The registrant incorporates by reference its definitive Proxy Statement with respect to its 20212023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days following the end of its fiscal year, into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Report”), including Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of Part II of this Report, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the impact of the CPA:18 Merger (as defined herein); our corporate strategy and estimated or future economic performance and results, including the general economic outlook and our expectations surrounding the continued impact of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic on our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, and prospects; underlying assumptions about our portfolio, including tenant rent collections and bankruptcies, as well as the estimated fair value of our investments and properties; the amount and timing of any future dividends; our future capital expenditure and leverage levels, debt service obligations, and any plans to fund our future liquidity needs; prospective statements regarding our access to the capital markets, including related to our credit ratings, ability to sell shares under our “at-the-market” program (“ATM Program”), and settlement of our forward equity offering;Equity Forwards (as defined herein); the outlook for the investment programsprogram that we manage, including possible liquidity events for those programs;the program; statements that we make regarding our ability to remain qualified for taxation as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”); and the impact of recently issued accounting pronouncements and other regulatory activity.

W. P. Carey Inc. (“W. P. Carey”), together with our consolidated subsidiaries and predecessors, is an internally-managed diversified REIT and a leading owner of commercial real estate, net-leased to companies located primarily in the United States and Northern and Western Europe on a long-term basis. The vast majority of our revenues originate from lease revenue provided by our real estate portfolio, which is comprised primarily of single-tenant industrial, warehouse, office, retail, and self-storage facilities that are critical to our tenants’ operations. Our portfolio is comprised of 1,2431,449 properties, net-leased to 350392 tenants in 2526 countries. As of December 31, 2020,2022, approximately 61%63% of our contractual minimum annualized base rent (“ABR”) was generated by properties located in the United States and approximately 37%34% was generated by properties located in Europe. As of that same date, our portfolio included 2087 operating properties, comprised of 1984 self-storage properties, two student housing properties, and one hotel.

Our investment strategy primarily focuses on owning and actively managing a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate that is net-leased to credit-worthy companies. We review and evaluate the fundamental value of the underlying real estate. We believe that many companies prefer to lease rather than own their corporate real estate because it allows them to deploy their capital more effectively into their core competencies. We generally structure financing for companiesspecialize in the form of sale-leaseback transactions, where we acquire a company’s critical real estate and then lease it back to them on a long-term, triple-net basis, which requires them to pay substantially all of the costs associated with operating and maintaining the property (such as real estate taxes, insurance, and facility maintenance). Compared to other types of real estate investments, sale-leaseback transactions typically produce a more predictable income stream and require minimal capital expenditures, which in turn generate revenues that provide our stockholders with a stable, growing source of income.

We actively manage our real estate portfolio to monitor tenant credit quality and lease renewal risks. We believe that diversification across property type, tenant, tenant industry, and geographic location, as well as diversification of our lease expirations and scheduled rent increases, are vital aspects of portfolio risk management and accordingly have constructed a portfolio of real estate that we believe is well-diversified across each of these categories. We capitalize on our large portfolio and existing tenant relationships through accretive expansions, renovations, and follow-on deals. We actively manage our real estate portfolio to monitor tenant credit quality and lease renewal risks. We also maintain ample liquidity, a conservative capital structure, and access to multiple forms of capital.

We intend to operate our business in a manner that is consistent with the maintenance of our status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. In addition, we expect to manage our investments in order to maintain our exemption from registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

When considering potential net-lease investments for our real estate portfolio, we review various aspects of a transaction to determine whether the investment and lease structure will satisfy our investment criteria. We generally analyze the following main aspects of each transaction:

 

We believe that proactive asset management is essential to maintaining and enhancing property values. Important aspects of asset management include entering into new or modified transactions to meet the evolving needs of current tenants, re-leasing properties, credit and real estate risk analysis, building expansions and redevelopments, repositioning assets, sustainability and efficiency analysis and retrofits, and strategic dispositions. We regularly engage directly with our tenants and form long-term working relationships with their decision makers in order to provide proactive solutions and to obtain an in-depth, real-time understanding of tenant credit.

We monitor compliance by tenants with their lease obligations and other factors that could affect the financial performance of our real estate investments on an ongoing basis, which typically involves ensuring that each tenant has paid real estate taxes and other expenses relating to the properties it occupies and is maintaining appropriate insurance coverage. To ensure such compliance at our properties, we often engage the expertise of third parties to complete property inspections. We also review tenant financial statements and undertake regular physical inspections of the properties to verify their condition and maintenance. Additionally, we periodically analyze each tenant’s financial condition, the industry in which each tenant operates, and each tenant’s relative strength in its industry. The in-depth understanding of our tenants’ businesses and direct relationships with their management teams provides strong visibility into potential issues.issues as well as additional investment opportunities. Our business intelligence platform provides real-time surveillance and early warning, allowing asset managers to work with tenants to enforce lease provisions, and where appropriate, consider lease modifications. Our proactive asset management philosophy has proven particularly applicable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We believe in maintaining ample liquidity, a conservative capital structure, and access to multiple forms of capital. We preserve balance sheet flexibility and liquidity by maintaining significant capacity on our $1.8 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility”), as well as any amounts available to us under our term loan (“Term Loan”) and delayed draw term loan (“Delayed Draw Term Loan”), which, together with our Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility, we refer to collectively as our “Senior Unsecured Credit Facility.” We also hold cash on hand to settle our forward equity arrangements, as needed. We generally use the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility to fund our immediate capital needs, including new acquisitions and the repayment of secured mortgage debt as we continue to unencumber assets. We seek to replace short-term financing with more permanent forms of capital, including, but not limited to, common stock, unsecured debt securities, bank debt, and proceeds from asset sales. When evaluating which form of capital to pursue, we take into consideration multiple factors, including our corporate leverage levels and targets, and the most attractive source of capital available to us. We may choose to issue unsecured debt securities and bank debt denominated in foreign currencies in part to fund international acquisitions, unencumber assets, and mitigate our exposure to fluctuations in exchange rates. We strive to maintain an investment grade rating, which places limitations on the amount of leverage acceptable in our capital structure. Although we expect to continue to have access to a wide variety of capital sources and maintain our investment grade rating, there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so in the future.

At December 31, 2020,2022, our portfolio had the following characteristics:

Tenant/Lease Information

At December 31, 2020,2022, our tenants/leases had the following characteristics:

Investing in Our Employees

At December 31, 2020,2022, we had 188193 employees, 134141 of which were located in the United States and 5452 of which were located in Europe. We strive to make W. P. Carey a great place to work by attracting a diverse pool of the best and brightest applicants and making them feel supported and included as they progress and grow with the company. We offer various levels of training, including management training, executive training, skills training, and “Respect in the Workplace”Workplace,” skills training, in addition to our “Conversations at Carey” educational program.Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and executive coaching, as well as additional training including safety and cybersecurity. By engaging with our employees and investing in their careers through training and development, we are buildinghave built a talented workforce capable of executing our business strategies.

Diversity

We believe that our success is dependent upon the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of our employees and directors. Diversity and inclusion is an organic part of who we are and is supported at all levels of the organization. W. P. Carey is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other statuses protected by applicable federal, state, and local law. In 2020, we launched ourOur diversity, equity and inclusion initiative which is designed to facilitate conversations around race, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, creeds, and other important topics. These conversations, led by our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Committee, provide a forum for us to translate our positions as a company into action in both our internal and external communities. We are also signedsignatory to the CEO Action Pledge for Diversity & Inclusion, furtheringwhich reflects our commitment to fostering a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

Employee Wellness and Benefits

The health and wellness of our employees and their families are paramount and our comprehensive benefits package is designed to address the changingevolving needs of employeesour diverse workforce and their dependents. Our benefits package is evaluated on an annual basis. In addition to robust health and wellness benefits, we also provide our employees with competitive compensation programs, with a focus on both current compensation and retirement planning for their future.

Additional information regarding our human capital programs and initiatives is available in our annual ESG Report and Proxy Statement and Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) Report, which can be found on our company website. Information on our website, including our ESG Report, is not incorporated by reference into this Report.

 

We will supply to any stockholder, upon written request and without charge, a copy of this Report as filed with the SEC. Our filings can also be obtained for free on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. All filings we make with the SEC, including this Report, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and our current reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments to those reports, are available for free on the Investor Relations portion of our website (http://www.wpcarey.com), as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC.

Our quarterly earnings conference call and investor presentations are accessible by the public. We generally announce via press release the dates and conference call details for upcoming scheduled quarterly earnings announcements and webcast investor presentations, which are also available in the Investor Relations section of our website approximately ten days prior to the event.

 

Our business, results of operations, financial condition, and ability to pay dividends could be materially adversely affected by various risks and uncertainties, including those enumerated below, which could cause such results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements. You should not consider this list exhaustive. New risk factors emerge periodically and we cannot assure you that the factors described below list all risks that may become material to us at any later time.

In addition, expectations of rising interest rates may increase our cost of capital, while capitalization rates (which generally respond to higher interest rates on a lag) could remain low or continue to decline, thereby placing additional pressure on investment spreads throughout the net lease sector. Finally, the vast majority of our current investments are in single-tenant commercial properties that are subject to triple-net leases. Many factors, including changes in tax laws or accounting rules, may make these types of sale-leaseback transactions less attractive to potential sellers and lessees, which could negatively affect our ability to increase the amountthese types of assets of this type under management.investments.

Subject to our intention to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are not required to meet any diversification standards. Therefore, our investments may become concentrated in type or geographic location, which could subject us to significant risks with potentially adverse effects on our investment objectives.

 

We may incur substantial impairment charges, which could adversely affect our results of operations or limit our ability to dispose of assets at attractive prices and may reduce the availability of buyer financing. By their nature, the timing or extent of impairment charges are not predictable.

 

We have invested, and may continue to invest, in properties located outside the United States. At December 31, 2020,2022, our real estate properties located outside of the United States represented 39%37% of our ABR. These investments may be affected by factors particular to the local jurisdiction where the property is located and may expose us to additional risks, including:

 

In addition, the lack of publicly available information in certain jurisdictions could impair our ability to analyze transactions and may cause us to forego an investment opportunity. It may also impair our ability to receive timely and accurate financial information from tenants necessary to meet reporting obligations to financial institutions or governmental and regulatory agencies. Certain of these risks may be greater in less developed countries. Further, our expertise to date is primarily in the United States and certain countries in Europe. We have less experience in other international markets and may not be as familiar with the potential risks to investments in these areas, which could cause us and the entities we manage to incur losses.

We are also subject to potential fluctuations in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar because we translate revenue denominated in foreign currency into U.S. dollars for our financial statements (our principal exposure is to the euro). Our results of foreign operations are adversely affected by a stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies (i.e., absent other considerations, a stronger U.S. dollar will reduce both our revenues and our expenses).

 

Within the next five years, approximately 24%26% of our leases, based on our ABR as of December 31, 2020,2022, are due to expire. If these leases are not renewed or if the properties cannot be re-leased on terms that yield comparable payments, our lease revenues could be substantially adversely affected. In addition, when attempting to re-lease such properties, we may incur significant costs and the terms of any new or renewed leases will depend on prevailing market conditions at that time. We may also seek to sell such properties and incur losses due to prevailing market conditions. Some of our properties are designed for the particular needs of a tenant; thus, we may be required to renovate or make rent concessions in order to lease the property to another tenant. If we need to sell such properties, we may have difficulty selling it to a third party due to the property’s unique design. Real estate investments are generally less liquid than many other financial assets, which may limit our ability to quickly adjust our portfolio in response to changes in economic or other conditions. These and other limitations may adversely affect returns to our stockholders.

 

Under our existing leases, certain tenants have a right to repurchase the properties they lease from us. The purchase price may be a fixed price or it may be based on a formula or the market value at the time of exercise. If a tenant exercises its right to purchase the property and the property’s market value has increased beyond that price, we would not be able to fully realize the appreciation on that property. Additionally, if the price at which the tenant can purchase the property is less than our carrying value (e.g., where the purchase price is based on an appraised value), we may incur a loss. In addition, we may also be unable to reinvest proceeds from these dispositions in investments with similar or better investment returns.

 

 

The tenants or managers of net-leased properties are responsible for maintenance and other day-to-day management of the properties. If a property is not adequately maintained in accordance with the terms of the applicable lease, we may incur expenses for deferred maintenance expenditures or other liabilities once the property becomes free of the lease. While our leases generally provide for recourse against the tenant in these instances, a bankrupt or financially troubled tenant may be more likely to defer maintenance and it may be more difficult to enforce remedies against such a tenant. Although we endeavor to monitor compliance by tenants with their lease obligations and other factors that could affect the financial performance of our properties on an ongoing basis, we may not always be able to ascertain or forestall deterioration in the condition of a property or the financial circumstances of a tenant.

In addition, ourThis lack of control over our net-leased properties also makes it difficult for us to collect property-level environmental metrics and to enforce sustainability initiatives, which may impact our ability to report to and comply with certain real estate sustainability standards.ESG disclosure requirements (such as the SEC’s expected new ESG disclosure rules) or engage effectively with established ESG frameworks and standards, such as the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmarks, the Task Force for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board. If we are unable to successfully engagecollect the data necessary to comply with established real estate sustainability standards,ESG disclosure requirements, we may be subject to increased regulatory risk; and if such data is incomplete or unfavorable, our relationship with our investor base, our stock price, and even our access to capital may be negatively impacted.

 

 

We are subject to all of the general risks associated with the ownership of real estate, which include:

While the revenues from our leases are not directly dependent upon the value of the real estate owned, significant declines in real estate values could adversely affect us in many ways, including a decline in the residual values of properties at lease expiration, possible lease abandonment by tenants, and a decline in the attractiveness of triple-net lease transactions to potential sellers. We also face the risk that lease revenue will be insufficient to cover all corporate operating expenses and the debt service payments we incur.

Most of our properties are occupied by a single tenant; therefore, the success of our investments is materially dependent on the financial stability of these tenants. Revenues from several of our tenants/guarantors constitute a significant percentage of our lease revenues. Our top ten tenants accounted for approximately 22%18% of total ABR at December 31, 2020.2022. Lease payment defaults by tenants could negatively impact our net income and reduce the amounts available for distribution to stockholders.

 

We have had, and may in the future have, tenants file for bankruptcy protection. Bankruptcy or insolvency of a tenant could lead to the loss of lease or interest and principal payments, an increase in the carrying cost of the property, and litigation. If one or a series of bankruptcies or insolvencies is significant enough (more likely during a period of economic downturn), it could lead to a reduction in the value of our shares and/or a decrease in our dividend. Under U.S. bankruptcy law, a tenant that is the subject of bankruptcy proceedings has the option of assuming or rejecting any unexpired lease. If the tenant rejects the lease, any resulting claim we have for breach of the lease (excluding collateral securing the claim) will be treated as a general unsecured claim and the maximum claim will be capped. In addition, due to the long-term nature of our leases and, in some cases, terms providing for the repurchase of a property by the tenant, a bankruptcy court could recharacterize a net lease transaction as a secured lending transaction. Insolvency laws outside the United States may be more or less favorable to reorganization or the protection of a debtor’s rights as in the United States. In circumstances where the bankruptcy laws of the United States are considered to be more favorable to debtors and/or their reorganization, entities that are not ordinarily perceived as U.S. entities may seek to take advantage of U.S. bankruptcy laws.

The continued disruption and reduced economic activity caused by COVID-19, rising interest rates, inflation and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemica potential economic downturn may severely affect our tenants’ businesses, financial condition and liquidity, leading to an increase in tenant bankruptcy or insolvency. In addition, a significant portion of our tenants may fail to meet their obligations to us in full (or at all), or may otherwise seek modifications of such obligations. In order to dampen the economic effects of the pandemic, certainCertain jurisdictions may also enact laws or regulations that impact or alter our ability to collect rent under our existing least terms. The ultimate extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impactswill continue to impact the operations of our tenants will depend on future developments, which are highlyremain uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence. 

 

We have invested, and may in the future invest, in real properties historically or currently used for industrial, manufacturing, and other commercial purposes, and some of our tenants may handle hazardous or toxic substances, generate hazardous wastes, or discharge regulated pollutants to the environment. Buildings and structures on the properties we purchase may have known or suspected asbestos-containing building materials. We may invest in properties located in countries that have adopted laws or observe environmental management standards that are less stringent than those generally followed in the United States, which may pose a greater risk that releases of hazardous or toxic substances have occurred. We therefore may own properties that have known or potential environmental contamination as a result of historical or ongoing operations, which may expose us to liabilities under environmental laws. Some of these laws could impose the following on us:

 

 

Costs relating to investigation, remediation, or removal of hazardous or toxic substances, or for third-party claims for damages, may be substantial and could exceed any amounts estimated and recorded within our consolidated financial statements. The presence of hazardous or toxic substances at any of our properties, or the failure to properly remediate a contaminated property, could (i) give rise to a lien in favor of the government for costs it may incur to address the contamination or (ii) otherwise adversely affect our ability to sell or lease the property or to borrow using the property as collateral. In addition, environmental liabilities, or costs or operating limitations imposed on a tenant by environmental laws, could affect its ability to make rental payments to us. And although we endeavor to avoid doing so, we may be required, in connection with any future divestitures of property, to provide buyers with indemnifications against potential environmental liabilities.

Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow determines whether we will be able to (i) meet our existing or potential future debt service obligations; (ii) refinance our existing or potential future indebtedness; and (iii) fund our operations, working capital, acquisitions, capital expenditures, and other important business uses. Our future cash flow is subject to many factors beyond our control and we cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or that future sources of cash will be available to us on favorable terms, to meet all of our debt service obligations and fund our other important business uses or liquidity needs. As a result, we may be forced to take other actions to meet those obligations, such as selling properties, raising equity, or delaying capital expenditures, any of which may not be feasible or could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, despite our substantial outstanding indebtedness and the restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness, we may incur significantly more indebtedness in the future, which would exacerbate the risks discussed above.

In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), the authority that regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. As a result, the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York organized the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, which identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as its preferred alternative to USD LIBOR in derivatives and other financial contracts. The ICE Benchmark Administration stated that it will cease to publish all remaining USD LIBOR settings immediately following their publication on June 30, 2023. We have financial contracts that are indexed to LIBOR. Our Senior Unsecured Credit Facility contained provisions that contemplate methods to establishing an alternative base rate upon USD LIBOR’s retirement and, in January 2023, we entered into a Third Amendment to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), its anticipated replacement withFourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to transition to SOFR.

In a similar manner, we will manage the transition from LIBOR for all of our remaining debt and derivative instruments using any language that may be included in their respective agreements and through potential modifications. Risks related to potential changes in LIBOR availability include, but are not limited to, potential changes to financial products and market practices, borrowing rates, fees, interest obligations, and the value of debt and derivative instruments. Transitioning to an alternative reference rate could adversely affect our interest expense. Post-transition, the interest rates on our LIBOR-indexed debt (comprised of our Senior Unsecured Credit Facilitymay require negotiations with lenders and non-recourse mortgage loans subject to floating interest rates with carrying values of $404.3 million and $78.1 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020) will fall back to various alternative methods, any ofother counterparties, which could result in higher interest obligations than under LIBOR. In addition, therepresent challenges if the method of transition is no guarantee thatnot mutually agreed upon. We have transitioned all non-USD LIBOR base rate exposures phased out at the transition will not result in financial market disruptions, significant increases in benchmark rates or borrowing costsend of 2021 to borrowers, any of which could have an adverse effect on our financing costs, liquidity, results of operations, and overall financial condition.their respective alternative reference rates.

The credit agreement for our Senior Unsecured Credit Facility and the indentures governing our Senior Unsecured Notes contain financial and operating covenants that, among other things, require us to meet specified financial ratios and may limit our ability to take specific actions, even if we believe them to be in our best interest (e.g., subject to certain exceptions, our ability to consummate a merger, consolidation, or a transfer of all or substantially all of our consolidated assets to another person is restricted). These covenants may restrict our ability to expand or fully pursue our business strategies. Our ability to comply with these and other provisions of our debt agreements may be affected by changes in our operating and financial performance, changes in general business and economic conditions, adverse regulatory developments, or other events beyond our control. The breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under our indebtedness, which could result in the acceleration of the maturity of such indebtedness and potentially other indebtedness. If any of our indebtedness is accelerated prior to maturity, we may not be able to repay such indebtedness or refinance such indebtedness on favorable terms, or at all.

We plan to manage our operations to maintain investment grade status with a capital structure consistent with our current profile,profile. In September 2022 our rating was upgraded by Moody’s to Baa1 and in January 2023 our rating was upgraded by S&P Global Ratings to BBB+, but there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our current credit ratings. Our credit ratings could change based upon, among other things, our historical and projected business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, and prospects. These ratings are subject to ongoing evaluation by credit rating agencies and we cannot provide any assurance that our ratings will not be changed or withdrawn by a rating agency in the future. If any of the credit rating agencies downgrades or lowers our credit rating, or if any credit rating agency indicates that it has placed our rating on a “watch list” for a possible downgrading or lowering, or otherwise indicates that its outlook for our rating is negative, it could have a material adverse effect on our costs and availability of capital, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on us and on our ability to satisfy our debt service obligations (including those under our Senior Unsecured Credit Facility, our Senior

Unsecured Notes, or other similar debt securities that we issue) and to pay dividends on our common stock. Furthermore, any such action could negatively impact the market price of our Senior Unsecured Notes.

 

At December 31, 2020,2022, we had $1.1 billion of property-level mortgage debt on a non-recourse basis, which limits our exposure on any property to the amount of equity invested in the property. If we are unable to make our mortgage-related debt payments as required, a lender could foreclose on the property or properties securing its debt. Additionally, lenders for our international mortgage loan transactions typically incorporated various covenants and other provisions (including loan to value ratio, debt service coverage ratio, and material adverse changes in the borrower’s or tenant’s business) that can cause a technical loan default. Accordingly, if the real estate value declines or the tenant defaults, the lender would have the right to foreclose on its security. If any of these events were to occur, it could cause us to lose part or all of our investment, which could reduce the value of our portfolio and revenues available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

Some of our property-level financing may also require us to make a balloon payment at maturity. Our ability to make such balloon payments may depend upon our ability to refinance the obligation or sell the underlying property. When a balloon payment is due, however, we may be unable to refinance the balloon payment on terms as favorable as the original loan, make the payment with existing cash or cash resources, or sell the property at a price sufficient to cover the payment. Our ability to accomplish these goals will be affected by various factors existing at the relevant time, such as the state of national and regional economies, local real estate conditions, available mortgage or interest rates, availability of credit, our equity in the mortgaged properties, our financial condition, the operating history of the mortgaged properties, and tax laws. A refinancing or sale could affect the rate of return to stockholders and the projected disposition timeline of our assets.

 

 

Our charter, subject to certain exceptions, authorizes our Boardboard of directors (our “Board”) to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to limit any person to beneficial or constructive ownership of 9.8%, in either value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our aggregate outstanding shares of (i) common and preferred stock (excluding any outstanding shares of our common or preferred stock not treated as outstanding for federal income tax purposes) or (ii) common stock (excluding any of our outstanding shares of common stock not treated as outstanding for federal income tax purposes). Our Board, in its sole discretion, may exempt a person from such ownership limits, provided that they obtain such representations, covenants, and undertakings as appropriate to determine that the exemption would not affect our REIT status. Our Board may also increase or decrease the common stock ownership limit and/or the aggregate stock ownership limit, so long as the change would not result in five or fewer persons beneficially owning more than 49.9% in value of our outstanding stock. The ownership limits and other stock ownership restrictions contained in our charter may delay or prevent a transaction or change of control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

 

Our charter empowers our Board to, without stockholder approval, increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of our stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue; classify any unissued shares of common stock or preferred stock; reclassify any previously classified, but unissued, shares of common stock or preferred stock into one or more classes or series of stock; and issue such shares of stock so classified or reclassified. Our Board may determine the relative rights, preferences, and privileges of any class or series of common stock or preferred stock issued. As a result, we may issue series or classes of common stock or preferred stock with preferences, dividends, powers, and rights (voting or otherwise) senior to the rights of current holders of our common stock. The issuance of any such classes or series of common stock or preferred stock could also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control transaction that might otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

 

 

Certain provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law (“MGCL”) may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from making a proposal to acquire us or impeding a change of control that could provide our stockholders with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of our common stock, including:

 

 

The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by a board of directors prior to the time that the “interested stockholder” becomes an interested stockholder. Our Board has, by resolution, exempted any business combination between us and any person who is an existing, or becomes in the future, an “interested stockholder.” Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the supermajority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations between us and any such person. As a result, such person 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 supermajority vote requirements and the other provisions of the statute. Additionally, this resolution may be altered, revoked, or repealed in whole or in part at any time and we may opt back into the business combination provisions of the MGCL. If this resolution is revoked or repealed, the statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer. In the case of the control share provisions of the MGCL, we have elected to opt out of these provisions of the MGCL pursuant to a provision in our bylaws.

 

Additionally, Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL permits our Board, without stockholder approval and regardless of what is currently provided in our charter or our bylaws, to implement certain governance provisions, some of which we do not currently have. We have opted out of Section 3-803 of the MGCL, which permits a board of directors to be divided into classes pursuant to Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL. Any amendment or repeal of this resolution must be approved in the same manner as an amendment to our charter. The remaining provisions of Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from making an acquisition proposal for our company or of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in control of our company under circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of our common stock with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-current market price. Our charter, our bylaws, and Maryland law also contain other provisions that may delay, defer, or prevent a transaction or a change of control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

 

 

We believe that we are organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code beginning with our 2012 taxable year and that our current and anticipated investments and plan of operation will enable us to meet and continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. Investors should be aware, however, that the Internal Revenue Service or any court could take a position different from our own. Given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given that we will qualify as a REIT for any particular year.

 

Furthermore, our qualification and taxation as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, stockholder ownership, and other requirements on a continuing basis. Our ability to satisfy the quarterly asset tests under applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions and Treasury Regulations will depend on the fair market values of our assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination. Our compliance with the REIT income and quarterly asset requirements also depends upon our ability to successfully manage the composition of our income and assets on an ongoing basis. While we believe that we will satisfy these tests, we cannot guarantee that this will be the case on a continuing basis.

 

If, in any taxable year, we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT and are not entitled to relief under the Internal Revenue Code, we will:

 

 

Any such corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distributions to our stockholders, which in turn could have an adverse impact on the value of our common stock. This adverse impact could last for five or more years because, unless we are entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, we will be taxed as a corporation beginning the year in which the failure occurs and for the following four years.

 

If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may need to borrow funds or liquidate some investments to pay the additional tax liability. Were this to occur, funds available for investment would be reduced. REIT qualification involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to our operations, as well as various factual determinations concerning matters and circumstances not entirely within our control. There are limited judicial or administrative interpretations of these provisions. Although we plan to continue to operate in a manner consistent with the REIT qualification rules, we cannot assure you that we will qualify in a given year or remain so qualified.

 

We intend to declare regular quarterly distributions, the amount of which will be determined, and is subject to adjustment, by our Board. To continue to qualify and be taxed as a REIT, we will generally be required to distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends-paid deduction and excluding net capital gain) each year to our stockholders. Generally, we expect to distribute all, or substantially all, of our REIT taxable income. If our cash available for distribution falls short of our estimates, we may be unable to maintain the proposed quarterly distributions that approximate our taxable income and we may fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT. In addition, our cash flows from operations may be insufficient to fund required distributions as a result of differences in timing between the actual receipt of income and the recognition of income for federal income tax purposes or the effect of nondeductible expenditures (e.g., capital expenditures, payments of compensation for which Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code denies a deduction, the creation of reserves, or required debt service or amortization payments). To the extent we satisfy the 90% distribution requirement, but distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, we will be subject to federal corporate income tax on our undistributed taxable income. We will also be subject to a 4.0% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that we pay out to our stockholders for a calendar year is less than a minimum amount specified under the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, in order to continue to

 

 

Our existing debt instruments include, and our future debt instruments may include, covenants that limit our ability to make required REIT distributions. If the limits set forth in these covenants prevent us from satisfying our REIT distribution requirements, we could fail to qualify for federal income tax purposes as a REIT. If the limits set forth in these covenants do not jeopardize our qualification for taxation as a REIT, but prevent us from distributing 100% of our REIT taxable income, we will be subject to federal corporate income tax, and potentially a nondeductible excise tax, on the retained amounts.

 

 

In order to meet the REIT distribution requirements and maintain our qualification and taxation as a REIT, we may need to borrow funds, sell assets, or raise equity, even if the then-prevailing market conditions are not favorable for such transactions. If our cash flows are not sufficient to cover our REIT distribution requirements, it could adversely impact our ability to raise short- and long-term debt, sell assets, or offer equity securities in order to fund the distributions required to maintain our qualification and taxation as a REIT. Furthermore, the REIT distribution requirements may increase the financing we need to fund capital expenditures, future growth, and expansion initiatives, which would increase our total leverage.

 

In addition, if we fail to comply with certain asset ownership tests at the end of any calendar quarter, we must generally correct the failure within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter or qualify for certain statutory relief provisions to avoid losing our REIT qualification. As a result, we may be required to liquidate otherwise attractive investments. These actions may reduce our income and amounts available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

To qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we must continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the sources of our income, the nature and diversification of our assets, the amounts we distribute to our stockholders, and the ownership of our common stock. Compliance with these tests will require us to refrain from certain activities and may hinder our ability to make certain attractive investments, including the purchase of non-qualifying assets, the expansion of non-real estate activities, and investments in the businesses to be conducted by our TRSs,taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”), thereby limiting our opportunities and the flexibility to change our business strategy. Furthermore, acquisition opportunities in domestic and international markets may be adversely affected if we need or require target companies to comply with certain REIT requirements prior to closing on acquisitions. Also, please see the risk “There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain cash dividends” above.below.

 

The REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code limit our ability to hedge assets and liabilities that are not incurred to acquire or carry real estate. Generally, income from hedging transactions that have been properly identified for tax purposes (which we enter into to manage interest rate risk with respect to borrowings to acquire or carry real estate assets) and income from certain currency hedging transactions related to our non-U.S. operations, do not constitute “gross income” for purposes of the REIT gross income tests (such a hedging transaction is referred to as a “qualifying hedge”). In addition, if we enter into a qualifying hedge, but dispose of the underlying property (or a portion thereof) or the underlying debt (or a portion thereof) is extinguished, we can enter into a hedge of the original qualifying hedge, and income from the subsequent hedge will also not constitute “gross income” for purposes of the REIT gross income tests. To the extent that we enter into other types of hedging transactions, the income from those transactions is likely to be treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of the REIT gross income tests. As a result of these rules, we may need to limit our use of advantageous hedging techniques or implement those hedges through a TRS. This could increase the cost of our hedging activities because our TRSs could be subject to tax on income or gains resulting from such hedges or expose us to greater interest rate risks than we would otherwise want to bear. In addition, losses in any of our TRSs generally will not provide any tax benefit, except for being carried forward for use against future taxable income in the TRSs.

 

 

To qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we hold our non-qualifying REIT assets and conduct our non-qualifying REIT income activities in or through one or more TRSs. The net income of our TRSs is not required to be distributed to us and incomeus. Income that is not distributed to us by our domestic TRSs will generally not be subject to the REIT income distribution requirement. However, certain income that is not distributed to us by our foreign TRSs may be deemed distributed to us by operation of certain provisions of the U.S. Tax Code and generally subject to REIT income distribution requirements. In addition, there may be limitations on our ability to accumulate earnings in our TRSs and the accumulation or reinvestment of significant earnings in our TRSs could result in adverse tax treatment. In particular, if the accumulation of cash in our TRSs causes the fair market value of our TRS interests and certain other non-qualifying assets to exceed 20% of the fair market value of our assets, we would lose tax efficiency and could potentially fail to qualify as a REIT.

 

Our ability to receive distributions from our TRSs is limited by the rules we must comply with in order to maintain our REIT status. In particular, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year as a REIT must be derived from real estate-related sources, which principally includes gross income from the leasing of our properties. Consequently, no more than 25% of our gross income may consist of dividend income from our TRSs and other non-qualifying income types. Thus, our ability to receive distributions from our TRSs is limited and may impact our ability to fund distributions to our stockholders using cash flows from our TRSs. Specifically, if our TRSs become highly profitable, we might be limited in our ability to receive net income from our TRSs in an amount required to fund distributions to our stockholders commensurate with that profitability.

 

 

The Internal Revenue Code limits the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. The Internal Revenue Code also imposes a 100% excise tax on certain transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. We will monitor the value of investments in our TRSs in order to ensure compliance with TRS ownership limitations and will structure our transactions with our TRSs on terms that we believe are arm’s-length to avoid incurring the 100% excise tax described above. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to comply with the TRS ownership limitation or be able to avoid application of the 100% excise tax.

 

 

Certain distributions payable by domestic or qualified foreign corporations to individuals, trusts, and estates in the United States are currently eligible for federal income tax at a maximum rate of 20%. plus the 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income, if applicable. Distributions payable by REITs, in contrast, are generally not eligible for this reduced rate, unless the distributions are attributable to dividends received by the REIT from other corporations that would otherwise be eligible for the reduced rate. This more favorable tax rate for regular corporate distributions could cause qualified investors to perceive investments in REITs to be less attractive than investments in the stock of corporations that pay distributions, which could adversely affect the value of REIT stocks, including our common stock.

 

Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to certain (i) federal, state, local, and foreign taxes on our income and assets (including alternative minimum taxes for taxable years ending prior to January 1, 2018); (ii) taxes on any undistributed income and state, local, or foreign income; and (iii) franchise, property, and transfer taxes. In addition, we could be required to pay an excise or penalty tax under certain circumstances in order to utilize one or more relief provisions under the Internal Revenue Code to maintain qualification for taxation as a REIT, which could be significant in amount.

 

Any TRS assets and operations would continue to be subject, as applicable, to federal and state corporate income taxes and to foreign taxes in the jurisdictions in which those assets and operations are located. Any of these taxes would decrease our earnings and our cash available for distributions to stockholders.

 

We will also be subject to a federal corporate level tax at the highest regular corporate rate (currently 21%) on all or a portion of the gain recognized from a sale of assets formerly held by any C corporation that we acquire on a carry-over basis transaction occurring within a five-year period after we acquire such assets, to the extent the built-in gain based on the fair market value of those assets on the effective date of the REIT election is in excess of our then tax basis. The tax on subsequently sold assets will be based on the fair market value and built-in gain of those assets as of the beginning of our holding period. Gains from the sale of an asset occurring after the specified period will not be subject to this corporate level tax. We expect to have only a de minimis amount of assets subject to these corporate tax rules and do not expect to dispose of any significant assets subject to these corporate tax rules.

 

Ordinary dividends received by foreign stockholders that are not effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30%, unless reduced by an applicable income tax treaty. Additional rules with respect to certain capital gain distributions will apply to foreign stockholders that own more than 10% of our common stock.

 

 

Our organizational documents permit our Board to revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without the approval of our stockholders, if it determines that it is no longer in our best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT. If we cease to be a REIT, we will not be allowed a deduction for dividends paid to stockholders in computing our taxable income and we will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate ratesrate and state and local taxes, which may have adverse consequences on the total return to our stockholders.

Federal and state income tax laws governing REITs or the administrative interpretations of those laws may be amended at any time. Federal, state, and foreign tax laws are under constant review by persons involved in the legislative process, at the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and at various state and foreign tax authorities. Changes to tax laws, regulations, or administrative interpretations, which may be applied retroactively, could adversely affect us or our stockholders. We cannot predict whether, when, in what forms, or with what effective dates, the tax laws, regulations, and administrative interpretations applicable to us or our stockholders may be changed. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that any such change will not significantly affect our ability to qualify for taxation as a REIT or the federal income tax consequences to you or us.

 

Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial position and results of operations. We have identified several accounting policies as being critical to the presentation of our financial position and results of operations because they require management to make particularly subjective or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because of the likelihood that materially different amounts would be recorded under different conditions or using different assumptions. Due to the inherent uncertainty of the estimates, judgments, and assumptions associated with these critical accounting policies, we cannot provide any assurance that we will not make significant subsequent adjustments to our consolidated financial statements. If our judgments, assumptions, and allocations prove to be incorrect, or if circumstances change, our business, financial condition, revenues, operating expense, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends, or stock price may be materially adversely affected.

 

Our future success depends in large part on our ability to hire and retain a sufficient number of qualified and diverse personnel. Failure to recruit from a diverse pool of qualified candidates, particularly in light of recent labor shortages could negatively impact the dynamic growth of our company. In addition, the nature of our executive officers’ experience and the extent of the relationships they have developed with real estate professionals and financial institutions are important to the success of our business. We cannot provide any assurances regarding their continued employment with us. The loss of the services of certain of our executive officers could detrimentally affect our business and prospects.prospects, and a sustained labor shortage or increased turnover rates among our employees, could increase costs and materially adversely affect our business.

 

A cyber incident is considered to be any adverse event that threatens the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of our information resources, which could be an intentional attack or an unintentional accident or error. We use information technology and other computer resources to carry out important operational activities and to maintain our business records. DuringWith the COVID-19 pandemic,advent of remote work environments and technologies, we face heightened cybersecurity risks as our employees work remotely, leading to an increased dependenceand counterparties increasingly depend on the internet and face greater exposure to the malware campaigns and phishing attacks preying on the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic.attacks. These heightened cybersecurity risks may increase our vulnerability to cyber-attacks and cause disruptions to our internal control procedures.

In addition, we may store or come into contact with sensitive information and data. If we or our third-party service providers fail to comply with applicable privacy or data security laws in handling this information, including the General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act, we could face significant legal and financial exposure to claims of governmental agencies and parties whose privacy is compromised, including sizable fines and penalties.

We have implemented processes, procedures, and controls intended to address ongoing and evolving cyber security risks, but these measures, as well as our increased awareness of a risk of a cyber incident, do not guarantee that our financial results will not be negatively impacted by such an incident. The primary risks that could directly result from the occurrence of a cyber incident include operational interruption, damage to our relationship with our tenants, and private data exposure. A significant and extended disruption could damage our business or reputation; cause a loss of revenue; have an adverse effect on tenant relations; cause an unintended or unauthorized public disclosure; or lead to the misappropriation of proprietary, personal identifying and confidential information; all of which could result in us incurring significant expenses to address and remediate or otherwise resolve these kinds of issues. There can be no assurance that the insurance we maintain to cover some of these risks will be sufficient to cover the losses from any future breaches of our systems.

We are unable to predict the impact thatof ongoing disruptions caused by additional surges and strains of COVID-19 transmission. The economic downturn and market volatility caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has already eroded the financial condition of certain of our tenants and operating properties; therefore, we cannot predict the impact that COVID-19 will continue to have on our tenants’ ability to pay rent thereforeand any information provided regarding historical rent collections should not serve as an indication of expected future rent collections. We also cannot assure you that conditions in the bank lending, capital, and other financial markets will not further deteriorate as a result of the pandemic,continued impact of COVID-19, causing our access to capital and other sources of funding to become constrained, which could adversely affect our ability to meet our financial covenants, as well as the terms or even availability of future borrowings, renewals, and refinancings. Rapid changesChanges in laws and regulatory policies, including any governmental actions related to COVID-19 and the effects of government fiscal and monetary policies,policy changes, could result in business disruptions and subject us to additional market volatility and risks. Any preventative actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic that we or governmental authorities may take could result in business disruptions; however, failure to take a cautious approach could exacerbate the crisis and subject us to risks arising from potential legal liabilities. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our results and operations will depend on future developments, including new information that may emerge concerning vaccines or treatments, the duration of the outbreak, and actions taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic or mitigate its impacts, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence.

None.

 

Our principal corporate offices are located at One Manhattan West, 395 9th Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, NY 10001 and our international offices are located in London and Amsterdam. We have additional office space domestically in Dallas. We lease all of these offices and believe these leases are suitable for our operations for the foreseeable future.

 

 

Various claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of business are pending against us. The results of these proceedings are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Not applicable.

 

Market Information

 

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “WPC.” At February 5, 20213, 2023 there were 8,7728,982 registered holders of record of our common stock. This figure does not reflect the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock.

Stock Price Performance Graph

 

The graph below provides an indicator of cumulative total stockholder returns for our common stock for the period December 31, 20152017 to December 31, 2020,2022, as compared with the S&P 500 Index, and the FTSE NAREIT Equity REITs Index.Index, and the MSCI US REIT Index, which we have added to the graph below since it serves as a benchmark index for our compensation decisions. We intend to discontinue presentation of the FTSE NAREIT Equity REITs Index in future stock price performance graphs, as the MSCI US REIT Index will serve as our industry index. The graph assumes a $100 investment on December 31, 2015,2017, together with the reinvestment of all dividends.

 

The stock price performance included in this graph is not indicative of future stock price performance.

Dividends

We currently intend to continue paying cash dividends consistent with our historical practice; however, our Board determines the amount and timing of any future dividend payments to our stockholders based on a variety of factors.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

This information will be contained in our definitive proxy statement for the 20212023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed within 120 days following the end of our fiscal year, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Revenues

Our portfolio is comprised of operationally-critical, commercial real estate assets net leased to tenants located primarily in the United States and Northern and Western Europe. We invest in high-quality single tenant industrial, warehouse, office, retail, and self-storage (net lease) properties subject to long-term leases with built-in rent escalators. Portfolio information is provided on a pro rata basis, unless otherwise noted below, to better illustrate the economic impact of our various net-leased jointly owned investments. See Terms and Definitions below for a description of pro rata amounts.

The tables below represent information about our net-leased portfolio at December 31, 20202022 on a pro rata basis and, accordingly, exclude all operating properties. See Terms and Definitions below for a description of pro rata amounts and ABR.

Top Ten Tenants by ABR

(dollars in thousands)

__________

Portfolio Diversification by Geography

(in thousands, except percentages)