SPIRIT REALTY CAPITAL, INC. - Annual Report: 2010 (Form 10-K)

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

 

 

Commission file number 000-51963

COLE CREDIT PROPERTY TRUST II, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes o     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

While there is no established market for the registrant’s shares of common stock, the registrant has made initial and follow-on public offerings of its shares of common stock pursuant to registration statements on Form S-11. The registrant ceased offering shares of common stock in its follow-on public offering on January 2, 2009. The last price paid to acquire a share in the registrant’s follow-on public offering was $10.00, excluding shares purchased through the distribution reinvestment plan. On June 22, 2010, the board of directors of the registrant approved an estimated value per share of the registrant’s common stock of $8.05, as of June 22, 2010. There were approximately 207.2 million shares of common stock held by non-affiliates at June 30, 2010, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

 

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of March 30, 2011 was 209,651,817.

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference:

 

The Registrant incorporates by reference portions of the Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc. Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (into Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III).

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc., other than historical facts may be considered 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 for all 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, as applicable by law. Such statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies, and prospects and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, as well as known and unknown risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Therefore, such statements are not intended to be a guarantee of our performance in future periods. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” or other similar words. Forward-looking statements that were true at the time made may ultimately prove to be incorrect or false. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect our management’s view only as of the date this Annual Report on Form 10-K is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). We make no representation or warranty (express or implied) about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additionally, we undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results. The forward-looking statements should be read in light of the risk factors identified in “Item 1A — Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

Formation

 

Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a Maryland corporation formed on September 29, 2004, that elected to be taxed, and currently qualifies, as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for federal income tax purposes. We were organized to acquire and operate commercial real estate primarily consisting of freestanding, single-tenant, retail properties net leased to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants located throughout the United States. As of December 31, 2010, we owned 725 properties comprising 20.6 million rentable square feet of single and multi-tenant retail and commercial space located in 45 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As of December 31, 2010, the rentable space at these properties was 94% leased. As of December 31, 2010, we also owned 69 mortgage notes receivable secured by 43 restaurant properties and 26 single-tenant retail properties, each of which is subject to a net lease. Through two joint ventures, we had a majority indirect interest in a 386,000 square foot multi-tenant retail building in Independence, Missouri and a majority indirect interest in a ten-property storage facility portfolio as of December 31, 2010. In addition, we owned six commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) bonds as of December 31, 2010.

 

Substantially all of our business is conducted through our operating partnership, Cole Operating Partnership II, LP (“Cole OP II”), a Delaware limited partnership organized in 2004. The Company is the sole general partner of and owns a 99.99% interest in Cole OP II. Cole REIT Advisors II, LLC (“Cole Advisors II”), the advisor to the Company, is the sole limited partner and owns an insignificant noncontrolling partnership interest of less than 0.01% of Cole OP II.

 

Our sponsor, Cole Real Estate Investments, which is comprised of a group of affiliated entities, including our advisor, has sponsored various prior real estate investment programs. Cole Advisors II, pursuant to an advisory agreement with us, is responsible for managing our affairs on a day-to-day basis and for identifying and making acquisitions and investments on our behalf. Our charter provides that our independent directors are responsible for reviewing the performance of our advisor and determining whether the compensation paid to our advisor and its affiliates is reasonable. The advisory agreement with Cole Advisors II is for a one-year term and is reconsidered on an annual basis by our board of directors.

 

On June 27, 2005, we commenced an initial public offering on a “best efforts” basis of up to 45,000,000 shares of common stock offered at a price of $10.00 per share, subject to certain volume and other discounts, pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-11 filed with the SEC under the Securities Act (the “Initial Offering”). The Registration Statement also covered up to 5,000,000 shares available pursuant to a distribution reinvestment plan (the “DRIP”) under which our stockholders were able to elect to have their distributions reinvested in additional shares of our common stock at the greater of $9.50 per share or 95% of the estimated value of a share of common stock. On November 13, 2006, we increased the aggregate amount of the Initial Offering to 49,390,000 shares for the primary offering and 5,952,000 shares pursuant to the DRIP in a related Registration Statement on Form S-11. Subsequently, we reallocated the shares of common stock available such that a maximum of 54,140,000 shares of common stock was available under the primary offering for an aggregate offering price of $541.4 million and a maximum of 1,202,000 shares was available under the DRIP for an aggregate offering price of $11.4 million.

 

We commenced our principal operations on September 23, 2005, when we issued the initial 486,000 shares of our common stock in the Initial Offering. Prior to such date, we were considered a development stage company. We terminated the Initial Offering on May 22, 2007. As of the close of business on May 22, 2007, we had issued a total of 54,838,315 shares in the Initial Offering, including 53,909,877 shares sold in the primary offering and 928,438 shares sold pursuant to the DRIP, resulting in gross offering proceeds to us of $547.4 million. At the completion of the Initial Offering, a total of 503,685 shares of common stock remained unsold, including 230,123 shares that remained unsold in the primary offering and 273,562 shares of common stock that remained unsold pursuant to the DRIP. All unsold shares in the Initial Offering were deregistered.

On May 23, 2007, we commenced our follow-on public offering of up to 150,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Follow-on Offering”). We terminated the Follow-on Offering on January 2, 2009. As of the close of business on January 2, 2009, we had issued a total of 147,454,259 shares in the Follow-on Offering, including 141,520,572 shares sold in the primary offering and 5,933,687 shares sold pursuant to the DRIP, resulting in gross offering proceeds to us of $1.5 billion. At the completion of the Follow-on Offering, a total of 1,595,741 shares of common stock remained unsold, including 1,529,428 shares that remained unsold in the primary offering and 66,313 shares of common stock that remained unsold pursuant to the DRIP. Unsold shares in the Follow-on Offering were deregistered.

 

On September 18, 2008, we registered 30,000,000 additional shares to be offered pursuant to the DRIP in a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “DRIP Offering”) (collectively with the Initial Offering and Follow-on Offering, the “Offerings”). On June 22, 2010, our board of directors amended the DRIP to provide that reinvestments of distributions made on or after July 15, 2010 will be made at a price equal to the most recent estimated per share value of our common stock as determined by our board of directors. Our board of directors determined that the estimated share value of our common stock as of June 22, 2010, was $8.05 per share, so that amount will be the price used for the purchase of shares pursuant to the DRIP until such time as the board of directors provides a new estimate of share value. As of December 31, 2010, we had issued 15,790,886 shares of our common stock in the DRIP Offering, resulting in gross proceeds of $144.5 million. Combined with the gross proceeds from the Initial Offering and Follow-on Offering, the Company had aggregate gross proceeds from the Offerings of $2.2 billion (including shares sold pursuant to the DRIP) as of December 31, 2010, before offering costs, selling commissions, and dealer management fees of $188.3 million and before share redemptions of $82.2 million.

 

Our stock is not currently listed on a national securities exchange. Our goal is to sell our company, liquidate our portfolio or list our shares of common stock for trading on a national securities exchange at a time and in a method recommended by our advisor and determined by our independent directors to be in the best interest of our stockholders. At this time, we have no present intention to sell our company, liquidate our portfolio or list our shares. We do not anticipate that there would be any market for our common stock until our shares are listed on a national securities exchange. In the event we do not obtain listing prior to May 22, 2017, our charter requires that we either: (1) seek stockholder approval of an extension or elimination of this listing deadline; or (2) seek stockholder approval to adopt a plan of liquidation. If neither proposal is approved, we may continue to operate as before.

 

Investment Objectives and Policies

 

Our objective is to invest primarily in freestanding, single-tenant, retail properties net leased to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants. We may also invest in mortgage loans, CMBS or other investments related to real property or entities or joint ventures that make similar investments. Our primary investment objectives are:

 

 

We also seek capital gains from our investments. We cannot assure investors that we will achieve these investment objectives or that our capital will not decrease.

 

Decisions relating to the purchase or sale of our investments are made by our advisor, subject to oversight by our board of directors, a majority of whom are independent directors. Our board of directors may revise our investment policies, as described below, without the concurrence of our stockholders. However, our board of directors will not amend our charter, including any investment policies that are provided in our charter, without the concurrence of a majority of the outstanding shares, except for amendments that do not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of our stockholders. Our independent directors will review our investment policies at least annually to determine that our policies are in the best interest of our stockholders.

Acquisition and Investment Policies

 

Types of Investments

 

We invest primarily in freestanding, single-tenant, retail properties under long-term net leases to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants. We also invest in multi-tenant retail “power centers,” which are net leased to national big box retailers and smaller retail establishments, and single tenant office and industrial properties under long-term net leases to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants. In addition, we have acquired, and may continue to acquire mortgage loans secured by similar types of commercial properties in our portfolio.

 

For over three decades, our sponsor, Cole Real Estate Investments, has developed and utilized this investment approach in acquiring and managing core commercial real estate assets primarily in the retail sector but in the office and industrial sectors as well. We believe that our sponsor’s experience in assembling real estate portfolios, which principally focus on national and regional creditworthy tenants subject to long-term leases, will provide us with a competitive advantage. In addition, our sponsor has built a business of over 200 employees, who are experienced in the various aspects of acquiring, financing and managing commercial real estate, and that our access to these resources also will provide us with an advantage.

 

Many of our properties are leased to single-tenants of large national retail chains or franchises, including “big box” retailers, which operate stores in the home improvement, drug, sporting goods, specialty, convenience and restaurant industries. Other properties are so-called “power centers,” which are comprised of big box retailers and smaller retail establishments, and other multi-tenant properties that compliment our overall investment objectives. Our advisor monitors industry trends and seeks to identify properties on our behalf that will provide a favorable return balanced with risk. Our management primarily targets retail businesses with established track records. This industry is highly property dependent, therefore our advisor believes it also offers highly competitive sale-leaseback investment opportunities.

 

We believe that our general focus on the acquisition of freestanding, single-tenant, retail properties net leased to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants under long-term leases presents lower investment risks and greater stability than other sectors of today’s commercial real estate market. Unlike funds that invest solely in multi-tenant properties, we have acquired a diversified portfolio comprised primarily of single-tenant properties and a smaller number of multi-tenant retail properties that compliment our overall investment objectives. By primarily acquiring single-tenant properties, we believe that lower than expected results of operations from one or a few investments will not necessarily preclude our ability to realize our investment objectives of cash flow and preservation of capital from our overall portfolio. In addition, we believe that freestanding retail properties, as compared to shopping centers, malls and other traditional retail complexes, offer a distinct investment advantage since these properties generally require less management and operating capital, have less recurring tenant turnover and generally offer superior locations that are less dependent on the financial stability of adjoining tenants. In addition, since we acquired properties that are geographically diverse, we believe we have minimized the potential adverse impact of economic downturns in local markets. Our management believes that a portfolio consisting primarily of freestanding, single-tenant, retail properties net leased to creditworthy tenants diversified geographically and by the industry and brand of tenants enhances our liquidity opportunities for investors by making the sale of individual properties, multiple properties or our investment portfolio as a whole attractive to institutional investors, and by making a possible listing of our shares attractive to the public investment community.

 

To the extent feasible, we have acquired a well-balanced portfolio diversified by geographic location, age of the property and lease maturity. We pursued, and continue to pursue, properties with tenants that represent a variety of industries so as to avoid concentration in any one industry. These industries include all types of retail establishments, such as “big box” retailers, convenience stores, drug stores and restaurant properties. Tenants of our properties are diversified between national, regional and local brands. We generally target properties with lease terms in excess of ten years. We have acquired, and may continue to acquire, properties with shorter terms if the property is in an attractive location, if the property is difficult to replace, or if the property has other significant favorable attributes. We expect that these investments will provide long-term

value by virtue of their size, location, quality and condition and lease characteristics. We expect any future acquisitions to be made in the United States, including United States protectorates.

 

Many retail companies today are entering into sale-leaseback arrangements as a strategy for applying more capital that would otherwise be applied to their real estate holdings to their core operating businesses. We believe that our investment strategy enables us to take advantage of the increased emphasis on retailers’ core business operations in today’s competitive corporate environment as retailers attempt to divest from real estate assets.

 

There is no limitation on the number, size or type of properties that we have acquired, or may continue to acquire, or on the percentage of net proceeds of the Offerings that have been or may be invested in a single property. The number and mix of properties we will hold at any given time depends primarily upon real estate market conditions and other circumstances existing at that time.

 

We incur debt to acquire properties if our advisor determines that incurring such debt is in our best interest. In addition, from time to time, we acquire properties without financing and later incur mortgage debt secured by one or more of such properties if favorable financing terms are available. We generally use the proceeds from such loans to acquire additional properties. See the section below captioned “— Borrowing Policies” for a more detailed explanation of our borrowing intentions and limitations.

 

Real Estate Underwriting Process

 

In evaluating potential property and mortgage loan acquisitions consistent with our investment objectives, we apply credit underwriting criteria to the tenants of existing properties. Similarly, we will apply credit underwriting criteria to possible new tenants when we are re-leasing properties in our portfolio. Tenants of our properties frequently are national or super-regional retail chains that are investment grade or otherwise creditworthy entities having high net worth and operating income. The underwriting process includes analyzing the financial data and other available information about the tenant, such as income statements, balance sheets, net worth, cash flow, business plans, data provided by industry credit rating services, and/or other information our advisor may deem relevant. Generally, these tenants must be experienced multi-unit operators with a proven track record in order to meet the credit tests applied by our advisor.

 

In evaluating the credit worthiness of a tenant or prospective tenant, our advisor may not always use specific quantifiable standards, and may consider many factors, including debt rating agencies, such as Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, and/or the proposed terms of the acquisition. A tenant will be considered “investment grade” when the tenant has a debt rating by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) of Baa3 or better or a credit rating by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC (“Standard & Poor’s”) of BBB- or better, or its payments are guaranteed by a company with such rating. Changes in tenant credit ratings, coupled with future acquisition and disposition activity, may increase or decrease our concentration of investment grade tenants in the future.

 

Moody’s ratings are opinions of future relative creditworthiness based on an evaluation of franchise value, financial statement analysis and management quality. The rating given to a debt obligation describes the level of risk associated with receiving full and timely payment of principal and interest on that specific debt obligation and how that risk compares with that of all other debt obligations. The rating, therefore, measures the ability of a company to generate cash in the future.

 

A Moody’s debt rating of Baa3, which is the lowest investment grade rating given by Moody’s, is assigned to companies with adequate financial security. However, certain protective elements may be lacking or may be unreliable over any given period of time. A Moody’s debt rating of Aaa, which is the highest investment grade rating given by Moody’s, is assigned to companies with exceptional financial security. Thus, investment grade tenants will be judged by Moody’s to have at least adequate financial security, and will in some cases have exceptional financial security.

 

Standard & Poor’s assigns a credit rating to both companies as a whole and to each issuance or class of a company’s debt. A Standard & Poor’s credit rating of BBB-, which is the lowest investment grade rating given by Standard & Poor’s, is assigned to companies that exhibit adequate protection parameters. However, adverse

economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the company to meet its financial commitments. A Standard & Poor’s credit rating of AAA+, which is the highest investment grade rating given by Standard & Poor’s, is assigned to companies or issuances with extremely strong capacities to meet their financial commitments. Thus, investment grade tenants will be judged by Standard & Poor’s to have at least adequate protection parameters, and will in some cases have extremely strong financial positions.

 

Other creditworthy tenants are tenants with financial profiles that our advisor believes meet our investment objectives. In evaluating the credit worthiness of a tenant or prospective tenant, our advisor does not use specific quantifiable standards, but does consider many factors, including other debt rating agencies, such as Dun and Bradstreet, and/or the proposed terms of the acquisition. The factors our advisor considers include the financial condition of the tenant and/or guarantor, the operating history of the property with such tenant or tenants, the tenant’s or tenants’ market share and track record within its industry segment, the general health and outlook of the tenant’s or tenants’ industry segment, and the lease length and terms at the time of the acquisition.

 

Description of Leases

 

We typically purchase single-tenant properties with existing “net” leases, and when spaces become vacant or existing leases expire, we anticipate entering into “net” leases. “Net” leases means leases that typically require that tenants pay all or a majority of the operating expenses, including real estate taxes, special assessments and sales and use taxes, utilities, insurance and building repairs related to the property, in addition to the lease payments. There are various forms of net leases, typically classified as triple net or double net. Triple net leases typically require the tenant to pay all costs associated with a property in addition to the base rent and percentage rent, if any. Double net leases typically have the landlord responsible for the roof and structure of the building, or other aspects of the property, while the tenant is responsible for all remaining expenses associated with the property. With respect to our multi-tenant properties, we have a variety of lease arrangements with the tenants of such properties. Since each lease is an individually negotiated contract between two or more parties, each contract will have different obligations of both the landlord and tenant. Many large national tenants have standard lease forms that generally do not vary from property to property, and we will have limited ability to revise the terms of leases to those tenants.

 

The majority of our properties had lease terms of ten years or more at the time we acquired them. We may acquire in the future, properties under which the lease term has partially expired. We also may acquire properties with shorter lease terms if the property is in an attractive location, if the property is difficult to replace, or if the property has other significant favorable real estate attributes. Under most commercial leases, tenants are obligated to pay a predetermined annual base rent. Some of the leases for our properties also may contain provisions that increase the amount of base rent payable at points during the lease term and/or percentage rent that can be calculated by a number of factors. Under triple net and double net leases, the tenants are generally required to pay the real estate taxes, insurance, utilities and common area maintenance charges associated with the properties. Generally, the leases require each tenant to procure, at its own expense, commercial general liability insurance, as well as property insurance covering the building for the full replacement value and naming the ownership entity and the lender, if applicable, as the additional insured on the policy. As a precautionary measure, our advisor has obtained and may obtain in the future, to the extent available, secondary liability insurance, as well as loss of rents insurance that covers one year of annual rent in the event of a rental loss. The secondary insurance coverage names the ownership entity as the named insured on the policy.

 

Some leases require that we procure insurance for both commercial general liability and property damage insurance; however, the premiums are fully reimbursable from the tenant. When we procure such insurance, the policy lists us as the named insured on the policy and the tenant as the additional insured. Tenants are required to provide proof of insurance by furnishing a certificate of insurance to our advisor on an annual basis. The insurance certificates are carefully tracked and reviewed for compliance by our advisor’s property management department.

In general, leases may not be assigned or subleased without our prior written consent. If we do consent to an assignment or sublease, the original tenant generally will remain fully liable under the lease unless we release the tenant from its obligations under the lease.

 

Other Possible Investments

 

Although we expect that most of our additional property acquisitions will be of the types described above, we have made and may continue to make other investments. For example, we are not limited to investments in single-tenant, freestanding retail properties or properties leased to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants and complimentary multi-tenant properties. We have invested and may continue to invest in other commercial properties such as business and industrial parks, manufacturing facilities, office buildings and warehouse and distribution facilities, or in other entities that make such investments or own such properties, in order to reduce overall portfolio risks or enhance overall portfolio returns if our advisor and board of directors determine that it would be advantageous to do so. Further, to the extent that our advisor and board of directors determine it is in our best interest, due to the state of the real estate market, in order to diversify our investment portfolio or otherwise, we have invested, and may continue to invest, in CMBS and mortgage loans generally secured by the same types of commercial properties that we generally acquire. We also have invested, and may continue to invest, in other investments related to real property or entities or joint ventures that make similar investments.

 

Our criteria for investing in CMBS and mortgage loans are substantially the same as those involved in our investment in properties. We do not intend to make loans to other persons (other than mortgage loans), to underwrite securities of other issuers or to engage in the purchase and sale of any types of investments other than direct or indirect interests in real estate.

 

Investment Decisions

 

Cole Advisors II has substantial discretion with respect to the selection of specific investments and the purchase and sale of our properties, subject to the oversight of our board of directors. In pursuing our investment objectives and making investment decisions for us, Cole Advisors II evaluates the proposed terms of the purchase against all aspects of the transaction, including the condition and financial performance of the property, the terms of existing leases and the creditworthiness of the tenant, and property and location characteristics. Because the factors considered, including the specific weight we place on each factor, will vary for each potential investment, we do not, and are not able to, assign a specific weight or level of importance to any particular factor.

 

In addition to procuring and reviewing an independent valuation estimate and property condition report, our advisor also, to the extent such information is available, considers the following:

 

 

 

Our advisor considers whether properties are leased by, or have leases guaranteed by, companies that maintain an investment grade rating by either Standard and Poor’s or Moody’s Investor Services. Our advisor also will consider non-rated and non-investment grade rated tenants that we consider creditworthy, as described in “— Real Estate Underwriting Process” above.

 

Conditions to Closing Our Acquisitions

 

Generally, we condition our obligation to close the purchase of any investment on the delivery and verification of certain documents from the seller or developer, including, where appropriate:

 

 

We generally will not purchase any property unless and until we also obtain what is generally referred to as a “Phase I” environmental site assessment and are generally satisfied with the environmental status of the property. However, we may purchase a property without obtaining such assessment if our advisor determines it is not warranted. A Phase I environmental site assessment basically consists of a visual survey of the building and the property in an attempt to identify areas of potential environmental concerns, visually observing neighboring properties to assess surface conditions or activities that may have an adverse environmental impact on the property, and contacting local governmental agency personnel who perform a regulatory agency file search in an attempt to determine any known environmental concerns in the immediate vicinity of the property. A Phase I environmental site assessment does not generally include any sampling or testing of soil, ground water or building materials from the property and may not reveal all environmental hazards on a property.

 

We may enter into purchase and sale arrangements with a seller or developer of a suitable property under development or construction. In such cases, we will be obligated to purchase the property at the completion of construction, provided that the construction substantially conforms to definitive plans, specifications, and costs approved by us in advance. In such cases, prior to our acquiring the property, we generally would receive a certificate of an architect, engineer or other appropriate party, stating that the property substantially complies with all plans and specifications. If renovation or remodeling is required prior to the purchase of a property, we expect to pay a negotiated maximum amount to the seller upon completion. We do not currently intend to construct or develop properties or to render any services in connection with such development or construction.

 

In determining whether to purchase a particular property, we may, in accordance with customary practices, obtain an option on such property. The amount paid for an option, if any, normally is surrendered if the property is not purchased and normally is credited against the purchase price if the property is purchased.

 

In purchasing, leasing and developing properties, we will be subject to risks generally incident to the ownership of real estate. See “Item 1A — Risk Factors — General Risks Related to Investments in Real Estate.”

Ownership Structure

 

Our investment in real estate generally takes the form of holding fee title or a long-term leasehold estate. In addition, we invest in mortgages acquired in the secondary market and secured by commercial properties. We acquire such assets either directly through our operating partnership, or indirectly through limited liability companies, limited partnerships, or through investments in joint ventures, partnerships, co-tenancies or other co-ownership arrangements with the developers of the properties, affiliates of Cole Advisors II or other persons. See the “— Joint Venture Investments” section below. In addition, we have purchased, and may continue to purchase, properties and lease them back to the sellers of such properties. While we use our best efforts to structure any such sale-leaseback transaction so that the lease will be characterized as a “true lease” and so that we will be treated as the owner of the property for federal income tax purposes, the Internal Revenue Service could challenge this characterization. In the event that any sale-leaseback transaction is re-characterized as a financing transaction for federal income tax purposes, deductions for depreciation and cost recovery relating to such property would be disallowed.

 

Joint Venture Investments

 

We may enter into joint ventures, partnerships, co-tenancies and other co-ownership arrangements with affiliated entities of our advisor, including other real estate programs sponsored by affiliates of our advisor, and other third parties for the acquisition, development or improvement of properties or the acquisition of other real estate-related investments. We have and may continue to also enter into such arrangements with real estate developers, owners and other unaffiliated third parties for the purpose of developing, owning and operating real properties. In determining whether to invest in a particular joint venture, our advisor will evaluate the underlying real property or other real estate-related investment using the same criteria described above in “— Real Estate Investment Decisions” for the selection of our real property investments. Our advisor also will evaluate the joint venture or co-ownership partner and the proposed terms of the joint venture or a co-ownership arrangement.

 

Our general policy is to invest in joint ventures only when we would have substantial decision-making rights and a right of first refusal to purchase the co-venturer’s interest in the joint venture if the co-venturer elects to sell such interest. In the event that the co-venturer elects to sell property held in any such joint venture, however, we may not have sufficient funds to exercise our right of first refusal to buy the other co-venturer’s interest in the property held by the joint venture. In the event that any joint venture with an affiliated entity holds interests in more than one property, the interest in each such property may be specially allocated based upon the respective proportion of funds invested by each co-venturer in each such property.

 

Cole Advisors II and its officers and key persons may have conflicts of interest in determining which real estate program sponsored by our sponsor, Cole Real Estate Investments, should enter into any particular joint venture agreement. The co-venturer may have economic or business interests or goals that are or may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. In addition, if the joint venture is with an affiliate, Cole Advisors II may face a conflict in structuring the terms of the relationship between our interests and the interest of the affiliated co-venturer and in managing the joint venture. Since Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will control both the affiliated co-venturer and, to a certain extent, us, agreements and transactions between the co-venturers with respect to any such joint venture will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiation of the type normally conducted between unrelated co-venturers, which may result in the co-venturer receiving benefits greater than the benefits that we receive. In addition, we may have liabilities that exceed the percentage of our investment in the joint venture.

 

We may enter into joint ventures with other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments only if a majority of our directors not otherwise interested in the transaction and a majority of our independent directors approve the transaction as being fair and reasonable to us and on substantially the same terms and conditions as those received by unaffiliated joint venturers.

Borrowing Policies

 

Our advisor believes that utilizing borrowing is consistent with our investment objective of maximizing the return to investors. By operating on a leveraged basis, we have more funds available for investment in properties. This allows us to make more investments than would otherwise be possible, resulting in a more diversified portfolio. There is no limitation on the amount we may borrow against any single improved property. However, under our charter, we are required to limit our borrowings to 60% of the greater of cost (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves) or fair market value of our gross assets, unless excess borrowing is approved by a majority of the independent directors and disclosed to our stockholders in the next quarterly report along with the justification for such excess borrowing. In the event that we issue preferred stock that is entitled to a preference over the common stock in respect of distributions or liquidation or is treated as debt under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), we will include it in the leverage restriction calculations, unless the issuance of the preferred stock is approved or ratified by our stockholders.

 

Our advisor uses its best efforts to obtain financing on the most favorable terms available to us. Our advisor has substantial discretion with respect to the financing we obtain, subject to our borrowing policies, which are approved by our board of directors. Lenders may have recourse to assets not securing the repayment of the indebtedness. Our advisor may refinance properties during the term of a loan only in limited circumstances, such as when a decline in interest rates makes it beneficial to prepay an existing mortgage, when an existing mortgage matures, or if an attractive investment becomes available and the proceeds from the refinancing can be used to purchase such investment. The benefits of the refinancing may include increased cash flow resulting from reduced debt service requirements, an increase in dividend distributions from proceeds of the refinancing, if any, and an increase in property ownership if some refinancing proceeds are reinvested in real estate.

 

Our ability to increase our diversification through borrowing may be adversely impacted if banks and other lending institutions continue to reduce the amount of funds available for loans secured by real estate. When interest rates on mortgage loans are high or financing is otherwise unavailable on a timely basis, we may purchase properties for cash with the intention of obtaining a mortgage loan for a portion of the purchase price at a later time. To the extent that we do not obtain mortgage loans on our properties, our ability to acquire additional properties will be restricted and we may not be able to adequately diversify our portfolio.

 

Beginning in late 2007, domestic and international financial markets experienced significant disruptions that were brought about in large part by challenges in the world-wide banking system. These disruptions severely impacted the availability of credit and have contributed to rising costs associated with obtaining credit. Recently, the volume of mortgage lending for commercial real estate has increased and lending terms have improved; however, such lending activity is significantly less than previous levels. Although lending market conditions have improved, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, more stringent lending criteria, which may affect our ability to finance certain property acquisitions or refinance our debt at maturity. For properties for which we are able to obtain financing, the interest rates and other terms on such loans may be unacceptable. Additionally, if we are able to refinance our existing debt as it matures, it may be at lower leverage levels or at rates and terms which are less favorable than our existing debt or, if we elect to extend the maturity dates of the mortgage notes in accordance with the hyper-amortization provisions, the interest rates charged to us will be higher, each of which may adversely affect our results of operations and the distribution rate we are able to pay to our investors. We have managed, and expect to continue to manage, the current mortgage lending environment by utilizing borrowings on our amended and restated $350.0 million line of credit (the “Credit Facility”), and considering alternative lending sources, including the securitization of debt, utilizing fixed rate loans, short-term variable rate loans, assuming existing mortgage loans in connection with property acquisitions, or entering into interest rate lock or swap agreements, or any combination of the foregoing. We have acquired, and may continue to acquire, our properties for cash without financing. If we are unable to obtain suitable financing for future acquisitions or we are unable to identify suitable properties at appropriate prices in the current credit environment, we may have a larger amount of uninvested cash, which may adversely affect our results of operations. We will continue to evaluate

alternatives in the current market, including purchasing or originating debt backed by real estate, which could produce attractive yields in the current market environment.

 

We may not borrow money from any of our directors or from our advisor or its affiliates unless such loan is approved by a majority of the directors not otherwise interested in the transaction (including a majority of the independent directors) as fair, competitive and commercially reasonable and no less favorable to us than a comparable loan between unaffiliated parties. During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 we did not acquire any properties or borrow any funds from Cole Advisors II or its affiliates.

 

Disposition Policies

 

We intend to hold each property we acquire for an extended period of time, generally eight to ten years from the time of acquisition. However, circumstances might arise that could result in the early sale of some properties. We may sell a property before the end of the expected holding period if we believe the sale of the property would be in the best interests of our stockholders. As of December 31, 2010, we had not sold any properties.

 

The determination of whether a particular property should be sold or otherwise disposed of will be made after consideration of relevant factors, including prevailing economic conditions and current tenant creditworthiness, with a view to achieving maximum capital appreciation. There can be no assurance that this objective will be realized. The selling price of a property that is net leased will be determined in part by the amount of rent payable remaining under the lease and the economic conditions at that time. In connection with our sales of properties, we may lend the purchaser all or a portion of the purchase price. In these instances, our taxable income may exceed the cash received in the sale. The terms of payment will be affected by customs in the area in which the property being sold is located and the then-prevailing economic conditions.

 

Acquisition of Properties from Affiliates

 

We may acquire properties or interests in properties from or in co-ownership arrangements with entities affiliated with our advisor, including properties acquired from affiliates of our advisor engaged in construction and development of commercial real properties. We will not acquire any property from an affiliate unless a majority of our directors (including a majority of our independent directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction determine that the transaction is fair and reasonable to us. The purchase price that we will pay for any property we acquire from affiliates of our advisor, including property developed by an affiliate as well as property held by an affiliate that has already been developed, will not exceed the current appraised value of the property. In addition, the price of the property we acquire from an affiliate may not exceed the cost of the property to the affiliate, unless a majority of our directors and a majority of our independent directors determine that substantial justification for the excess exists and the excess is reasonable. During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, we did not purchase any properties from our advisor’s affiliates.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

We are subject to various conflicts of interest arising out of our relationship with Cole Advisors II and its affiliates, including conflicts related to the arrangements pursuant to which we will compensate our advisor and its affiliates. While our independent directors will act on our behalf, our agreements and compensation arrangements with our advisor and its affiliates may not be determined by arm’s-length negotiations, since the approval process may be impacted by the fact that our stockholders invested with the understanding and expectation that an affiliate of Cole Real Estate Investments would act as our advisor. Some of the potential conflicts of interest in our transactions with our advisor and its affiliates, and certain conflict resolution procedures set forth in our charter, are described below.

 

Our officers and affiliates of our advisor will try to balance our interests with the interests of real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments. However, to the extent that these persons take actions that are more favorable to other entities than to us, these actions could have a negative impact on our financial performance and, consequently, on distributions to our stockholders and the value of our stock. In addition,

our directors, officers and certain of our stockholders may engage for their own account in business activities of the types conducted or to be conducted by our subsidiaries and us.

 

Our independent directors have an obligation to function on our behalf in all situations in which a conflict of interest may arise, and all of our directors have a fiduciary obligation to act on behalf of our stockholders.

 

Interests in Other Real Estate Programs

 

Affiliates of our advisor act as an advisor to, and our executive officers and two of our directors act as officers and/or directors of Cole Credit Property Trust, Inc. (“CCPT”), and/or Cole Credit Property Trust III, Inc. (“CCPT III”), and/or Cole Corporate Income Trust, Inc. (“CCIT”), each a real estate investment trust that has investment objectives and targeted assets similar to ours. CCPT is no longer offering shares for investment, and currently is not pursuing acquisitions of additional properties. In the event that CCPT sells one or more of its assets, it may seek to acquire additional properties, which may be similar to properties in which we invest. CCPT III is offering up to a maximum of 250,000,000 shares of common stock in a primary offering and up to 25,000,000 additional shares pursuant to a distribution reinvestment plan, and is currently pursuing acquisitions of properties which are similar to properties in which we invest. CCIT is offering up to a maximum of 250,000,000 shares of common stock in a primary offering and up to 50,000,000 shares pursuant to a distribution reinvestment plan, and is currently pursuing acquisitions of properties. We anticipate that certain investments that will be appropriate for investment by us also will be appropriate for investment by CCIT. Affiliates of our advisor also act as an advisor to, and our executive officers act as officers and/or directors of two additional real estate investment programs that currently are in registration for their initial public offerings. Affiliates of our officers and entities owned or managed by such affiliates also may acquire or develop real estate for their own accounts, and have done so in the past. Furthermore, affiliates of our officers and entities owned or managed by such affiliates intend to form additional real estate investment entities in the future, whether public or private, which can be expected to have investment objectives and policies similar to ours. Our advisor, its affiliates and affiliates of our officers are not obligated to present to us any particular investment opportunity that comes to their attention, even if such opportunity is of a character that might be suitable for investment by us. Our advisor and its affiliates, as well as our officers and our affiliated directors, likely will experience conflicts of interest as they simultaneously perform services for us and other affiliated real estate programs.

 

Any affiliated entity, whether or not currently existing, could compete with us in the sale or operation of our assets. We will seek to achieve any operating efficiencies or similar savings that may result from affiliated management of competitive assets. However, to the extent that affiliates own or acquire property that is adjacent, or in close proximity, to a property we own, our property may compete with the affiliate’s property for tenants or purchasers.

 

Every transaction that we enter into with our advisor or its affiliates is subject to an inherent conflict of interest. Our board of directors may encounter conflicts of interest in enforcing our rights against any affiliate in the event of a default by or disagreement with an affiliate or in invoking powers, rights or options pursuant to any agreement between us and our advisor, any of its affiliates or another real estate program sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments.

 

Other Activities of Cole Advisors II and its Affiliates

 

We rely on Cole Advisors II for the day-to-day operation of our business pursuant to an advisory agreement. As a result of the interests of members of its management in other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments and the fact that they have also engaged and will continue to engage in other business activities, Cole Advisors II and its affiliates have conflicts of interest in allocating their time between us and other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments and other activities in which they are involved. However, Cole Advisors II believes that it and its affiliates have sufficient personnel to discharge fully their responsibilities to all of the real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments and other ventures in which they are involved.

In addition, each of our executive officers, including Christopher H. Cole, who also serves as the chairman of our board of directors, also serve as an officer of our advisor, our property manager, and/or other affiliated entities. As a result, these individuals owe fiduciary duties to these other entities which may conflict with the fiduciary duties that they owe to us and our stockholders.

 

Competition in Acquiring, Leasing and Operating of Properties

 

Conflicts of interest may exist to the extent that we may acquire properties or enter into joint ventures that own properties in the same geographic areas where properties owned by real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments are located. In such a case, a conflict could arise in the leasing of properties in the event that we and another real estate program sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments were to compete for the same tenants in negotiating leases, or a conflict could arise in connection with the resale of properties in the event that we and another real estate program sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments were to attempt to sell similar properties at the same time. Conflicts of interest may also exist at such time as we or our affiliates managing property on our behalf seek to employ developers, contractors or building managers, as well as under other circumstances. Cole Advisors II will seek to reduce conflicts relating to the employment of developers, contractors or building managers by making prospective employees aware of all such properties seeking to employ such persons. In addition, Cole Advisors II will seek to reduce conflicts that may arise with respect to properties available for sale or rent by making prospective purchasers or tenants aware of all such properties. However, these conflicts cannot be fully avoided in that there may be established differing compensation arrangements for employees at different properties or differing terms for resale or leasing of the various properties.

 

Affiliated Dealer Manager

 

Since Cole Capital Corporation (“Cole Capital”), our dealer manager, is an affiliate of Cole Advisors II, we did not have the benefit of an independent due diligence review and investigation of the type normally performed by an unaffiliated, independent underwriter in connection with our Offerings.

 

Affiliated Property Manager

 

Our properties are, and we anticipate that properties we acquire will be, managed and leased by our affiliated property manager, Cole Realty Advisors, Inc. (“Cole Realty Advisors”), pursuant to a property management and leasing agreement. Our agreement with Cole Realty Advisors has a one year term. We expect Cole Realty Advisors to also serve as property manager for properties owned by affiliated real estate programs, some of which may be in competition with our properties. Management fees to be paid to our property manager are based on a percentage of the gross revenue received by the managed properties.

 

Receipt of Fees and Other Compensation by Cole Advisors II and its Affiliates

 

We have incurred commissions, fees and other compensation payable to Cole Advisors II and its affiliates in connection with the Offerings, including selling commissions, dealer manager fees, and organization and offering expenses. In addition, we have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, commissions, fees and expenses payable to Cole Advisors II and its affiliates in connection with the acquisition and management of our assets, including acquisition and advisory fees, financing coordination fees, property management and leasing fees, asset management fees, acquisition expenses and operating expenses. In connection with the sale of properties, we may pay Cole Advisors II and its affiliates real estate commissions and subordinated participation in net sale proceeds and subordinated performance fees. However, the subordinated participation in net sale proceeds and the subordinated performance fees payable or reimbursable to Cole Advisors II and its affiliates relating to the net sale proceeds from the sale of properties will only be payable after the return to the stockholders of their capital contributions plus cumulative returns on such capital. Subject to oversight by our board of directors, Cole Advisors II will have considerable discretion with respect to all decisions relating to the terms and timing of all transactions. Therefore, Cole Advisors II may have conflicts of interest concerning certain actions taken on our behalf, particularly due to the fact that such fees will generally be

payable to Cole Advisors II and its affiliates regardless of the quality of the properties acquired or the services provided to us.

 

Certain Conflict Resolution Procedures

 

Every transaction that we enter into with Cole Advisors II or its affiliates will be subject to an inherent conflict of interest. Our board of directors may encounter conflicts of interest in enforcing our rights against any affiliate in the event of a default by or disagreement with an affiliate or in invoking powers, rights or options pursuant to any agreement between us and Cole Advisors II or any of its affiliates.

 

In order to reduce or to eliminate certain potential conflicts of interest, our charter contains a number of restrictions relating to (1) transactions we enter into with Cole Advisors II and its affiliates, (2) certain future offerings, and (3) allocation of investment opportunities among affiliated entities. These restrictions include, among others, the following:

 

 

 

 

If, in the judgment of our advisor, the investment opportunity may be equally appropriate for more than one program, then the entity that has had the longest period of time elapse since it was offered an investment opportunity will first be offered such investment opportunity. It will be the duty of our board of directors, including the independent directors, to ensure that this method is applied fairly to us.

 

If a subsequent development, such as a delay in the closing of a property or a delay in the construction of a property, causes any such investment, in the opinion of Cole Advisors II, to be more appropriate for a program other than the program that committed to make the investment, Cole Advisors II may determine that another program affiliated with Cole Advisors II or its affiliates will make the investment.

 

We will not enter into any transaction with Cole Advisors II or its affiliates unless a majority of our directors, including a majority of the independent directors, not otherwise interested in the transaction approve such transaction as fair and reasonable to us and on terms and conditions not less favorable to us than those available from unaffiliated third parties.

 

Employees

 

We have no direct employees. The employees of Cole Advisors II and its affiliates provide services to us related to acquisition and disposition, property management, asset management, financing, accounting, investor relations, and administration. The employees of Cole Capital, our affiliated dealer manager, provide wholesale brokerage services.

 

We are dependent on our advisor and its affiliates for services that are essential to us, including the sale of shares of our common stock, asset acquisition decisions, property management and other general administrative responsibilities. In the event that these companies were unable to provide these services to us, we would be required to obtain such services from other sources.

 

We reimburse Cole Advisors II and its affiliates for expenses incurred in connection with its provision of administrative, acquisition, property management, asset management, financing, accounting and investor relation services, including personnel costs, subject to certain limitations. During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, we incurred $3.8 million and $2.0 million, respectively, for such services provided by Cole Advisors II or its affiliates. During the year ended December 31, 2008, no amounts were recorded for such services.

 

Insurance

 

See sections captioned ‘‘— Acquisition and Investment Policies — Description of Leases” and “— Environmental Matters.”

 

Reportable Segments

 

We operate and report our results on a consolidated basis in our commercial properties segment. See Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Competition

 

As we purchase properties, we are in competition with other potential buyers for the same properties and may have to pay more to purchase the property than if there were no other potential acquirers or we may have to locate another property that meets our investment criteria. In addition, the leasing of real estate is highly competitive in the current market, and we may continue to experience competition for tenants from owners

and managers of competing projects. As a result, we may have to provide free rent, incur charges for tenant improvements, or offer other inducements, or we might not be able to timely lease the space, all of which may have an adverse impact on our results of operations. At the time we elect to dispose of our properties, we may also be in competition with sellers of similar properties to locate suitable purchasers for our properties.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had cash on deposit, including restricted cash, in five financial institutions, four of which had deposits in excess of current federally insured levels totaling $47.9 million; however, we have not experienced any losses in such accounts. We limit significant cash holdings to accounts held by financial institutions with high credit standing; therefore, we believe we are not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash.

 

No single tenant accounted for greater than 10% of our gross annualized rental revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010. Tenants in the specialty retail, drugstore and restaurant industries comprised 18%, 16% and 13%, respectively, of our gross annualized rental revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010. Additionally, we have certain geographic concentrations in our property holdings. In particular, as of December 31, 2010, 165 of our properties were located in Texas and 22 were located in Florida, accounting for 16% and 10% of our 2010 gross annualized rental revenues, respectively.

 

Litigation

 

In the ordinary course of business, we may become subject to litigation or claims. We are not aware of any material pending legal proceedings of which the outcome is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our results of operation or financial condition.

 

Environmental Matters

 

In connection with the ownership and operation of real estate, we may be potentially liable for costs and damages related to environmental matters. We have acquired certain properties that are subject to environmental remediation, in which the seller, the tenant and/or another third party has been identified as the responsible party for environmental remediation costs related to the property. Additionally, in connection with the purchase of certain of the properties, the respective sellers and/or tenants have indemnified us against future remediation costs. In addition, we carry environmental liability insurance on our properties that provides coverage for remediation liability and pollution liability for third-party bodily injury and property damage claims. See “Item 1. Business — Acquisitions and Investment Policies — Conditions to Closing Our Acquisitions” for a description of the steps we may take to ensure environmental compliance in the properties we acquire.

 

Available Information

 

We electronically file our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports with the SEC. We have also filed registration statements, amendments to our registration statements, and supplements to our prospectus in connection with our Offerings with the SEC. Copies of our filings with the SEC may be obtained from the SEC’s website, at http://www.sec.gov. Access to these filings is free of charge.

 

The factors described below represent our principal risks. Other factors may exist that we do not consider to be significant based on information that is currently available or that we are not currently able to provide.

 

Risks Related to an Investment in Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc.

 

There is no public trading market for our shares and there may never be one; therefore, it will be difficult for you to sell your shares.

 

There currently is no public market for our shares and there may never be one. In addition, we do not have a fixed liquidation date. If you are able to find a buyer for your shares, you may not sell your shares unless the buyer meets applicable suitability and minimum purchase standards. Our charter also prohibits the ownership of more than 9.8% of our stock, or more than 9.8% in value or number of shares (whichever is more restrictive) of our common stock, by a single investor, unless exempted by our board of directors, which may inhibit large investors from desiring to purchase your shares. Moreover, our share redemption program includes numerous restrictions that would limit your ability to sell your shares to us. Our board of directors may reject any request for redemption of shares, or amend, suspend or terminate our share redemption program upon 30 days’ notice. Our board of directors suspended our share redemption program on November 10, 2009. On June 22, 2010, our board of directors reinstated our share redemption program, effective August 1, 2010, and adopted several amendments to the program. In particular, during any calendar year, we will not redeem in excess of 3% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year and the cash available for redemption is limited to the proceeds from the sale of shares pursuant to our DRIP during such calendar year. In addition, we will redeem shares on a quarterly basis, at the rate of approximately one-fourth of 3% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year (including shares requested for redemption upon the death of a stockholder). Funding for redemptions for each quarter will be limited to the net proceeds we receive from the sale of shares, during such quarter, under our DRIP. Therefore, it will be difficult for you to sell your shares promptly or at all. If you are able to sell your shares, you will likely have to sell them at a substantial discount to the price you paid for the shares. It also is likely that your shares would not be accepted as the primary collateral for a loan. You should purchase the shares only as a long-term investment because of the illiquid nature of the shares.

 

You will not have the opportunity to evaluate our future investments before we make them, which makes an investment in us more speculative.

 

We will seek to use the net offering proceeds, after the payment of fees and expenses of our Offerings and other sources of capital, to continue to acquire a portfolio of commercial real estate comprised primarily of a large number of freestanding, single-tenant, retail properties net leased to investment grade or other creditworthy tenants and a smaller number of multi-tenant properties that compliment our overall investment objectives. We may also, in the discretion of our advisor, invest in other types of real estate or in entities that invest in real estate. In addition, our advisor may make or invest in mortgage loans or participations therein on our behalf if our board of directors determines, due to the state of the real estate market or in order to diversify our investment portfolio or otherwise, that such investments are advantageous to us. We will not provide you with information to evaluate our future investments prior to our acquisition of properties. We have established policies relating to the creditworthiness of tenants of our properties, but our board of directors has wide discretion in implementing these policies.

 

We may suffer from delays in locating suitable additional investments, which could adversely affect our ability to make distributions and the value of your investment.

 

Our ability to achieve our investment objectives and to pay distributions is dependent upon the performance of our advisor in the acquisition of our investments, the selection of our tenants and the determination of any financing arrangements. You must rely entirely on the management ability of our advisor and the oversight of our board of directors. We could suffer from delays in locating suitable additional investments, particularly as a result of our reliance on our advisor at times when management of our advisor is

simultaneously seeking to locate suitable investments for other affiliated programs. Delays we encounter in the selection, acquisition and, in the event we develop properties, development of income-producing properties, would adversely affect our ability to make distributions and the value of your overall returns. In such event, we may pay a portion of our distributions from the proceeds of the Offerings or from borrowings in anticipation of future cash flow, which may constitute a return of your capital. Distributions from the proceeds of our offering or from borrowings also could reduce the amount of capital we ultimately invest in properties. This, in turn, would reduce the value of your investment. In particular, if we acquire properties prior to the start of construction or during the early stages of construction, it will typically take several months to complete construction and rent available space. Therefore, you could suffer delays in the receipt of cash distributions attributable to those particular properties. If Cole Advisors II is unable to obtain suitable investments, we will hold proceeds from the Offerings in an interest-bearing account or invest the proceeds in short-term, investment-grade investments.

 

If our advisor loses or is unable to obtain key personnel, our ability to achieve our investment objectives could be delayed or hindered, which could adversely affect our ability to pay distributions to you and the value of your investment.

 

Our success depends to a significant degree upon the contributions of certain of our executive officers and other key personnel of our advisor, each of whom would be difficult to replace. Our advisor does not have an employment agreement with any of these key personnel and we cannot guarantee that all, or any particular one, will remain affiliated with us and/or advisor. If any of our key personnel were to cease their affiliation with our advisor, our operating results could suffer. Further, we do not intend to separately maintain key person life insurance on Mr. Cole or any other person. We believe that our future success depends, in large part, upon our advisor’s ability to hire and retain highly skilled managerial, operational and marketing personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense, and we cannot assure you that our advisor will be successful in attracting and retaining such skilled personnel. If our advisor loses or is unable to obtain the services of key personnel, our ability to implement our investment strategies could be delayed or hindered, and the value of your investment may decline.

 

If we pay distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operations, we will have fewer funds available for the acquisition of properties, and your overall return may be reduced.

 

Our organizational documents permit us to make distributions from any source. If we fund distributions from financings or the net proceeds from the Offerings, we will have fewer funds available for acquiring properties and other investments, and your overall value of your investment may be reduced. Further, to the extent distributions exceed cash flow from operations, a stockholder’s basis in our stock will be reduced and, to the extent distributions exceed a stockholder’s basis, the stockholder may recognize capital gain.

 

If we internalize our management functions, your interest in us could be diluted, and we could incur other significant costs associated with being self-managed.

 

Our strategy may involve internalizing our management functions. If we internalize our management functions, we may elect to negotiate to acquire our advisor’s assets and personnel. At this time, we cannot be sure of the form or amount of consideration or other terms relating to any such acquisition. Such consideration could take many forms, including cash payments, promissory notes and shares of our stock. The payment of such consideration could result in dilution of your interests as a stockholder and could reduce the net income per share and funds from operations per share attributable to your investment.

 

In addition, while we would no longer bear the costs of the various fees and expenses we expect to pay to our advisor under the advisory agreement, our direct expenses would include general and administrative costs, including legal, accounting, and other expenses related to corporate governance, SEC reporting and compliance. We would also incur the compensation and benefits costs of our officers and other employees and consultants that we now expect will be paid by our advisor or its affiliates. In addition, we may issue equity awards to officers, employees and consultants, which awards would decrease net income and funds from operations and may further dilute your investment. We cannot reasonably estimate the amount of fees to our

advisor we would save and the costs we would incur if we became self-managed. If the expenses we assume as a result of an internalization are higher than the expenses we avoid paying to our advisor, our net income per share and funds from operations per share would be lower as a result of the internalization than it otherwise would have been, potentially decreasing the amount of funds available to distribute to you and the value of our shares.

 

As currently organized, we do not directly have any employees. If we elect to internalize our operations, we would employ personnel and would be subject to potential liabilities commonly faced by employers, such as worker’s disability and compensation claims, potential labor disputes and other employee-related liabilities and grievances. Upon any internalization of our advisor, certain key personnel of our advisor may not be employed by us, but instead may remain employees of our advisor or its affiliates.

 

If we internalize our management functions, we could have difficulty integrating these functions as a stand-alone entity. Currently, our advisor and its affiliates perform asset management and general and administrative functions, including accounting and financial reporting, for multiple entities. They have a great deal of know-how and can experience economies of scale. We may fail to properly identify the appropriate mix of personnel and capital needs to operate as a stand-alone entity. An inability to manage an internalization transaction effectively could thus result in our incurring excess costs and/or suffering deficiencies in our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting. Such deficiencies could cause us to incur additional costs, and our management’s attention could be diverted from most effectively managing our properties.

 

Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to recover claims against our officers, directors and our advisor are limited, which could reduce your and our recovery against them if they cause us to incur losses.

 

Maryland law provides that a director has no liability in that capacity if he or she performs his or her duties in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the corporation’s best interests and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. Our charter, in the case of our directors, officers, employees and agents, and the advisory agreement, in the case of our advisor, require us to indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents and our advisor and its affiliates for actions taken by them in good faith and without negligence or misconduct. Additionally, our charter limits the liability of our directors and officers for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted under Maryland law, subject to the limitations required by the Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts published by the North American Securities Administrators Associations, also known as the NASAA REIT Guidelines. Although our charter does not allow us to exonerate and indemnify our directors and officers to a greater extent than permitted under Maryland law and the NASAA REIT Guidelines, we and our stockholders may have more limited rights against our directors, officers, employees and agents, and our advisor and its affiliates, than might otherwise exist under common law, which could reduce your and our recovery against them. In addition, we may be obligated to fund the defense costs incurred by our directors, officers, employees and agents or our advisor in some cases which would decrease the cash otherwise available for distribution to you.

 

Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest

 

We will be subject to conflicts of interest arising out of our relationships with our advisor and its affiliates, including the material conflicts discussed below. The “Conflicts of Interest” section of Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K provides a more detailed discussion of the conflicts of interest between us and our advisor and its affiliates, and our policies to reduce or eliminate certain potential conflicts.

 

A number of real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments use investment strategies that are similar to ours, therefore our advisor and its and our executive officers will face conflicts of interest relating to the purchase and leasing of properties, and such conflicts may not be resolved in our favor.

 

Our sponsor may have simultaneous offerings of funds that have a substantially similar mix of fund characteristics, including targeted investment types, investment objectives and criteria, and anticipated fund terms. As a result, we may be buying properties and other real estate-related investments at the same time as

one or more of the other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments managed by officers and key personnel of our advisor and/or its affiliates, and these other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments may use investment strategies and have investment objectives that are similar to ours. In particular, CCPT III and CCIT are currently offering shares of their common stock pursuant to effective registration statements and pursuing acquisitions of assets that may be suitable for us to acquire. Additionally, our sponsor is sponsoring two additional real estate investment programs that currently are in registration for their initial public offerings. Our executive officers and the executive officers of our advisor also are the executive officers, general partners, and/or the advisors or fiduciaries of other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments. There is a risk that our advisor will choose a property that provides lower returns to us than a property purchased by another real estate program sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments. In the event these conflicts arise, our best interests may not be met when officers and key persons acting on behalf of our advisor and on behalf of advisors and managers of other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments decide whether to allocate any particular property to us or to another real estate program sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments or affiliate that has an investment strategy similar to ours. In addition, we may acquire properties in geographic areas where other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments own properties. If one of the other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments attracts a tenant that we are competing for, we could suffer a loss of revenue due to delays in locating another suitable tenant. Similar conflicts of interest may arise if we acquire properties from or sell properties to other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments, or if our advisor recommends that we make or purchase mortgage loans or participations in mortgage loans, since other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments may be competing with us for these investments.

 

Cole Advisors II faces conflicts of interest relating to joint ventures, which could result in a disproportionate benefit to the other venture partners at our expense.

 

We may enter into joint ventures with other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments for the acquisition, development or improvement of properties. Cole Advisors II may have conflicts of interest in determining which real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments should enter into any particular joint venture agreement. The co-venturer may have economic or business interests or goals that are or may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. In addition, Cole Advisors II may face a conflict in structuring the terms of the relationship between our interests and the interest of the affiliated co-venturer and in managing the joint venture. Since Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will control both the affiliated co-venturer and, to a certain extent, us, agreements and transactions between the co-venturers with respect to any such joint venture will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiation of the type normally conducted between unrelated co-venturers, which may result in the co-venturer receiving benefits greater than the benefits that we receive. In addition, we may assume liabilities related to the joint venture that exceed the percentage of our investment in the joint venture.

 

We may participate in 1031 exchange programs with affiliates of our advisor that will not be the result of arm’s-length negotiations and will result in conflicts of interest.

 

Cole Capital Partners, LLC (“Cole Capital Partners”), an affiliate of our advisor, has developed programs to facilitate the acquisition of real estate properties in co-ownership arrangements with persons who are looking to invest proceeds from a sale of real estate in order to qualify for like-kind exchange treatment under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code (a “Section 1031 Program”). Section 1031 Programs are structured as co-ownership arrangements with other investors in the property (“Section 1031 Participants”) who are seeking to defer taxes under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. These programs are structured either as a tenant-in-common program or by use of a Delaware Statutory Trust. When Cole Capital Partners develops such a program, it generally organizes a new entity (a “Cole Exchange Entity”) to acquire all or part of a property. We may participate in the program by either co-investing in the property with the Cole Exchange Entity or purchasing a co-ownership interest from the Cole Exchange Entity, generally at the Cole Exchange Entity’s cost. In that event, as a co-owner of properties, we will be subject to the risks inherent in the co-ownership arrangements with unrelated third parties. Our purchase of co-ownership interests will present

conflicts of interest between us and affiliates of our advisor. The business interests of Cole Capital Partners and the Cole Exchange Entity may be adverse to, or to the detriment of, our interests. Further, any agreement that we enter into with a Cole Exchange Entity will not be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction and, as a result of the affiliation between our advisor, Cole Capital Partners and the Cole Exchange Entity, our advisor may be reluctant to enforce the agreements against such entities.

 

Cole Advisors II and its officers and key personnel and certain of our key personnel face competing demands relating to their time, and this may cause our operating results to suffer.

 

Cole Advisors II and its officers and employees and certain of our key personnel and their respective affiliates are key personnel, general partners and sponsors of other real estate programs that have investment objectives, targeted assets and legal and financial obligations similar to ours and may have other business interests as well. Because these persons have competing demands on their time and resources, they may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time between our business and these other activities. During times of intense activity in other programs and ventures, they may devote less time and fewer resources to our business than is necessary or appropriate. If this occurs, the returns on our investments may suffer.

 

Our officers face conflicts of interest related to the positions they hold with affiliated entities, which could hinder our ability to successfully implement our business strategy and to generate returns to you.

 

Each of our executive officers, including Mr. Cole, who also serves as the chairman of our board of directors, are also officers of our advisor, our property manager, and/or other affiliated entities. As a result, these individuals owe fiduciary duties to these other entities and their stockholders and limited partners, which fiduciary duties may conflict with the duties that they owe to us and our stockholders. Their loyalties to these other entities could result in actions or inactions that are detrimental to our business, which could harm the implementation of our business strategy and our investment and leasing opportunities. Conflicts with our business and interests are most likely to arise from involvement in activities related to (i) allocation of new investments and management time and services between us and the other entities, (ii) our purchase of properties from, or sale of properties, to affiliated entities, (iii) the timing and terms of the investment in or sale of an asset, (iv) development of our properties by affiliates, (v) investments with affiliates of our advisor, (vi) compensation to our advisor, and (vii) our relationship with our dealer manager and property manager. If we do not successfully implement our business strategy, we may be unable to generate cash needed to make distributions to our stockholders and to maintain or increase the value of our assets.

 

Cole Advisors II faces conflicts of interest relating to the incentive fee structure under our advisory agreement, which could result in actions that are not necessarily in the long-term best interests of our stockholders.

 

Under our advisory agreement, Cole Advisors II is entitled to fees that are structured in a manner intended to provide incentives to our advisor to perform in our best interests and in the best interests of our stockholders. However, because our advisor does not maintain a significant equity interest in us and is entitled to receive substantial minimum compensation regardless of performance, our advisor’s interests are not wholly aligned with those of our stockholders. In that regard, our advisor could be motivated to recommend riskier or more speculative investments in order for us to generate the specified levels of performance or sales proceeds that would entitle our advisor to fees. In addition, our advisor’s entitlement to fees upon the sale of our assets and to participate in sale proceeds could result in our advisor recommending sales of our investments at the earliest possible time at which sales of investments would produce the level of return that would entitle the advisor to compensation relating to such sales, even if continued ownership of those investments might be in our best long-term interest. Our advisory agreement requires us to pay a performance-based termination fee to our advisor in the event that we terminate the advisor prior to the listing of our shares for trading on an exchange or, absent such listing, in respect of its participation in net sales proceeds. To avoid paying this fee, our independent directors may decide against terminating the advisory agreement prior to our listing of our shares or disposition of our investments even if, but for the termination fee, termination of the advisory agreement would be in our best interest. In addition, the requirement to pay the fee to the advisor at

termination could cause us to make different investment or disposition decisions than we would otherwise make, in order to satisfy our obligation to pay the fee to the terminated advisor. Moreover, our advisor has the right to terminate the advisory agreement upon a change of control of our company and thereby trigger the payment of the performance fee, which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing the change of control.

 

There is no separate counsel for us and our affiliates, which could result in conflicts of interest.

 

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP acts as legal counsel to us and also represents our advisor and some of its affiliates. There is a possibility in the future that the interests of the various parties may become adverse and, under the Code of Professional Responsibility of the legal profession, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP may be precluded from representing any one or all of such parties. If any situation arises in which our interests appear to be in conflict with those of our advisor or its affiliates, additional counsel may be retained by one or more of the parties to assure that their interests are adequately protected. Moreover, should a conflict of interest not be readily apparent, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP may inadvertently act in derogation of the interest of the parties which could affect our ability to meet our investment objectives.

 

Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure

 

The limit on the number of shares a person may own may discourage a takeover that could otherwise result in a premium price to our stockholders.

 

Our charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes our directors to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to preserve our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Unless exempted by our board of directors, no person may own more than 9.8% in value of our outstanding stock or more than 9.8% in value or number of shares (whichever is more restrictive), of our outstanding common stock. This restriction may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium to the price of our common stock for our stockholders.

 

Our charter permits our board of directors to issue stock with terms that may subordinate the rights of common stockholders or discourage a third party from acquiring us in a manner that might result in a premium price to our stockholders.

 

Our charter permits our board of directors to issue up to 250,000,000 shares of stock. In addition, our board of directors, without any action by our stockholders, may amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares or the number of shares of any class or series of stock that we have authority to issue. Our board of directors may classify or reclassify any unissued common stock or preferred stock and establish the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption of any such stock. Thus, our board of directors could authorize the issuance of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have a priority as to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation over the rights of the holders of our common stock. Preferred stock could also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium price for our stockholders.

 

Maryland law prohibits certain business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us to be acquired and may limit your ability to exit the investment.

 

Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. 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 he or she otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.

 

After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the 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 stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares. The business combination statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Pursuant to the statute, our board of directors has exempted any business combination involving Cole Advisors II or its affiliates. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the super-majority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations between us and Cole Advisors II or its affiliates. As a result, Cole Advisors II and any of its affiliates may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interest of our stockholders, without compliance with the super-majority vote requirements and the other provisions of the statute. The business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.

 

Maryland law also limits the ability of a third party to buy a large stake in us and exercise voting power in electing directors.

 

Maryland law provides a second anti-takeover statute, its Control Share Acquisition Act, which provides that “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights except to the extent approved by the corporation’s disinterested stockholders by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares of stock owned by interested stockholders, that is, by the acquirer, 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 that would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within specified 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. The control share acquisition statute does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation. Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the Control Share Acquisition Act any and all acquisitions of our common stock by Cole Advisors II or any of its affiliates. This statute could have the effect of discouraging offers from third parties to acquire us and increasing the difficulty of successfully completing this type of offer by anyone other than our affiliates or any of their affiliates.

If we are required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, we could not continue our business, which may significantly reduce the value of your investment.

 

We are not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), pursuant to the exclusion set forth in Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act and certain no-action letters issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, (1) at least 55% of our assets must consist of real estate fee interests or loans secured exclusively by real estate or both, (2) at least 25% of our assets must consist of loans secured primarily by real estate (this percentage will be reduced by the amount by which the percentage in (1) above is increased); and (3) up to 20% of our assets may consist of miscellaneous investments. We intend to monitor compliance with these requirements on an ongoing basis. If we were obligated to register as an investment company, we would have to comply with a variety of substantive requirements under the Investment Company Act imposing, among other things:

 

 

To maintain compliance with the Investment Company Act exemption, we may be unable to sell assets we would otherwise want to sell and may need to sell assets we would otherwise wish to retain. In addition, we may have to acquire additional income or loss generating assets that we might not otherwise have acquired or may have to forgo opportunities to acquire interests in companies that we would otherwise want to acquire and would be important to our investment strategy. If we were required to register as an investment company but failed to do so, we would be prohibited from engaging in our business, and criminal and civil actions could be brought against us. In addition, our contracts would be unenforceable unless a court was to require enforcement, and a court could appoint a receiver to take control of us and liquidate our business.

 

If you do not agree with the decisions of our board of directors, you only have limited control over changes in our policies and operations and may not be able to change such policies and operations.

 

Our board of directors determines our major policies, including our policies regarding investments, financing, growth, debt capitalization, REIT qualification and distributions. Our board of directors may amend or revise these and other policies without a vote of the stockholders. Under the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter, our stockholders have a right to vote only on the following:

 

 

All other matters are subject to the discretion of our board of directors.

Our board of directors may change certain of our investment policies without stockholder approval, which could alter the nature of your investment.

 

Our charter requires that our independent directors review our investment policies at least annually to determine that the policies we are following are in the best interest of the stockholders. These policies may change over time. The methods of implementing our investment policies may also vary, as new real estate development trends emerge and new investment techniques are developed. Our investment policies, the methods for their implementation, and our other objectives, policies and procedures may be altered by our board of directors without the approval of our stockholders, unless otherwise provided in our organizational documents. As a result, the nature of your investment could change without your consent.

 

You are limited in your ability to sell your shares pursuant to our share redemption program and may have to hold your shares for an indefinite period of time.

 

Our board of directors may amend the terms of our share redemption program without stockholder approval. Our board also is free to suspend or terminate the program upon 30 days notice or to reject any request for redemption. Our board of directors suspended our share redemption program on November 10, 2009. On June 22, 2010, our board of directors reinstated our share redemption program, effective August 1, 2010, and adopted several amendments to the program. In particular, during any calendar year, we will not redeem in excess of 3% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year and the cash available for redemption is limited to the proceeds from the sale of shares pursuant to our DRIP during such calendar year. In addition, we will redeem shares on a quarterly basis, at the rate of approximately one-fourth of 3% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year (including shares requested for redemption upon the death of a stockholder). Funding for redemptions for each quarter will be limited to the net proceeds we receive from the sale of shares, during such quarter, under our DRIP. These limits might prevent us from accommodating all redemption requests made in any year. These restrictions severely limit your ability to sell your shares should you require liquidity, and limit your ability to recover the value you invested or the fair market value of your shares.

 

The estimated value per share of our common stock may not reflect the value that stockholders will receive for their investment.

 

In February 2009, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) informed broker dealers that sell shares of non-traded REITs that broker dealers may not report, in a customer account statement, an estimated value per share that is developed from data more than 18 months old. To assist broker dealers in complying with the FINRA notice, our board of directors established an estimated value of our common stock, as of June 22, 2010, of $8.05 per share.

 

As with any valuation methodology, the methodologies utilized by our board of directors, in reaching an estimate of the value of our shares, are based upon a number of estimates, assumptions, judgments and opinions that may, or may not, prove to be correct. The use of different estimates, assumptions, judgments or opinions would likely have resulted in significantly different estimates of the value of our shares.

 

Furthermore, in reaching an estimate of the value of our shares, the board of directors did not include a liquidity discount, in order to reflect the fact that our shares are not currently traded on a national securities exchange; a discount for debt that may include a prepayment obligation or a provision precluding assumption of the debt by a third party; or the costs that are likely to be incurred in connection with an appropriate exit strategy, whether that strategy might be a listing of our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange, a merger, or a sale of our portfolio. As a result, there can be no assurance that:

 

 

 

The board believes that the estimate of share value reflects a number of recent negative events that transpired, in both the real estate and capital markets, and that these events adversely impacted the value of our shares, as of June 22, 2010. The board expects that the value of our shares will fluctuate over time, in response to future developments related to individual assets in the portfolio, as well as in response to future events in the real estate and capital markets.

 

Our board of directors will update our estimated value per share on a periodic basis, but in no event less frequently than every 18 months.

 

For a full description of the methodologies used to value our assets and liabilities in connection with the calculation of the estimated value per share, see our Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 22, 2010.

 

Your interest in us will be diluted if we issue additional shares.

 

Existing stockholders and potential investors in the DRIP Offering do not have preemptive rights to any shares issued by us in the future. Our charter currently has authorized 250,000,000 shares of stock, of which 240,000,000 shares are designated as common stock and 10,000,000 are designated as preferred stock. Subject to any limitations set forth under Maryland law, our board of directors may increase the number of authorized shares of stock, increase or decrease the number of shares of any class or series of stock designated, or reclassify any unissued shares without the necessity of obtaining stockholder approval. All of such shares may be issued in the discretion of our board of directors. Existing stockholders and investors purchasing shares in the DRIP Offering likely will suffer dilution of their equity investment in us, in the event that we (1) sell shares in our offering or sell additional shares in the future, (2) sell securities that are convertible into shares of our common stock, (3) issue shares of our common stock in a private offering of securities to institutional investors, (4) issue shares of our common stock upon the exercise of the options granted to our independent directors, (5) issue shares to our advisor, its successors or assigns, in payment of an outstanding fee obligation as set forth under our advisory agreement, or (6) issue shares of our common stock to sellers of properties acquired by us in connection with an exchange of limited partnership interests of Cole OP II, existing stockholders and investors purchasing shares in our offering will likely experience dilution of their equity investment in us. In addition, the partnership agreement for Cole OP II contains provisions that would allow, under certain circumstances, other entities, including other real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments, to merge into or cause the exchange or conversion of their interest for interests of Cole OP II. Because the limited partnership interests of Cole OP II may, in the discretion of our board of directors, be exchanged for shares of our common stock, any merger, exchange or conversion between Cole OP II and another entity ultimately could result in the issuance of a substantial number of shares of our common stock, thereby diluting the percentage ownership interest of other stockholders. Because of these and other reasons described in this “Risk Factors” section, you should not expect to be able to own a significant percentage of our shares.

 

Payment of fees to Cole Advisors II and its affiliates reduces cash available for investment and distribution.

 

Cole Advisors II and its affiliates perform services for us in connection with the offer and sale of our shares, the selection and acquisition of our investments, and the management and leasing of our properties, the servicing of our mortgage loans, if any, and the administration of our other investments. They are paid substantial fees for these services, which reduces the amount of cash available for investment in properties or distribution to stockholders.

 

We may be unable to pay or maintain cash distributions or increase distributions over time.

 

There are many factors that can affect the availability and timing of cash distributions to stockholders. Distributions will be based principally on cash available from our operations. The amount of cash available for distributions is affected by many factors, such as our ability to buy properties as offering proceeds become

available, rental income from such properties, and our operating expense levels, as well as many other variables. Actual cash available for distributions may vary substantially from estimates. We may not be able to pay or maintain our current level of distributions or increase distributions over time. Rents from the properties may not increase, or may decrease, we may experience increased vacancies, the securities we buy may not increase in value or provide constant or increased distributions over time, and future acquisitions of real properties, mortgage loans and any investments in securities may not increase our cash available for distributions to stockholders. Our actual results may differ significantly from the assumptions used by our board of directors in establishing the distribution rate to stockholders. We may not have sufficient cash from operations to make a distribution required to maintain our REIT status.

 

General Risks Related to Investments in Real Estate

 

Our operating results will be affected by economic and regulatory changes that have an adverse impact on the real estate market in general, which may prevent us from being profitable or from realizing growth in the value of our real estate properties.

 

Our operating results are subject to risks generally incident to the ownership of real estate, including:

 

 

These risks and other factors may prevent us from being profitable, or from maintaining or growing the value of our real estate properties.

 

Many of our retail properties depend upon a single tenant, or a limited number of major tenants, for all or a majority of its rental income; therefore, our financial condition and ability to make distributions to you may be adversely affected by the bankruptcy or insolvency, a downturn in the business, or a lease termination of a single tenant.

 

Many of our properties are occupied by only one tenant or derive a majority of its rental income from a limited number of major tenants and, therefore, the success of those properties is materially dependent on the financial stability of such tenants. Lease payment defaults by tenants could cause us to reduce the amount of distributions we pay. A default of a tenant on its lease payments to us would cause us to lose revenue from the property and force us to find an alternative source of revenue to meet any expenses associated with the property and prevent a foreclosure if the property is subject to a mortgage. In the event of a default by a single or major tenant, we may experience delays in enforcing our rights as landlord and may incur substantial costs in protecting our investment and re-letting the property. If a lease is terminated, we may not be able to lease the property for the rent previously received or sell the property without incurring a loss. A default by a tenant, the failure of a guarantor to fulfill its obligations or other premature termination of a lease, or a tenant’s election not to extend a lease upon its expiration, could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and our ability to pay distributions to you.

 

A high concentration of our properties in a particular geographic area, or with tenants in a similar industry, would magnify the effects of downturns in that geographic area or industry.

 

We expect that our properties will continue to be diverse according to geographic area and industry of our tenants. However, in the event that we have a concentration of properties in any particular geographic area, any adverse situation that disproportionately effects that geographic area would have a magnified adverse

effect on our portfolio. Similarly, if tenants of our properties become concentrated in a certain industry or industries, any adverse effect to that industry generally would have a disproportionately adverse effect on our portfolio.

 

If a major tenant declares bankruptcy, we may be unable to collect balances due under relevant leases, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and ability to pay distributions.

 

We may experience concentration in one or more tenants. Any of our tenants, or any guarantor of one of our tenant’s lease obligations, could be subject to a bankruptcy proceeding pursuant to Title 11 of the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such a bankruptcy filing would bar us from attempting to collect pre-bankruptcy debts from the bankrupt tenant or its properties unless we receive an enabling order from the bankruptcy court. Post-bankruptcy debts would be paid currently. If we assume a lease, all pre-bankruptcy balances owing under it must be paid in full. If a lease is rejected by a tenant in bankruptcy, we would have a general unsecured claim for damages. If a lease is rejected, it is unlikely we would receive any payments from the tenant because our claim would be capped at the rent reserved under the lease, without acceleration, for the greater of one year or 15% of the remaining term of the lease, but not greater than three years, plus rent already due but unpaid. This claim could be paid only in the event funds were available, and then only in the same percentage as that realized on other unsecured claims.

 

The bankruptcy of a tenant or lease guarantor could delay our efforts to collect past due balances under the relevant lease, and could ultimately preclude full collection of these sums. Such an event also could cause a decrease or cessation of current rental payments, reducing our cash flow and the amount available for distributions to you. In the event a tenant or lease guarantor declares bankruptcy, the tenant or its trustee may not assume our lease or its guaranty. If a given lease or guaranty is not assumed, our operating cash flows and the amounts available for distributions to you may be adversely affected.

 

If a sale-leaseback transaction is re-characterized in a tenant’s bankruptcy proceeding, our financial condition could be adversely affected.

 

We have entered, and may continue to enter, into sale-leaseback transactions, whereby we would purchase a property and then lease the same property back to the person from whom we purchased it. In the event of the bankruptcy of a tenant, a transaction structured as a sale-leaseback may be re-characterized as either a financing or a joint venture, either of which outcomes could adversely affect our financial condition, cash flow and the amount available for distributions to you.

 

If the sale-leaseback were re-characterized as a financing, we might not be considered the owner of the property, and as a result would have the status of a creditor in relation to the tenant. In that event, we would no longer have the right to sell or encumber our ownership interest in the property. Instead, we would have a claim against the tenant for the amounts owed under the lease, with the claim arguably secured by the property. The tenant/debtor might have the ability to propose a plan restructuring the term, interest rate and amortization schedule of its outstanding balance. If confirmed by the bankruptcy court, we could be bound by the new terms, and prevented from foreclosing our lien on the property. If the sale-leaseback were re-characterized as a joint venture, our lessee and we could be treated as co-venturers with regard to the property. As a result, we could be held liable, under some circumstances, for debts incurred by the lessee relating to the property.

 

Properties that have vacancies for a significant period of time could be difficult to sell, which could diminish the return on your investment.

 

A property may incur vacancies either by the continued default of a tenant under its leases, the expiration of a tenant lease or early termination of a lease by a tenant. If vacancies continue for a long period of time, we may suffer reduced revenues resulting in less cash to be distributed to you. In addition, because a property’s market value depends principally upon the value of the property’s leases, the resale value of a property with prolonged vacancies could decline, which could further reduce your return.

We may be unable to secure funds for future tenant improvements or capital needs, which could adversely impact our ability to pay cash distributions to you.

 

When tenants do not renew their leases or otherwise vacate their space, it is usual that, in order to attract replacement tenants, we will be required to expend substantial funds for tenant improvements and tenant refurbishments to the vacated space. In addition, although we expect that our leases with tenants will require tenants to pay routine property maintenance costs, we will likely be responsible for any major structural repairs, such as repairs to the foundation, exterior walls and rooftops. We will use substantially all of the gross proceeds from the Offerings to buy real estate and real estate-related investments and to pay various fees and expenses. We reserve only approximately 0.1% of the gross proceeds from our Offerings for future capital needs. Accordingly, if we need additional capital in the future to improve or maintain our properties or for any other reason, we will have to obtain financing from other sources, such as cash flow from operations, borrowings, property sales or future equity offerings. These sources of funding may not be available on attractive terms or at all. If we cannot procure additional funding for capital improvements, our investments may generate lower cash flows or decline in value, or both.

 

We may obtain only limited warranties when we purchase a property and would have only limited recourse in the event our due diligence did not identify any issues that lower the value of our property.

 

The seller of a property often sells such property in its “as is” condition on a “where is” basis and “with all faults,” without any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular use or purpose. In addition, purchase agreements may contain only limited warranties, representations and indemnifications that will only survive for a limited period after the closing. The purchase of properties with limited warranties increases the risk that we may lose some or all of our invested capital in the property, as well as the loss of rental income from that property.

 

Our inability to sell a property when we desire to do so could adversely impact our ability to pay cash distributions to you.

 

The real estate market is affected by many factors, such as general economic conditions, availability of financing, interest rates, supply and demand, and other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot predict whether we will be able to sell any property for the price or on the terms set by us, or whether any price or other terms offered by a prospective purchaser would be acceptable to us. We may be required to expend funds to correct defects or to make improvements before a property can be sold. We may not have adequate funds available to correct such defects or to make such improvements. Moreover, in acquiring a property, we may agree to restrictions that prohibit the sale of that property for a period of time or impose other restrictions, such as a limitation on the amount of debt that can be placed or repaid on that property. We cannot predict the length of time needed to find a willing purchaser and to close the sale of a property. Our inability to sell a property when we desire to do so may cause us to reduce our selling price for the property. Any delay in our receipt of proceeds, or diminishment of proceeds, from the sale of a property could adversely impact our ability to pay distributions to you.

 

We may not be able to sell our properties at a price equal to, or greater than, the price for which we purchased such property, which may lead to a decrease in the value of our assets.

 

Many of our leases will not contain rental increases over time. When that is the case, the value of the leased property to a potential purchaser may not increase over time, which may restrict our ability to sell that property, or if we are able to sell that property, may result in a sale price less than the price that we paid to purchase the property.

 

We may acquire or finance properties with lock-out provisions, which may prohibit us from selling a property, or may require us to maintain specified debt levels for a period of years on some properties.

 

A lock-out provision is a provision that prohibits the prepayment of a loan during a specified period of time. Lock-out provisions may include terms that provide strong financial disincentives for borrowers to

prepay their outstanding loan balance and exist in order to protect the yield expectations of investors. We expect that many of our properties will be subject to lock-out provisions. Lock-out provisions could materially restrict us from selling or otherwise disposing of or refinancing properties when we may desire to do so. Lock-out provisions may prohibit us from reducing the outstanding indebtedness with respect to any properties, refinancing such indebtedness on a non-recourse basis at maturity, or increasing the amount of indebtedness with respect to such properties. Lock-out provisions could impair our ability to take other actions during the lock-out period that could be in the best interests of our stockholders and, therefore, may have an adverse impact on the value of our shares relative to the value that would result if the lock-out provisions did not exist. In particular, lock-out provisions could preclude us from participating in major transactions that could result in a disposition of our assets or a change in control even though that disposition or change in control might be in the best interests of our stockholders.

 

Increased operating expenses could reduce cash flow from operations and funds available to acquire investments or make distributions.

 

Our properties, including those that we acquire in the future, are and will be, subject to operating risks common to real estate in general, any or all of which may negatively affect us. If any property is not fully occupied or if rents are being paid in an amount that is insufficient to cover operating expenses, we could be required to expend funds with respect to that property for operating expenses. The properties will be subject to increases in tax rates, utility costs, insurance costs, repairs and maintenance costs, administrative costs and other operating expenses. While many of our property leases require the tenants to pay all or a portion of these expenses, some of our leases or future leases may not be negotiated on that basis, in which event we may have to pay these costs. If we are unable to lease properties on terms that require the tenants to pay all or some of the properties’ operating expenses, if our tenants fail to pay these expenses as required, or if expenses we are required to pay exceed our expectations, we could have less funds available for future acquisitions or cash available for distributions to you.

 

The current market environment may adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

 

The global financial markets have undergone pervasive and fundamental disruptions since mid-2007. The disruptions in the global financial markets had an adverse impact on the availability of credit to businesses generally. To the extent that the global economic recession continues and/or intensifies, it has the potential to materially adversely affect the value of our properties and other investments we make, the availability or the terms of financing that we may anticipate utilizing, and our ability to make principal and interest payments on, or refinance, any outstanding debt when due, and/or, for our leased properties, the ability of our tenants to enter into new leasing transactions or satisfy rental payments under existing leases. The current market environment also could affect our operating results and financial condition as follows:

 

 

 

Adverse economic and geopolitical conditions may negatively affect our returns and profitability.

 

Our operating results may be affected by market and economic challenges, which may result from a continued or exacerbated general economic downturn experienced by the nation as a whole, by the local economies where our properties may be located, or by the real estate industry including the following:

 

 

The length and severity of any economic slow down or downturn cannot be predicted. Our operations could be negatively affected to the extent that an economic slow down or downturn is prolonged or becomes more severe.

 

The United States’ armed conflict in various parts of the world could have a further impact on our tenants. The consequences of any armed conflict are unpredictable, and we may not be able to foresee events that could have an adverse effect on our business or your investment. More generally, any of these events could result in increased volatility in or damage to the United States and worldwide financial markets and economy. They also could result in higher energy costs and increased economic uncertainty in the United States or abroad. Our revenues will be dependent upon payment of rent by retailers, which may be particularly vulnerable to uncertainty in the local economy. Adverse economic conditions could affect the ability of our tenants to pay rent, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition, as well as our ability to pay distributions to you.

 

The failure of any bank in which we deposit our funds could reduce the amount of cash we have available to pay distributions and make additional investments.

 

We diversify our cash and cash equivalents, and will continue to do so, among several banking institutions in an attempt to minimize exposure to any one of these entities. However, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or “FDIC,” only insures amounts up to $250,000 per depositor per insured bank. As of December 31, 2010, we had cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash deposited in five financial institutions, four of which had deposits in excess of current federally insured levels. If any of the banking institutions in which we have deposited funds ultimately fails, we may lose our deposits over the federally insured level. The loss of our deposits could reduce the amount of cash we have available to distribute or invest and could result in a decline in the value of your investment.

If we suffer losses that are not covered by insurance or that are in excess of insurance coverage, we could lose invested capital and anticipated profits.

 

Generally, each of our tenants is, and we expect will be, responsible for insuring its goods and premises and, in some circumstances, may be required to reimburse us for a share of the cost of acquiring comprehensive insurance for the property, including casualty, liability, fire and extended coverage customarily obtained for similar properties in amounts that our advisor determines are sufficient to cover reasonably foreseeable losses. Tenants of single-user properties leased on a triple-net-lease basis typically are required to pay all insurance costs associated with those properties. Material losses may occur in excess of insurance proceeds with respect to any property, as insurance may not be sufficient to fund the losses. However, there are types of losses, generally of a catastrophic nature, such as losses due to wars, acts of terrorism, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, pollution or environmental matters, which are either uninsurable or not economically insurable, or may be insured subject to limitations, such as large deductibles or co-payments. Insurance risks associated with potential terrorism acts could sharply increase the premiums we pay for coverage against property and casualty claims. Additionally, mortgage lenders in some cases insist that commercial property owners purchase specific coverage against terrorism as a condition for providing mortgage loans. It is uncertain whether such insurance policies will be available, or available at reasonable cost, which could inhibit our ability to finance or refinance our potential properties. In these instances, we may be required to provide other financial support, either through financial assurances or self-insurance, to cover potential losses. We may not have adequate, or any, coverage for such losses. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 is designed for a sharing of terrorism losses between insurance companies and the federal government. We cannot be certain how this act will impact us or what additional cost to us, if any, could result. If such an event damaged or destroyed one or more of our properties, we could lose both our invested capital and anticipated profits from such property.

 

Real estate related taxes may increase, and if these increases are not passed on to tenants, our income will be reduced.

 

Local real property tax assessors may reassess our properties, which may result in increased taxes. Generally, property taxes increase as property values or assessment rates change, or for other reasons deemed relevant by property tax assessors. An increase in the assessed valuation of a property for real estate tax purposes will result in an increase in the related real estate taxes on that property. Although some tenant leases may permit us to pass through such tax increases to the tenants for payment, renewal leases or future leases may not be negotiated on the same basis. Tax increases not passed through to tenants may adversely affect our income, cash available for distributions, and the amount of distributions to you.

 

CC&Rs may restrict our ability to operate a property.

 

Some of our properties are, and we expect certain additional properties will be, contiguous to other parcels of real property, comprising part of the same retail center. In connection with such properties, we are subject to significant covenants, conditions and restrictions, known as “CC&Rs,” restricting the operation of such properties and any improvements on such properties, and related to granting easements on such properties. Moreover, the operation and management of the contiguous properties may impact such properties. Compliance with CC&Rs may adversely affect our operating costs and reduce the amount of funds that we have available to pay distributions to you.

 

Our operating results may be negatively affected by potential development and construction delays and resultant increased costs and risks.

 

While we do not currently intend to do so, we may acquire properties upon which we will construct improvements. If we engage in development or construction projects, we will be subject to uncertainties associated with re-zoning for development, environmental concerns of governmental entities and/or community groups, and our builder’s ability to build in conformity with plans, specifications, budgeted costs, and timetables. If a builder fails to perform, we may resort to legal action to rescind the purchase or the construction contract or to compel performance. A builder’s performance may also be affected or delayed by conditions beyond the builder’s control. Delays in completion of construction could also give tenants the right to terminate preconstruction leases. We may incur additional risks if we make periodic progress payments or

other advances to builders before they complete construction. These and other such factors can result in increased costs of a project or loss of our investment. In addition, we will be subject to normal lease-up risks relating to newly constructed projects. We also must rely on rental income and expense projections and estimates of the fair market value of property upon completion of construction when agreeing upon a price at the time we acquire the property. If our projections are inaccurate, we may pay too much for a property, and our return on our investment could suffer.

 

While we do not currently intend to do so, we may invest in unimproved real property. Returns from development of unimproved properties are also subject to risks associated with re-zoning the land for development and environmental concerns of governmental entities and/or community groups. Although we intend to limit any investment in unimproved real property to real property we intend to develop, your investment, nevertheless, is subject to the risks associated with investments in unimproved real property.

 

If we contract with a development company for newly developed property, our earnest money deposit made to the development company may not be fully refunded.

 

We may enter into one or more contracts, either directly or indirectly through joint ventures, with affiliates or others, to acquire real property from an affiliated or unaffiliated development company that is engaged in construction and development of commercial real properties. Properties acquired from a development company may be either existing income-producing properties, properties to be developed or properties under development. We anticipate that we will be obligated to pay a substantial earnest money deposit at the time of contracting to acquire such properties. In the case of properties to be developed by a development company, we anticipate that we will be required to close the purchase of the property upon completion of the development of the property. At the time of contracting and the payment of the earnest money deposit by us, the development company typically will not have acquired title to any real property. Typically, the development company will only have a contract to acquire land, a development agreement to develop a building on the land and an agreement with one or more tenants to lease all or part of the property upon its completion. We may be entitled to a refund of our earnest money, in the following circumstances:

 

 

The obligation of the development company to refund our earnest money will be unsecured, and we may not be able to obtain a refund of such earnest money deposit from it under these circumstances since the development company may be an entity without substantial assets or operations. However, if the development company is an affiliate of our advisor, its obligation to refund our earnest money deposit may be guaranteed by Cole Realty Advisors, our property manager, which will enter into contracts to provide property management and leasing services to various real estate programs sponsored by Cole Real Estate Investments, including us, for substantial monthly fees. As of the time Cole Realty Advisors may be required to perform under any guaranty, Cole Realty Advisors may not have sufficient assets to refund all of our earnest money deposit in a lump sum payment. If we were forced to collect our earnest money deposit by enforcing the guaranty of Cole Realty Advisors, we would likely be required to accept installment payments over time payable out of the revenues of Cole Realty Advisors’ operations. We may not be able to collect the entire amount of our earnest money deposit under such circumstances.

 

Competition with third parties in acquiring properties and other investments may reduce our profitability and the return on your investment.

 

We compete with many other entities engaged in real estate investment activities, including individuals, corporations, bank and insurance company investment accounts, other REITs, real estate limited partnerships, and other entities engaged in real estate investment activities, many of which have greater resources than we do. Larger competitors may enjoy significant advantages that result from, among other things, a lower cost of

capital and enhanced operating efficiencies. In addition, the number of entities and the amount of funds competing for suitable investments may increase. Any such increase could result in increased demand for these assets and therefore increased prices paid for them. If we pay higher prices for properties and other investments as a result of competition with third parties without a corresponding increase in tenant lease rates, our profitability will be reduced, and you may experience a lower return on your investment.

 

Our properties face competition that may affect tenants’ ability to pay rent and the amount of rent paid to us may affect the cash available for distributions to you and the amount of distributions.

 

We typically acquire properties located in developed areas. Therefore, there are and will be numerous other retail properties within the market area of each of our properties that will compete with us for tenants. The number of competitive properties could have a material effect on our ability to rent space at our properties and the amount of rents charged. We could be adversely affected if additional competitive properties are built in close proximity to our properties, causing increased competition for customer traffic and creditworthy tenants. This could result in decreased cash flow from tenants and may require us to make capital improvements to properties that we would not have otherwise made, thus affecting cash available for distributions to you and the amount of distributions we pay.

 

Acquiring or attempting to acquire multiple properties in a single transaction may adversely affect our operations.

 

From time to time, we acquire multiple properties in a single transaction. Portfolio acquisitions are more complex and expensive than single property acquisitions, and the risk that a multiple-property acquisition does not close may be greater than in a single-property acquisition. Portfolio acquisitions may also result in us owning additional investments in geographically dispersed markets, placing additional demands on our ability to manage the properties in the portfolio. In addition, a seller may require that a group of properties be purchased as a package even though we may not want to purchase one or more properties in the portfolio. In these situations, if we are unable to identify another person or entity to acquire the unwanted properties, we may be required to operate or attempt to dispose of these properties. To acquire multiple properties in a single transaction we may be required to accumulate a large amount of cash. We would expect the returns that we earn on such cash to be less than the ultimate returns on real property, therefore accumulating such cash could reduce our funds available for distributions to you. Any of the foregoing events may have an adverse effect on our operations.

 

If we set aside insufficient capital reserves, we may be required to defer necessary capital improvements.

 

If we do not have enough reserves for capital to supply needed funds for capital improvements throughout the life of the investment in a property and there is insufficient cash available from our operations, we may be required to defer necessary improvements to a property, which may cause that property to suffer from a greater risk of obsolescence or a decline in value, or a greater risk of decreased cash flow as a result of fewer potential tenants being attracted to the property. If this happens, we may not be able to maintain projected rental rates for affected properties, and our results of operations may be negatively impacted.

 

Costs of complying with environmental laws and regulations may adversely affect our income and the cash available for any distributions.

 

All real property and the operations conducted on real property are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental protection and human health and safety. These laws and regulations generally govern wastewater discharges, air emissions, the operation and removal of underground and above-ground storage tanks, the use, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of solid hazardous materials, and the remediation of contamination associated with disposals. Some of these laws and regulations may impose joint and several liability on tenants, owners or operators for the costs of investigation or remediation of contaminated properties, regardless of fault or whether the acts causing the contamination were legal. This liability could be substantial. We have acquired certain properties that are subject to environmental remediation in which the seller, the tenant and/or another third party has been identified as the responsible

party for environmental remediation costs related to the property. Although we do not believe that the environmental matters identified at such properties will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, the presence of hazardous substances at these properties or in general, or the failure to properly remediate such substances, may adversely affect our ability to sell or rent such property or to use such property as collateral for future borrowing.

 

Compliance with new or more stringent laws or regulations or stricter interpretation of existing laws may require material expenditures by us. Future laws, ordinances or regulations may impose material environmental liability. Additionally, our properties may be affected by our tenants’ operations, the existing condition of land when we buy it, operations in the vicinity of our properties, such as the presence of underground storage tanks, or activities of unrelated third parties. In addition, there are various local, state and federal fire, health, life-safety and similar regulations that we may be required to comply with, and that may subject us to liability in the form of fines or damages for noncompliance. Any material expenditures, fines, or damages we must pay will reduce our ability to make distributions to you and may reduce the value of your investment.

 

We may not obtain an independent third-party environmental assessment for every property we acquire. In addition, any such assessment that we do obtain may not reveal all environmental liabilities. The cost of defending against claims of liability, of compliance with environmental regulatory requirements, of remediating any contaminated property, or of paying personal injury claims would materially adversely affect our business, assets or results of operations and, consequently, amounts available for distribution to you.

 

Discovery of previously undetected environmentally hazardous conditions may adversely affect our operating results.

 

Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be liable for the cost of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on, under or in such property. The costs of removal or remediation could be substantial. Such laws often impose liability whether or not the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. Environmental laws also may impose restrictions on the manner in which property may be used or businesses may be operated, and these restrictions may require substantial expenditures. Environmental laws provide for sanctions in the event of noncompliance and may be enforced by governmental agencies or, in certain circumstances, by private parties. Certain environmental laws and common law principles could be used to impose liability for release of and exposure to hazardous substances, including asbestos-containing materials into the air, and third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injury or property damage associated with exposure to released hazardous substances. The cost of defending against claims of liability, of compliance with environmental regulatory requirements, of remediating any contaminated property, or of paying personal injury claims could materially adversely affect our business, assets or results of operations and, consequently, amounts available for distribution to you.

 

If we sell properties by providing financing to purchasers, defaults by the purchasers would adversely affect our cash flows.

 

If we decide to sell any of our properties, we intend to use our best efforts to sell them for cash. However, in some instances we may sell our properties by providing financing to purchasers. When we provide financing to purchasers, we will bear the risk that the purchaser may default on its obligations under the financing, which could negatively impact cash flows and distributions to stockholders. Even in the absence of a purchaser default, the distribution of sale proceeds to our stockholders, or their reinvestment in other assets, will be delayed until the promissory notes or other property we may accept upon the sale are actually paid, sold, refinanced or otherwise disposed of. In some cases, we may receive initial down payments in cash and other property in the year of sale in an amount less than the selling price, and subsequent payments will be spread over a number of years. If any purchaser defaults under a financing arrangement with us, it could negatively impact our ability to pay cash distributions to you.

Our recovery of an investment in a mortgage that has defaulted may be limited.

 

There is no guarantee that the mortgage, loan or deed of trust securing an investment will, following a default, permit us to recover the original investment and interest that would have been received absent a default. The security provided by a mortgage, deed of trust or loan is directly related to the difference between the amount owed and the appraised market value of the property. Although we intend to rely on a current real estate appraisal when we make the investment, the value of the property is affected by factors outside our control, including general fluctuations in the real estate market, re-zoning, neighborhood changes, highway relocations and failure by the borrower to maintain the property.

 

Our costs associated with complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, may affect cash available for distributions.

 

Our properties generally are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (the “Disabilities Act”). Under the Disabilities Act, all places of public accommodation are required to comply with federal requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. The Disabilities Act has separate compliance requirements for “public accommodations” and “commercial facilities” that generally require that buildings and services be made accessible and available to people with disabilities. The Disabilities Act’s requirements could require removal of access barriers and could result in the imposition of injunctive relief, monetary penalties, or, in some cases, an award of damages. We will attempt to acquire properties that comply with the Disabilities Act or place the burden on the seller or other third party, such as a tenant, to ensure compliance with the Disabilities Act. However, we may not be able to acquire properties or allocate responsibilities in this manner. If we cannot, our funds used for Disabilities Act compliance may affect cash available for distributions and the amount of distributions to you.

 

A proposed change in U.S. accounting standards for leases could reduce the overall demand to lease our properties.

 

The existing accounting standards for leases require lessees to classify their leases as either capital or operating leases. Under a capital lease, both the leased asset, which represents the tenant’s right to use the property, and the contractual lease obligation are recorded on the tenant’s balance sheet if one of the following criteria are met: (i) the lease transfers ownership of the property to the lessee by the end of the lease term; (ii) the lease contains a bargain purchase option; (iii) the non-cancellable lease term is more than 75% of the useful life of the asset; or (iv) if the present value of the minimum lease payments equals 90% or more of the leased property’s fair value. If the terms of the lease do not meet these criteria, the lease is considered an operating lease, and no leased asset or contractual lease obligation is recorded by the tenant.

 

In order to address concerns raised by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the transparency of contractual lease obligations under the existing accounting standards for operating leases, the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) initiated a joint project to develop new guidelines to lease accounting. The FASB and IASB (collectively, the “Boards”) issued an Exposure Draft on August 17, 2010 (the “Exposure Draft”), which proposes substantial changes to the current lease accounting standards, primarily by eliminating the concept of operating lease accounting. As a result, a lease asset and obligation will be recorded on the tenant’s balance sheet for all lease arrangements. In order to mitigate the effect of the proposed lease accounting, tenants may seek to negotiate certain terms within new lease arrangements or modify terms in existing lease arrangements, such as shorter lease terms, which would generally have less impact on tenant balance sheets. Also, tenants may reassess their lease-versus-buy strategies. This could result in a greater renewal risk, a delay in investing proceeds from our Offerings, or shorter lease terms, all of which may negatively impact our operations and ability to pay distributions.

 

The Exposure Draft does not include a proposed effective date, and is still being deliberated and subject to change; however, the Boards have indicated that they plan to issue a final standard regarding lease accounting in 2011.

Risks Associated with Debt Financing

 

We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, mortgage indebtedness and other borrowings, which may increase our business risks, hinder our ability to make distributions, and decrease the value of your investment.

 

We expect to incur additional indebtedness. We expect that in most instances, we will acquire real properties by using either existing financing or borrowing new funds. In addition, we may incur mortgage debt and pledge all or some of our real properties as security for that debt to obtain funds to acquire additional real properties. We may borrow if we need funds to satisfy the REIT tax qualification requirement that we distribute at least 90% of our annual taxable income to our stockholders. We may also borrow if we otherwise deem it necessary or advisable to assure that we maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.

 

Our advisor believes that utilizing borrowing is consistent with our investment objective of maximizing the return to investors. There is no limitation on the amount we may borrow against any single improved property. However, under our charter, we are required to limit our borrowings to 60% of the greater of cost (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves) or fair market value of our gross assets, unless excess borrowing is approved by a majority of the independent directors. This level of borrowing is less than, and our borrowings will not exceed, 300% of our net assets, as set forth in the NASAA REIT Guidelines.

 

If there is a shortfall between the cash flow from a property and the cash flow needed to service mortgage debt on a property, then the amount available for distributions to stockholders may be reduced. In addition, incurring mortgage debt increases the risk of loss since defaults on indebtedness secured by a property may result in lenders initiating foreclosure actions. In that case, we could lose the property securing the loan that is in default, thus reducing the value of our stockholders’ investments. For tax purposes, a foreclosure of any of our properties would be treated as a sale of the property for a purchase price equal to the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage. If the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage exceeds our tax basis in the property, we would recognize taxable income on foreclosure, but would not receive any cash proceeds. In such event, we may be unable to pay the amount of distributions required in order to maintain our REIT status. We may give full or partial guarantees to lenders of mortgage debt to the entities that own our properties. When we provide a guaranty on behalf of an entity that owns one of our properties, we will be responsible to the lender for satisfaction of the debt if it is not paid by such entity. If any mortgages contain cross-collateralization or cross-default provisions, a default on a single property could affect multiple properties. If any of our properties are foreclosed upon due to a default, our ability to pay cash distributions to our stockholders will be adversely affected, which could result in losing our REIT status and would result in a decrease in the value of our stockholders’ investment.

 

High interest rates may make it difficult for us to finance or refinance properties, which could reduce the number of properties we can acquire and the amount of cash distributions we can make to you.

 

We run the risk of being unable to finance or refinance our properties on favorable terms or at all. If interest rates are higher when we desire to mortgage our properties or when existing loans come due and the properties need to be refinanced, we may not be able to finance the properties and we would be required to use cash to purchase or repay outstanding obligations. Our inability to use debt to finance or refinance our properties could reduce the number of properties we can acquire, which could reduce our operating income and the amount of cash distributions we can make to you. Higher costs of capital also could negatively impact operating income and returns on our investments.

 

Lenders may require us to enter into restrictive covenants relating to our operations, which could limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

In connection with providing us financing, a lender could impose restrictions on us that affect our distribution and operating policies and our ability to incur additional debt. Loan documents we enter into may contain covenants that limit our ability to further mortgage the property, discontinue insurance coverage or

replace Cole Advisors II as our advisor. These or other limitations may adversely affect our flexibility and our ability to achieve our investment and operating objectives.

 

Increases in interest rates could increase the amount of our debt payments and adversely affect our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

 

To the extent that we incur variable rate debt, increases in interest rates would increase our interest costs, which could reduce our cash flows and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders. In addition, if we need to repay existing debt during periods of rising interest rates, we could be required to liquidate one or more of our investments in properties at times that may not permit realization of the maximum return on such investments.

 

We have broad authority to incur debt, and high debt levels could hinder our ability to make distributions and could decrease the value of your investment.

 

Our charter generally limits us to incurring debt no greater than 60% of the greater of cost (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves) or fair market value of all of our assets, unless any excess borrowing is approved by a majority of our independent directors and disclosed to our stockholders in our next quarterly report, along with a justification for such excess borrowing. High debt levels would cause us to incur higher interest charges, would result in higher debt service payments, and could be accompanied by restrictive covenants. These factors could limit the amount of cash we have available to distribute and could result in a decline in the value of your investment. As of December 31, 2010, we had $1.7 billion in total debt outstanding and the ratio of debt to total gross real estate and related assets net of gross intangible lease liabilities was 50%.

 

Interest-only indebtedness may increase our risk of default and ultimately may reduce our funds available for distribution to you.

 

We have financed, and may continue to finance, our property acquisitions using interest-only mortgage indebtedness. During the interest-only period, the amount of each scheduled payment will be less than that of a traditional amortizing mortgage loan. The principal balance of the mortgage loan will not be reduced (except in the case of prepayments) because there are no scheduled monthly payments of principal during this period. After the interest-only period, we will be required either to make scheduled payments of amortized principal and interest or to make a lump-sum or “balloon” payment at maturity. These required principal or balloon payments will increase the amount of our scheduled payments and may increase our risk of default under the related mortgage loan. If the mortgage loan has an adjustable interest rate, the amount of our scheduled payments also may increase at a time of rising interest rates. Increased payments and substantial principal or balloon maturity payments will reduce the funds available for distribution to our stockholders because cash otherwise available for distribution will be required to pay principal and interest associated with these mortgage loans.

 

To hedge against exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations, we may use derivative financial instruments that may be costly and ineffective and may reduce the overall returns on your investment.

 

We have used, and may continue to use, derivative financial instruments to hedge our exposure to changes in exchange rates and interest rates on loans secured by our assets and investments in CMBS. Derivative instruments may include interest rate swap contracts, interest rate cap or floor contracts, futures or forward contracts, options or repurchase agreements. Our actual hedging decisions will be determined in light of the facts and circumstances existing at the time of the hedge and may differ from time to time.

 

To the extent that we use derivative financial instruments to hedge against exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations, we will be exposed to credit risk, basis risk and legal enforceability risks. In this context, credit risk is the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract. If the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes us, which creates credit risk for us. We intend to manage credit risk by dealing only with major financial institutions that have high credit ratings. Basis risk occurs when the index upon which the contract is based is more or less variable than the index upon which the hedged asset or liability is based, thereby making the hedge less effective. We intend to manage basis risk

by matching, to a reasonable extent, the contract index to the index upon which the hedged asset or liability is based. Finally, legal enforceability risks encompass general contractual risks, including the risk that the counterparty will breach the terms of, or fail to perform its obligations under, the derivative contract. We intend to manage legal enforceability risks by ensuring, to the best of our ability, that we contract with reputable counterparties and that each counterparty complies with the terms and conditions of the derivative contract. If we are unable to manage these risks effectively, our results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay distributions to you will be adversely affected.

 

If we enter into financing arrangements involving balloon payment obligations, it may adversely affect our ability to make distributions to you.

 

Some of our financing arrangements may require us to make a lump-sum or “balloon” payment at maturity. Our ability to make a balloon payment at maturity is uncertain and may depend upon our ability to obtain additional financing or our ability to sell the property. At the time the balloon payment is due, we may or may not be able to refinance the balloon payment on terms as favorable as the original loan, or at all, or sell the property at a price sufficient to make the balloon payment. The effect of a refinancing or sale could affect the rate of return to stockholders and the projected time of disposition of our assets. In addition, payments of principal and interest made to service our debts may leave us with insufficient cash to pay the distributions that we are required to pay to maintain our qualification as a REIT. Any of these results would have a significant, negative impact on your investment.

 

Risks Associated with Co-Ownership Transactions

 

Our participation in a co-ownership arrangement would subject us to risks that otherwise may not be present in other real estate investments.

 

We may enter in co-ownership arrangements with respect to a portion of the properties we acquire. Co-ownership arrangements involve risks generally not otherwise present with an investment in real estate such as the following:

 

 

Any of the above might subject a property to liabilities in excess of those contemplated and thus reduce the amount available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

In the event that our interests become adverse to those of the other co-owners, we will not have the contractual right to purchase the co-ownership interests from the other co-owners. Even if we are given the opportunity to purchase such co-ownership interests in the future, we cannot guarantee that we will have sufficient funds available at the time to purchase co-ownership interests from the co-owners.

 

We might want to sell our co-ownership interests in a given property at a time when the other co-owners in such property do not desire to sell their interests. Therefore, because we anticipate that it will be much more difficult to find a willing buyer for our co-ownership interests in a property than it would be to find a buyer for a property we owned outright, we may not be able to sell our interest in a property at the time we would like to sell.

 

Risks Associated with Investments in Mortgage, Bridge and Mezzanine Loans and Real Estate-Related Securities

 

Investing in mortgage, bridge or mezzanine loans, could adversely affect our return on our loan investments.

 

We may make or acquire mortgage, bridge or mezzanine loans, or participations in such loans, to the extent our advisor determines that it is advantageous for us to do so. However, if we make or acquire mortgage, bridge or mezzanine loans, we will be at risk of defaults on those loans caused by many conditions beyond our control, including local and other economic conditions affecting real estate values, interest rate changes, rezoning, and failure by the borrower to maintain the property. If there are defaults under these loans, we may not be able to repossess and sell quickly any properties securing such loans. An action to foreclose on a property securing a loan is regulated by state statutes and regulations and is subject to many of the delays and expenses of any lawsuit brought in connection with the foreclosure if the defendant raises defenses or counterclaims. In the event of default by a mortgagor, these restrictions, among other things, may impede our ability to foreclose on or sell the mortgaged property or to obtain proceeds sufficient to repay all amounts due to us on the loan, which could reduce the value of our investment in the defaulted loan. In addition, investments in mezzanine loans involve a higher degree of risk than long-term senior mortgage lending secured by income-producing real property because the investment may become unsecured as a result of foreclosure on the underlying real property by the senior lender.

 

We may invest in various types of real estate-related securities.

 

Aside from investments in real estate, we are permitted to invest in real estate-related securities, including securities issued by other real estate companies, CMBS, mortgage, bridge, mezzanine or other loans and Section 1031 tenant-in-common interests, and we may invest in real estate-related securities of both publicly traded and private real estate companies. We are focused, however, on acquiring interests in retail and other income-producing properties. We may not have the expertise necessary to maximize the return on our investment in real estate-related securities. If our advisor determines that it is advantageous to us to make the types of investments in which our advisor or its affiliates do not have experience, our advisor intends to employ persons, engage consultants or partner with third parties that have, in our advisor’s opinion, the relevant expertise necessary to assist our advisor in evaluating, making and administering such investments.

 

Investments in real estate-related securities are subject to specific risks relating to the particular issuer of the securities and may be subject to the general risks of investing in subordinated real estate securities, which may result in losses to us.

 

Our investments in real estate-related securities will involve special risks relating to the particular issuer of the securities, including the financial condition and business outlook of the issuer. Issuers of real estate-related equity securities generally invest in real estate or real estate-related assets and are subject to the inherent risks associated with real estate-related investments discussed elsewhere herein, including risks relating to rising interest rates.

Real estate-related securities are often unsecured and also may be subordinated to other obligations of the issuer. As a result, investments in real estate-related securities are subject to risks of (1) limited liquidity in the secondary trading market in the case of unlisted or thinly traded securities, (2) substantial market price volatility resulting from changes in prevailing interest rates in the case of traded equity securities, (3) subordination to the prior claims of banks and other senior lenders to the issuer, (4) the operation of mandatory sinking fund or call/redemption provisions during periods of declining interest rates that could cause the issuer to reinvest redemption proceeds in lower yielding assets, (5) the possibility that earnings of the issuer may be insufficient to meet its debt service and distribution obligations and (6) the declining creditworthiness and potential for insolvency of the issuer during periods of rising interest rates and economic slow down or downturn. These risks may adversely affect the value of outstanding real estate-related securities and the ability of the issuers thereof to repay principal and interest or make distribution payments.

 

The CMBS in which we have invested, and may continue to invest, are subject to all of the risks of the underlying mortgage loans, the risks of the securitization process and dislocations in the mortgage-backed securities market in general.

 

CMBS are securities that evidence interests in, or are secured by, a single commercial mortgage loan or a pool of commercial mortgage loans. Accordingly, these securities are subject to all of the risks of the underlying mortgage loans. In a rising interest rate environment, the value of CMBS may be adversely affected when payments on underlying mortgages do not occur as anticipated, resulting in the extension of the security’s effective maturity and the related increase in interest rate sensitivity of a longer-term instrument. The value of CMBS may also change due to shifts in the market’s perception of issuers and regulatory or tax changes adversely affecting the mortgage securities market as a whole. In addition, CMBS are subject to the credit risk associated with the performance of the underlying mortgage properties. CMBS are issued by investment banks, not financial institutions, and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government.

 

CMBS are also subject to several risks created through the securitization process. Subordinate CMBS are paid interest only to the extent that there are funds available to make payments. To the extent the collateral pool includes delinquent loans, there is a risk that interest payments on subordinate CMBS will not be fully paid. Subordinate CMBS are also subject to greater credit risk than those CMBS that are more highly rated. In certain instances, third-party guarantees or other forms of credit support can reduce the credit risk.

 

Although we intend to invest only in mortgage-backed securities collateralized by commercial loans, the value of such CMBS can be negatively impacted by any dislocation in the mortgage-backed securities market in general. The mortgage-backed securities market has recently suffered from a severe dislocation created by mortgage pools that included sub-prime mortgages secured by residential real estate. Sub-prime loans often have high interest rates and are often made to borrowers with credit scores that would not qualify them for prime conventional loans. In recent years, banks made a great number of the sub-prime residential mortgage loans with high interest rates, floating interest rates, interest rates that reset from time to time, and/or interest-only payment features that expire over time. These terms, coupled with rising interest rates, have caused an increasing number of homeowners to default on their mortgages. Purchasers of mortgage-backed securities collateralized by mortgage pools that include risky sub-prime residential mortgages have experienced severe losses as a result of the defaults and such losses have had a negative impact on the CMBS market.

 

Federal Income Tax Risks

 

Failure to maintain our qualification as a REIT would adversely affect our operations and our ability to make distributions.

 

We currently qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. If we fail maintain our qualification as a REIT for any taxable year, we will be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at corporate rates. In addition, we would generally be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year of losing our REIT status. Losing our REIT status would reduce our net earnings available for investment or distribution to stockholders because of the additional tax liability. In addition, distributions to stockholders would no longer qualify for the dividends paid deduction, and we would no longer be required to

make distributions. If this occurs, we might be required to borrow funds or liquidate some investments in order to pay the applicable tax.

 

Re-characterization of the Section 1031 programs may result in a 100% tax on income from a prohibited transaction, which would diminish our cash distributions to our stockholders.

 

The Internal Revenue Service could re-characterize transactions under the Section 1031 program such that Cole OP II, rather than the co-owner in the program (Section 1031 Participant), is treated as the bona fide owner, for tax purposes, of properties acquired and resold by a Section 1031 Participant in connection with the Section 1031 program. Such re-characterization could result in the fees paid to Cole OP II by a Section 1031 Participant as being deemed income from a prohibited transaction, in which event the fee income paid to us in connection with the Section 1031 programs would be subject to a 100% penalty tax. If this occurs, our ability to pay cash distributions to our stockholders will be adversely affected. We expect to obtain a legal opinion in connection with each co-ownership program to the effect that the program will qualify as a like-kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. However, the Internal Revenue Service may take a position contrary to such an opinion.

 

Re-characterization of sale-leaseback transactions may cause us to lose our REIT status.

 

We may purchase properties and lease them back to the sellers of such properties. While we will use our best efforts to structure any such sale-leaseback transaction so that the lease will be characterized as a “true lease,” thereby allowing us to be treated as the owner of the property for federal income tax purposes, the IRS could challenge such characterization. In the event that any sale-leaseback transaction is challenged and re-characterized as a financing transaction or loan for federal income tax purposes, deductions for depreciation and cost recovery relating to such property would be disallowed. If a sale-leaseback transaction were so recharacterized, we might fail to satisfy the REIT qualification “asset tests” or the “income tests” and, consequently, lose our REIT status effective with the year of recharacterization. Alternatively, the amount of our taxable income could be recalculated which might also cause us to fail to meet the distribution requirement for a taxable year.

 

You may have current tax liability on distributions you elect to reinvest in our common stock.

 

If you participate in our DRIP, you will be deemed to have received, and for income tax purposes will be taxed on, the amount reinvested in common stock to the extent the amount reinvested was not a tax-free return of capital. As a result, unless you are a tax-exempt entity, you may have to use funds from other sources to pay your tax liability on the value of the common stock received.

 

If our operating partnership fails to maintain its status as a partnership, its income may be subject to taxation, which would reduce the cash available to us for distribution to you.

 

We intend to maintain the status of Cole OP II, our operating partnership, as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. However, if the Internal Revenue Service were to successfully challenge the status of our operating partnership as an entity taxable as a partnership, Cole OP II would be taxable as a corporation. In such event, this would reduce the amount of distributions that the operating partnership could make to us. This could also result in losing our REIT status, and becoming subject to a corporate level tax on our income. This would substantially reduce the cash available to us to make distributions to you and the return on your investment. In addition, if any of the partnerships or limited liability companies through which Cole OP II owns its properties, in whole or in part, loses its characterization as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, it would be subject to taxation as a corporation, thereby reducing distributions to our operating partnership. Such a re-characterization of an underlying property owner also could threaten our ability to maintain our REIT status for federal income tax purposes.

In certain circumstances, we may be subject to federal and state income taxes as a REIT, which would reduce our cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

Even if we maintain our status as a REIT, we may be subject to federal income taxes or state taxes. For example, net income from the sale of properties that are “dealer” properties sold by a REIT (a “prohibited transaction” under the Internal Revenue Code) will be subject to a 100% tax. We may not be able to make sufficient distributions to avoid excise taxes applicable to REITs. We may also decide to retain income we earn from the sale or other disposition of our property and pay income tax directly on such income. In that event, our stockholders would be treated as if they earned that income and paid the tax on it directly. However, stockholders that are tax-exempt, such as charities or qualified pension plans, would have no benefit from their deemed payment of such tax liability. We may also be subject to state and local taxes on our income or property, either directly or at the level of Cole OP II, or at the level of the other companies through which we indirectly own our assets. Any federal or state taxes we pay will reduce our cash available for distribution to stockholders.

 

Legislative or regulatory action could adversely affect our stockholders.

 

Changes to the tax laws are likely to occur, and such changes may adversely affect the taxation of a stockholder. Any such changes could have an adverse effect on an investment in our shares or on the market value or the resale potential of our assets.

 

Congress passed major federal tax legislation in 2003, with modifications to that legislation in 2005 and in 2010. One of the changes affected by that legislation generally reduced the tax rate on dividends paid by corporations to individuals to a maximum of 15% prior to 2013. REIT distributions generally do not qualify for this reduced rate. The tax changes did not, however, reduce the corporate tax rates. Therefore, the maximum corporate tax rate of 35% has not been affected. However, as a REIT, we generally would not be subject to federal or state corporate income taxes on that portion of our ordinary income or capital gain that we distribute currently to our stockholders, and we thus expect to avoid the “double taxation” that other corporations are typically subject to.

 

Although REITs continue to receive substantially better tax treatment than entities taxed as corporations, it is possible that future legislation would result in a REIT having fewer tax advantages, and it could become more advantageous for a company that invests in real estate to elect to be taxed, for federal income tax purposes, as a corporation. As a result, our charter provides our board of directors with the power, under certain circumstances, to revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election and cause us to be taxed as a corporation, without the vote of our stockholders. Our board of directors has fiduciary duties to us and our stockholders and could only cause such changes in our tax treatment if it determines in good faith that such changes are in the best interest of our stockholders.

 

Foreign holders of our common stock may be subject to FIRPTA tax upon the sale of their shares.

 

A foreign person disposing of a U.S. real property interest, including shares of a U.S. corporation whose assets consist principally of U.S. real property interests, is generally subject to a tax, known as FIRPTA tax, on the gain recognized on the disposition. Such FIRPTA tax does not apply, however, to the disposition of stock in a REIT if the REIT is “domestically controlled.” A REIT is “domestically controlled” if less than 50% of the REIT’s stock, by value, has been owned directly or indirectly by persons who are not qualifying U.S. persons during a continuous five-year period ending on the date of disposition or, if shorter, during the entire period of the REIT’s existence. We cannot assure you that we will qualify as a “domestically controlled” REIT. If we were to fail to so qualify, gain realized by foreign investors on a sale of our shares would be subject to FIRPTA tax, unless our shares were traded on an established securities market and the foreign investor did not at any time during a specified testing period directly or indirectly own more than 5% of the value of our outstanding common stock.

In order to avoid triggering additional taxes and/or penalties, if you have invested in our shares through pension or profit-sharing trusts or IRAs, you should consider additional factors.

 

If you are investing the assets of a pension, profit-sharing, 401(k), Keogh or other qualified retirement plan or the assets of an IRA in our common stock, you should satisfy yourself that, among other things:

 

 

Failure to satisfy the fiduciary standards of conduct and other applicable requirements of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code may result in the imposition of civil and criminal penalties and could subject the fiduciary to equitable remedies. In addition, if an investment in our shares constitutes a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code, the fiduciary who authorized or directed the investment may be subject to the imposition of excise taxes with respect to the amount invested.

 

 

None.

 

 

As of December 31, 2010, we owned 725 properties comprising 20.6 million rentable square feet of single and multi-tenant retail and commercial space located in 45 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As of December 31, 2010, 412 of the properties were freestanding, single-tenant retail properties, 292 of the properties were freestanding, single-tenant commercial properties and 21 of the properties were multi-tenant retail properties. Of the leases related to these properties, 13 were classified as direct financing leases, as discussed in Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2010, 94% of the rentable square feet of these properties was leased, with a weighted-average remaining lease term of 11.2 years. As of December 31, 2010, we had outstanding debt of $1.7 billion, secured by properties in our portfolio and their related tenant leases and other real estate related assets on which the debt was placed. Through two joint ventures, we had a majority indirect interest in a 386,000 square foot multi-tenant retail building in Independence, Missouri and a majority indirect interest in a ten-property storage facility portfolio as of December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2010, the total assets held within the unconsolidated joint ventures was $148.6 million and the face value of the non-recourse mortgage notes payable was $111.6 million.

Property Statistics

 

The following table shows the tenant diversification of our consolidated real estate assets, based on gross annualized rental revenue, as of December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

The following table shows the tenant industry diversification of our consolidated real estate assets, based on gross annualized rental revenue, as of December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

The following table shows the geographic diversification of our consolidated real estate assets, based on gross annualized rental revenue, as of December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

Leases

 

Although there are variations in the specific terms of the leases of our properties, the following is a summary of the general structure of our leases. Generally, the leases of the properties owned provide for initial terms of 10 to 20 years. As of December 31, 2010, the weighted average remaining lease term was 11.2 years. The properties are generally leased under net leases pursuant to which the tenant bears responsibility for substantially all property costs and expenses associated with ongoing maintenance and operation, including utilities, property taxes and insurance. Certain of the leases require us to maintain the roof and structure of the building. The leases of the properties provide for annual base rental payments (payable in monthly installments) ranging from $10,000 to $13.2 million (average of $336,000). Certain leases provide for limited increases in rent as a result of fixed increases, increases in the consumer price index, and/or increases in the tenant’s sales volume.

 

Generally, the property leases provide the tenant with one or more multi-year renewal options, subject to generally the same terms and conditions as the initial lease term. Certain leases also provide that in the event we wish to sell the property subject to that lease, we first must offer the lessee the right to purchase the property on the same terms and conditions as any offer which we intend to accept for the sale of the property.

The following table shows lease expirations of our consolidated real estate assets as of December 31, 2010, during each of the next ten years and thereafter, assuming no exercise of renewal options or termination rights:

 

 

 

 

Notes Payable Information

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had $1.7 billion of debt outstanding, consisting of (i) $1.5 billion in fixed rate mortgage loans (the “Fixed Rate Debt”), which includes $122.5 million of variable rate mortgage loans swapped to fixed rates, (ii) $38.3 million in variable rate mortgage loans (the “Variable Rate Debt”), (iii) $100.0 million outstanding under the Credit Facility and (iv) $54.3 million outstanding under the repurchase agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”). The Fixed Rate Debt has annual interest rates ranging from 4.46% to 7.22%, with a weighted average annual interest rate of 5.88%, and various maturity dates ranging from January, 2011 through August, 2031. The Variable Rate Debt has annual interest rates ranging from LIBOR plus 200 to 325 basis points, and various maturity dates in September, 2011. The Credit Facility allows us to borrow up to $215.0 million in revolving loans and a $100.0 million term loan. Loans under the Credit Facility bear interest at variable rates depending on the type of loan used. Eurodollar rate loans have variable rates which are generally equal to the one-month, two-month, three-month, or six-month LIBOR plus 275 to 400 basis points, determined by the leverage ratio of the Company in accordance with the agreement. Base rate committed loans have variable rates equal to the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%; (b) Bank of America’s prime rate; or (c) the Eurodollar Rate plus 1.0%; plus 175 to 300 basis points, determined by the leverage ratio of the Company in accordance with the agreement. The Credit Facility matures on December 17, 2013. The Repurchase Agreement provides for short-term financing in which we pledge our marketable securities as collateral to secure loans made by the lender and generally has a term of seven to 90 days with annual interest rates based on a spread to LIBOR. See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional terms of the Credit Facility and the Repurchase Agreement.

 

As of December 31, 2010, the interest rate in effect for borrowings under the Credit Facility was the Bank of America prime rate plus 250 basis points, and the weighted average interest rate in effect for the Repurchase Agreement was 1.68%. On February 24, 2011, we executed an interest rate swap agreement which fixed the interest rate for term loan borrowings under the Credit Facility to 4.94% per annum based on our overall leverage levels at the time of the transaction. The ratio of debt to total gross real estate and related assets net of gross intangible lease liabilities, as of December 31, 2010, was 50% and the weighted average years to maturity was 5.0 years. Except for the notes payable under the Credit Facility, which are unsecured

obligations, the notes payable are secured by the respective properties on which the debt was placed and their related tenant leases and other real estate related assets. The notes payable and the Repurchase Agreement are generally non-recourse to us and Cole OP II, but both are liable for customary non-recourse carve-outs.

 

Generally, the notes payable may not be prepaid, in whole or in part, except under the following circumstances: (i) prepayment may be made subject to payment of a yield maintenance premium or through defeasance, (ii) full prepayment may be made on any of the three monthly payment dates occurring immediately prior to the maturity date, and (iii) partial prepayments resulting from the application of insurance or condemnation proceeds to reduce the outstanding principal balance of the mortgage notes. Notwithstanding the prepayment limitations, we may sell the properties to a buyer that assumes the respective mortgage loan. The transfer would be subject to the conditions set forth in the individual property’s mortgage note document, including without limitation, the lender’s approval of the proposed buyer and the payment of the lender’s fees, costs and expenses associated with the sale of the property and the assumption of the loan.

 

Generally, in the event that a mortgage note is not paid off on the respective maturity date, most mortgage notes include hyper-amortization provisions. Under the hyper-amortization provisions, the individual mortgage note maturity date will be extended by 20 years. During such period, the lender will apply 100% of the rents collected to the following items in the order indicated: (i) payment of accrued interest at the original fixed interest rate, (ii) all payments for escrow or reserve accounts, (iii) any operating expenses of the property pursuant to an approved annual budget, (iv) any extraordinary expenses and (v) the balance of the rents collected will be applied to the following in such order as the lender may determine: (1) any other amounts due in accordance with the loan documents, (2) the reduction of the principal balance of the mortgage note, and (3) capitalized interest at an interest rate equal to the greater of (A) the initial fixed interest rate as stated on the respective mortgage note agreement plus 2.0% per annum or (B) the then current Treasury Constant Maturity Yield Index plus 2.0% per annum.

 

 

In the ordinary course of business, we may become subject to litigation or claims. We are not aware of any material pending legal proceedings other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to our business.

 

 

 

Market Information

 

As of March 30, 2011, we had approximately 209.7 million shares of common stock outstanding, held by a total of 41,243 stockholders of record. The number of stockholders is based on the records of DST Systems, Inc., who serves as our registrar and transfer agent.

 

There is no established trading market for our common stock. Therefore, there is a risk that a stockholder may not be able to sell our stock at a time or price acceptable to the stockholder, or at all. Unless and until our shares are listed on a national securities exchange, we do not expect that a public market for the shares will develop.

 

To assist fiduciaries of tax-qualified pension, stock bonus or profit-sharing plans, employee benefit plans and annuities described in Section 403(a) or (b) of the Internal Revenue Code or an individual retirement account or annuity described in Section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code subject to the annual reporting requirements of ERISA and IRA trustees or custodians in preparation of reports relating to an investment in the shares, we intend to provide reports of the per share estimated value of the shares to those fiduciaries who request such reports. In addition, in order for FINRA members and their associated persons to participate in any offering and sale of our shares of common stock, we are required pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(M) to disclose in each annual report distributed to investors a per share estimated value of the shares, the method by which it was developed, and the date of the data used to develop the estimated value. For these purposes, the estimated share value is $8.05 as of December 31, 2010, which is based solely on our board of director’s approval on June 22, 2010 of an estimated per share value of $8.05 (the “Estimated Share Value”).

 

In determining the Estimated Share Value, the board of directors relied upon information provided by an independent consultant that specializes in valuing commercial real estate companies, and information provided by our advisor. The board of directors relied on valuation methodologies that are commonly used in the commercial real estate industry, including, among others, a discounted cash flow analysis, which projects a range of the estimated future stream of cash flows reasonably likely to be generated by our portfolio of properties, and discounts the projected future cash flows to a present value. In addition, the board of directors reviewed current, historical and projected capitalization rates for commercial properties similar to the properties we own, and the values of publicly traded REITs with portfolios comparable to our portfolio. The board of directors also took into account the estimated value of our other assets and liabilities, including a reasonable estimate of the value of our debt obligations. However, as set forth above, there is no public trading market for the shares at this time and stockholders may not receive $8.05 per share if a market did exist.

 

The board of directors expects that the value of our shares will fluctuate over time, in response to future developments related to individual assets in the portfolio, as well as in response to future events in the real estate and capital markets. Our board of directors will update our estimated value per share on a periodic basis, but in no event less frequently than every 18 months.

 

Share Redemption Program

 

Our board of directors has adopted a share redemption program that enables our stockholders to sell their shares to us in limited circumstances. Our share redemption program permits stockholders to sell their shares back to us after they have held them for at least one year, subject to the significant conditions and limitations described below.

 

Our common stock is currently not listed on a national securities exchange, and we will not seek to list our stock until such time as our independent directors believe that the listing of our stock would be in the best interest of our stockholders. In order to provide stockholders with the benefit of interim liquidity, stockholders who have held their shares for at least one year may present all, or a portion consisting of at least 25%, of the holder’s shares to us for redemption at any time in accordance with the procedures outlined below. At that

time, we may, subject to the conditions and limitations described below, redeem the shares presented for redemption for cash to the extent that we have sufficient funds available to us to fund such redemption. We will not pay to our board of directors, or our advisor or its affiliates any fees to complete any transactions under our share redemption program.

 

On November 10, 2009, our board of directors voted to temporarily suspend our share redemption program other than for requests made upon the death of a stockholder, which we continued to accept. On June 22, 2010, our board of directors reinstated our share redemption program, effective August 1, 2010, and adopted several amendments to the program. In particular, during any calendar year, we will not redeem in excess of 3% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year and the cash available for redemption is limited to the proceeds from the sale of shares pursuant to our DRIP Offering during such calendar year. In addition, we will redeem shares on a quarterly basis, at the rate of approximately one-fourth of 3% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year (including shares requested for redemption upon the death of a stockholder). Funding for redemptions for each quarter will be limited to the net proceeds we receive from the sale of shares, during such quarter, under our DRIP.

 

Pursuant to the share redemption program, as amended, the redemption price per share is dependent on the length of time the shares are held and the Estimated Share Value. The redemption price per share will depend on the length of time you have held such shares as follows: after one year from the purchase date — 92.5% of the Estimated Share Value; after two years from the purchase date — 95% of the Estimated Share Value; after three years from the purchase date — 97.5% of the Estimated Share Value; and after four years from the purchase date — 100% of the Estimated Share Value. Shares redeemed in connection with a stockholder’s death will be redeemed at a redemption price per share equal to 100% of the Estimate Share Value. In all circumstances, however, if we have sold property and have made one or more special distributions to our stockholders of all or a portion of the net proceeds from such sales subsequent to the establishment of the Estimated Share Value, the per share redemption price will be reduced by the net sale proceeds per share distributed to investors prior to the redemption date. Our board of directors will, in its sole discretion, determine which distributions, if any, constitute a special distribution. While our board of directors does not have specific criteria for determining a special distribution, we expect that a special distribution will only occur upon the sale of a property and the subsequent distribution of the net sale proceeds.

 

Upon receipt of a request for redemption, we may conduct a Uniform Commercial Code search to ensure that no liens are held against the shares. We will not redeem any shares that are subject to a lien. Any costs in conducting the Uniform Commercial Code search will be borne by us.

 

We will redeem our shares on the last business day of the month following the end of each fiscal quarter. Requests for redemption must be received on or prior to the end of the quarter in order for us to repurchase the shares as of the end of the month following the end of the fiscal quarter in which you make your redemption request. You may withdraw your request to have your shares redeemed at any time prior to the last day of the applicable quarter.

 

We will determine whether we have sufficient funds and/or shares available as soon as practicable after the end of each quarter, but in any event prior to the applicable payment date. If we cannot purchase all shares presented for redemption in any quarter, based upon the limit on the number of shares we may redeem during any calendar quarter or any calendar year and/or insufficient cash available, we will attempt to honor redemption requests on a pro rata basis; provided, however, that we may give priority to the redemption of a deceased stockholder’s shares. Following such redemption period, if you would like to resubmit the unsatisfied portion of the prior redemption request for redemption, you must submit a new request for redemption of such shares, prior to the last day of the new quarter. Unfulfilled requests for redemption will not be carried over automatically to subsequent redemption periods.

 

Our board of directors may choose to amend, suspend or terminate our share redemption program upon 30 days notice at any time. Additionally, because the redemption of shares will be funded with the net proceeds we receive from the sale of shares under the DRIP Offering, the discontinuance or termination of the DRIP Offering would adversely affect our ability to redeem shares under the share redemption program. While

we intend to maintain an effective registration statement relating to the DRIP Offering for the foreseeable future, we will be required to discontinue sales of shares under the DRIP Offering in the event that an effective registration statement relating to the DRIP Offering is suspended or withdrawn. The DRIP Offering will also be terminated on the date that we sell all of the shares registered for sale under that plan. In the event that the redemption program is terminated, we will notify our stockholders of such developments (i) in our next annual or quarterly report or (ii) by means of a separate mailing to you, accompanied by disclosure in a current or periodic report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Our share redemption program is only intended to provide interim liquidity for stockholders until a liquidity event occurs, such as the listing of the shares on a national securities exchange, or our merger with a listed company. The share redemption program will be terminated if the shares become listed on a national securities exchange. We cannot guarantee that a liquidity event will occur.

 

The shares we redeem under our share redemption program are cancelled and returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares. We do not intend to resell such shares to the public unless they are first registered with the SEC under the Securities Act and under appropriate state securities laws or otherwise sold in compliance with such laws.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2010, we redeemed 2.4 million shares under our share redemption program, at an average redemption price of $9.08 per share for an aggregate redemption price of $21.6 million. During the year ended December 31, 2009, we redeemed 5.1 million shares under our share redemption program, at an average redemption price of $9.46 per share for an aggregate redemption price of $48.3 million. Subsequent to December 31, 2010, we redeemed 1.5 million shares for $11.9 million. Redemption requests related to 6.5 million shares that were received during the year ended December 31, 2010 went unfulfilled, including shares unfulfilled and resubmitted in a subsequent period. See the section titled “Share Redemptions” in “Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional share redemption information.

 

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2010, we redeemed shares as follows:

 

 

 

 

Distributions

 

We qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2005. As a REIT, we have made, and intend to make, distributions each taxable year (not including a return of capital for federal income tax purposes) equal to at least 90% of our taxable income. One of our primary goals is to pay regular (monthly) distributions to our stockholders.

 

For income tax purposes, distributions to common stockholders are characterized as ordinary dividends, capital gain dividends, or nontaxable distributions. To the extent that we make a distribution in excess of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be a non-taxable return of capital, reducing the tax basis in each U.S. stockholder’s shares, and the amount of each distribution in excess of a U.S. stockholder’s tax basis in its shares will be taxable as gain realized from the sale of its shares.

On September 20, 2010, our board of directors authorized a daily distribution, based on 365 days in the calendar year, of $0.001712523 per share (which equates to 6.25% on an annualized basis calculated at the current rate, assuming a $10.00 per share purchase price, and an annualized return of approximately 7.76%, based on the most recent estimate of the value of our shares of $8.05 per share) for stockholders of record as of the close of business on each day of the period, commencing on October 1, 2010 and ending on December 31, 2010. On November 10, 2010, our board of directors authorized a daily distribution, based on 365 days in the calendar year, of $0.001712523 per share (which equates to 6.25% on an annualized basis calculated at the current rate, assuming a $10.00 per share purchase price, and an annualized return of approximately 7.76%, based on the most recent estimate of the value of our shares of $8.05 per share) for stockholders of record as of the close of business on each day of the period, commencing on January 1, 2011 and ending on March 31, 2011.

 

The following table shows the distributions we paid during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

Use of Public Offering Proceeds

 

We registered 50,000,000 shares of our common stock in our Initial Offering (SEC File no. 333-121094, effective June 27, 2005), of which we registered 45,000,000 shares at $10.00 per share to be offered to the public and 5,000,000 shares offered to our investors pursuant to our DRIP at $9.50 per share, for an aggregate offering price of $497.5 million. In November 2006, we filed an additional registration statement to increase the aggregate number of shares available in our primary offering to 49,390,000 and the aggregate number of shares available in our DRIP to 5,952,000 for an aggregate offering price after such increase of $550.4 million. We terminated the Initial Offering on May 22, 2007. We registered 150,000,000 shares of our common stock in our Follow-on Offering (SEC File no. 333-138444, effective May 11, 2007). The Follow-on Offering included up to 143,050,000 shares to be offered for sale at $10.00 per share in the primary offering and up to 6,000,000 shares to be offered for sale pursuant to the Company’s DRIP, for an aggregate follow-on offering price of $1.5 billion. On January 2, 2009, we terminated the Follow-on Offering. As of the close of business on January 2, 2009, we had issued a total of 147,454,259 shares of common stock in the Follow-on Offering, including 141,520,572 shares of common stock sold in the primary offering and 5,933,687 shares sold pursuant to the DRIP, resulting in gross proceeds from the Follow-on Offering of $1.5 billion. At the completion of the Follow-on Offering, a total of 1,595,741 shares of common stock remained unsold, including 1,529,428 shares of common stock that remained unsold in the primary offering and 66,313 shares of common stock that remained unsold pursuant to the DRIP. All unsold shares in the Follow-on Offering were deregistered.

 

On September 18, 2008, we registered 30,000,000 additional shares to be offered pursuant to our DRIP in our DRIP Offering, for an aggregate DRIP Offering price of $285.0 million. As of December 31, 2010, we were authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, but had none issued or outstanding. As of December 31, 2010, we had issued an aggregate of 218,078,817 shares of common stock, excluding redemptions, in our Offerings, raising gross offering proceeds of $2.2 billion. From this amount, we paid $68.1 million in acquisition fees to Cole Realty Advisors, $171.8 million in selling commissions and dealer manager fees to Cole Capital (of which $144.9 million was reallowed to third-party broker dealers), $20.8 million in finance coordination fees to Cole Advisors II and $16.3 million in organization and offering costs to Cole Advisors II. We paid no selling commissions, dealer manager fees or organization and offering costs to Cole Capital during the year ended December 31, 2010. With the net offering proceeds and indebtedness, we acquired $3.4 billion in total gross real estate and related assets net of gross intangible lease liabilities.

As of March 30, 2011, we had issued approximately 17.6 million shares in the DRIP Offering at an aggregate gross offering price of $159.4 million. As of March 30, 2011, we had approximately 12.4 million million shares available in the DRIP Offering.

 

Unregistered Sale of Securities and Issuance of Stock Options

 

We issued 20,000 shares of our common stock to Cole Holdings Corporation (“Cole Holdings”) in connection with our inception in 2004 at $10.00 per share. On each of May 2, 2005, May 23, 2006, August 15, 2007, May 29, 2008, and May 29, 2009, we issued options to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock to our independent directors under our Independent Director Stock Option Plan. During the year ended December 31, 2009, 5,000 options to purchase shares were exercised. These shares and options were not registered under the Securities Act and were issued in reliance on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.

 

The following table provides information regarding our equity compensation plan as of December 31, 2010:

 

 

The following data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and “Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected financial data (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) presented below was derived from our consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the “Selected Financial Data” and our accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. See also “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” preceding Part I.

 

Overview

 

We were formed on September 29, 2004 to acquire and operate commercial real estate primarily consisting of freestanding, single-tenant, retail properties net leased to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants located throughout the United States. We commenced our principal operations on September 23, 2005, when we issued the initial 486,000 shares of our common stock in the Initial Offering. We have no paid employees and are externally advised and managed by Cole Advisors II, our advisor. We currently qualify, and intend to continue to elect to qualify, as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.

 

Our operating results and cash flows are primarily influenced by rental income from our commercial properties and interest expense on our property indebtedness. Rental and other property income accounted for 89%, 87% and 89% of total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. As 94% of our rentable square feet was under lease as of December 31, 2010, with a weighted average remaining lease term of 11.2 years, we believe our exposure to changes in commercial rental rates on our portfolio is substantially mitigated, except for vacancies caused by tenant bankruptcies or other factors. Our advisor regularly monitors the creditworthiness of our tenants by reviewing the tenant’s financial results, credit rating agency reports (if any) on the tenant or guarantor, the operating history of the property with such tenant, the tenant’s market share and track record within its industry segment, the general health and outlook of the tenant’s industry segment, and other information for changes and possible trends. If our advisor identifies significant changes or trends that may adversely affect the creditworthiness of a tenant, it will gather a more in-depth knowledge of the tenant’s financial condition and, if necessary, attempt to mitigate the tenant credit risk by evaluating the possible sale of the property, or identifying a possible replacement tenant should the current tenant fail to perform on the lease.

 

As of December 31, 2010, the debt leverage ratio of our consolidated real estate assets, which is the ratio of debt to total gross real estate and related assets net of gross intangible lease liabilities, was 50%, with 8.0% of the debt, or $138.3 million, including $100.0 million outstanding under the Credit Facility, subject to variable interest rates. Should we acquire additional commercial real estate, we will be subject to changes in real estate prices and changes in interest rates on any new indebtedness used to acquire the properties. We may manage our risk of changes in real estate prices on future property acquisitions, if any, by entering into purchase agreements and loan commitments simultaneously so that our operating yield is determinable at the time we enter into a purchase agreement, by contracting with developers for future delivery of properties, or by entering into sale-leaseback transactions. We manage our interest rate risk by monitoring the interest rate environment in connection with our future property acquisitions, if any, or upcoming debt maturities to determine the appropriate financing or refinancing terms, which may include fixed rate loans, variable rate loans or interest rate hedges. If we are unable to acquire suitable properties or obtain suitable financing terms for future acquisitions or refinancing, our results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

Recent Market Conditions

 

Beginning in late 2007, domestic and international financial markets experienced significant disruptions that were brought about in large part by challenges in the world-wide banking system. These disruptions severely impacted the availability of credit and have contributed to rising costs associated with obtaining credit. Recently, the volume of mortgage lending for commercial real estate has increased and lending terms have improved; however, such lending activity is significantly less than previous levels. Although lending market conditions have improved, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, more stringent lending criteria, which may affect our ability to finance certain property acquisitions or refinance our debt at maturity. For properties for which we are able to obtain financing, the interest rates and other terms on such

loans may be unacceptable. Additionally, if we are able to refinance our existing debt as it matures, it may be at lower leverage levels or at rates and terms which are less favorable than our existing debt or, if we elect to extend the maturity dates of the mortgage notes in accordance with the hyper-amortization provisions, the interest rates charged to us will be higher, each of which may adversely affect our results of operations and the distribution rate we are able to pay to our investors. We have managed, and expect to continue to manage, the current mortgage lending environment by utilizing borrowings on our Credit Facility, and considering alternative lending sources, including the securitization of debt, utilizing fixed rate loans, short-term variable rate loans, assuming existing mortgage loans in connection with property acquisitions, or entering into interest rate lock or swap agreements, or any combination of the foregoing. We have acquired, and may continue to acquire, our properties for cash without financing. If we are unable to obtain suitable financing for future acquisitions or we are unable to identify suitable properties at appropriate prices in the current credit environment, we may have a larger amount of uninvested cash, which may adversely affect our results of operations. We will continue to evaluate alternatives in the current market, including purchasing or originating debt backed by real estate, which could produce attractive yields in the current market environment.

 

The economic downturn has led to high unemployment rates and a decline in consumer spending. These economic trends have adversely impacted the retail and real estate markets, causing higher tenant vacancies, declining rental rates and declining property values. Recently, the economy has improved and continues to show signs of recovery. Additionally, the real estate markets have recently observed an improvement in occupancy rates; however, occupancy and rental rates continue to be below those previously experienced before the economic downturn. As of December 31, 2010, 94% of our rentable square feet was under lease. During the year ended December 31, 2010, our percentage of rentable square feet under lease remained stable. However, if the current economic uncertainty persists, we may experience additional vacancies or be required to further reduce rental rates on occupied space. Our advisor is actively seeking to lease all of our vacant space, however, as retailers and other tenants have been delaying or eliminating their store expansion plans, the amount of time required to re-lease a property has increased.

 

Application of Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our accounting policies have been established to conform with GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. These judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. If management’s judgment or interpretation of the facts and circumstances relating to various transactions had been different, it is possible that different accounting policies would have been applied, thus, resulting in a different presentation of the financial statements. Additionally, other companies may utilize different estimates that may impact comparability of our results of operations to those of companies in similar businesses.

 

The critical accounting policies outlined below have been discussed with members of the audit committee of the board of directors.

 

Investment in and Valuation of Real Estate and Related Assets

 

We are required to make subjective assessments as to the useful lives of our depreciable assets. We consider the period of future benefit of the asset to determine the appropriate useful life of each asset. Real estate assets are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Amounts capitalized to real estate assets consist of the cost of acquisition, excluding acquisition related expenses effective January 1, 2009, construction and any tenant improvements, major improvements and betterments that extend the useful life of the related asset and leasing costs. All repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

Assets, other than land, are depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis. The estimated useful lives of our assets by class are generally as follows:

 

 

We continually monitor events and changes in circumstances that could indicate that the carrying amounts of our real estate and related intangible assets may not be recoverable. Impairment indicators that we consider include, but are not limited to, bankruptcy or other credit concerns of a property’s major tenant, such as a history of late payments, rental concessions, and other factors, a significant decrease in a property’s revenues due to lease terminations, vacancies, co-tenancy clauses, reduced lease rates, or other circumstances. When indicators of potential impairment are present, we assess the recoverability of the assets by determining whether the carrying value of the assets will be recovered through the undiscounted future operating cash flows expected from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. In the event that such expected undiscounted future cash flows do not exceed the carrying value, we will adjust the real estate and related intangible assets to their fair value and recognize an impairment loss.

 

We continue to monitor certain properties for which we have identified impairment indicators. As of December 31, 2010, we had eight properties with an aggregate book value of $60.8 million for which we assessed the recoverability of the carrying values. For each of these properties, the undiscounted future operating cash flows expected from the use of these properties and their related intangible assets and their eventual disposition continued to exceed the carrying value of these assets as of December 31, 2010. Should the conditions of any of these properties change, the undiscounted future operating cash flows expected may change and adversely affect the recoverability of the carrying values related to these properties. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we identified one property with impairment indicators for which the undiscounted future operating cash flows expected from the use of the property and related intangible assets and their eventual disposition was less than the carrying value of the assets. As a result, we reassessed and reduced the carrying values of both the real estate assets and the related intangible assets to their estimated fair value and recorded an impairment loss of $4.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2010. In addition, we identified one property during each of the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 with impairment indicators for which the undiscounted future operating cash flows expected from the use of the respective property and related intangible assets and their eventual dispositions were less than the carrying value of the respective assets. As a result, we reassessed and reduced the carrying values of both the real estate and related intangible assets to their estimated fair values and recorded an impairment loss of $13.5 million and $3.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

Projections of expected future cash flows require us to use estimates such as current market rental rates on vacant properties, future market rental income amounts subsequent to the expiration of current lease agreements, property operating expenses, terminal capitalization and discount rates, the number of months it takes to re-lease the property, required tenant improvements and the number of years the property is held for investment. The use of alternative assumptions in the future cash flow analysis could result in a different assessment of the property’s future cash flow and a different conclusion regarding the existence of an impairment, the extent of such loss, if any, as well as the carrying value of our real estate and related intangible assets.

 

When a real estate asset is identified by management as held for sale, we cease depreciation of the asset and estimate the sales price, net of selling costs. If, in management’s opinion, the estimated net sales price of the asset is less than the net book value of the asset, an adjustment to the carrying value would be recorded to reflect the estimated fair value of the property, net of selling costs.

 

Allocation of Purchase Price of Real Estate and Related Assets

 

Upon the acquisition of real properties, we allocate the purchase price of such properties to acquired tangible assets, consisting of land, building and improvements, and identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above market and below market leases and the value of in-place leases, based in

each case on their fair values. Effective January 1, 2009, acquisition related expenses are expensed as incurred. We utilize independent appraisals to assist in the determination of the fair values of the tangible assets of an acquired property (which includes land and building). We obtain an independent appraisal for each real property acquisition. The information in the appraisal, along with any additional information available to us, is used in estimating the amount of the purchase price that is allocated to land. Other information in the appraisal, such as building value and market rents, may be used by us in estimating the allocation of purchase price to the building and to lease intangibles. The appraisal firm has no involvement in management’s allocation decisions other than providing this market information.

 

The fair values of above market and below market in-place lease values are recorded based on the present value (using an interest rate which reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the in-place leases and (ii) an estimate of fair market lease rates for the corresponding in-place leases, which is generally obtained from independent appraisals, measured over a period equal to the remaining non-cancelable term of the lease including any bargain renewal periods, with respect to a below market lease. The above market and below market lease values are capitalized as intangible lease assets or liabilities. Above market lease values are amortized as an adjustment of rental income over the lesser of the useful life or the remaining terms of the respective leases. Below market leases are amortized as an adjustment of rental income over the remaining terms of the respective leases, including any bargain renewal periods. If a lease is terminated prior to its stated expiration, all unamortized amounts of above market and below market in-place lease values relating to that lease would be recorded as an adjustment to rental income.

 

The fair values of in-place leases include direct costs associated with obtaining a new tenant and opportunity costs associated with lost rentals which are avoided by acquiring an in-place lease. Direct costs associated with obtaining a new tenant include commissions other direct costs, and are estimated in part by utilizing information obtained from independent appraisals and management’s consideration of current market costs to execute a similar lease. The value of opportunity costs is calculated using the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the in-place leases over a market absorption period for a similar lease. These costs are capitalized as intangible lease assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and are amortized to expense over the lesser of the useful life or the remaining term of the respective leases. If a lease is terminated prior to its stated expiration, all unamortized amounts of in-place lease assets relating to that lease would be expensed.

 

We estimate the fair value of assumed mortgage notes payable based upon indications of current market pricing for similar types of debt with similar maturities. Assumed mortgage notes payable are initially recorded at their estimated fair value as of the assumption date, and the difference between such estimated fair value and the respective note’s outstanding principal balance is amortized to interest expense over the term of the mortgage note payable.

 

The determination of the fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired requires the use of significant assumptions with regard to the current market rental rates, rental growth rates, capitalization and discount rates, interest rates and other variables. The use of inappropriate estimates would result in an incorrect assessment of our purchase price allocations, which could impact the amount of our reported net income.

 

Investment in Direct Financing Leases

 

We evaluate the leases associated with our real estate properties in accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 840, Leases. For the real estate property leases classified as direct financing leases, the building portion of the property leases are accounted for as direct financing leases while the land portion of these leases are accounted for as operating leases. For the direct financing leases, we record an asset (net investment) representing the aggregate future minimum lease payments, estimated residual value of the leased property and deferred incremental direct costs less unearned income. Income is recognized over the life of the lease to approximate a level rate of return on the net investment. Residual values, which are reviewed quarterly, represent the estimated amount we expect to receive at lease termination from the disposition of the leased property. Actual residual values realized could differ from these estimates. We evaluate the collectability of future minimum lease payments on each direct financing lease to determine

collectability primarily through the evaluation of payment history. We do not provide for an allowance based on the grouping of direct financing leases as we believe the characteristics of each direct financing lease are not sufficiently similar to allow an evaluation as a group for a possible allowance. As such, all of our direct financing leases are evaluated individually for this purpose. Any write-downs of estimated residual value are recognized as impairments in the current period.

 

Investment in Mortgage Notes Receivable

 

Mortgage notes receivable consist of loans we acquired, which are secured by real estate properties. Mortgage notes receivable are recorded at stated principal amounts net of any discount or premium and deferred loan origination costs or fees. The related discounts or premiums on mortgage notes receivable purchased are amortized or accreted over the life of the related mortgage receivable. We defer certain loan origination and commitment fees, and amortize them as an adjustment of the mortgage notes receivable’s yield over the term of the related mortgage receivable. We evaluate the collectability of both interest and principal on each mortgage note receivable to determine whether it is collectible, primarily through the evaluation of credit quality indicators such as underlying collateral and payment history. We do not provide for an allowance for loan losses based on the grouping of loans as we believe the characteristics of the loans are not sufficiently similar to allow for an evaluation of these loans as a group for a possible loan loss allowance. As such, all of our loans are evaluated individually for this purpose. A mortgage note receivable is considered to be impaired, when based upon current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the existing contractual terms. If a mortgage note receivable is considered to be impaired, the amount of loss is calculated by comparing the recorded investment to the value determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at the mortgage note receivable’s effective interest rate to the value of the underlying collateral if the mortgage note receivable is collateral dependent. Interest income on performing mortgage note receivable is accrued as earned. Interest income on impaired mortgage notes receivable is recognized on a cash basis.

 

Investment in Marketable Securities

 

Investments in marketable securities consist of investments in CMBS. ASC 470, Debt, requires us to classify our investments in real estate securities as trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. We classify our investments as available-for-sale as we intend to hold our investments until maturity, however we may sell them prior to their maturity. These investments are carried at estimated fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Upon the sale of a security, the realized net gain or loss is computed on a specific identification basis.

 

Our marketable securities are carried at fair value and are valued using Level 3 inputs. We primarily use estimated quoted market prices from third party trading desks, where available, for similar CMBS tranches that actively participate in the CMBS market, and adjusted for industry benchmarks, such as the CMBX Index, where applicable. We receive non-binding quotes from established financial institutions, where available, and estimate a fair value using the quotes received. Market conditions, such as interest rates, liquidity, trading activity and credit spreads may cause significant variability to the received quotes. If we are unable to obtain quotes from third parties or if we believe quotes received are inaccurate, we will estimate fair value using internal models that primarily consider the CMBX Index, expected cash flows, known and expected defaults and rating agency reports. Changes in market conditions, as well as changes in the assumptions or methodology used to estimate fair value, could result in a significant increase or decrease in the recorded amount of the financial asset or liability. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, no marketable securities were valued using internal models. Significant judgment is involved in valuations and different judgments and assumptions used in our valuation could result in different valuations. If there continues to be significant disruptions to the financial markets, our estimates of fair value may have significant volatility.

 

We monitor our available-for-sale securities for impairments. A loss is recognized when we determine that a decline in the estimated fair value of a security below its amortized cost is other-than-temporary. We consider many factors in determining whether the impairment of a security is deemed to be other-than-temporary, including, but not limited to, any changes in expected cash flows, the length of time the security has had a

decline in estimated fair value below its amortized cost, the amount of the unrealized loss, our intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient for a recovery in value, recent events specific to the issuer or industry, external credit ratings and recent changes in such ratings. The analysis of determining whether the impairment of a security is deemed to be other-than-temporary requires significant judgments and assumptions. The use of different judgments and assumptions could result in a different conclusion.

 

Unamortized premiums and discounts on securities available-for-sale are recognized in interest income on marketable securities over the contractual life, adjusted for actual prepayments, of the securities using the effective interest method.

 

Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

 

Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures as of December 31, 2010, consists of our non-controlling majority interest in a joint venture that owns a multi-tenant property in Independence, Missouri and a majority interest in a joint venture that owns a ten-property storage facility portfolio. Consolidation of these investments is not required as the entities do not qualify as a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and do not meet the control requirements for consolidation, as defined in ASC 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”). Each of us and the respective joint venture partner must approve decisions about the respective entity’s activities that have a significant effect on the success of the entity. As of December 31, 2010, the aggregate carrying value of total assets held within the unconsolidated joint ventures was $148.6 million and the face value of the non-recourse mortgage notes payable was $111.6 million. As of December 31, 2009, the aggregate carrying value of total assets held within the unconsolidated joint ventures was $152.3 million and the face value of the non-recourse mortgage notes payable was $113.5 million.

 

We account for the unconsolidated joint ventures using the equity method of accounting per guidance established under ASC 323, Investments — Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323”). The equity method of accounting requires these investments to be initially recorded at cost and subsequently adjusted for our share of equity in the joint ventures’ earnings and distributions. We evaluate the carrying amount of each investment for impairment in accordance with ASC 323. The unconsolidated joint ventures are reviewed for potential impairment if the carrying amount of the investment exceeds its fair value. To determine whether impairment is other-than-temporary, we consider whether we have the ability and intent to hold the investment until the carrying value is fully recovered. The evaluation of an investment in a joint venture for potential impairment can require us to exercise significant judgments and assumptions. The use of different judgments and assumptions could result in different conclusions.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Certain properties have leases where minimum rent payments increase during the term of the lease. We record rental revenue for the full term of each lease on a straight-line basis. When we acquire a property, the term of existing leases is considered to commence as of the acquisition date for the purposes of this calculation. We defer the recognition of contingent rental income, such as percentage rents, until the specific target that triggers the contingent rental income is achieved. Expected reimbursements from tenants for recoverable real estate taxes and operating expenses are included in tenant reimbursement income in the period the related costs are incurred.

 

Income Taxes

 

We qualified and elected to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. We generally are not subject to federal corporate income tax to the extent we distribute our taxable income to our stockholders, and so long as we distribute at least 90% of our taxable income (excluding capital gains). REITs are subject to a number of other organizational and operational requirements. Even if we maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to certain state and local taxes on our income and property, and federal income and excise taxes on our undistributed income.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

 

ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”), establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. All derivatives are carried at fair value. Accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on the intended use of the derivative instrument and the designation of the derivative instrument. The change in fair value of the effective portion of the derivative instrument that is designated as a hedge is recorded as other comprehensive income (loss). The changes in fair value for derivative instruments that are not designated as a hedge or that do not meet the hedge accounting criteria of ASC 815 are recorded as a gain or loss to operations. Considerable judgment is necessary to develop estimated fair values of financial assets and liabilities, and the determination of hedge effectiveness can involve significant estimates. If we incorrectly estimate the fair value of derivatives and hedge effectiveness, our net income could be impacted.

 

Results of Operations

 

Our results of operations are influenced by the timing of acquisitions and the operating performance of our real estate investments. The following table shows the property statistics of our consolidated real estate assets as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 

 

 

 

The following table summarizes our consolidated real estate investment activity during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

Revenue.  Revenue decreased $6.3 million, or 2%, to $269.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $275.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Our revenue consisted primarily of rental and other property income from net leased commercial properties, which accounted for 89% and 87% of total revenues during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

Rental and other property income decreased $1.6 million, or 1%, to $238.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $240.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily related to a decrease in our occupancy rate from 99% to 94% during 2009 which was primarily due to the bankruptcy of certain tenants for which we continue to seek replacement tenants. Our vacancy rate has remained stable during the year ended December 31, 2010. This decrease was partially offset by rental revenue from the acquisition of 31 new properties subsequent to December 31, 2009. In addition, tenant reimbursement income decreased $5.1 million, or 27%, to $14.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $19.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in certain operating expenses related to these properties that are subject to reimbursement by the tenant, primarily property tax expense incurred during year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Earned income from direct financing leases remained relatively constant, increasing $155,000, or 8%, to $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. We owned 13 properties accounted for as direct financing leases for each of the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. The increase was due to an amendment of one lease for which the minimum annual rentals under the lease increased.

 

Interest income on mortgage notes receivable remained relatively constant, decreasing $206,000, or 3%, to $6.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $6.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as we recorded interest income on 69 amortizing mortgage notes receivable during each of the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.

 

Interest income on marketable securities increased $423,000, or 6%, to $7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $7.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was due to the additional interest income earned on two CMBS bonds with an aggregate face amount of $19.8 million, which were acquired during the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses remained relatively constant, at $7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. The primary general and administrative expense items are operating expenses reimbursable to our advisor, legal and accounting fees, state franchise and income taxes, escrow and trustee fees, and other licenses and fees.

 

Property Operating Expenses.  Property operating expenses decreased $5.5 million, or 21%, to $20.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $25.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in bad debt expense of $2.3 million, as our occupancy rate has remained stable since December 31, 2009, compared to a decrease in our occupancy rate during the year ended December 31, 2009 due primarily to certain tenant bankruptcies. In addition, property taxes decreased $3.2 million, as an increased number of tenants have elected to pay the respective property taxes directly. The primary property operating expense items are property taxes, repairs and maintenance, insurance and bad debt expense.

 

Property and Asset Management Expenses.  Pursuant to the advisory agreement with our advisor, as amended, we are required to pay to our advisor a monthly asset management fee equal to one-twelfth of 0.25% of the aggregate valuation of our invested assets, as determined by our board of directors. Additionally, we reimburse costs incurred by our advisor in providing asset management services, subject to certain limitations, as set forth in the advisory agreement. Pursuant to the property management agreement with our affiliated property manager, we are required to pay to our property manager a property management fee in an amount up to 2% of gross revenues received from each of our single-tenant properties and up to 4% of gross revenues received from each of our multi-tenant properties, less all payments to third-party management subcontractors. We reimburse Cole Realty Advisors’ costs of managing and leasing the properties, subject to certain limitations as set forth in the property management agreement.

Property and asset management expenses increased $1.5 million, or 10%, to $16.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Of this amount, property management expenses increased $1.5 million to $8.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $6.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily due to an increase in property management expenses incurred by our advisor in providing management and leasing services to us, which are reimbursable to our advisor pursuant to the advisory agreement, during the year ended December 31, 2010. No expenses for such services were reimbursed during the first six months of the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Asset management expenses, asset management expenses remained relatively constant, increasing $70,000 to $8.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, from $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily due to an increase in asset management fees related to 31 new properties acquired subsequent to December 31, 2009.

 

Acquisition Related Expenses.  Acquisition related expenses remained relatively constant, increasing $200,000, or 6%, to $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was a result of the acquisition related expenses recorded on 31 properties purchased during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to 20 properties during the year ended December 31, 2009. Pursuant to the advisory agreement with our advisor, we pay an acquisition fee to our advisor of 2% of the contract purchase price of each property or asset acquired. We may also be required to reimburse our advisor for acquisition expenses incurred in the process of acquiring property or in the origination or acquisition of a loan.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses.  Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased $5.6 million, or 6%, to $85.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $90.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily related to a decrease in the amortization of leases in place during the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009, which resulted from the write-off of intangible lease assets due to increased vacancies during 2009. Our vacancy rate has remained stable during the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Impairment of Real Estate Assets.  Impairment on real estate assets decreased $9.0 million, or 67%, to $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, from $13.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Impairment losses were recorded on one property during the year ended December 31, 2010 and on one property during the year ended December 31, 2009, as discussed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Equity in Income of Unconsolidated Joint Ventures.  Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures increased $353,000, or 58%, to $965,000 during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $612,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009. During the year ended December 31, 2009, we acquired an indirect interest in a ten-property storage facility portfolio, through a joint venture. The increase was primarily due to increased income recorded for one of our joint venture properties, combined with a decrease in our percentage of the acquired joint venture’s loss recorded during the year ended December 31, 2010, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Interest and other income.  Interest and other income decreased $447,000, or 78%, to $125,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010, from $572,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily related to a gain recognized as a result of an easement condemnation during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared with no easement condemnation occurring during the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Interest Expense.  Interest expense increased $4.0 million, or 4%, to $103.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $99.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily due to an increase of $88.6 million in the average outstanding debt balance.

Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

Our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2008, reflect significant increases in most categories primarily due to the ownership of the 340 properties acquired during the year ended December 31, 2008 for the full year in 2009.

 

Revenue.  Revenue increased $74.5 million, or 37%, to $275.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $201.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Our revenue consisted primarily of rental and other property income from net leased commercial properties, which accounted for 87% and 89% of total revenues during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

Rental and other property income increased $62.0 million, or 35%, to $240.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $178.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to the acquisition of 20 new properties during the year ended December 31, 2009, and the ownership of the 340 properties acquired during the year ended December 31, 2008 for the full year in 2009. In addition, we paid certain operating expenses related to these properties subject to reimbursement by the tenant, which resulted in $19.1 million of tenant reimbursement income during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $12.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Earned income from direct financing leases decreased $271,000, or 12%, to $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the leases on two of the 13 properties accounted for as direct financing leases were amended, resulting in lower annual rents over an extended lease term.

 

Interest income on mortgage notes receivable remained relatively constant, decreasing $214,000, or 3%, to $6.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $7.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as we recorded interest income on 69 amortizing mortgage notes receivable during each of the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

Interest income on marketable securities increased $6.0 million, or 495%, to $7.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was due to the additional interest income earned as a result of the acquisition of three CMBS bonds with an aggregate face amount of $33.6 million, during the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2008, and the acquisition of two CMBS bonds with an aggregate face amount of $19.8 million, during the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses increased $1.4 million, or 25%, to $7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $5.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to the recording of $906,000 of expenses incurred by our advisor in providing administrative services to us during the year ended December 31, 2009, which are reimbursable to our advisor pursuant to the advisory agreement. No expenses incurred by our advisor for such services were reimbursed, or required to be reimbursed, during the year ended December 31, 2008. In addition, administrative costs, escrow and trustee fees and service fees related to our Credit Facility increased. The primary general and administrative expense items were legal and accounting fees, escrow and trustee fees, state franchise and income taxes and operating expenses reimbursable to our advisor.

 

Property Operating Expenses.  Property operating expenses increased $9.0 million, or 54%, to $25.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $16.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to an increase in property taxes, repairs and maintenance and insurance expense, primarily for multi-tenant shopping centers, for which we initially pay certain operating expenses and are reimbursed by the tenant in accordance with the respective lease agreements. During the year ended December 31, 2009, we owned an average of 2.9 million square feet of multi-tenant shopping center space, compared to an average of 2.2 million square feet of multi-tenant shopping center space during the year ended December 31, 2008. The primary property operating expense items are property taxes, repairs and maintenance, insurance and bad debt expense.

Property and Asset Management Expenses.  Pursuant to the advisory agreement with our advisor, we are required to pay to our advisor a monthly asset management fee equal to one-twelfth of 0.25% of the aggregate asset value of our properties determined in accordance with the advisory agreement. Additionally, we reimburse costs incurred by our advisor in providing asset management services, subject to limitations as set forth in the advisory agreement. Pursuant to the property management agreement with our affiliated property manager, we are required to pay to our property manager a property management fee in an amount up to 2% of gross revenues received from each of our single-tenant properties and up to 4% of gross revenues received from each of our multi-tenant properties, less all payments to third-party management subcontractors. We reimburse Cole Realty Advisors’ costs of managing and leasing the properties, subject to limitations as set forth in the property management agreement.

 

Property and asset management expenses increased $5.1 million, or 53%, to $14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $9.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Property management fees increased $1.7 million to $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase in property management fees was primarily due to an increase in rental and other property income to $240.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, from $178.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, due to annualized operations from the 340 commercial properties acquired during the year ended December 31, 2008 as well as the acquisition of 20 additional rental income producing properties during the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Asset management fees increased $2.4 million to $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, from $6.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase in asset management fees was primarily due to an increase in the average gross aggregate book value of properties to $3.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $2.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase in the average gross aggregate book value of properties was due to the acquisition of 20 additional properties during the year ended December 31, 2009 and the ownership of 340 properties acquired during the year ended December 31, 2008 for the full year in 2009.

 

In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2009, we recorded $1.0 million related to reimbursement of expenses incurred by our advisor in performing property and asset management services. No such expenses were required to be reimbursed during the year ended December 31, 2008, as our advisor did not elect to be reimbursed.

 

Acquisition Related Expenses.  In accordance with ASC 805, acquisition costs are required to be expensed beginning January 1, 2009. Prior to January 1, 2009, acquisition costs were capitalized. We expensed $3.2 million of acquisition expenses during the year ended December 31, 2009 in connection with the acquisition of 20 new rental income producing properties.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses.  Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $26.9 million, or 42%, to $90.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $63.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the average gross aggregate book value of properties we owned to $3.3 billion as of December 31, 2009, from $2.6 billion as of December 31, 2008, as a result of the acquisition of 20 new properties during the year ended December 31, 2009 and the ownership of 340 properties acquired during the year ended December 31, 2008 for the full year in 2009.

 

Impairment of Real Estate Assets.  Impairment on real estate assets increased $9.9 million, or 280%, to $13.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Impairment losses were recorded on one property during the year ended December 31, 2009 and on one property during the year ended December 31, 2008, as discussed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Equity in Income of Unconsolidated Joint Ventures.  Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures increased $141,000, or 30%, to $612,000 during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $471,000 in equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures during the year ended December 31, 2008. Through a joint venture that we entered into during the year ended December 31, 2008, we acquired an interest in a 386,000 square foot multi-tenant retail building. The increase was primarily due to the ownership of the joint

venture for a full year during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase was partially offset by the acquisition of an indirect interest in a ten-property storage facility portfolio, through a joint venture, during the year ended December 31, 2009, which recorded a loss for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Interest and Other Income.  Interest and other income decreased $707,000, or 55%, to $572,000 during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to lower average uninvested cash during the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The average cash balance was $34.8 million and $61.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

Interest Expense.  Interest expense increased $20.9 million, or 27%, to $99.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $78.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the average aggregate amount of notes payable and line of credit outstanding to $1.6 billion during the year ended December 31, 2009 from $1.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2008, with weighted average interest rates of 5.88% and 5.89% as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

Portfolio Information

 

Real Estate Portfolio

 

As of December 31, 2010, we directly owned 725 properties located in 45 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the gross rentable space of which was 94% leased with an average lease term remaining of 11.2 years. Of the leases related to these properties, 13 were classified as direct financing leases, as discussed in Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

As of December 31, 2010, our five highest tenant concentrations, based on gross annualized rental revenue, were as follows:

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2010, our five highest tenant industry concentrations, based on gross annualized rental revenue, were as follows:

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2010, our five highest geographic concentrations, based on gross annualized rental revenue, were as follows:

 

 

 

 

Mortgage Notes Receivable Portfolio

 

At December 31, 2010, the Company owned two portfolios of mortgage notes receivable with a balance of $79.8 million consisting of 69 mortgage notes receivable, secured by 43 restaurant properties and 26 retail properties with a weighted average maturity of 9.70 years.

 

Investment in Marketable Securities

 

At December 31, 2010, we owned six CMBS bonds, with an aggregate fair value of $82.0 million with a weighted average maturity of 5.41 years.

 

Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Venture

 

Through two joint ventures, we have a majority indirect interest in an 386,000 square foot multi-tenant retail building in Independence, Missouri and a majority indirect interest in a ten-property storage facility portfolio, for an aggregate net investment of $38.3 million, as of December 31, 2010.

 

Funds From Operations and Modified Funds From Operations

 

Funds From Operations (“FFO”) is a non-GAAP financial performance measure defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) and widely recognized by investors and analysts as one measure of operating performance of a real estate company. The FFO calculation excludes items such as real estate depreciation and amortization, and gains and losses on the sale of real estate assets. Depreciation

and amortization as applied in accordance with GAAP implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, it is management’s view, and we believe the view of many industry investors and analysts, that the presentation of operating results for real estate companies by using the cost accounting method alone is insufficient. In addition, FFO excludes gains and losses from the sale of real estate, which we believe provides management and investors with a helpful additional measure of the performance of our real estate portfolio, as it allows for comparisons, year to year, that reflect the impact on operations from trends in items such as occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs, general and administrative expenses, and interest costs.

 

In addition to FFO, we use Modified Funds From Operations (“MFFO”) as a non-GAAP supplemental financial performance measure to evaluate the operating performance of our real estate portfolio. MFFO, as defined by our company, excludes from FFO acquisition related costs and real estate impairment charges, which are required to be expensed in accordance with GAAP. In evaluating the performance of our portfolio over time, management employs business models and analyses that differentiate the costs to acquire investments from the investments’ revenues and expenses. Management believes that excluding acquisition costs from MFFO provides investors with supplemental performance information that is consistent with the performance models and analysis used by management, and provides investors a view of the performance of our portfolio over time, including after the company ceases to acquire properties on a frequent and regular basis. MFFO also allows for a comparison of the performance of our portfolio with other REITs that are not currently engaging in acquisitions, as well as a comparison of our performance with that of other non-traded REITs, as MFFO, or an equivalent measure, is routinely reported by non-traded REITs, and we believe often used by analysts and investors for comparison purposes.

 

Additionally, impairment charges are items that management does not include in its evaluation of the operating performance of its real estate investments, as management believes that the impact of these items will be reflected over time through changes in rental income or other related costs. As many other non-traded REITs exclude impairments in reporting their MFFO, we believe that our calculation and reporting of MFFO will assist investors and analysts in comparing our performance versus other non-traded REITs.

 

For all of these reasons, we believe FFO and MFFO, in addition to net income and cash flows from operating activities, as defined by GAAP, are helpful supplemental performance measures and useful in understanding the various ways in which our management evaluates the performance of our real estate portfolio over time. However, not all REITs calculate FFO and MFFO the same way, so comparisons with other REITs may not be meaningful. FFO and MFFO should not be considered as alternatives to net income or to cash flows from operating activities, and are not intended to be used as a liquidity measure indicative of cash flow available to fund our cash needs.

 

MFFO may provide investors with a useful indication of our future performance, particularly after our acquisition stage, and of the sustainability of our current distribution policy. However, because MFFO excludes acquisition expenses, which are an important component in an analysis of the historical performance of a property, MFFO should not be construed as a historic performance measure. Neither the SEC, NAREIT, nor any other regulatory body has evaluated the acceptability of the exclusions contemplated to adjust FFO in order to calculate MFFO and its use as a non-GAAP financial performance measure.

 

Our calculation of FFO and MFFO, and reconciliation to net income, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is presented in the table below for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 (in thousands). FFO and MFFO are influenced by the timing of acquisitions and the operating performance of our real estate investments.

 

 

Set forth below is additional information that may be helpful in assessing our operating results:

 

 

Distributions

 

On September 20, 2010, our board of directors authorized a daily distribution, based on 365 days in the calendar year, of $0.001712523 per share (which equates to 6.25% on an annualized basis calculated at the current rate, assuming a $10.00 per share purchase price, and an annualized return of approximately 7.76%, based on the most recent estimate of the value of our shares of $8.05 per share) for stockholders of record as of the close of business on each day of the period, commencing on October 1, 2010 and ending on December 31, 2010. On November 10, 2010, our board of directors authorized a daily distribution, based on 365 days in the calendar year, of $0.001712523 per share (which equates to 6.25% on an annualized basis calculated at the current rate, assuming a $10.00 per share purchase price, and an annualized return of approximately 7.76%, based on the most recent estimate of the value of our shares of $8.05 per share) for stockholders of record as of the close of business on each day of the period, commencing on January 1, 2011 and ending on March 31, 2011.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, we paid distributions of $129.3 million and $135.0 million, including $61.4 million and $71.0 million, respectively, through the issuance of shares pursuant to our DRIP. Our 2010 distributions were funded by net cash provided by operating activities of $105.6 million, return of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures of $1.6 million, proceeds from the Offerings of $3.4 million, and borrowings of $18.7 million. Our 2009 distributions were funded by net cash provided by operating activities of $116.9 million, proceeds from the Offerings of $3.2 million, excess operating cash flows from prior periods of $6.8 million, and borrowings of $8.1 million.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, reflects a reduction for real estate acquisition related expenses incurred and expensed of $3.4 million and $3.2 million, respectively, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations. We treat our real estate acquisition expenses as funded by proceeds from the offering of our shares. Therefore, for consistency, proceeds from the issuance of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, have been reported as a source of distributions to the extent that acquisition expenses have reduced net cash flows from operating activities.

 

Share Redemptions

 

Our share redemption program provides that we will redeem shares of our common stock from requesting stockholders, subject to the terms and conditions of the share redemption program. On November 10, 2009, our Board of Directors voted to temporarily suspend our share redemption program other than for requests made upon the death of a stockholder. On June 22, 2010, our board of directors reinstated our share redemption program, effective August 1, 2010, and adopted several amendments to the program. In particular, during any calendar year, we will not redeem in excess of 3% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year and the cash available for redemption is limited to the proceeds from the sale of shares pursuant to our DRIP during such calendar year. In addition, we will redeem shares on a quarterly basis, at the rate of approximately one-fourth of 3% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year (including shares requested for redemption upon the death of a stockholder). Funding for redemptions for each quarter will be limited to the net proceeds we receive from the sale of shares, during such quarter, under our DRIP Offering.

 

Pursuant to the share redemption program, as amended, the redemption price per share is dependent on the length of time the shares are held and the Estimated Share Value. Prior to the reinstatement of the share redemption program, as amended, we received redemption requests due to death relating to approximately 1.1 million shares, all of which were fulfilled during the year ended December 31, 2010 for an aggregate price of $11.1 million at an average price of $9.96 per share. Subsequent to the reinstatement of the share redemption program, we received valid redemption requests pursuant to the share redemption program, as amended, relating to approximately 9.1 million shares and requests relating to approximately 2.5 million shares were redeemed for $19.7 million at an average price of $7.85 per share. Requests relating to approximately 1.5 million of the 2.5 million share redemptions were fulfilled subsequent to December 31, 2010. The remaining redemption requests relating to approximately 6.5 million shares went unfulfilled. A valid redemption request is one that complies with the applicable requirements and guidelines of our share redemption program, as amended, and set forth in our Form 8-K filed on June 22, 2010. We have funded and intend to continue funding share redemptions with proceeds from our DRIP Offering. See Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional terms of the share redemption program.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

General

 

Our principal demands for funds are for the payment of principal and interest on our outstanding indebtedness, operating and property maintenance expenses and distributions to and redemptions by our stockholders. We may also acquire additional real estate and real estate-related investments. Generally, cash needs for payments of interest, operating and property maintenance expenses and distributions to stockholders will be generated from cash flows from operations from our real estate assets. The sources of our operating cash flows are primarily driven by the rental income received from leased properties, interest income earned on mortgage notes receivable, marketable securities and on our cash balances and by distributions from our unconsolidated joint ventures. We expect to utilize the available cash from issuance of shares under the DRIP Offering, available borrowings on our Credit Facility and Repurchase Agreement and possible additional financings and refinancings to repay our outstanding indebtedness and complete possible future property acquisitions.

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had cash and cash equivalents of $45.8 million and available borrowings of $214.5 million under our Credit Facility. Subsequent to December 31, 2010, an amendment was made to the Credit

Facility, which increased the amount available for borrowing under our Credit Facility from $315.0 million to $350.0 million. As of March 30, 2011 we had an aggregate of $117.1 million outstanding under the Credit Facility and $232.4 million available in borrowings under the Credit Facility. Additionally, as of December 31, 2010, we had unencumbered properties with a gross book value of $721.8 million, including assets that are part of the Credit Facility’s unencumbered borrowing base, that may be used as collateral to secure additional financing in future periods or as additional collateral to facilitate the refinancing of current mortgage debt as it becomes due, subject to certain covenants and leverage and borrow base restrictions related to our Credit Facility.

 

Short-term Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We expect to meet our short-term liquidity requirements through cash provided by property operations. As of December 31, 2010, we had a total of $193.0 million of debt maturing within the next 12 months, including $100.4 million of the Fixed Rate Debt, $38.3 million of the Variable Rate Debt, and $54.3 million outstanding under the Repurchase Agreement. Of the $193.0 million of debt maturing in the next 12 months, $66.3 million contains extension options, including amounts outstanding under the Repurchase Agreement. In addition, $50.1 million of the $193.0 million includes hyper-amortization provisions that would require us to apply 100% of the rents received from the properties securing the debt to pay interest due on the loans, reserves, if any, and principal reductions until such balance is paid in full through the extended maturity dates, all of which will adversely affect our available cash for distributions should we exercise these options. If we are unable to extend, finance, or refinance the amounts maturing of $193.0 million, we expect to pay down any remaining amounts through a combination of the use of cash provided by property operations, available borrowings on our Credit Facility, under which $214.5 million was available as of December 31, 2010, and $232.4 million was available as of March 30, 2011, borrowings on our unencumbered properties, proceeds from our DRIP Offering, and/or the strategic sale of real estate and related assets. In addition, we may elect to extend the maturity dates of the mortgage notes in accordance with the hyper-amortization provisions, if available. If we are able to refinance our existing debt as it matures it may be at rates and terms that are less favorable than our existing debt or, if we elect to extend the maturity dates of the mortgage notes in accordance with the hyper-amortization provisions, the interest rates charged to us will be higher than each respective current interest rate, each of which may adversely affect our results of operations and the distributions we are able to pay to our investors. The Credit Facility and certain notes payable contain customary affirmative, negative and financial covenants, including requirements for minimum net worth, debt service coverage ratios and leverage ratios, in addition to variable rate debt and investment restrictions. These covenants may limit our ability to incur additional debt and the amount of available borrowings on our Credit Facility.

 

Long-term Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We expect to meet our long-term liquidity requirements through proceeds from secured or unsecured financings from banks and other lenders, borrowing on our Credit Facility, available cash from issuance of shares under the DRIP Offering , the selective and strategic sale of properties and net cash flows from operations. We expect that our primary uses of capital will be for property and other asset acquisitions and the payment of tenant improvements, operating expenses, including debt service payments on any outstanding indebtedness, and distributions and redemptions to our stockholders.

 

We expect that substantially all cash generated from operations will be used to pay distributions to our stockholders after certain capital expenditures, including tenant improvements and leasing commissions, are paid at the properties; however, we may use other sources to fund distributions as necessary, including the proceeds from the DRIP Offering to the extent that the proceeds are in excess of our share redemptions, cash advanced to us by our advisor, borrowings on our Credit Facility and/or borrowings on unencumbered properties. To the extent that cash flows from operations are lower due to lower than expected returns on the properties or we elect to retain cash flows from operations to make additional real estate investments or reduce our outstanding debt, distributions paid to our stockholders may be lower. We expect that substantially all net cash resulting from equity issuance or debt financing will be used to fund acquisitions, for certain capital expenditures, for repayments of outstanding debt, or for any distributions to stockholders in excess of cash flows from operations and to fund redemption of shares to our stockholders.

As of December 31, 2010, we had received and accepted subscriptions for approximately 218.1 million shares of common stock in the Offerings for gross proceeds of $2.2 billion. As of December 31, 2010, we had redeemed a total of approximately 8.8 million shares of common stock for a cost of $82.2 million. Redemption requests relating to approximately 6.5 million shares that were received during the year ended December 31, 2010 went unfulfilled.

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had $1.7 billion of debt outstanding, consisting of (i) $1.5 billion in Fixed Rate Debt, which includes $122.5 million of variable rate mortgage loans swapped to fixed rates, (ii) $38.3 million in Variable Rate Debt, (iii) $100.0 million outstanding under the Credit Facility and (iv) $54.3 million outstanding under the Repurchase Agreement. See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional terms of the Credit Facility and the Repurchase Agreement. The Fixed Rate Debt has annual interest rates ranging from 4.46% to 7.22%, with a weighted average annual interest rate of 5.88%, and various maturity dates ranging from January, 2011 through August, 2031. The Variable Rate Debt has annual interest rates ranging from LIBOR plus 200 to 325 basis points, and various maturity dates in September, 2011.

 

As of December 31, 2010, the interest rate in effect for borrowings under the Credit Facility was the Bank of America prime rate plus 250 basis points, and the weighted average interest rate in effect for the Repurchase Agreement was 1.68%. On February 24, 2011, we executed an interest rate swap agreement which fixed the interest rate for term loan borrowings under the Credit Facility to 4.94% per annum based on our overall leverage levels at the time of the transaction. The ratio of debt to total gross real estate and related assets net of gross intangible lease liabilities, as of December 31, 2010, was 50% and the weighted average years to maturity was 5.0 years.

 

Our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2010 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

Our charter prohibits us from incurring debt that would cause our borrowings to exceed the greater of 60% of our gross assets, valued at the greater of the aggregate cost (before depreciation and other non-cash reserves) or fair value of all assets owned by us, unless approved by a majority of our independent directors and disclosed to our stockholders in our next quarterly report.

 

Cash Flow Analysis

 

Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

Operating Activities.  Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $11.2 million, or 10%, to $105.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $116.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures of $1.7 million combined with an increase in net income before impairment charges of $1.0 million, a decrease in bad debt expense of $2.3 million and a decrease in the change in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $5.1 million. See “Results of Operations” for a more complete discussion of the factors impacting our operating performance.

 

Investing Activities.  Net cash used in investing activities increased $64.7 million, or 142%, to $110.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $45.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $94.5 million of cash used in conjunction with our real estate acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2010. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we used cash of $107.5 million to purchase 31 properties, compared to cash paid of $13.0 million combined with the assumption of mortgage notes payable with a face value of $100.8 million and a fair value of $87.8 million to purchase 20 properties during the year ended December 31, 2009. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2010, we received a return of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures of $1.6 million compared to no return of capital received during 2009. These increases were partially offset by the purchase of two CMBS bonds at a discounted price of $10.5 million, including acquisition costs, and the acquisition of an interest in an unconsolidated joint venture for $16.8 million, including acquisition costs, during the year ended December 31, 2009. No similar purchases were made during the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Financing Activities.  Net cash provided by financing activities increased $171.4 million, or 115% to $22.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to net cash used of $149.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The change was primarily due to an increase in proceeds from mortgage notes payable, the Credit Facility and our Repurchase Agreement of $340.1 million and a decrease in the redemptions of common stock of $26.7 million, offset primarily by an increase in repayment of mortgage notes payable and our Credit Facility of $189.8 million.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

Operating Activities.  Net cash provided by operating activities increased $20.8 million, or 22%, to $116.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $96.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to an increase in depreciation and amortization expenses totaling $19.8 million, an increase in impairment of real estate assets of $9.9 million and an increase in distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures of $2.6 million, partially offset by a decrease in net income of $2.7 million and a decrease in the change in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $11.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. See “Results of Operations” for a more complete discussion of the factors impacting our operating performance.

Investing Activities.  Net cash used in investing activities decreased $1.2 billion, or 96%, to $45.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $1.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to the acquisition of 20 properties, with an average purchase price of $6.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the acquisition of 340 properties, with an average purchase price of $3.8 million during year ended December 31, 2008. In addition, we purchased two CMBS bonds at a discounted price of $10.5 million, including acquisition costs, and invested in an unconsolidated joint venture for $16.8 million, including acquisition costs, during the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to the purchase of four CMBS bonds at a discounted price of $50.0 million, including acquisition costs, and the acquisition of an indirect interest in a multi-tenant retail building for $53.7 million, including acquisition costs, during the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Financing Activities.  During the year ended December 31, 2009, net cash used in financing activities was $149.4 million, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $1.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2008, resulting in a change of $1.3 billion, or 113%. The change was primarily due to a decrease in proceeds from issuance of common stock of $1.0 billion, a decrease in the proceeds from mortgage notes payable of $612.4 million and an increase in redemptions of common stock of $38.2 million, offset primarily by a decrease in repayment of mortgage notes payable of $257.1 million and a decrease in offering costs of $99.8 million. The decrease in proceeds from issuance of common stock and in offering costs was due to the termination of the Follow-on Offering on January 2, 2009.

 

Election as a REIT