surrender them to the preferred stock depositary with written instructions to convert the preferred stock represented by their depositary shares into whole shares of common stock, other shares of our preferred stock or other shares of stock, as applicable. Upon receipt of these instructions and any amounts payable in connection with a conversion, we will convert the preferred stock using the same procedures as those provided for delivery of preferred stock. If a holder of depositary shares converts only part of its depositary shares, the preferred stock depositary will issue a new depositary receipt for any depositary shares not converted. We will not issue fractional shares of common stock upon conversion. If a conversion will result in the issuance of a fractional share, we will pay an amount in cash equal to the value of the fractional interest based upon the closing price of the common stock on the last business day prior to the conversion.

Amendment and Termination of a Deposit Agreement

Unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, we and the preferred stock depositary may amend any form of depositary receipt evidencing depositary shares and any provision of a deposit agreement. However, unless the existing holders of at least two-thirds of the applicable depositary shares then outstanding have approved the amendment, or unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, we and the preferred stock depositary may not make any amendment that:

· would materially and adversely alter the rights of the holders of depositary shares; or

· would be materially and adversely inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the underlying preferred stock.

Subject to exceptions in the deposit agreements and unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, and except in order to comply with the law, no amendment may impair the right of any holder of depositary shares to surrender their depositary shares with instructions to deliver the underlying preferred stock and all money and other property represented by the depositary shares. Every holder of outstanding depositary shares at the time any amendment becomes effective who continues to hold the depositary shares will be deemed to consent and agree to the amendment and to be bound by the amended deposit agreement.

Unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, we may terminate a deposit agreement upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to the preferred stock depositary if the termination is necessary to preserve our status as a REIT under the Code. If we terminate a deposit agreement to preserve our status as a REIT under the Code, then we will use our best efforts to list the preferred stock issued upon surrender of the related depositary shares on a national securities exchange.

In addition, a deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

Charges of a Preferred Stock Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising out of a deposit agreement. In addition, we generally will pay the fees and expenses of a preferred stock depositary in connection with the performance of its duties. However, holders of depositary shares will pay the fees and expenses of a preferred stock depositary for any duties requested by the holders that the deposit agreement does not expressly require the preferred stock depositary to perform.

Resignation and Removal of Preferred Stock Depositary

A preferred stock depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to resign. We also may remove a preferred stock depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor preferred stock depositary. We will appoint a successor preferred stock depositary within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal. The successor must be a bank or trust company with its principal office in the United States and have a combined capital and surplus of at least the amount set forth in the deposit agreement.

Miscellaneous

The preferred stock depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares any reports and communications from us with respect to the underlying preferred stock.

We and the preferred stock depositary will not be liable if any law or any circumstances beyond our control prevent or delay us from performing our obligations under a deposit agreement. Unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, our obligations and the obligations of a preferred stock depositary under a deposit agreement will be limited to performing duties in good faith and without negligence in regard to voting of preferred stock, gross negligence or willful misconduct. We and a preferred stock depositary may not be required to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding with respect to any depositary shares or the underlying preferred stock unless we are furnished with satisfactory indemnity.

We and any preferred stock depositary may rely on the written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting shares of preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary shares or other persons we believe in good faith to be competent, and on documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and signed by a proper party.

Ownership Limitations and Restrictions on Transfer

As further discussed under “Description of Common Stock—Ownership Limitations and Restrictions on Transfer,” in order for us to maintain our REIT qualification under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (including certain entities treated as individuals for these purposes) during the last half of a taxable year. As a result, our charter provides that no person may beneficially own or be deemed to beneficially own by virtue of the attribution rules of the Code, more than 9.8% of our issued and outstanding shares of capital stock. Accordingly, the articles supplementary designating the terms of each series of preferred stock and the deposit agreement under which any depositary shares representing such series are issued may contain provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of the depositary shares representing a fractional interest in a series of preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will specify any additional ownership  limitations and restrictions on transfer relating to any depositary shares. Our board of directors may waive this ownership limit if it receives evidence that ownership in excess of the limit will not jeopardize our REIT status under the Code.

These ownership limitations could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction in which holders of some shares of our capital stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then prevailing market price or which such holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interest.

Depositary

The prospectus supplement will identify the preferred stock depositary for the depositary shares.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

The following description of our warrants for the purchase of preferred stock or common stock in this prospectus contains the general terms and provisions of the warrants. The particular terms of any offering of warrants will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such offering. The statements below describing the warrants are subject to and qualified by, the applicable provisions of our charter, bylaws and articles supplementary.

General

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our preferred stock or common stock. We may issue warrants independently or together with any of our securities, and warrants also may be attached to our securities or independent of them. We will issue series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement between us and a specified warrant agent described in the prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

Terms

A prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any warrants that we issue or offer, including:

Ownership Limitations and Restrictions on Transfer

As further discussed under “Description of Common Stock—Ownership Limitations and Restrictions on Transfer,” in order for us to maintain our REIT qualification under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (including certain entities treated as individuals for these purposes) during the last half of a taxable year. As a result, our charter provides that no person may beneficially own or be deemed to beneficially own by virtue of the attribution rules of the Code, more than 9.8% of our issued and outstanding shares of capital stock. Our board of directors may waive this ownership limit if it receives evidence that ownership in excess of the limit will not jeopardize our REIT status under the Code.

These ownership limitations could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction in which holders of some shares of our capital stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then prevailing market price or which such holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interest.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including without limitation:

A distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may also be effected through the issuance of derivative securities, including without limitation, warrants, subscriptions, exchangeable securities, forward delivery contracts and the writing of options.

In addition, the manner in which we may sell some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus includes, without limitation, through:

We may also enter into hedging transactions. For example, we may:

In addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

A prospectus supplement with respect to each series of securities will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, the underwriters or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, either:

Our common stock or preferred stock may be issued upon the exchange of debt securities of the Operating Partnership or in exchange for other securities.

General

Any public offering price and any discounts, commissions, concessions or other items constituting compensation allowed or re-allowed or paid to underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be changed from time to time. Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms that participate in the distribution of the offered securities may be “underwriters” as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profits they receive on the resale of the offered securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any underwriters, agents or dealers and describe their commissions, fees or discounts in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

Underwriters and Agents

If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offered securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the offered securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. These sales may be made at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale, at prices related to such prevailing market price or at negotiated prices. We may offer the securities to the public through an underwriting syndicate or through a single underwriter. The underwriters in any particular offering will be mentioned in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions contained in an underwriting agreement that we will enter into with the underwriters at the time of the sale to them. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased, unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

We may designate agents to sell the offered securities. Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the agents will agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. We may also sell the offered securities to one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These firms will remarket the offered securities upon purchasing them in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to the terms of the offered securities. A prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be, will identify any remarketing firm and will describe the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation.

In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, we may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which we receive our outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their positions in these outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from us under these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of securities.

Dealers

We may sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. We may negotiate and pay dealers’ commissions, discounts or concessions for their services. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public either at varying prices to be determined by the dealer or at a fixed offering price agreed to with us at the time of resale. Dealers engaged by us may allow other dealers to participate in resales.

Direct Sales

We may choose to sell the offered securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.

Institutional Purchasers

We may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities on a delayed delivery basis pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be will provide the details of any such arrangement, including the offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.

We will enter into such delayed contracts only with institutional purchasers that we approve. These institutions may include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions.

Indemnification; Other Relationships

We may have agreements with agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.

Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions

There is currently no market for any of the offered securities other than the common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. If the offered securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is possible that an underwriter could inform us that it intended to make a market in the offered securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any such market making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to whether an active trading market will develop for the offered securities. We have no current plans for listing of the debt securities, preferred stock, warrants or other securities issued pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part on any securities exchange; any such listing will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

In connection with any offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve syndicate sales of common stock in excess of the number of shares to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. “Covered” short sales are sales of shares made in an amount up to the number of shares represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered syndicate short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. Transactions to close out the covered syndicate short involve either purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed or the exercise of the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also make “naked” short sales of shares in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares of common stock in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids for or purchases of shares in the open market while the offering is in progress for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities.

In connection with any offering, the underwriters may also engage in penalty bids. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.

CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

The following description is a summary of certain provisions of Maryland law and of our charter and bylaws. This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our charter and bylaws which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and the Maryland General Corporation Law.

Board of Directors

Number; Vacancies.  Our bylaws provide that the number of our directors shall be established by the board of directors but shall never be less than the minimum number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law (which is not less than one), nor more than fifteen. We have also, in our bylaws, elected to be subject to certain provisions of Maryland law described below under the heading “Unsolicited Takeovers” which vest in the board of directors the exclusive right to determine the number of directors and the exclusive right, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, to fill vacancies on the board regardless of the reason for such vacancies. These provisions of Maryland law, which are applicable even if other provisions of Maryland law or our charter or bylaws provide to the contrary, also provide that any director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred, rather than until the next annual meeting of stockholders as would otherwise be the case, and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies.

Removal of Directors.    Our charter provides that directors may be removed from office only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast by our stockholders generally in the election of directors. Neither the Maryland General Corporation Law nor our charter define the term “cause.” As a result, removal for “cause” is subject to Maryland common law and to judicial interpretation and review in the context of the facts and circumstances of any particular situation.

The requirement of cause and a substantial stockholder vote for removal of any of our directors, and the exclusive right of the remaining directors to fill vacancies on the board make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of our board of directors and may discourage offers to acquire us even when an acquisition may be in the best interest of our stockholders.

Maryland Business Combination Act

Under the Maryland Business Combination Act, unless an exemption applies, any “business combination” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder is prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations generally include mergers, consolidations, share exchanges, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, asset transfers or issuances or reclassifications of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:

A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which such person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder.  In approving such a transaction, however, 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 a Maryland 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:

These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under the Maryland Business Combination Act, 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.

The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations with an interested stockholder that are exempted by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Our board of directors has exempted from the Maryland Business Combination Act, business combinations between certain affiliated individuals and entities and us.  However, unless our board of directors adopts further exemptions, the provisions of the Maryland Business Combination Act will be applicable to business combinations between other persons and us.

Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act

The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act provides that holders of control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights with respect to the control shares except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by our stockholders on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiring person, by officers or by directors who are employees of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiring person or in respect of which the acquiring person is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiring person to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of 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. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of directors of the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares.  The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting.  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 at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the corporation to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the 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 appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.

The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act does not apply to:

Our bylaws currently contain a provision exempting from the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act any acquisitions of shares of our stock by any person.  However, our board of directors or our stockholders may amend our bylaws in the future to repeal or modify this exemption, in which case any of our control shares acquired in a control share acquisition could be subject to the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act.

Unsolicited Takeovers

Under certain provisions of Maryland law described in part above under “Board of Directors - Number; Vacancies”, relating to unsolicited takeovers, 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 may elect to be subject to certain statutory provisions relating to unsolicited takeovers which, among other things, would automatically classify the corporation’s board of directors into three classes with staggered terms of three years each and vest in the board of directors the exclusive right to determine the number of directors and the exclusive right by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, to fill vacancies on the board of directors even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum.

These statutory provisions also provide that any director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred, rather than the next annual meeting of stockholders as would otherwise be the case, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, and that the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast by the stockholders generally in the election of directors shall be required in order to remove a director.  Finally, these statutory provisions provide that a special meeting of stockholders need be called only upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the special meeting.

An election to be subject to any or all of the foregoing statutory provisions may be made in the corporation’s charter or bylaws, or by resolution of its board of directors.  Any such statutory provision to which a corporation elects to be subject will apply even if other provisions of Maryland law or the corporation’s charter or bylaws provide to the contrary.

Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to the foregoing statutory provisions, (a)  a two-thirds stockholder vote, as well as cause, is required to remove any director from our board of directors and (b) unless called by our chief executive officer, our president and chief operating officer, or our board, the written request of the holders of shares entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting is required to call a special meeting of stockholders.  We have also elected in our bylaws to be subject to certain of the statutory provisions described above so that, as stated above under “Board of Directors — Number; Vacancies”, our board of directors has the exclusive right to determine the number of our directors and the exclusive right to fill vacancies on our board of directors, and any director elected to fill a vacancy will hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred. In addition, our board of directors has adopted a resolution prohibiting us from electing to be subject to the foregoing statutory provision relating to unsolicited takeovers which would automatically classify our board of directors into three classes with staggered terms of three years each, unless such election is first approved by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers

As permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, our charter contains a provision limiting the liability of our directors and officers to us or our stockholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.  Under Maryland law, the liability of our directors and officers to us or our stockholders for money damages may be limited except to the extent that:

We are authorized under our charter, and obligated under our bylaws and existing indemnification agreements, to indemnify our present and former directors and officers against expense or liability in an action to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law.  Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses they incur in connection with any proceeding to which they are a party because of their service as an officer, director or other similar capacity.  However, Maryland law prohibits indemnification if it is established that:

Also, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not provide indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless, in either case, a court orders indemnification, and then only for expenses.

In addition to the circumstances in which Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers, Maryland law requires that unless limited by the charter of the corporation, a director or officer who has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any proceeding or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter in a proceeding, to which he is made a party by reason of his services as a director or officer, shall be indemnified against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the proceeding, claim, issue or matter in which the director or officer has been successful.  Our charter does not alter this requirement.

We also maintain a policy of directors and officers liability insurance covering certain liabilities incurred by our directors and officers in connection with the performance of their duties.

The above indemnification provisions could operate to indemnify directors, officers or other persons who exert control over us against liabilities arising under the Securities Act.  Insofar as the above provisions may allow that type of indemnification, the Securities and Exchange Commission has informed us that, in their opinion, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

Amendment of Charter and Bylaws

Our charter may generally be amended only if such amendment is declared advisable by our board of directors and approved by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all votes entitled to be cast by our stockholders on the amendment. However, any amendment to the provisions in our charter relating to the removal of directors requires approval by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast.

Our board of directors has the power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws.  In addition, our stockholders may alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and adopt new bylaws if any such alternation, repeal or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be cast by our stockholders on the matter, except that our stockholders do not have the power to alter or repeal the provisions of our bylaws relating to indemnification of our directors and officers or the provisions of our bylaws relating to amendments thereto without the approval of our board of directors.

Mergers, Share Exchanges, Transfers of Assets

Pursuant to our charter and Maryland law, with certain exceptions we cannot engage in a merger or consolidation, enter into a statutory share exchange in which we are not the surviving entity or sell all or substantially all of our assets, unless our board of directors adopts a resolution declaring the proposed transaction advisable, and the transaction is approved by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on the matter.  In addition, the partnership agreement of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. limits our ability to merge or sell substantially all of our assets under certain circumstances. See “Description of Common Stock — Operating Partnership Agreement.”

Dissolution of the Company

We may be dissolved only if the dissolution is declared advisable by a majority of the entire board of directors and approved by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on the dissolution.

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of persons for election to the board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only:

·      pursuant to our notice of the meeting;

·      by, or at the direction of, the board of directors; or

·      by any stockholder of the Company who was a  stockholder of record both as of the time notice of such nomination or proposal of business is given by the stockholder as set forth in our bylaws and as of the time of the annual meeting in question, who is entitled to vote at such annual meeting and who complies with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws.

Any stockholder who seeks to make such a nomination or to bring any matter before an annual meeting, or his representative, must be present in person at the annual meeting.

Anti-takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Charter and Bylaws

The Maryland Business Combination Act, the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (if the provision in our bylaws exempting us from this statute is modified or repealed), the provisions of Maryland law relating to unsolicited takeovers, the advance notice provisions of our bylaws, the provisions of our charter on removal of directors and certain other provisions of Maryland law and our charter and bylaws could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or our change in control which might involve a premium price for holders of shares of our capital stock or otherwise be in their best interest.

MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following discussion describes certain of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to our taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the ownership and disposition of our common stock.

If we offer one or more additional series of common stock or preferred stock (including stock represented by depositary shares), guarantees of debt securities issued by Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. or one or more series of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the prospectus supplement would include information about certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences to holders of any of the foregoing.

Because this summary is only intended to address certain of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of our common stock, it may not contain all the information that may be important to you. As you review this discussion, you should keep in mind that:

· the tax consequences to you may vary depending on your particular tax situation;

· you may be a person that is subject to special tax treatment or special rules under the Code (e.g., regulated investment companies, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, financial institutions or broker-dealers, expatriates, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax and partnerships, trusts, estates or other pass through entities) that the discussion below does not address;

· the discussion below does not address any state, local or non-U.S. tax considerations; and

· the discussion below deals only with stockholders that hold our common stock as a “capital asset,” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code.

We urge you to consult with your own tax advisors regarding the specific tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning and selling our common stock, including the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of acquiring, owning and selling our common stock in your particular circumstances and potential changes in applicable laws or interpretations thereof.

The information in this section is based on the Code, final, temporary and proposed Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) (including in private letter rulings and other non-binding guidance issued by the IRS), as well as court decisions all as of the date hereof. No assurance can be given that future legislation, Treasury Regulations, administrative interpretations and court decisions will not significantly change current law or adversely affect existing interpretations of current law, or that any such change would not apply retroactively to transactions or events preceding the date of the change. We have not obtained, and do not intend to obtain, any rulings from the IRS concerning the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the matters discussed below. Furthermore, neither the IRS nor any court is bound by any of the statements set forth herein and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not assert any position contrary to statements set forth herein or that a court will not sustain such position.

Taxation of the Company as a REIT

Seyfarth Shaw LLP, which has acted as our tax counsel, has reviewed the following discussion and is of the opinion that it fairly summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to our status as a REIT under the Code. The following summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations is based on current law, is for general information only, and is not intended to be (and is not) tax advice.

It is the opinion of Seyfarth Shaw LLP that we have been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, commencing with our initial taxable year ended December 31, 1994, through and including our taxable year ended December 31, 2019, and that our current method of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. We must emphasize that this opinion of Seyfarth Shaw LLP is based on various assumptions and certain representations and statements made by our officers and our accountants as to factual matters and is conditioned upon such assumptions, representations and statements being accurate and complete. Seyfarth Shaw LLP is not aware of any facts or circumstances that are not consistent with these representations, assumptions and statements. Potential purchasers of the securities should be aware, however, that opinions of counsel are not binding upon the IRS or any court. In general, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to satisfy, through actual operating results, distribution, diversity of stock ownership, and other requirements imposed under the Code, none of which has been, or will be, reviewed by Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Accordingly, while we intend to continue to qualify to be taxed as a REIT under the Code no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any particular taxable year has satisfied, or will satisfy, the requirements for REIT qualification.

Commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1994, we have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code. We believe that commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1994, and for all of our subsequent taxable years through and including our taxable year ended December 31, 2019, we have been organized and have operated in such a manner so as to qualify as a REIT under the Code, and we intend to continue to operate in such a manner. However, we cannot assure you that we will, in fact, continue to operate in such a manner or continue to so qualify as a REIT under the Code.

If we qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code, we generally will not be subject to a corporate-level tax on our net income that we distribute currently to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” (i.e., a corporate-level and stockholder-level tax) that generally results from investment in a regular subchapter C corporation. However, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as follows:

· First, we would be taxed at regular corporate rates on any of our undistributed REIT taxable income, including our undistributed net capital gains (although, to the extent so designated by us, stockholders would receive an offsetting credit against their own U.S. federal income tax liability for U.S. federal income taxes paid by us with respect to any such gains).

· Second, if we have (a) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property,” which is, in general, property acquired on foreclosure or otherwise on default on a loan secured by such real property or a lease of such property, which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (b) other nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate on such income.

· Third, if we have net income from prohibited transactions such income will be subject to a 100% tax. Prohibited transactions are, in general, certain sales or other dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business other than foreclosure property.

· Fourth, if we should fail to satisfy the annual 75% gross income test or 95% gross income test (as discussed below), but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Code because certain other requirements have been met, we will have to pay a 100% tax on an amount equal to (a) the gross income attributable to the greater of (i) 75% of our gross income over the amount of gross income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% test, and (ii) 95% of our gross income over the amount of gross income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 95% test, multiplied by (b) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

· Fifth, 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 years, we would be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amount actually distributed by us.

· Sixth, if we were to acquire an asset from a corporation which is or has been a subchapter C corporation in a transaction in which the basis of the asset in our hands is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of the subchapter C corporation, and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of the asset within the five-year period beginning on the day that we acquired the asset, then we will have to pay tax on the built-in gain at the highest regular corporate rate. The results described in this paragraph assume that no election will be made under Treasury Regulations Section 1.337(d)-7 for the subchapter C corporation to be subject to an immediate tax when the asset is acquired. Under applicable Treasury Regulations, any gain from the sale of property we acquired in an exchange under Section 1031 (a like-kind exchange) or Section 1033 (an involuntary conversion) of the Code generally is excluded from the application of this built-in gains tax.

· Seventh, we could be subject to a 100% tax on certain payments that we receive from one of our “taxable REIT subsidiaries,” or on certain expenses deducted by one of our “taxable REIT subsidiaries” (each, a “TRS”) if the economic arrangement between us, the taxable REIT subsidiary and the tenants at our properties are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties.

· Eighth, if we fail to satisfy a REIT asset test, as described below, due to reasonable cause and we nonetheless maintain our REIT qualification under the Code because of specified cure provisions, we will generally be required to pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets that caused us to fail such test.

· Ninth, if we fail to satisfy any provision of the Code that would result in our failure to qualify as a REIT (other than a violation of the REIT gross income tests or a violation of the asset tests described below) and the violation is due to reasonable cause, we may retain our REIT qualification but will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.

· Tenth, if we fail to comply with the requirement to send annual letters to our stockholders holding at least a certain percentage of our stock, as determined by Treasury Regulations, requesting information regarding the actual ownership of our stock, and the failure is not due to reasonable cause or due to willful neglect, we will be subject to a $25,000 penalty, or if the failure is intentional, a $50,000 penalty

· Eleventh, we may elect to retain and pay income tax on our net capital gain. In that case, a stockholder would include its proportionate share of our undistributed capital gain (to the extent we make a timely designation of such gain to the stockholder) in its income, would be deemed to have paid the tax that we paid on such gain, and would be allowed a credit for its proportionate share of the tax deemed to have been paid, and an adjustment would be made to increase the tax basis of the stockholder in our capital stock.

Finally, the earnings of our lower-tier entities that are subchapter C corporations, including TRSs but excluding our QRSs (as defined below), are subject to federal corporate income tax.

In addition, we may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, 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 REIT Qualification—In General

To qualify as a REIT under the Code, we must elect to be treated as a REIT and must satisfy the income, asset, distribution, diversity of share ownership and other requirements imposed under the Code. In general, the Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

(1)which is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

(2)the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;

(3)that would otherwise be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code;

(4)that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company to which certain provisions of the Code apply;

(5)the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons;

(6)during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or constructively, by five or fewer individuals, as defined in the Code to include certain entities;

(7)that makes an election to be taxable as a REIT, or has made this election for a previous taxable year, which has not been revoked or terminated, and satisfied all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS that must be met to elect and maintain REIT status;

(8) that uses a calendar year for U.S. federal income tax purposes and complies with the recordkeeping requirements of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

(9)that meets certain other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets.

The Code provides that requirements (1)-(4), (8) and (9) above must be met during the entire taxable year and that requirements (5) and (6) above do not apply to the first taxable year for which a REIT election is made and, thereafter, requirement (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. For purposes of requirement (6) above, generally (although subject to certain exceptions that should not apply with respect to us), any stock held by a trust described in Section 401(a) of the Code and exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of the Code is treated as not held by the trust itself but directly by the trust beneficiaries in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust.

We believe that we have satisfied the requirements above for REIT qualification. In addition, our charter currently includes restrictions regarding the ownership and transfer of our common stock, which restrictions are intended to assist us in satisfying some of these requirements (and, in particular requirements (5) and (6) above). The ownership and transfer restrictions pertaining to our common stock are described herein under the heading “Description of Common Stock—Ownership Limitations and Restrictions on Transfer.”

In applying the REIT gross income and asset tests, all of the assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of a corporate subsidiary of a REIT that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” (as defined in Section 856(i)(2) of the Code) (“QRS”) are treated as the assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the REIT itself. Moreover, the separate existence of a QRS is disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the QRS is not subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax (although it may be subject to state and local tax in some states and localities). In general, a QRS is any corporation if all of the stock of such corporation is held by the REIT, except that it does not include any corporation that is a TRS of the REIT. Thus, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our QRSs are disregarded, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of these QRSs are treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit.

A TRS is any corporation in which a REIT directly or indirectly owns stock, provided that the REIT and that corporation make a joint election to treat that corporation as a TRS. The election can be revoked at any time as long as the REIT and the TRS revoke such election jointly. In addition, if a TRS holds, directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the securities of any other corporation other than a REIT (by vote or by value), then that other corporation is also treated as a TRS. A TRS is subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates (currently a maximum rate of 21%), and may also be subject to state and local tax. Any dividends paid or deemed paid to us by any one of our TRSs will also be taxable, either (1) to us to the extent the dividend is retained by us, or (2) to our stockholders to the extent the dividends received from the TRS are paid to our stockholders. We may hold more than 10% of the stock of a TRS without jeopardizing our qualification as a REIT notwithstanding the rule described below under “—REIT Asset Tests” that generally precludes ownership of more than 10% of any issuer’s securities. However, as noted below, in order to qualify as a REIT, the securities of all of our TRSs in which we have invested either directly or indirectly may not represent more than 20% (25% for tax year beginning after December 31, 2008 through our tax year ending on December 31, 2017) of the total value of our assets. We expect that the aggregate value of all of our interests in TRSs will represent less than 20% (25% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2008 through our tax year ending on December 31, 2017) of the total value of our assets; however, we cannot assure that this will always be true.

A TRS may generally engage in any business including the provision of customary or non-customary services to tenants of the parent REIT, which, if performed by the REIT itself, could cause rents received by the REIT to be disqualified as “rents from real property.” However, a TRS may not directly or indirectly operate or manage any hotels or health care facilities or provide rights to any brand name under which any hotel or health care facility is operated, unless such rights are provided to an “eligible independent contractor” to operate or manage a hotel if such rights are held by the TRS as a franchisee, licensee, or in a similar capacity and such hotel is either owned by the TRS or leased to the TRS by its parent REIT. However, for taxable years beginning after July 30, 2008, a TRS may provide rights to a brand name under which a health care facility is operated, if such rights are provided to an “eligible independent contractor” to operate or manage the health care facility and such health care facility is either owned by the TRS or leased to the TRS by its parent REIT. A TRS will not be considered to operate or manage a qualified health care property or a qualified lodging facility solely because the TRS (i) directly or indirectly possesses a license, permit, or similar instrument enabling it to do so, or (ii) employs individuals working at such facility or property located outside the U.S., but only if an “eligible independent contractor” is responsible for the daily supervision and direction of such individuals on behalf of the TRS pursuant to a management agreement or similar service contract. Additionally, the Code contains several provisions which address the arrangements between a REIT and its TRSs which are intended to ensure that a TRS recognizes an appropriate amount of taxable income and is subject to an appropriate level of U.S. federal income tax. For example, a TRS is limited in its ability to deduct interest payments made to the REIT. In addition, a REIT would be subject to a 100% penalty on some payments that it receives from a TRS, or on certain expenses deducted by the TRS if the economic arrangements between the REIT, the REIT’s tenants and the TRS are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties. We have several TRSs and will endeavor to structure any arrangement between ourselves, our TRSs and our tenants so as to minimize the risk of disallowance of interest expense deductions or of the 100% penalty being imposed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, it cannot be assured that the IRS would not challenge any such arrangement.

Pursuant to Section 172 of the Code, as amended by Pub. L. No. 115-97 (informally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”)), to the extent one or more of our TRSs have net operating loss carryforwards with respect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the deduction for any such carryforward in a taxable year will be limited to 80% of such TRS’s “adjusted taxable income” with respect to such taxable year. Any unused portion of such losses may be carried forward indefinitely, but may not be carried back to a prior taxable year.

A REIT that is a partner in a partnership is deemed to own its proportionate share of each of the assets of the partnership and is deemed to be entitled to income of the partnership attributable to such share. For purposes of Section 856 of the Code, the interest of a REIT in the assets of a partnership of which it is a partner is determined in accordance with the REIT’s capital interest in the partnership and the character of the assets and items of gross income of the partnership retain the same character in the hands of the REIT. For example, if the partnership holds any property primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of its trade or business, the REIT is treated as holding its proportionate share of such property primarily for such purpose. Thus, our proportionate share (based on capital) of the assets, liabilities and items of income of any partnership in which we are a partner, including Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. (and our indirect share of the assets, liabilities and items of income of each lower-tier partnership), will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income for purposes of applying the requirements described in this section. For purposes of the 10% Value Test (described under “REIT Asset Tests” below) our proportionate share is based on our proportionate interest in the equity interests and certain debt securities issued by a partnership.

Also, actions taken by Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. or other lower-tier partnerships can affect our ability to satisfy the REIT gross income and asset tests and the determination of whether we have net income from a prohibited transaction. For purposes of this section any reference to “partnership” refers to and includes any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, business trust and other entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes, and any reference to “partner” refers to and includes a partner, member, joint venturer and other beneficial owner of any such partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, business trust and other entity or arrangement.

REIT Gross Income Tests:    In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Code, we must satisfy, on an annual basis, two gross income tests.

· First, at least 75% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain “hedging transactions,” for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including “rents from real property,” gains on the disposition of real estate, dividends paid by another REIT and interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, or from some types of temporary investments. Interest and gain on debt instruments issued by publicly offered REITs that are not secured by mortgages on real property or interests in real property are not qualifying income for purposes of the 75% test.

· Second, at least 95% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain “hedging transactions,” for each taxable year must be derived from any combination of income qualifying under the 75% test and dividends, interest, and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities.

For this purpose the term “rents from real property” includes: (a) rents from interests in real property; (b) charges for services customarily furnished or rendered in connection with the rental of real property, whether or not such charges are separately stated; and (c) rent attributable to personal property which is leased under, or in connection with, a lease of real property, but only if the rent attributable to such personal property for the taxable year does not exceed 15% of the total rent for the taxable year attributable to both the real and personal property leased under, or in connection with, such lease. For purposes of (c), the rent attributable to personal property is equal to that amount which bears the same ratio to total rent for the taxable year as the average of the fair market values of the personal property at the beginning and at the end of the taxable year bears to the average of the aggregate fair market values of both the real property and the personal property at the beginning and at the end of such taxable year.

However, in order for rent received or accrued, directly or indirectly, with respect to any real or personal property, to qualify as “rents from real property,” the following conditions must be satisfied:

· such rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits derived by any person from the property (although the rent may be based on a fixed percentage of receipts or sales); and

· such rent may not be received or accrued, directly or indirectly, from any person if the REIT owns, directly or indirectly (including by attribution, upon the application of certain attribution rules): (i) in the case of any person which is a corporation, at least 10% of such person’s voting stock or at least 10% of the value of such person’s stock; or (ii) in the case of any person which is not a corporation, an interest of at least 10% in the assets or net profits of such person, except that under certain circumstances, rents received from a TRS will not be disqualified as “rents from real property” even if we own more than 10% of the TRS.

In addition, all amounts (including rents that would otherwise qualify as “rents from real property”) received or accrued during a taxable year directly or indirectly by a REIT with respect to a property, will constitute “impermissible tenant services income” (and, thus, will not qualify as “rents from real property”) if the amount received or accrued directly or indirectly by the REIT for: (x) noncustomary services furnished or rendered by the REIT to tenants of the property; or (y) managing or operating the property ((x) and (y) collectively, “Impermissible Services”) exceeds 1% of all amounts received or accrued during such taxable year directly or indirectly by the REIT with respect to the property. For this purpose, however, the following services and activities are not treated as Impermissible Services: (i) services furnished or rendered, or management or operation provided, through an independent contractor from whom the REIT itself does not derive or receive any income or through a TRS; and (ii) services usually or customarily rendered in connection with the rental of space for occupancy (such as, for example, the furnishing of heat and light, the cleaning of public entrances, and the collection of trash), as opposed to services rendered primarily to a tenant for the tenant’s convenience. If the amount treated as being received or accrued for Impermissible Services does not exceed the 1% threshold, then only the amount attributable to the Impermissible Services (and not, for example, all tenant rents received or accrued that otherwise qualify as “rents from real property”) will fail to qualify as “rents from real property.” For purposes of the 1% threshold, the amount that we will be deemed to have received for performing Impermissible Services will be the greater of the actual amounts so received or 150% of the direct cost to us of providing those services.

We (through Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. and other affiliated entities) provide some services at the properties, which services we believe do not constitute Impermissible Services or, otherwise, do not cause any rents or other amounts received that otherwise qualify as “rents from real property” to fail to so qualify. If we or Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. or other affiliated entities were to consider offering services in the future which could cause any such rents or other amounts to fail to qualify as “rents from real property” then we would endeavor to arrange for such services to be provided through one or more independent contractors and/or TRSs or, otherwise, in such a manner so as to minimize the risk of such services being treated as Impermissible Services.

In addition, we (through Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. and other affiliated entities) have received fees for property management and administrative services provided with respect to certain properties not owned, either directly or indirectly, entirely by us and/or Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. These fees do not constitute qualifying income for purposes of either the 75% gross income test or 95% gross income test. We (through Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. and other affiliated entities) also receive other types of income that do not constitute qualifying income for purposes of either of these two tests. We believe that our share of the aggregate amount of these fees and other non-qualifying income so received or accrued has not caused us to fail to satisfy either of the gross income tests. We anticipate that we may continue to receive or accrue a certain amount of non-qualifying fees and other income. In the event that our share of the amount of such fees and other income could jeopardize our ability to satisfy these gross income tests, then we would endeavor to arrange for the services in respect of which such fees and other income are received to be provided by one or more independent contractors and/or TRSs or, otherwise, in such manner so as to minimize the risk of failing either of the gross income tests.

Interest income constitutes qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% gross income test (as described above) to the extent that the obligation is secured by a mortgage on real property. If we receive interest income with respect to a mortgage loan that is secured by both real property and other property, and the highest principal amount of the loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property on the date that we have a binding commitment to acquire or originate the mortgage loan, the interest income will be apportioned between the real property and the other collateral, and its income from the arrangement (except as provided below) will qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test only to the extent that the interest is allocable to the real property. Even if a loan is not secured by real property, or is undersecured, the income that it generates may nonetheless qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test. In the case of mortgage loans secured by both real property and personal property, if the fair market value of the personal property does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all property securing the loan, then the personal property securing the loan will be treated as real property for purposes of determining whether the mortgage loan is a qualifying asset for the 75% asset test and whether the related interest income qualifies for purposes of the 75% gross income test.

We and our affiliates or subsidiaries have or may originate and acquire 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 such real property. Revenue Procedure 2003-65 provides a safe harbor pursuant to which a mezzanine loan, if it meets each of the requirements contained in the Revenue Procedure, will be treated by the IRS as a real estate asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests described in the section entitled “REIT Asset Tests,” and interest derived from it will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which REITs may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. Moreover, not all of the mezzanine loans in which we invest meet or will meet each of the requirements for reliance on this safe harbor. To the extent that mezzanine loans do not qualify for the safe harbor described above, the interest income from such loans will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but there is a risk that such interest income will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test and that such loans will not constitute real estate assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests. We have invested, and will continue to invest, in mezzanine loans in a manner that will enable us to continue to satisfy the REIT gross income and asset tests.

From time to time, we may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Income and gain from “hedging transactions” are excluded from gross income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests. For this purpose, a “hedging transaction” means (1) any transaction entered into in the normal course of our trade or business primarily to manage the risk of interest rate, price changes, 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, (2)  any transaction entered into primarily to manage the risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income test (or any property which generates such income or gain), or (3)  generally, any transaction entered into in connection with the extinguishment of borrowings or the disposition of property with respect to which hedging transactions described in items (1) or (2) were entered into and such transaction is a hedging transaction with respect to such hedging transaction . We will be required to clearly identify any such hedging transaction before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into and to satisfy other identification requirements. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT under the Code.

A REIT will incur a 100% tax on the net income derived from any sale or other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that the REIT holds primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. We believe that none of our assets are held primarily for sale to customers and that a sale of any of our assets will not be in the ordinary course of our business. Whether a REIT holds an asset “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business” depends, however, on the facts and circumstances in effect from time to time, including those related to a particular asset. A safe harbor to the characterization of the sale of property by a REIT as a prohibited transaction and the 100% prohibited transaction tax is available if the following requirements are met:

· the REIT has held the property for not less than two years;

· the aggregate capital expenditures made by the REIT, or any partner of the REIT, during the two-year period preceding the date of the sale that are includable in the basis of the property do not exceed 30% of the selling price of the property;

· either (1) during the year in question, the REIT did not make more than seven sales of property other than foreclosure property or sales to which Section 1033 of the Internal Revenue Code applies, (2) the aggregate adjusted bases of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate bases of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year, (3) the aggregate fair market value of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year, (4)  the aggregate adjusted bases of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 20% of the aggregate bases of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year (provided that the aggregate adjusted bases of all such properties sold by the REIT during a three-year period, including the taxable year at issue and the two immediately preceding taxable years, does not exceed 10% of the aggregate bases of all of the assets of the REIT), or (5)  the aggregate fair market value of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 20% of the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year (provided that the aggregate fair market value of all such properties sold by the REIT during a three-year period, including the taxable year at issues and the two immediately preceding taxable years, does not exceed 10% of the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets of the REIT);

· in the case of property not acquired through foreclosure or lease termination, the REIT has held the property for at least two years for the production of rental income; and

· if the REIT has made more than seven sales of non-foreclosure property during the taxable year, substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property were made through an independent contractor from whom the REIT derives no income or through taxable REIT subsidiaries.

We will attempt to comply with the terms of safe-harbor provisions in the U.S. federal income tax laws prescribing when an asset sale will not be characterized as a prohibited transaction. We cannot assure you, however, that we can comply with the safe-harbor provision or that we will avoid owning property that may be characterized as property that we hold “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business.” The 100% tax will not apply to gains from the sale of property that is held through a TRS or other taxable corporation, although such income will be taxed to such corporation at regular corporate income tax rates.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Secretary of the Treasury may determine that any item of income or gain not otherwise qualifying for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests may be considered as not constituting gross income for purposes of those tests, and that any item of income or gain that otherwise constitutes nonqualifying income may be considered as qualifying income for purposes of such tests.

If we fail to satisfy either or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for that year pursuant to a special relief provision of the Code which may be available to us if:

· our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect;

· we attach a schedule of the nature and amount of each item of income to our U.S. federal income tax return; and

· the inclusion of any incorrect information on the schedule is not due to fraud with intent to evade tax.

We cannot state whether in all circumstances, if we were to fail to satisfy either of the gross income tests, we would still be entitled to the benefit of this relief provision. Even if this relief provision were to apply, we would nonetheless be subject to a 100% tax on the gross income attributable to the greater of (1) the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test and (2) the amount by which 95% of our income exceeds the amount of qualifying income under the 95% gross income test, in each case, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

REIT Asset Tests:    At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we must also satisfy the following tests relating to the nature and diversification of our assets (collectively, the “Asset Tests”):

· at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by “real estate assets” (which also includes any property attributable to the temporary investment of new capital, but only if such property is stock or a debt instrument and only for the 1-year period beginning on the date the REIT receives such proceeds), cash and cash items (including receivables) and government securities (“75% Value Test”);

· not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities other than securities that constitute qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% Value Test;

· except with respect to securities of a TRS or QRS and securities that constitute qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% Value Test:

· not more than 5% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities of any one issuer (the “5% Value Test”);

· we may not hold securities possessing more than 10% of the total voting power of the outstanding securities of any one issuer (the “10% Vote Test”);

· we may not hold securities having a value of more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer (the “10% Value Test”); and

· not more than 20% (25% for our 2009 taxable year through the end of our 2017 taxable year) of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities of one or more TRSs.

After initially meeting the Asset Tests at the close of any quarter of our taxable year, we would not lose our status as a REIT under the Code for failure to satisfy these tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in asset values. If the failure to satisfy the Asset Tests results from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, we can cure the failure by disposing of a sufficient amount of non-qualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We intend to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to facilitate compliance with the Asset Tests and to take such other actions within 30 days after the close of any quarter as necessary to cure any noncompliance.

In applying the Asset Tests, we are treated as owning all of the assets held by any of our QRSs and our proportionate share of the assets held by Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. (including Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.’s share of the assets held by any lower-tier partnership in which Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. holds a direct or indirect interest).

For purposes of the 5% Value Test, the 10% Vote Test or 10% Value Test, the term “securities” does not include shares in another REIT, equity or debt securities of a QRS or TRS, mortgage loans that constitute real estate assets, or equity interests in a partnership. Securities, for purposes of the Asset Tests, may include debt that we hold in other issuers. However, the Code specifically provides that the following types of debt will not be taken into account as securities for purposes of the 10% Value Test: (1) securities that meet the “straight debt” safe harbor; (2) loans to individuals or estates; (3) obligations to pay rents from real property; (4) rental agreements described in Section 467 of the Code (other than such agreements with related party tenants); (5) securities issued by other REITs; (6) debt issued by partnerships that derive at least 75% of their gross income from sources that constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test; (7) any debt not otherwise described in this paragraph that is issued by a partnership, but only to the extent of our interest as a partner in the partnership; (8) certain securities issued by a state, the District of Columbia, a foreign government, or a political subdivision of any of the foregoing, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and (9) any other arrangement described in future Treasury Regulations. For purposes of the 10% Value Test, our proportionate share of the assets of a partnership is our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership, without regard to the securities described in (6) and (7) above.

Based on our regular quarterly asset tests, we believe that we have not violated any of the Asset Tests. However, we cannot provide any assurance that the IRS would concur with our beliefs in this regard.

If we fail to satisfy the Asset Tests at the end of a calendar quarter, we will not lose our REIT qualification if (i) we satisfied the Asset Tests at the end of the preceding calendar quarter; and (ii) the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the Asset Test requirements arose from changes in the market values of our assets and was not wholly or partly caused by the acquisition of one or more non-qualifying assets.   If we did not satisfy the condition described in item (ii) above, we still could avoid disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which it arose.

If at the end of any calendar quarter, we violate the 5% Value Test or the 10% Vote or Value Tests described above, we will not lose our REIT qualification if (1) the failure is de minimis (up to the lesser of 1% of our assets or $10 million) and (2) we dispose of assets or otherwise comply with the Asset Tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify such failure. In the event of a failure of any of the Asset Tests (other than de minimis failures described in the preceding sentence), as long as the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we will not lose our REIT status if we (1) dispose of assets or otherwise comply with the Asset Tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify the failure, (2) we file a description of each asset causing the failure with the IRS and (3) pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or 21% of the net income from the nonqualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy the Asset Tests.

REIT Distribution Requirements:    To qualify for taxation as a REIT, we must, each year, make distributions (other than capital gain distributions) to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to (1) the sum of: (A) 90% of our “REIT taxable income,” computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain, and (B) 90% of the net income, after tax, from foreclosure property, minus (2) the sum of certain specified items of noncash income. In addition, if we were to dispose of any asset acquired from a subchapter C corporation in a “carryover basis” transaction within five years of the acquisition, we would be required to distribute at least 90% of the after-tax “built-in gain” recognized on the disposition of such asset.

We must pay dividend distributions in the taxable year to which they relate. Dividends paid in the subsequent year, however, will be treated as if paid in the prior year for purposes of the prior year’s distribution requirement if one of the following two sets of criteria are satisfied:

· the dividends are declared in October, November or December and are made payable to stockholders of record on a specified date in any of these months, and such dividends are actually paid during January of the following year; or

· the dividends are declared before we timely file our U.S. federal income tax return for such year, the dividends are paid in the 12-month period following the close of the year and not later than the first regular dividend payment after the declaration, and we elect on our U.S. federal income tax return for such year to have a specified amount of the subsequent dividend treated as if paid in such year.

In certain circumstances, relevant Treasury Regulations provide that if we give an option to each of our shareholders to receive a distribution either in cash or shares of equivalent value, distributions of stock pursuant to an election by shareholders to receive stock may be taxable to such shareholders and such distribution of stock may be treated as distributions for purposes of our distribution requirements. Any such taxable stock distributions may be limited pursuant to applicable guidance by the IRS.

Even if we satisfy our distribution requirements for maintaining our REIT status, we will nonetheless be subject to a corporate-level tax on any of our net capital gain or REIT taxable income that we do not distribute to our stockholders. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% excise tax to the extent that we fail to distribute during any calendar year (or by the end of January of the following calendar year in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last 3 months of the calendar year) an amount at least equal to the sum of:

· 85% of our ordinary income for such year;

· 95% of our capital gain net income for such year; and

· any undistributed taxable income required to be distributed from prior periods.

As discussed below, we may retain, rather than distribute, all or a portion of our net capital gains and pay the tax on the gains and may elect to have our stockholders include their proportionate share of such undistributed gains as long-term capital gain income on their own income tax returns and receive a credit for their share of the tax paid by us. For purposes of the 4% excise tax described above, any such retained gains would be treated as having been distributed by us.

We intend to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy our annual distribution requirements for REIT qualification under the Code and which are eligible for the dividends-paid deduction. In this regard, the partnership agreement of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. authorizes us, as the general partner of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P., to take such steps as may be necessary to cause Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. to make distributions to its partners at such times and which are sufficient in amount to enable us to satisfy the annual REIT distribution requirements.

We expect that our cash flow will exceed our REIT taxable income due to the allowance of depreciation and other non-cash deductions allowed in computing REIT taxable income. Accordingly, in general, we anticipate that we should have sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable us to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement for REIT qualification under the Code. It is possible, however, that we, from time to time, may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet this requirement or to distribute an amount sufficient to enable us to avoid income and/or excise taxes. In such event, we may find it necessary to arrange for borrowings to raise cash or, if possible, make taxable stock dividends in order to make such distributions.

Pursuant to Section 451 of the Code, as amended by the TCJA, subject to certain exceptions, we must accrue income for U.S. federal income tax purposes no later than when such income is taken into account as revenue in our financial statements, which could create additional differences between REIT taxable income and the receipt of cash attributable to such income. In addition, Section 162(m) of the Code places a per-employee limit of $1 million on the amount of compensation that a publicly held corporation may deduct in any one year with respect to its chief executive officer and certain other highly compensated executive officers. As amended by the TCJA, Section 162(m) no longer includes an exception that formerly permitted certain performance-based compensation to be deducted even if such compensation exceeded $1 million. This change may have the effect of increasing our REIT taxable income relative to the amount determinable under prior law.

Commencing with taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, Section 163(j) of the Code, as amended by the TCJA, limits the deductibility of net interest expense paid or accrued on debt properly allocable to a trade or business to 30% of “adjusted taxable income,” subject to certain exceptions. Any deduction in excess of the limitation is carried forward and may be used in a subsequent year, subject to the 30% limitation. Adjusted taxable income is determined without regard to certain deductions, including those for net business interest expense, net operating losses and, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2022, depreciation, amortization and depletion. Provided that a taxpayer makes a timely election (which is irrevocable), the 30% limitation does not apply to an “electing real property trade or business”, which is a trade or business involving real property development, redevelopment, construction, reconstruction, rental, operation, acquisition, conversion, management, leasing or brokerage, within the meaning of Section 469(c)(7)(C) of the Code. If such an election is made, depreciable real property (including certain improvements) held by such electing real property trade or business must be depreciated under the alternative depreciation system under the Code, which is generally less favorable than the generally applicable system of depreciation under the Code. We believe that Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. constitutes a real property trade or business, and that we may accordingly cause Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. to elect not to have the interest deduction limitation apply to it. If we do not cause Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. to make such an election, or if the election is determined to be unavailable with respect to all, or certain, of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.’s business activities, the new interest deduction limitation could result in us having more REIT taxable income and thus increase the amount of distributions we must make to comply with the REIT distribution requirements and avoid incurring corporate level tax. Similarly, the limitation could cause our TRSs to have greater taxable income and thus potentially greater corporate tax liability than they would otherwise have.

In the event that we are subject to an adjustment to our REIT taxable income (as defined in Section 860(d)(2) of the Code) resulting from an adverse determination by either a final court decision, a closing agreement between us and the IRS under Section 7121 of the Code, or an agreement as to tax liability between us and an IRS district director, we may be able to rectify any resulting failure to meet the 90% distribution requirement by paying “deficiency dividends” to stockholders that relate to the adjusted year but that are paid in a subsequent year. To qualify as a deficiency dividend, we must make the distribution within 90 days of the adverse determination and we also must satisfy other procedural requirements. If we satisfy the statutory requirements of Section 860 of the Code, a deduction is allowed for any deficiency dividend subsequently paid by us to offset an increase in our REIT taxable income resulting from the adverse determination. We, however, must pay statutory interest on the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends to compensate for the deferral of the tax liability.

Recordkeeping Requirements: We must maintain certain records in order to qualify as a REIT. In  addition, to avoid a monetary penalty, we must request on an annual basis information from our shareholders designed to  disclose the actual ownership of our outstanding shares of beneficial interest. We have complied, and we intend to continue to comply, with these requirements.

Failure to Qualify as a REIT:    If we would otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT under the Code because of a violation of one of the requirements described above, our qualification as a REIT will not be terminated if the violation is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and we pay a penalty tax of $50,000 for the violation. The immediately preceding sentence does not apply to violations of the gross income tests described above or a violation of the asset tests described above each of which have specific relief provisions that are described above.

If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code in any taxable year, and the relief provisions do not apply, we will have to pay tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We will not be able to deduct distributions to stockholders in any year in which we fail to qualify, nor will we be required to make distributions to stockholders. In this event, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to stockholders will be taxable to the stockholders as dividend income (which may be subject to tax at preferential rates) and corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction if they satisfy the relevant provisions of the Code. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we will also be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. We might not be entitled to the statutory relief described in this paragraph in all circumstances.

Taxation of U.S. Stockholders

When we refer to the term U.S. Stockholders, we mean a holder of our common stock that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

· a citizen or resident of the United States;

· a domestic corporation;

· an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

· a trust if a court within the United States can exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust, and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

If a partnership, entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding our common stock, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock by the partnership.

Distributions Generally:    For any taxable year for which we qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code, amounts distributed to taxable U.S. Stockholders will be taxed as discussed below.

As long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions made by us out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, and not designated as capital gain dividends, will constitute dividends taxable to our taxable U.S. Stockholders as ordinary income, but potentially qualify for a 20% deduction, as described below. A noncorporate U.S. Stockholder taxed at individual rates will generally not be entitled to the reduced tax rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” except with respect to the portion of any distribution (a) that represents income from dividends received from a non-REIT corporation in which it owns shares (but only if such dividends would be eligible for the lower rate on dividends if paid by the corporation to its individual stockholders), or (b) that is equal to our REIT taxable income (taking into account the dividends paid deduction available to us) for our previous taxable year less any taxes paid by us during the previous taxable year, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied at both the REIT and individual stockholder level.

Under current law, the highest marginal individual income tax rate on ordinary income is 37% (reduced from 39.6% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 through tax years beginning before January 1, 2026) while the highest individual income tax rate on long-term capital gains is generally 20%. However, pursuant to the TCJA, stockholders that are individuals, trusts, or estates, may, for taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 2026, deduct up to 20% of a “qualified REIT dividend” (generally, a dividend from a REIT that is not a capital gain dividend and is not “qualified dividend income”), resulting in an effective maximum U.S. federal income tax rate on such dividends of 29.6%, if allowed in full, which reflects a 20% deduction with respect to the current maximum tax rate of 37% on ordinary income.  Pursuant to recently finalized Treasury Regulations, in order for a dividend paid by a REIT to be eligible to be treated as a “qualified REIT dividend,” the shareholder must meet two holding period-related requirements. First, the shareholder must hold the REIT shares for a minimum of 46 days during the 91-day period that begins 45 days before the date on which the REIT share becomes ex-dividend with respect to the dividend. Second, the qualifying portion of the REIT dividend is reduced to the extent that the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Distributions may also be subject to the 3.8% Medicare tax, as described below. Noncorporate U.S. Stockholders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the impact of tax rates on dividends received from us.

Distributions will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction in the case of U.S. Stockholders that are corporations, but, under the TCJA, will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our dividends at a maximum rate of 21%..

Distributions made by us that we properly designate as capital gain dividends will be taxable to U.S. Stockholders as gain from the sale of a capital asset held for more than one year, to the extent that they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which a U.S. Stockholder has held its common stock. Thus, with certain limitations, capital gain dividends received by an individual U.S. Stockholder may be eligible for preferential rates of taxation. U.S. Stockholders that are corporations may, however, be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.

To the extent that we make distributions, not designated as capital gain dividends, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, these distributions will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to each U.S. Stockholder. Thus, these distributions will reduce the adjusted basis which the U.S. Stockholder has in its shares for tax purposes by the amount of the distribution, but not below zero. Distributions in excess of a U.S. Stockholder’s adjusted basis in its shares will be taxable as capital gains, provided that the shares have been held as a capital asset. For purposes of determining the portion of distributions on separate classes of shares that will be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes, current and accumulated earnings and profits will be allocated to distributions resulting from priority rights of preferred shares before being allocated to other distributions.

Dividends authorized by us in October, November, or December of any year and payable to a stockholder of record on a specified date in any of these months will be treated as both paid by us and received by the stockholder on December 31 of that year, provided that we actually pay the dividend on or before January 31 of the following calendar year. Stockholders may not include in their own income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.

U.S. Stockholders holding shares at the close of our taxable year will be required to include, in computing their long-term capital gains for the taxable year in which the last day of our taxable year falls, the amount of our undistributed capital gains that we elect to retain and designate as capital gain dividends in a written notice mailed to our stockholders. We may not designate amounts in excess of our undistributed net capital gain for the taxable year (including for this purpose any amounts of undistributed capital gain dividends that we so designate). Each U.S. Stockholder required to include the designated amount in determining the U.S. Stockholder’s long-term capital gains will be deemed to have paid, in the taxable year of the inclusion, the tax paid by us in respect of the undistributed net capital gains. U.S. Stockholders to whom these rules apply will be allowed a credit or a refund, as the case may be, for the tax they are deemed to have paid. U.S. Stockholders will increase their basis in their shares by the difference between the amount of the includible gains and the tax deemed paid by the stockholder in respect of these gains.

A U.S. Stockholder that is an individual or estate, or a trust that does not fall into a special class of trusts that is exempt from such tax, is subject to a 3.8% “Medicare tax” on “net investment income,” which includes, among other things, dividends on gains from the sale or other dispositions of stock. If you are a U.S. Stockholder that is an individual, estate or trust, you are urged to consult your tax adviser regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to your income and gains in respect of your investment in the Company.

Passive Activity Loss and Investment Interest Limitations:    Distributions from us and gain from the disposition of our stock will not be treated as passive activity income and, therefore, a U.S. Stockholder will not be able to offset any of this income with any passive losses of the stockholder from other activities. Dividends received by a U.S. Stockholder from us generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitation. Net capital gain from the disposition of shares of our stock or capital gain dividends generally will be excluded from investment income unless the stockholder elects to have the gain taxed at ordinary income rates.

Sale/Other Taxable Disposition of Company Stock:    In general, a U.S. Stockholder will recognize gain or loss on its sale or other taxable disposition of our stock equal to the difference between the amount of cash and the fair market value of any other property received in such sale or other taxable disposition and the stockholder’s adjusted basis in said stock at such time. This gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss if the shares have been held by the U.S. Stockholder as a capital asset. The applicable tax rate will depend on the stockholder’s holding period in the asset (generally, if an asset has been held for more than one year it will produce long-term capital gain) and the stockholder’s tax bracket. The IRS has the authority to prescribe, but has not yet prescribed, regulations that would apply a capital gain tax rate of 25% (which is generally higher than the long-term capital gain tax rates for non-corporate stockholders) to a portion of capital gain realized by a non-corporate stockholder on the sale of REIT stock that would correspond to the REIT’s “unrecaptured Section 1250 gain.” In addition, as described above, capital gains may be subject to the 3.8% Medicare tax. U.S. Stockholders should consult with their tax advisors with respect to their capital gain tax liability. A corporate U.S. Stockholder will be subject to tax at a maximum rate of 21% on capital gain from the sale of our common stock. In general, any loss recognized by a U.S. Stockholder upon the sale or other disposition of shares that have been held for six months or less, after applying the holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss, to the extent of distributions received by the U.S. Stockholder from us that were required to be treated as long-term capital gains.

Stockholders should consult with their own tax advisors with respect to their capital gain tax liability in respect of distributions received from us and gains recognized upon the sale or other disposition of shares of our common stock.

Treatment of Tax-Exempt Stockholders:    Based upon published rulings by the IRS, distributions by us to a U.S. Stockholder that is a tax-exempt entity generally will not constitute “unrelated business taxable income” (“UBTI”), provided that the tax-exempt entity has not financed the acquisition of its shares with “acquisition indebtedness,” within the meaning of the Code, and the shares are not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business of the tax-exempt entity. Similarly, income from the sale of shares of our common stock will not constitute UBTI, provided that the tax-exempt entity has not financed the acquisition of its shares with “acquisition indebtedness” and the shares are not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business of the tax-exempt entity.

For tax-exempt U.S. Stockholders which are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans, exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Code Sections 501(c)(7), (9), (17) and (20), respectively, income from an investment in shares of our common stock will constitute UBTI unless the organization is able to properly deduct amounts set aside or placed in reserve for certain purposes so as to offset the income generated by its shares of our common stock. Such prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning these “set-aside” and reserve requirements.

Notwithstanding the above, however, a portion of the dividends paid by a “pension-held REIT” is treated as UBTI as to any trust which (i) is described in Section 401(a) of the Code, (ii) is tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code and (iii) holds more than 10% (by value) of the interests in the REIT. Tax-exempt pension funds that are described in Section 401(a) of the Code and exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of the Code are referred to below as “qualified trusts.”

A REIT is a “pension-held REIT” if (i) it would not have qualified as a REIT under the Code but for the fact that Section 856(h)(3) of the Code provides that stock owned by qualified trusts shall beis treated, for purposes of the “not closely held” requirement, as owned by the beneficiaries of the trust (rather than by the trust itself), and (ii) either (a) at least one such qualified trust holds more than 25% (by value) of the interests in the REIT or (b) one or more such qualified trusts, each of whom owns more than 10% (by value) of the interests in the REIT, hold in the aggregate more than 50% (by value) of the interests in the REIT. The percentage of any REIT dividend treated as UBTI is equal to the ratio of (i) the gross income of the REIT from unrelated trades or businesses, determined as though the REIT were a qualified trust, less direct expenses related to this gross income, to (ii) the total gross income of the REIT, less direct expenses related to the total gross income. The provisions requiring qualified trusts to treat a portion of REIT distributions as UBTI will not apply if the REIT is able to satisfy the “not closely held” requirement without relying upon the “look-through” exception with respect to qualified trusts. We do not expect to be classified as a “pension-held REIT.”

Pursuant to the TCJA, tax-exempt organizations must compute UBTI separately for each unrelated trade or business, which prevents a tax-exempt organization from applying losses from one unrelated trade or business against income derived from another unrelated trade or business. It remains unclear, however, how this rule applies to any UBTI resulting from an investment in our stock, and tax-exempt U.S. Shareholders should be aware that the requirement to compute UBTI separately for each unrelated trade or business may increase their overall UBTI.

The rules described above under the heading “Taxation of U.S. Stockholders” concerning the inclusion of our designated undistributed net capital gains in the income of its stockholders will apply to tax-exempt entities. Thus, tax-exempt entities will be allowed a credit or refund of the tax deemed paid by these entities in respect of the includible gains.

Special Tax Considerations For Non-U.S. Stockholders

Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders:    The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and other foreign stockholders (collectively, “Non-U.S. Stockholders”) are complex, and no attempt will be made herein to provide more than a limited summary of such rules. Prospective Non-U.S. Stockholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. federal, state and local income tax laws with regard to an investment in our stock, including any reporting requirements.

Distributions by us to a Non-U.S. Stockholder that are neither attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of United States real property interests (“USRPI”) nor designated by us as capital gain dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions will ordinarily be subject to a withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the distribution unless an applicable tax treaty reduces that tax. Under certain treaties, lower withholding rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from a REIT. However, if income from the investment in the stock is treated as effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Stockholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business or is attributable to a permanent establishment that the Non-U.S. Stockholder maintains in the United States (if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting the Non-U.S. Stockholder to U.S. taxation on a net income basis) the Non-U.S. Stockholder generally will be subject to tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. Stockholders are taxed with respect to such income and is generally not subject to withholding. Any such effectively connected distributions received by a Non-U.S. Stockholder that is a corporation may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. We expect to withhold U.S. federal income tax at the rate of 30% on the gross amount of any dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Stockholder, other than dividends treated as attributable to gain from sales or exchanges of USRPIs and capital gain dividends, paid to a Non-U.S. Stockholder, unless (a) a lower treaty rate applies and the required form evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate is submitted to us or the appropriate withholding agent or (b) the Non-U.S. Stockholder submits an IRS Form W-8 ECI (or a successor form) to us or the appropriate withholding agent claiming that the distributions are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Stockholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business and, in either case, other applicable requirements were met.

Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a Non-U.S. Stockholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the Non-U.S. Stockholder’s shares, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such shares. For FIRPTA withholding purposes (discussed below) such distribution will be treated as consideration for the sale or exchange of shares of stock. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a Non-U.S. Stockholder’s shares, these distributions will give rise to tax liability if the Non-U.S. Stockholder would otherwise be subject to tax on any gain from the sale or disposition of its shares, as described below. If it cannot be determined at the time a distribution is made whether or not such distribution will be in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to dividends. However, the Non-U.S. Stockholder may seek a refund of such amounts from the IRS if it is subsequently determined that such distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

Distributions to a Non-U.S. Stockholder that are designated by us at the time of distribution as capital gain dividends (other than those arising from the disposition of a USRPIs) generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless (i) investment in the stock is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Stockholder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the Non-U.S. Stockholder will be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. Stockholder with respect to such gain (except that a corporate Non-U.S. Stockholder may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax, as discussed above), or (ii) the Non-U.S. Stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who is 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 such stockholder will be subject to a 30% tax on his or her capital gains.

For any year in which we qualify as a REIT, distributions that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of USRPIs will be taxed to a Non-U.S. Stockholder under the provisions of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”). A USRPI includes certain interests in real property and stock in corporations at least 50% of whose assets consist of interests in real property.  Under FIRPTA, and subject to the exception described below, these distributions are taxed to a Non-U.S. Stockholder as if such gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business. Thus, Non-U.S. Stockholders would be taxed at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. Stockholders (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals). Also, distributions subject to FIRPTA may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a corporate Non-U.S. Stockholder not entitled to treaty relief or exemption. We are generally required by applicable Treasury Regulations to withhold 21% of any distribution to a Non-U.S. Stockholder that could be designated by us as a capital gain dividend. This amount is creditable against the Non-U.S. Stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. We or any nominee (e.g., a broker holding shares in street name) may rely on a certificate of Non-U.S. Stockholder status on IRS Form W-8 to determine whether withholding is required on gains realized from the disposition of USRPIs. A U.S. Stockholder who holds shares of stock on behalf of a Non-U.S. Stockholder will bear the burden of withholding, provided that we have properly designated the appropriate portion of a distribution as a capital gain dividend.

Capital gain distributions to Non-U.S. Stockholders that are attributable to our sale of real property will be treated as ordinary dividends rather than as gain from the sale of a USRPI, as long as (1) our common stock continues to be treated as being “regularly traded” on an established securities market in the United States and (2) the Non-U.S. Stockholder did not own more than 10 percent of our common stock at any time during the one-year period preceding the distribution.  As a result, Non-U.S. Stockholders owning 10 percent or less of our common stock generally will be subject to withholding tax on such capital gain distributions in the same manner as they are subject to withholding tax on ordinary dividends.  If our common stock ceases to be regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States or the Non-U.S. Stockholder owned more than 10 percent of our common stock at any time during the one-year period preceding the distribution, capital gain distributions that are attributable to our sale of real property would be subject to tax under FIRPTA, as described above.

If a Non-U.S. Stockholder owning more than 10 percent of our common stock disposes of such common stock during the 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of any dividend payment, and such Non-U.S. Stockholder (or a person related to such Non-U.S. Stockholder) acquires or enters into a contract or option to acquire our common stock within 61 days of the first day of such 30-day period described above, and any portion of such dividend payment would, but for the disposition, be treated as USRPI capital gain to such Non-U.S. Stockholder under FIRPTA, then such Non-U.S Stockholder will be treated as having USRPI capital gain in an amount that, but for the disposition, would have been treated as USRPI capital gain.

Gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Stockholder upon a sale of stock of a REIT generally will not be taxed under FIRPTA if the REIT is a “domestically-controlled REIT” (generally, a REIT in which at all times during a specified testing period less than 50% in value of its stock is held directly or indirectly by foreign persons). Since it is currently anticipated that we will be a “domestically-controlled REIT,” a Non-U.S. Stockholder’s sale of our common stock should not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. Because our common stock is publicly-traded, under recently enacted rules, we may rely on certain assumptions (absent actual knowledge to the contrary) to determine that we are a “domestically-controlled REIT.”  However, because our common stock is publicly-traded, no assurance can be given that we will continue to be a “domestically-controlled REIT.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, gain from the sale of our common stock that is not subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a Non-U.S. Stockholder if (i) the Non-U.S. Stockholder’s investment in the stock is “effectively connected” with the Non-U.S. Stockholder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the Non-U.S. Stockholder will be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. Stockholder with respect to such gain (a Non-U.S. Stockholder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax, as discussed above), or (ii) the Non-U.S. Stockholder 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 nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gains.

If we are not, or cease to be, a “domestically-controlled REIT,” whether gain arising from the sale or exchange of stock by a Non-U.S. Stockholder would be subject to United States taxation under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI will depend on whether any class of our stock is “regularly traded” (as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations) on an established securities market (e.g., the New York Stock Exchange), as is the case with our common stock, and on the size of the selling Non-U.S. Stockholder’s interest in us. In the case where we are not, or cease to be, a “domestically-controlled REIT” and any class of our stock is “regularly traded” on an established securities market at any time during the calendar year, a sale of shares of that class by a Non-U.S. Stockholder will only be treated as a sale of a USRPI (and thus subject to taxation under FIRPTA) if such selling stockholder beneficially owns (including by attribution) more than 10%) of the total fair market value of all of the shares of such class at any time during the five-year period ending either on the date of such sale or other applicable determination date. To the extent we have one or more classes of stock outstanding that are “regularly traded,” but the Non-U.S. Stockholder sells shares of a class of our stock that is not “regularly traded,” the sale of shares of such class would be treated as a sale of a USRPI under the foregoing rule only if the shares of such latter class acquired by the Non-U.S. Stockholder have a total net market value on the date they are acquired that is greater than 10% of the total fair market value of the “regularly traded” class of our stock having the lowest fair market value (or with respect to a nontraded class of our stock convertible into a “regularly traded” market value on the date of acquisition of the total fair market value of the “regularly traded” class into which it is convertible).If the gain on the sale of stock were to be subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the Non-U.S. Stockholder would be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. Stockholder with respect to such gain (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax, possible withholding tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals); provided, however, that deductions otherwise allowable will be allowed as deductions only if the tax returns were filed within the time prescribed by law. In general, the purchaser of the stock would be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 15% of the amount realized by the seller on the sale of such stock.

Under recently enacted rules, Non-U.S. Stockholders that are “qualified foreign pension funds” or certain “qualified collective investment vehicles” that qualify as “qualified shareholders” are not subject to the FIRPTA rules described in this section.  Non-U.S. Stockholders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine if they are eligible for either of these exceptions to the FIRPTA rules.

FATCA. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) generally requires withholding at a rate of 30% on dividends in respect of shares of our common stock held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Secretary of the Treasury (or unless alternative procedures apply pursuant to an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the relevant foreign government) to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to shares in, and accounts maintained by, the institution to the extent such shares or accounts are held by certain United States persons or by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by United States persons. Accordingly, the entity through which our common stock is held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of shares of our common stock held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity will be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (i) certifies to us that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (ii) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which we will in turn provide to the Secretary of the Treasury (or unless alternative procedures apply pursuant to an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the relevant foreign government).  While withholding under FATCA would have applied to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common shares on or after January 1, 2019, recently proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely.  Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued. Foreign investors are encouraged to consult with their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of these rules on their investment in our common stock.

Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding Tax

U.S. Stockholders:    We will report to our U.S. Stockholders and the IRS the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any. Under the backup withholding rules, backup withholding may apply to a U.S. Stockholder with respect to dividends paid unless the U.S. Stockholder (a) is a corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or (b) provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. The IRS may also impose penalties on a U.S. Stockholder that does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification number. A U.S. Stockholder may credit any amount paid as backup withholding against the stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any U.S. Stockholder who fails to certify to us its non-foreign status.

Non-U.S. Stockholders:    If you are a Non-U.S. Stockholder, you are generally exempt from backup withholding and information reporting requirements with respect to:

· dividend payments; and 

· the payment of the proceeds from the sale of common stock effected at a United States office of a broker, as long as the income associated with these payments is otherwise exempt from U.S. federal income tax and: 

· the payor or broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and you have furnished to the payor or broker: 

· a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are a non-United States person, or 

· other documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payments as made to a non-United States person in accordance with Treasury Regulations, or 

· you otherwise establish your right to an exemption.

Payment of the proceeds from the sale of common stock effected at a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale of common stock that is effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding if:

· the proceeds are transferred to an account maintained by you in the United States; 

· the payment of proceeds or the confirmation of the sale is mailed to you at a United States address; or 

· the sale has some other specified connection with the United States as provided in the Treasury Regulations, unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above are met or you otherwise establish an exemption.

In addition, a sale of common stock will be subject to information reporting if it is effected at a foreign office of a broker that is:

· a United States person; 

· a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes; 

· a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business for a specified three-year period; or 

· a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year: 

· one or more of its partners are “U.S. persons,” as defined in Treasury Regulations, who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership; or 

· such foreign partnership is engaged in the conduct of a United States trade or business,

unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above are met or you otherwise establish your right to an exemption. Backup withholding will apply if the sale is subject to information reporting and the broker has actual knowledge that you are a United States person.

You generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed your U.S. federal income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the IRS.

Tax Aspects of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.

General:    Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. holds substantially all of our investments. In general, partnerships are “pass-through” entities that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax. Rather, partners are allocated their proportionate shares of the items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of their partnership, and are potentially subject to tax thereon, without regard to whether distributions are made to them by the partnership. We include in our income our proportionate share of these Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. items (including our proportionate share of such items attributable to partnerships in which Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. owns a direct or indirect interest) for purposes of the various REIT gross income tests and in the computation of its REIT taxable income. Moreover, for purposes of the REIT Asset Tests, we include our proportionate share of assets held by Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. and by partnerships in which Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. owns a direct or indirect interest.

Tax Allocations with respect to Contributed Properties (Effects of Section 704(c) of the Code):    Pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code, income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership, must be allocated in a manner such that the contributing partner is charged with the unrealized gain, or benefits from the unrealized loss, associated with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of the unrealized gain or unrealized loss is generally equal to the difference between the fair market value of the contributed property at the time of contribution and the adjusted tax basis of the property at such time (said difference, the “Book-Tax Difference”). Additionally, upon the occurrence of certain events (including but not limited to the issuance of additional interests in the partnership), a partnership may adjust the Section 704(b) book basis of its assets to reflect their then-current fair market values, thereby creating additional Book-Tax Differences under Section 704(c). These allocations are solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes and do not affect the book capital accounts of, or other economic or legal arrangements among, the partners. Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. was formed by way of, and has since formation received, contributions of appreciated property (including interests in partnerships that have appreciated property), and has adjusted the Section 704(b) book basis of its assets. Consequently, in accordance with Section 704(c) of the Code and Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.’s partnership agreement, Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. makes allocations to its partners in a manner consistent with Section 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

In general, those partners who have contributed to Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. property (including interests in partnerships that own property) that has a fair market value in excess of basis at the time of such contribution have been allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes than would have been the case if such allocations were made pro rata. In addition, in the event of the disposition of any such property, all taxable income and gain attributable to such property’s Book-Tax Difference generally will be allocated to the contributing partners, and we generally will be allocated only our share (and on a pro rata basis) of any capital gain attributable to post-contribution appreciation, if any. The foregoing allocations would tend to eliminate a property’s Book-Tax Difference over Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.’s life. However, the special allocation rules of Section 704(c) of the Code do not always entirely eliminate a property’s Book-Tax Difference and could prolong a noncontributing partner’s Book-Tax Difference with respect to such property. Thus, the carryover basis of a contributed property in the hands of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. may cause us to be allocated: (a) lower tax depreciation and other deductions than our economic or book depreciation and other deductions allocable to us; and/or (b) more taxable income or gain upon a sale of the property than the economic or book income or gain allocable to us as a result of the sale. Such differing tax allocations may cause us to recognize taxable income or gain in excess of cash proceeds, which might adversely affect our ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements.

Treasury Regulations under Section 704(c) of the Code provide partnerships with a choice of several methods of accounting for Book-Tax Differences (e.g., the “traditional method,” the “traditional method with curative allocations,” and the “remedial method”). Some of these methods could prolong the period required to eliminate the Book-Tax Difference as compared to other permissible methods (or could, in fact, result in a portion of the Book-Tax Difference to remain unaccounted for). We and Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. have determined to use the “traditional method” for accounting for Book-Tax Differences with respect to previously-contributed properties. As a result of this determination, distributions to our stockholders could be comprised of more taxable income than would otherwise be the case. However, property that may hereafter be contributed to Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. is not bound to use the “traditional method.” We and Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. have not determined whether Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. will use the “traditional method,” or some other permissible method, to account for any Book-Tax Difference with respect to any such hereafter contributed property. With respect to any purchased property that is not “replacement property” in a tax-free like-kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Code, such property initially would have a tax basis equal to its fair market value and Section 704(c) of the Code would not apply.

Basis in Partnership Interests in Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.:    Our adjusted tax basis in our interest in Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. generally equals the amount of cash and the basis of any other property contributed by us to Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. (1) increased by our allocable share of the income and indebtedness of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P., and (2) decreased (but not below zero) by: (a) our allocable share of losses of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.; (b) the amount of cash and adjusted basis of property distributed by Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. to us; and (c) the reduction in our allocable share of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.’s indebtedness.

If the allocation of our distributive share of Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.’s losses exceeds the adjusted tax basis of our partnership interest in Mack-Cali Realty, L.P., the recognition of such excess losses would be deferred to the extent that we have adjusted tax basis in our interest in Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. To the extent that Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.’s distributions, or any decrease in our allocable share of indebtedness (such decreases being considered a constructive cash distribution to the partners), exceeds our adjusted tax basis in our interest in Mack-Cali Realty, L.P., such excess distributions (including such constructive distributions) will constitute taxable income to us. Such taxable income would normally be characterized as capital gain, and if our interest in Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. has been held for longer than the long-term capital gain holding period (currently more than one year), such distributions and constructive distributions would constitute long-term capital gain income.

Sale of the Properties:    Our distributive share of any gain realized by Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. on its sale of any property held by it as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of its trade or business would be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax. Prohibited transaction income may also have an adverse effect on our ability to satisfy the REIT gross income tests. Under existing law, whether Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. holds its property as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of its trade or business is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances with respect to the particular transaction. Mack-Cali Realty, L.P. intends to hold its properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring, developing, owning, renting and otherwise operating the properties, and to make such occasional sales of the properties, including peripheral land, as are consistent with Mack-Cali Realty, L.P.’s investment objectives.

State and Local Tax

We and our stockholders may be subject to state and local tax in various states and localities, including those in which we or they transact business, own property or reside. Our tax treatment and that of our stockholders in such jurisdictions may differ from the U.S. federal income tax treatment described above. Consequently, prospective stockholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in our common stock.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to Mack-Cali Realty Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

LEGAL MATTERS

Ballard Spahr, LLP, Baltimore, Maryland, issued an opinion to us regarding certain Maryland law matters, including the validity of the issuance of the equity securities offered by this prospectus.  Seyfarth Shaw LLP, New York, New York, issued an opinion to us regarding certain tax matters, including the qualification and taxation of us as a REIT under the Code

$200,000,000

Veris Residential, Inc.

Common Stock

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

J.P. Morgan

BofA Securities

BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC

Capital One Securities

Comerica Securities

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

R. Seelaus & Co., LLC

Ramirez & Co., Inc.

December 13, 2021