Vici Properties Inc S-3ASR, filed Nov 18, 2021
Vici Properties Inc. (VICI)
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
VICI PROPERTIES INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in governing instruments)
| Maryland | 81-4177147 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
VICI Properties Inc.
535 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10022
(646) 949-4631
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Samantha Sacks Gallagher
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
VICI Properties Inc.
535 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10022
(646) 949-4631
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
with a copy to:
David Bonser, Esq.
Andrew S. Zahn, Esq.
Hogan Lovells US LLP
555 13th Street Northwest
Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 637-5600
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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| Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered(1) |
Amount to be Registered(2) |
Proposed Maximum Per Unit(2) |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(2) |
Amount of Registration Fee(2) | ||||
| Common stock, par value $0.01 per share (3) |
(7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | ||||
| Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (3) |
(7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | ||||
| Stock purchase contracts |
(7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | ||||
| Depositary shares (4) |
(7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | ||||
| Warrants (5) |
(7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | ||||
| Rights |
(7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | ||||
| Units (6) |
(7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | ||||
| Total |
(7)(8) | (7)(8) | (7)(8) | (9) | ||||
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| (1) | This registration statement covers offers, sales and other distributions of securities listed in this table from time to time at prices to be determined. This registration statement also covers delayed delivery contracts that the registrant may issue. The party purchasing the contracts may be required to purchase common stock or preferred stock. The contracts may be issued together with the offered securities to which they relate. In addition, offered securities registered under this registration statement may be sold separately, together or as units with other offered securities registered under this registration statement. |
| (2) | In U.S. dollars or their equivalent denominated in one or more foreign currencies or units of two or more foreign currencies or composite currencies. |
| (3) | Includes common stock and preferred stock that may be issued upon conversion of preferred stock registered under this registration statement or upon exercise of warrants registered under this registration statement. No separate consideration will be received for common stock or preferred stock that is issued upon conversion of preferred stock or exercise of warrants registered under this registration statement. |
| (4) | Each depositary share will be issued under a deposit agreement, which will represent an interest in a fractional share or multiple shares of preferred stock and will be evidenced by a depositary receipt. |
| (5) | The warrants covered by this registration statement may be warrants for common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares. |
| (6) | Each unit will be issued under a unit agreement and will represent an interest in two or more other securities, which may or may not be separable from each other. |
| (7) | Not required to be included in accordance with General Instruction II.E. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). |
| (8) | An indeterminate aggregate offering price or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. |
| (9) | Deferred in reliance upon Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act. |
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PROSPECTUS
VICI Properties Inc.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Stock Purchase Contracts
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Rights
Units
VICI Properties Inc., a Maryland corporation, may from time to time offer, in one or more series or classes, separately or together, and in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this prospectus, the following securities: common stock, preferred stock, stock purchase contracts, depositary shares representing our preferred stock, warrants to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares representing our preferred stock, rights to purchase common stock and units representing an interest in two or more securities.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. Each time we sell securities, a prospectus supplement will be provided that will contain specific information about the terms and conditions of any securities offered, any net proceeds that we expect to receive from the sale of such securities and the specific manner in which the securities will be offered. The applicable prospectus supplement will also contain information, where applicable, about U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the securities covered by the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement may add to, update or change the information in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
We may offer the securities directly to investors, through agents designated from time to time by us, or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement with, between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in an accompanying prospectus supplement. For more detailed information, see “Plan of Distribution” on page 63.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “VICI.” On November 17, 2021, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE was $29.17 per share. Our principal executive offices are located at 535 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10022 and our telephone number is (646) 949-4631.
Investing in our securities involves various risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 6 as well as the risk factors contained in documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” and “Where You Can Find Additional Information” in this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is November 18, 2021.
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We are responsible for the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or, any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered to you. To the extent there are any inconsistencies between the information in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information, and we take no responsibility for any information others may give you. You should assume that the information appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus prepared by us is accurate only as of their respective dates or on the date or dates which are specified in such documents. Our business, financial condition, cash flows, operating and financial results, and prospects may have changed since those dates.
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This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell, at any time and from time to time, in one or more offerings, one or any combination of the securities described in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. As allowed by the SEC rules, this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement, including its exhibits, as well as any accompanying prospectus supplement and any documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are only summaries. If the SEC’s rules and regulations require that an agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see that agreement or document for a complete description of the related matters.
You should read carefully the entire prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, which we have referred you to in “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” on page 68 of this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Information incorporated by reference after the date of this prospectus may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Statements contained or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement as to the content of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or such prospectus supplement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. Any information in such subsequent filings and any applicable prospectus supplement that is inconsistent with this prospectus will supersede the information in this prospectus or any earlier prospectus supplement.
Unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified, (i) all references in this prospectus to the terms the “Company” and “VICI” refer to VICI Properties Inc. and (ii) all references to the “Operating Partnership” refer to VICI Properties L.P. Unless the context otherwise requires, or unless otherwise specified, all references in this prospectus to the terms “we,” “us” and “our” refer to VICI, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership.
“Caesars” refers to Caesars Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, formerly Eldorado, following the consummation of the Eldorado/Caesars Merger on July 20, 2020 and Eldorado’s conversion to a Delaware corporation.
“Caesars Lease Agreements” refer collectively to (i) prior to the consummation of the Eldorado Transaction, the CPLV Lease Agreement, the Non-CPLV Lease Agreement, the Joliet Lease Agreement and the HLV Lease Agreement, and (ii) from and after the consummation of the Eldorado Transaction, the Las Vegas Master Lease Agreement, the Regional Master Lease Agreement and the Joliet Lease Agreement, in each case, unless the context otherwise requires.
“Caesars Southern Indiana” refers to the real estate assets associated with the Caesars Southern Indiana facility, located in Elizabeth, Indiana.
“Century Casinos” refers to Century Casinos, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries.
“Century Portfolio” refers to the real estate assets associated with the (i) Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort located in New Cumberland, West Virginia, (ii) Century Casino Caruthersville located in
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Caruthersville, Missouri and (iii) Century Casino Cape Girardeau located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, which we purchased on December 6, 2019.
“Century Portfolio Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for the Century Portfolio, as amended from time to time.
“CEOC” refers to Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries, prior to October 6, 2017 (the “Formation Date”), and following the Formation Date, CEOC, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries. CEOC was a subsidiary of Pre-Merger Caesars, and following the consummation of the Eldorado/Caesars Merger, is a subsidiary of Caesars.
“CPLV Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for Caesars Palace Las Vegas, as amended from time to time, which was combined with the HLV Lease Agreement into the Las Vegas Master Lease Agreement upon the consummation of the Eldorado Transaction.
“EBCI” refers to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a federally recognized Tribe located in western North Carolina, and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries.
“EBCI Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for Caesars Southern Indiana, as amended from time to time.
“Eldorado” refers to Eldorado Resorts, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries. Following the consummation of the Eldorado/Caesars Merger on July 20, 2020, Eldorado converted to a Delaware corporation and changed its name to Caesars Entertainment, Inc.
“Eldorado Transaction” refers to a series of transactions between us and Eldorado in connection with the Eldorado/Caesars Merger, including the acquisition of the Harrah’s New Orleans, Harrah’s Atlantic City and Harrah’s Laughlin properties, modifications to the Caesars Lease Agreements, and rights of first refusal.
“Eldorado/Caesars Merger” refers to the merger consummated on July 20, 2020 under an Agreement and Plan of Merger pursuant to which a subsidiary of Eldorado merged with and into Pre-Merger Caesars, with Pre-Merger Caesars surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Caesars (which changed its name from Eldorado in connection with the closing of the Eldorado/Caesars Merger).
“Greektown” refers to the real estate assets associated with the Greektown Casino-Hotel, located in Detroit, Michigan, which we purchased on May 23, 2019.
“Greektown Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for Greektown, as amended from time to time.
“Hard Rock” means Hard Rock International, and, as the context requires, its subsidiary and affiliate entities.
“Hard Rock Cincinnati” refers to the casino-entitled land and real estate and related assets associated with the Hard Rock Cincinnati Casino, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, which we purchased on September 20, 2019.
“Hard Rock Cincinnati Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for Hard Rock Cincinnati, as amended from time to time.
“HLV Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for the Harrah’s Las Vegas facilities, as amended from time to time, which was combined with the CPLV Lease Agreement into the Las Vegas Master Lease Agreement upon the consummation of the Eldorado Transaction.
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“JACK Cleveland/Thistledown” refers to the casino-entitled land and real estate and related assets associated with the JACK Cleveland Casino located in Cleveland, Ohio, and the video lottery gaming and pari-mutuel wagering authorized land and real estate and related assets of JACK Thistledown Racino located in North Randall, Ohio, which we purchased on January 24, 2020.
“JACK Cleveland/Thistledown Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for JACK Cleveland/Thistledown, as amended from time to time.
“JACK Entertainment” refers to JACK Ohio LLC, and, as the context requires, its subsidiary and affiliate entities.
“Joliet Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for the facility in Joliet, Illinois, as amended from time to time.
“Las Vegas Master Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for Caesars Palace Las Vegas and the Harrah’s Las Vegas facilities, as amended from time to time, from and after the consummation of the Eldorado Transaction.
“Lease Agreements” refer collectively to the Caesars Lease Agreements, the Penn National Lease Agreements, the Hard Rock Cincinnati Lease Agreement, the Century Portfolio Lease Agreement, the JACK Cleveland/Thistledown Lease Agreement and the EBCI Lease Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires.
“Margaritaville” refers to the real estate of Margaritaville Resort Casino, located in Bossier City, Louisiana, which we purchased on January 2, 2019.
“Margaritaville Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for Margaritaville, as amended from time to time.
“MGM” refers to MGM Resorts International, a Delaware corporation, and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries.
“MGM Master Lease Agreement” refers to the form of amended and restated triple-net master lease, as amended from time to time, to be entered into by us and MGM with respect to certain MGM properties that will be owned by us upon consummation of the MGP Transactions.
“MGP” refers to MGM Growth Properties LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries.
“MGP Master Transaction Agreement” refers to a Master Transaction Agreement, as amended from time to time, between the Company, MGP, MGP OP, the Operating Partnership, Venus Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, VICI Properties OP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and MGM entered into on August 4, 2021.
“MGP OP” refers to MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries.
“MGP Transactions” refers to a series of transactions pursuant to the MGP Master Transaction Agreement between us, MGP and MGM and the other parties thereto in connection with our acquisition of MGP, as contemplated by the MGP Master Transaction Agreement, including a tax protection agreement and the MGM Master Lease Agreement to be entered into between us and MGM upon consummation of the MGP Transactions.
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“Non-CPLV Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for regional properties (other than the facility in Joliet, Illinois) leased to Pre-Merger Caesars prior to the consummation of the Eldorado Transaction, as amended from time to time, which was replaced by the Regional Master Lease Agreement upon the consummation of the Eldorado Transaction.
“Operating Partnership” refers to VICI Properties L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and a wholly owned subsidiary of VICI.
“Penn National” refers to Penn National Gaming, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation, and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries.
“Penn National Lease Agreements” refer collectively to the Margaritaville Lease Agreement and the Greektown Lease Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires.
“Pre-Merger Caesars” refers to Caesars Entertainment Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries. Following the consummation of the Eldorado/Caesars Merger on July 20, 2020, Pre-Merger Caesars became a wholly owned subsidiary of Caesars.
“Regional Master Lease Agreement” refers to the lease agreement for the regional properties (other than the facility in Joliet, Illinois) leased to Caesars, as amended from time to time, from and after the consummation of the Eldorado Transaction.
“Venetian Resort” refers to the land and real estate assets associated with The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and the Venetian Expo (formerly known as the Sands Expo and Convention Center), located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Venetian Acquisition” refers to the acquisition by our Operating Partnership of the land and real estate assets associated with The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and the Venetian Expo and the acquisition of an affiliate of certain funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. of the operating assets and liabilities of the Venetian Resort and the Venetian Expo from Las Vegas Sands Corp.
“Venetian Tenant” refers to an affiliate of certain funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc., in its capacity as party to a triple-net lease agreement for the Venetian Resort to be entered into simultaneously with the closing of the Venetian Acquisition.
“VICI Golf” refers to VICI Golf LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that is the owner and operator of our golf segment business.
CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING CAESARS AND MGM
The historical audited and unaudited financial statements of Caesars (which are not included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus), as the parent and guarantor of CEOC, our significant lessee, have been filed with the SEC. Caesars files annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. In addition, the historical audited and unaudited financial statements of MGM (which are not included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus), which is the parent and will be the guarantor of the entity that will become our significant lessee upon the closing of the MGP Transactions. MGM files annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC.
Caesars’ and MGM’s SEC filings are available to the public through the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. We make no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information regarding Caesars and MGM that is contained in this prospectus, which is obtained from Caesars’ or MGM’s publicly available information, or that is available through the SEC’s website or otherwise made publicly available by Caesars or MGM, and none of such publicly available Caesars or MGM information is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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The brands under which our properties are operated are trademarks of their respective owners. None of these owners nor any of their respective officers, directors, agents or employees:
| • | have approved any disclosure contained in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein; or |
| • | are responsible or liable for the content of this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein. |
Although we are responsible for all of the disclosures contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, such documents contain industry, market and competitive position data and estimates that are based on industry publications and studies conducted by third parties. The industry publications and third-party studies generally state that the information that they contain has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. While we believe that such information included in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein is generally reliable, we have not independently investigated or verified such data. The industry forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may be materially different than our or the industry’s actual results.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and documents incorporated by reference herein contain statements regarding future events that can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “target,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would” or similar expressions, which constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are based on our current plans, expectations and projections about future events. We caution you therefore against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They give our expectations about the future and are not guarantees. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance and achievements to materially differ from any future results, performance and achievements expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Currently, one of the most significant factors that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from our forward-looking statements is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our, and our tenants’ financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic continues to adversely affect our tenants, and ultimately impacts our business and financial condition, depends on future developments which cannot be predicted with confidence, including the impact of the actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, including the availability, distribution, public acceptance and efficacy of approved vaccines, new or mutated variants of COVID-19 (including vaccine-resistant variants) or a similar virus, the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures on our tenants, the ability of our tenants to successfully operate their businesses, including the costs of complying with regulatory requirements necessary to keep their respective facilities open, such as reduced capacity requirements, the need to close any of the facilities after reopening as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effects of the negotiated capital expenditure reductions and other amendments to the Lease Agreements that we agreed to with certain of its tenants in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our tenants’ ability to satisfy their obligations under their Lease Agreements with us, including their continued ability to pay rent in a timely manner, or at all, and/or to fund capital expenditures or make other payments required under their leases. Investors are cautioned to interpret many of the risks identified under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our current reports on Form 8-K that are incorporated by reference herein and therein as being heightened as a result of the ongoing and numerous adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein are based upon our current expectations, plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs that involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond our control. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our actual results, performance and achievements could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements and may be affected by a variety of risks and other factors, including, among others:
| • | risks associated with the pending MGP Transactions, including our ability or failure to complete the pending MGP Transactions and to realize the anticipated benefits of the MGP Transactions, including as a result of delay in completing the pending MGP Transactions; |
| • | the impact of changes in general economic conditions, including low consumer confidence, unemployment levels and depressed real estate prices resulting from the severity and duration of any downturn in the U.S. or global economy; |
| • | our dependence on subsidiaries of Caesars, Penn National, Hard Rock, Century Casinos, JACK Entertainment and EBCI (and following the completion of the pending MGP Transactions and the |
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| Venetian Acquisition, MGM and the Venetian Tenant) as tenants of our properties and Caesars, Penn National, Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc., Century Casinos, Rock Ohio Ventures LLC and EBCI (and following the completion of the pending MGP Transactions, MGM) or certain of their respective subsidiaries as guarantors of the lease payments and the negative consequences any material adverse effect on their respective businesses could have on us; |
| • | our borrowers’ ability to repay their outstanding loan obligations to us; |
| • | our dependence on the gaming industry; |
| • | our ability to pursue our business and growth strategies may be limited by our substantial debt service requirements and by the requirement that we distribute 90% of our real estate investment trust (“REIT”) taxable income in order to qualify for taxation as a REIT and that we distribute 100% of our REIT taxable income in order to avoid current entity-level U.S. federal income taxes; |
| • | the impact of extensive regulation from gaming and other regulatory authorities; |
| • | the ability of our tenants to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals in connection with the operation of our properties and the completion of pending transactions on a timely basis, or at all, or the imposition of conditions to such regulatory approvals; |
| • | the possibility that our tenants may choose not to renew the Lease Agreements following the initial or subsequent terms of the leases; |
| • | restrictions on our ability to sell our properties subject to the Lease Agreements; |
| • | Caesars’, Penn National’s, Hard Rock’s, Century Casinos’, JACK Entertainment’s and EBCI’s (and following the completion of the pending MGP Transactions and the Venetian Acquisition, MGM’s and the Venetian Tenant’s) historical results may not be a reliable indicator of their future results; |
| • | our substantial amount of indebtedness, including indebtedness to be assumed by us upon consummation of the pending MGP Transactions, and ability to service, refinance and otherwise fulfill our obligations under such indebtedness; |
| • | our historical financial information may not be reliable indicators of our future results of operations, financial condition and cash flows; |
| • | our ability to obtain the financing necessary to complete our pending acquisitions or related transactions on the terms we currently expect in a timely manner, or at all; |
| • | the possibility that our pending transactions may not be completed or that completion may be unduly delayed, and the potential adverse impact on our business, operations and stock price; |
| • | the possibility that we identify significant environmental, tax, legal or other issues that materially and adversely impact the value of assets acquired or secured as collateral (or other benefits we expect to receive) in any of our pending or recently completed transactions; |
| • | the effects of our pending and recently completed transactions on us, including the future impact on our financial condition, financial and operating results, cash flows, strategy and plans; |
| • | the impact of changes to the U.S. federal income tax laws; |
| • | the impact and outcome of current and potential litigation relating to the pending MGP Transactions, including the possibility that any adverse judgment may prevent the pending MGP Transactions from being consummated on a timely basis, or at all; |
| • | the possibility of adverse tax consequences as a result of our pending transactions; |
| • | increased volatility in our stock price as a result of our pending transactions; |
| • | the possibility of foreclosure on our properties if we are unable to meet required debt service payments; |
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| • | the impact of a rise in interest rates on us; |
| • | our inability to successfully pursue investments in, and acquisitions of, additional properties; |
| • | the impact of natural disasters, war, political and public health conditions or uncertainty or civil unrest, violence or terrorist activities or threats on our properties and changes in economic conditions or heightened travel security and health measures instituted in response to these events; |
| • | the loss of the services of key personnel; |
| • | the inability to attract, retain and motivate employees; |
| • | the costs and liabilities associated with environmental compliance; |
| • | failure to establish and maintain an effective system of integrated internal controls; |
| • | our inability to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT; |
| • | our reliance on distributions received from the Operating Partnership to make distributions to our stockholders; |
| • | the potential impact on the amount of our cash distributions if we were to sell any of our properties in the future; |
| • | our ability to continue to make distributions to holders of our common stock or maintain anticipated levels of distributions over time; |
| • | competition for transaction opportunities, including from other REITs, investment companies, private equity firms and hedge funds, sovereign funds, lenders, gaming companies and other investors that may have greater resources and access to capital and a lower cost of capital or different investment parameters than us; |
| • | the impact of any sales of our securities pursuant to this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or otherwise, including the dilutive effect on our earnings, Funds From Operations and Adjusted Funds From Operations per share; and |
| • | additional factors discussed herein, in any accompanying prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. |
Any of the assumptions underlying forward-looking statements could be inaccurate. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. All forward-looking statements are made as of the respective dates of this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein or such other dates as may be indicated in such documents, as applicable, and the risk that actual results, performance and achievements will differ materially from the expectations expressed in or referenced by the applicable document will increase with the passage of time. Except as otherwise required by the U.S. federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, as applicable, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, the inclusion of such forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the objectives and strategies set forth in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein will be achieved.
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We are an owner and acquirer of experiential real estate assets across leading gaming, hospitality, entertainment and leisure destinations. Our national, geographically diverse portfolio currently consists of 27 market-leading properties, including Caesars Palace Las Vegas and Harrah’s Las Vegas, two of the most iconic entertainment facilities on the Las Vegas Strip. Our entertainment facilities are leased to leading brands that seek to drive consumer loyalty and value with guests through superior services, experiences, products and continuous innovation. Across over 46 million square feet, our well-maintained properties are currently located across urban, destination and drive-to markets in twelve states, contain approximately 17,800 hotel rooms and feature over 200 restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
Our portfolio also includes four real estate debt investments that we have originated for strategic reasons in connection with transactions that may provide the potential to convert our investment into the ownership of certain of the underlying real estate in the future. In addition, we own approximately 34 acres of undeveloped or underdeveloped land on and adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip that is leased to Caesars, which we may look to monetize as appropriate. We also own and operate four championship golf courses located near certain of our properties, two of which are in close proximity to the Las Vegas Strip.
We lease our properties to subsidiaries of Caesars, Penn National, Hard Rock, Century Casinos, JACK Entertainment and EBCI, with Caesars being our largest tenant. We believe we have a mutually beneficial relationship with each of Caesars, Penn National, Hard Rock, Century Casinos, JACK Entertainment and EBCI, all of which are leading owners and operators of gaming, entertainment and leisure properties. We believe our long-term triple-net Lease Agreements with subsidiaries of our operators provide us with a highly predictable revenue stream with embedded growth potential. We also believe our geographic diversification limits the effect of changes in any one market on our overall performance. We are focused on driving long-term total returns through managing experiential asset growth and allocating capital diligently, maintaining a highly productive tenant base, and optimizing our capital structure to support external growth. As a growth focused public real estate investment trust with long-term investments, we expect our relationship with our partners will position us for the acquisition of additional properties across leisure and hospitality over the long-term. Despite the ongoing impact and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to evaluate and may opportunistically pursue accretive acquisitions or investments that may arise in the market.
Our portfolio is competitively positioned and well-maintained. Pursuant to the terms of the Lease Agreements, which require our tenants to invest in our properties (subject in certain cases to temporary relief we granted certain tenants on a portion of their capital expenditure obligations in connection with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic), and in line with our tenants’ commitment to build guest loyalty, we anticipate our tenants will continue to make strategic value-enhancing investments in our properties over time, helping to maintain their competitive position. In addition, given our scale and deep industry knowledge, we believe we are well-positioned to execute highly complementary single-asset and portfolio acquisitions, as well as other investments, to augment growth as market conditions allow, with a focus on disciplined capital allocation.
We conduct our operations as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on our taxable income to the extent that we annually distribute all of our net taxable income to stockholders and maintain our qualification as a REIT. We believe our election of REIT status, combined with the income generated from the Lease Agreements, will enhance our ability to make distributions to our stockholders, providing investors with current income as well as long-term growth, subject to the current macroeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and market conditions more broadly. We conduct our real property business through our Operating Partnership, which is our wholly-owned subsidiary, and our golf course business through a taxable REIT subsidiary, VICI Golf.
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Corporate Matters
Our principal executive offices are located at 535 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10022 and our main telephone number is (646) 949-4631. Our website address is www.viciproperties.com. None of the information on, or accessible through, our website or any other website identified herein is incorporated in, or constitutes a part of, this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
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An investment in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in our Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs, incorporated by reference herein, as well as the other information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, before making an investment in our securities. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects, the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders and to satisfy any debt service obligations may be materially and adversely affected. This could cause the value of our securities to decline and you could lose part or all of your investment. These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that as of the date of this prospectus we deem immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on us. Some statements included in this prospectus, in the documents incorporated by reference herein and in any prospectus supplement constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the sections entitled “Where You Can Find More Information,” “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
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Unless otherwise indicated to the contrary in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to contribute the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered under this prospectus to our Operating Partnership in exchange for interests in our Operating Partnership. Our Operating Partnership intends to use the net proceeds from any sale of securities covered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of indebtedness, acquisitions, development, capital expenditures and additions to working capital. Until we use the net proceeds for the purposes described above, we may invest them in short-term income producing investments, such as commercial paper, government securities or money market funds that invest in government securities and/or commercial paper that are consistent with our intention to continue to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of the offering and, if necessary, will be described in a prospectus supplement.
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The following is a summary of the rights and preferences of our capital stock. This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our charter and bylaws and applicable provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law (“MGCL”). While we believe the following summary covers the material terms of our capital stock, the description may not include all of the information that is important to you. We encourage you to read carefully this entire prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, our charter and bylaws and the other documents we refer to for a more complete understanding of our capital stock. Copies of our charter and bylaws are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
General
Our charter authorizes us to issue up to 1,350,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which 12,000,000 shares are classified as Series A preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. Our charter authorizes our board of directors, without stockholder approval, to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock that we are authorized to issue or the number of authorized shares of any class or series, subject to the terms of any outstanding preferred stock.
As of November 17, 2021, 628,946,033 shares of our common stock are issued and outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock are issued or outstanding.
Under Maryland law, a stockholder generally is not liable for a corporation’s debts or obligations solely as a result of the stockholder’s status as a stockholder.
Common Stock
Subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock discussed below under the caption “—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” and the voting rights of holders of outstanding shares of any other class or series of our stock, holders of our common stock will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, including the election or removal of directors. The holders of our common stock will not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.
Holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive dividends if, as and when authorized by our board of directors and declared by us out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of outstanding shares of any class or series of our stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution. Holders of our common stock will not have preemptive, subscription, redemption, preference, exchange, conversion or appraisal rights. There will be no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All shares of our common stock will be fully paid and nonassessable and will have equal dividend and liquidation rights. The rights, powers, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock will be subject to those of the holders of any shares of our preferred stock or any other class or series of stock we may authorize and issue in the future.
Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally may not amend its charter, consolidate, merge, convert, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a statutory share exchange or dissolve unless the action is advised by its board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. As permitted by Maryland law, our charter provides that any of these actions, once advised by our board of directors, may be approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, except for amendments to the charter provisions relating to indemnification and limitation of liability and amendments to our charter
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affecting these provisions, which require the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast 75% of all of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. See “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Charter and Bylaws.” Maryland law also permits a corporation to transfer all or substantially all of its assets without the approval of its stockholders to an entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation. In addition, because many of our operating assets are held by our subsidiaries, these subsidiaries will be able to merge or sell all or substantially all of their assets without the approval of our stockholders.
Power to Reclassify and Issue Stock
Subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding shares of our preferred stock, our board of directors will be able to, without approval of holders of our common stock, classify and reclassify any unissued shares of our stock into other classes or series of stock, including one or more classes or series of stock that have preference over our common stock with respect to dividends or upon liquidation, or have voting rights and other rights that differ from the rights of the common stock, and authorize us to issue the newly-classified shares. Before authorizing the issuance of shares of any new class or series, our board of directors will be required to set, subject to the provisions in our charter relating to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series of stock. In addition, our charter authorizes our board of directors, with the approval of a majority of our board of directors and without stockholder approval, to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock, or the number of shares of any class or series of stock, that we are authorized to issue, subject to the rights of holders of our preferred stock. These actions will be able to be taken without the approval of holders of our common stock unless such approval is required by applicable law, the terms of any other class or series of our stock or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which any of our stock is listed or traded.
Preferred Stock
Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series of preferred stock having terms not already established pursuant to our charter, our board of directors is required by the MGCL and our charter to set the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each such class or series. Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock that have priority over our common stock with respect to dividends or rights upon liquidation or with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interests.
Series A Preferred Stock
Of the 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance under our charter, 12,000,000 shares are classified as Series A preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, all of which were issued on the Formation Date and automatically converted on November 6, 2017 in accordance with the terms of the Series A preferred stock into shares of our common stock. As a result of this conversion, none of the authorized shares of Series A preferred stock are currently issued or outstanding. Our board of directors has no plans to issue any shares of Series A preferred stock as currently constituted, and given the terms applicable to the Series A preferred stock and the circumstances in which originally issued, any such additional issuance would be impractical. Our board of directors could, however, without stockholder approval, reclassify the authorized but unissued shares of Series A preferred stock as preferred stock without further designation, or into one or more other or additional series or classes of our capital stock, pursuant to its power to reclassify stock, as described above, and cause us to issue the newly-classified shares, subject, however, to the rights of holders of any then outstanding shares of our preferred stock.
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Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer
In order for us to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of our stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities such as qualified pension plans) during the last half of a taxable year.
Our charter contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our stock. Subject to the exceptions described below, our charter provides that no person or entity will be able to beneficially own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Code, with respect to any class or series of our capital stock, more than 9.8% (in value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of such class or series of our capital stock.
The constructive ownership rules under the Code are complex and may cause stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be owned constructively by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of 9.8% or less of a class or series of our capital stock, or the acquisition of an interest in an entity that owns our stock, could, nevertheless, cause the acquirer or another individual or entity to own our stock in excess of the ownership limit.
An exemption from the 9.8% ownership limit was granted to certain stockholders, and our board may in the future provide exceptions to the ownership limit for other stockholders, subject to certain initial and ongoing conditions designed to protect our status as a REIT. In addition, our charter provides that our board of directors will have the power to, upon receipt of certain representations and agreements and in its sole discretion, prospectively or retroactively, exempt a person from the ownership limit or establish a different limit on ownership for a particular stockholder if the stockholder’s ownership in excess of the ownership limit would not result in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT. As a condition to granting a waiver of the ownership limit or creating an excepted holder limit, our board of directors will be able, but will not be required, to require an opinion of counsel or IRS ruling satisfactory to our board of directors as it may deem necessary or advisable to determine or ensure our status as a REIT and may impose such other conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate.
In connection with granting a waiver of the ownership limit or creating or modifying an excepted holder limit, or at any other time, our charter provides that our board of directors will be able to increase or decrease the ownership limit unless, after giving effect to any increased or decreased ownership limit, five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities such as qualified pension plans) could beneficially own or constructively own, in the aggregate, more than 50% in value of the shares of our stock then outstanding or we would otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT. A decreased ownership limit will not apply to any person or entity whose percentage ownership of our stock is in excess of the decreased ownership limit until the person or entity’s ownership of our stock equals or falls below the decreased ownership limit, but any further acquisition of our stock will be subject to the decreased ownership limit.
Our charter also provides that:
| • | any person is prohibited from owning shares of our stock that, if effective, would cause us to constructively own more than 10% of the ownership interests, assets or net profits in (i) any of our tenants or (ii) any tenant of one of our direct or indirect subsidiaries, to the extent such ownership would cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT; |
| • | any person is prohibited from beneficially or constructively owning shares of our stock that would result in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT; and |
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| • | any person is prohibited from transferring shares of our stock if the transfer would result in shares of our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons. |
Our charter provides that any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our stock that will or may violate the ownership limit or any other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock discussed above, and any person who owned or would have owned shares of our stock that are transferred to a trust for the benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries described below, will be required to give immediate written notice of such an event or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transfer, give at least five days’ prior written notice to us and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of the transfer on our status as a REIT. The provisions of our charter relating to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT, or that compliance is no longer required in order for us to qualify as a REIT.
Our charter provides that any attempted transfer of our stock that, if effective, would result in our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons will be void ab initio and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in such shares of stock. Our charter provides that any attempted transfer of our stock that, if effective, would result in a violation of the ownership limit (or other limit established by our charter or our board of directors), any person owning shares of our stock that, if effective, would cause us to constructively own more than 10% of the ownership interests, assets or net profits in (i) any of our tenants or (ii) any tenant of one of our direct or indirect subsidiaries, to the extent such ownership would cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT, or our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or our otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT will be void ab initio and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in such shares of stock and, if such voidness is not effective, the number of shares causing the violation (rounded up to the nearest whole share) will be transferred automatically to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries, and the intended transferee will not acquire any rights in the shares. The automatic transfer will be effective as of the close of business on the business day before the date of the attempted transfer or other event that resulted in a transfer to the trust. Our charter provides that if the transfer to the trust as described above does not occur or is not automatically effective, for any reason, to prevent a violation of the applicable restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, then the attempted transfer which, if effective, would have resulted in a violation on the restrictions of ownership and transfer of our stock, will be void ab initio and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in such shares of stock.
Our charter provides that shares of our stock held in the trust will be issued and outstanding shares. The intended transferee may not benefit economically from ownership of any shares of our stock held in the trust and will have no rights to dividends and no rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares of our stock held in the trust. The trustee of the trust will exercise all voting rights and receive all dividends and other distributions with respect to shares held in the trust for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary of the trust. Our charter provides that any dividend or other distribution paid before we discover that the shares have been transferred to a trust as described above must be repaid by the recipient to the trustee upon demand by us. Pursuant to our charter, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares have been transferred to the trust, the trustee will have the authority to rescind as void any vote cast by an intended transferee before our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trustee and to recast the vote in accordance with the direction of the trustee acting for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary of the trust.
Pursuant to our charter, within 20 days of receiving notice from us of a transfer of shares to the trust, the trustee must sell the shares to a person, designated by the trustee, that would be permitted to own the shares without violating the ownership limit or the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock in our
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charter. After such sale of the shares, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee must distribute to the intended transferee, an amount equal to the lesser of:
| • | the price paid by the intended transferee for the shares or, if the intended transferee did not give value for the shares in connection with the event that resulted in the transfer to the trust at the market price of the shares on the day of the event that resulted in the transfer of such shares to the trust; and |
| • | the sales proceeds received by the trustee for the shares. |
Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the intended transferee shall be paid to the charitable beneficiary.
Our charter provides that shares of our stock held in the trust will be deemed to be offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of:
| • | the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer to the trust or, in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction, at market price, at the time of such gift, devise or other such transaction; and |
| • | the market price on the date we accept, or our designee accepts, such offer. |
The amount payable to the transferee may be reduced by the amount of any dividends or other distributions that we paid to the intended transferee before we discovered that the shares had been transferred to the trust and that is owed by the intended transferee to the trustee as described above. We may accept the offer until the trustee has otherwise sold the shares of our stock held in the trust. Pursuant to our charter, upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee must distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the intended transferee and distribute any dividends or other distributions held by the trustee with respect to the shares to the charitable beneficiary.
Every owner of 5% or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of our stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, must give us written notice stating the person’s name and address, the number of shares of each class and series of our stock that the person beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each such owner also must provide us with any additional information that we request in order to determine the effect, if any, of the person’s beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limit. In addition, any person or entity that is a beneficial owner or constructive owner of shares of our stock and any person or entity (including the stockholder of record) who is holding shares of our stock for a beneficial owner or constructive owner will be required to, on request, disclose to us such information as we may request in order to determine our status as a REIT or to comply, or determine our compliance, with the requirements of any governmental or taxing authority.
If our board of directors authorizes any of our shares to be represented by certificates, the certificates will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.
These restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of us that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.
Redemption of Securities Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person or Affiliate
In addition to the restrictions set forth above, all of our outstanding shares of capital stock will be held subject to applicable gaming laws. Any person owning or controlling at least 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of our capital stock will be required to promptly notify us of such person’s identity. Our charter provides that any shares of our capital stock that are owned or controlled by an unsuitable person or an affiliate of an
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unsuitable person are redeemable by us, out of funds legally available for that redemption, to the extent required by the gaming authorities making the determination of unsuitability or to the extent determined to be necessary or advisable by our board of directors. From and after the redemption date, the securities will not be considered outstanding and all rights of the unsuitable person or affiliate will cease, other than the right to receive the redemption price. The redemption price with respect to any securities to be redeemed will be the price, if any, required to be paid by the gaming authority making the finding of unsuitability or if the gaming authority does not require a price to be paid (including if the finding of unsuitability is made by our board of directors alone), an amount that in no event exceeds (1) the market price of such securities as reported on a securities exchange, a generally recognized reporting system or domestic over-the-counter market, as applicable, or (ii) if such securities are not quoted by any recognized reporting system, then the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith and in the reasonable discretion of the board of directors. The redemption price may be paid in cash, by promissory note, or both, as required by the applicable gaming authority and, if not, as determined by us. If all or a portion of the redemption price is paid with a promissory note, such note shall have a ten year term, bear interest at 3% and amortize in 120 equal monthly installments and contain such other terms determined by our board.
Our charter provides that the redemption right is not exclusive and that our capital stock that is owned or controlled by an unsuitable person or an affiliate of an unsuitable person may also be transferred to a trust for the benefit of a designated charitable beneficiary, and that any such unsuitable person or affiliate will not be entitled to any dividends on the shares or be entitled to vote the shares or receive any proceeds from the subsequent sale of the shares in excess of the lesser of the price paid by the unsuitable person or affiliate for the shares or the amount realized from the sale, in each case less a discount in a percentage (up to 100%) to be determined by our board of directors in its sole and absolute discretion.
Our charter requires any unsuitable person and any affiliate of an unsuitable person to indemnify us and our affiliated companies for any and all losses, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by us and our affiliated companies as a result of the unsuitable person’s ownership or control or failure to promptly divest itself of any of our securities when and in the specific manner required by a gaming authority or by our charter.
Under our charter, an unsuitable person will be defined as one who (i) fails or refuses to file an application, or has withdrawn or requested the withdrawal of a pending application, to be found suitable by any gaming authority or for any gaming license, (ii) is denied or disqualified from eligibility for any gaming license by any gaming authority, (iii) is determined by any gaming authority to be unsuitable or disqualified to own or control any of our capital stock or the capital stock or any other equity securities of any of our affiliates, (iv) is determined by any gaming authority to be unsuitable to be affiliated, associated or involved with a person engaged in gaming activities or holding a gaming license in any gaming jurisdiction, (v) causes any gaming license of our company or any of our affiliates to be lost, rejected, rescinded, suspended, revoked or not renewed, or causes our company or any of our affiliates to be threatened by any gaming authority with the loss, rejection, rescission, suspension, revocation or non-renewal of any gaming license, or (vi) is deemed likely, in the sole and absolute discretion of our board, to preclude or materially delay, impede, impair, threaten or jeopardize any gaming license, cause or otherwise result in, the disapproval, cancellation, termination, material adverse modification or non-renewal of any material contract with a gaming authority to which our company or our affiliates is a party, or cause or otherwise result in the imposition of any materially burdensome or unacceptable terms or conditions on any gaming license of our company or any of our affiliates.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company.
Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Charter and Bylaws
The following summary of certain provisions of Maryland law and of our charter and bylaws is only a summary, and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, our charter and bylaws and the
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applicable provisions of the MGCL. Copies of our charter and bylaws are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Election and Removal of Directors
Our charter and bylaws provide that the number of our directors may be established only by our board of directors but may not be more than fifteen or fewer than the minimum number permitted by the MGCL, which is one. The number of directors is currently set at seven. Our bylaws provide for the election of directors, in uncontested elections, by a majority of the votes cast. In contested elections, the election of directors shall be by a plurality of the votes cast. Our bylaws provide that a director may not be an “unsuitable person” as defined in our charter, and that the term of office of any director found by our board of directors to be an unsuitable person will expire.
Our bylaws provide that any vacancy on our board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum of the board of directors except that a vacancy created by the removal of a director by stockholders may also be filled by the requisite vote or consent of stockholders set forth in our bylaws.
Our charter also provides that, subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock to elect one or more directors, a director may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding a majority of all of the shares of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Amendment to Charter and Bylaws
Except as provided in our charter, including with respect to indemnification and limitation of liability and amendments to our charter affecting these provisions, which must each be advised by our board of directors and receive the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast 75% of all the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors, amendments to our charter must be advised by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of our stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Each of our board of directors and our stockholders, by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of all shares then outstanding and entitled to be cast on the matter, have the power to amend our bylaws.
Business Combinations
Under the MGCL, certain “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, and, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:
| • | any person who beneficially, directly or indirectly, owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock; or |
| • | an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period before the date in question, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s then outstanding voting stock. |
A person is not an interested stockholder under the MGCL if the corporation’s board of directors approves in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. In approving the 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.
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After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and the interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the corporation’s board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
| • | 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and |
| • | two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder. |
These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under the MGCL, 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 MGCL provides various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Our charter provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of our charter or our bylaws, the Maryland Business Combination Act (Title 3, Subtitle 6 of the MGCL) will not apply to any business combination between us and any interested stockholder of ours and that we expressly elect not to be governed by the provisions of Section 3-602 of the MGCL in whole or in part. Any amendment to such provision of our charter must be advised by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the supermajority vote requirements will not apply to a business combination between us and any other person. As a result, any person described in the preceding sentence may be able to enter into a business combination with us that may not be in the best interests of our stockholders, without compliance with the supermajority vote requirements and other provisions of the statute. We cannot assure you that this provision of our charter will not be amended or repealed in the future. In that event, business combinations between us and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder would be subject to the five-year prohibition and the super-majority vote requirements.
Control Share Acquisitions
The Maryland control share acquisition statute provides that a holder of control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition has no voting rights with respect to the control shares except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquirer, by officers or by employees who are directors of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise or direct voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:
| • | one-tenth or more but less than one-third; |
| • | one-third or more but less than a majority; or |
| • | a majority or more of all voting power. |
Control shares do not include shares the acquirer is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval or shares acquired directly from us. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of directors of the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the
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voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquirer does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may, subject to certain limitations and conditions, redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last acquisition of control shares by the acquiring person in a control share acquisition; or, if a meeting of stockholders is held at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved, then as of the date of the meeting. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of a majority of the voting power, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.
The 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 charter or bylaws of the corporation.
Our bylaws contain a provision exempting any acquisition of our stock by any person from the foregoing provisions on control shares. In the event that our bylaws are amended by our stockholders to modify or eliminate this provision, acquisitions of our common stock may constitute a control share acquisition and may be subject to the control share acquisition statute.
Subtitle 8
Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL (“Subtitle 8”) permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and at least three independent directors to elect, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and without the need for stockholder approval, and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, unless the charter or a resolution adopted by the board of directors prohibits such election, to be subject to any or all of five provisions, including:
| • | a classified board of directors; |
| • | a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director; |
| • | a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the board of directors; |
| • | a requirement that a vacancy on the board of directors be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies; and |
| • | a provision that a special meeting of stockholders must be called upon stockholder request only on the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting. |
We do not currently have a classified board. Our charter provides that we are prohibited from electing to be subject to any or all of the provisions of Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL unless such election is first approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders of not less than a majority of all shares of ours then outstanding and entitled to be cast on the matter.
Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already (1) vest in our board of directors the exclusive power to fix the number of directors, and (2) require the request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting to call a special meeting (unless the special meeting is called by our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors, our president or chief executive officer as described below under “—Special Meetings of Stockholders”).
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Special Meetings of Stockholders
Our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors, our president or our chief executive officer may call a special meeting of our stockholders. Our bylaws provide that a special meeting of our stockholders to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of our stockholders must also be called by our secretary upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at the meeting and containing the information required by our bylaws.
Stockholder Action by Written Consent
The MGCL generally provides that, unless the charter of the corporation authorizes stockholder action by less than unanimous consent, stockholder action may be taken by consent in lieu of a meeting only if it is given by all stockholders entitled to vote on the matter. Our charter permits stockholder action by consent in lieu of a meeting to the extent permitted by our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders of common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors may be taken without a meeting (a) if a unanimous consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders or (b) if the action is advised, and submitted to the stockholders for approval, by our board and a consent in writing or by electronic transmission of stockholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting of stockholders is delivered to us in accordance with the MGCL. We will be required to give notice of any action taken by less than unanimous consent to each stockholder not later than ten days after the effective time of such action.
Competing Interests and Activities of Our Directors or Officers
Our charter provides that we have the power to renounce, by resolution of the board of directors, any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities or classes or categories of business opportunities that are (i) presented to us or (ii) developed by or presented to one or more of our directors or officers.
Advance Notice of Director Nomination and New Business
Our bylaws provide that nominations of individuals for election as directors and proposals of business to be considered by stockholders at any annual meeting may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by or at the direction of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors or (3) by any stockholder present in person or by proxy who was a stockholder of record at the time of provision of notice by the stockholders and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of the individuals so nominated or on such other proposed business, who is not an “unsuitable person” as defined in our charter, and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of our bylaws. Stockholders generally must provide notice to our secretary not earlier than the 150th day or later than the close of business on the 120th day before the first anniversary of the date of our proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting.
Only the business specified in the notice of the meeting may be brought before a special meeting of our stockholders. Nominations of individuals for election as directors at a special meeting of stockholders may be made only (1) by or at the direction of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors or (2) if the special meeting has been called in accordance with our bylaws for the purpose of electing directors, by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record both at the time of provision of notice and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of our bylaws. Stockholders generally must provide notice to our secretary not earlier than the 120th day before such special meeting or later than the later of the close of business on the 90th day before such special meeting or the tenth day after the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting and the nominees of our board of directors to be elected at the meeting.
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A stockholder’s notice must contain certain information specified by our bylaws about the stockholder, its affiliates and any proposed business or nominee for election as a director, including information about the economic interest of the stockholder, its affiliates and any proposed nominee in us.
Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and our Charter and Bylaws
The restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock discussed under the caption “—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of our Common Stock” prohibit any person from acquiring, with respect to any class or series of our capital stock, more than 9.8% (in value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of such class or series of our capital stock without the approval of our board of directors. These provisions may delay, defer or prevent a change in control of us. Further, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock, our board of directors has the power to increase the aggregate number of authorized shares, or the number of authorized shares of any class or series, and classify and reclassify any unissued shares of our stock into other classes or series of stock, and to authorize us to issue the newly-classified shares, as discussed under the captions “—Common Stock” and “—Power to Reclassify and Issue Stock,” and could authorize the issuance of shares of common stock or another class or series of stock, including a class or series of preferred stock, that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us. We believe that the power to increase the aggregate number of authorized shares and to classify or reclassify unissued shares of common or preferred stock, without approval of holders of our common stock, provides us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise.
Our charter and bylaws also provide that the number of directors may be established only by our board of directors, which prevents our stockholders from increasing the number of our directors and filling any vacancies created by such increase with their own nominees. The provisions of our bylaws discussed above under the captions “—Special Meetings of Stockholders” and “—Advance Notice of Director Nomination and New Business” require stockholders seeking to call a special meeting, nominate an individual for election as a director or propose other business at an annual meeting to comply with certain notice and information requirements. We believe that these provisions will help to assure the continuity and stability of our business strategies and policies as determined by our board of directors and promote good corporate governance by providing us with clear procedures for calling special meetings, information about a stockholder proponent’s interest in us and adequate time to consider stockholder nominees and other business proposals. However, these provisions, alone or in combination, could make it more difficult for our stockholders to remove incumbent directors or fill vacancies on our board of directors with their own nominees and could delay, defer or prevent a change in control, including a proxy contest or tender offer that might involve a premium price for our common stockholders or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.
Exclusive Forum
Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division, will be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any of our present or former directors or officers or other employees or stockholders to us or to our stockholders, as applicable, or any standard of conduct applicable to our directors, (c) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our present or former directors or officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL or our charter or bylaws or (d) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our present or former directors or officers or other employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Maryland law permits us to include a provision in our charter eliminating the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an
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improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) a final judgment based upon a finding that his or her action or failure to act was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty by the director or officer and was material to the cause of action adjudicated. Our charter contains a provision that eliminates our directors’ and officers’ liability to us and our stockholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
The MGCL requires us (unless our charter were to provide otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits us to indemnify our present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a part to, or witness in, by reason of their service in those or certain other capacities unless it is established that:
| • | the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; |
| • | the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or |
| • | in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. |
However, the MGCL prohibits us from indemnifying a director or officer who has been adjudged liable in a suit by us or on our behalf or in which the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the standard of conduct for indemnification set forth above or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. However, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by us or on our behalf, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.
In addition, the MGCL permits us to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon our receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
Our charter provides that we will have the power to obligate ourselves, and our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to:
| • | any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or |
| • | any individual who, while a director or officer of our company and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, member or manager of another corporation, REIT, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. |
Our charter and bylaws provide that we have the power, with approval of our board, to provide such indemnification and advance of expenses to a person who served a predecessor of us in any such capacity described above and to any employee or agent of us or a predecessor of us.
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Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into an indemnification agreement with each of our directors and executive officers. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors or executive officers, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.
We have purchased and maintain insurance on behalf of all of our directors and executive officers against liability asserted against or incurred by them in their official capacities, whether or not we are required to have the power to indemnify them against the same liability.
Description of Our Operating Partnership Agreement
We have summarized the material terms of the limited partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership. This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the limited partnership agreement of VICI Properties L.P., a form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
General
Our Operating Partnership, VICI Properties L.P., is a Delaware limited partnership. All of our assets (other than the golf course assets), are held by, and all of our operations (other than the golf course operations) are and will be conducted through, our Operating Partnership, either directly or through subsidiaries. VICI Properties GP LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, is the sole General Partner of our Operating Partnership.
In the future, some of our property acquisitions could be financed by issuing partnership units in exchange for property owned by third parties. Such third parties would then be entitled to share in cash distributions from, and in the profits and losses of, our Operating Partnership in proportion to their respective percentage interests in our Operating Partnership. Holders of outstanding partnership units will, on the twelve-month anniversary of a limited partner first becoming a holder of common units of the Operating Partnership (subject to the terms of the limited partnership agreement), have the right to elect to redeem their partnership units for cash, based upon the value of an equivalent number of shares of our common stock at the time of the election to redeem, subject to our right to acquire the partnership units tendered for redemption in exchange for an equivalent number of shares of our common stock, subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock to be set forth in our charter. The partnership units will not be listed on any securities exchange or quoted on any inter-dealer quotation system.
Provisions in the limited partnership agreement may delay or make more difficult unsolicited acquisitions of us or changes in our control. These provisions could discourage third parties from making proposals involving an unsolicited acquisition of us or change of our control, although some stockholders might consider such proposals, if made, desirable. These provisions also make it more difficult for third parties to alter the management structure of our Operating Partnership without the concurrence of our board of directors. These provisions include, among others:
| • | redemption rights of limited partners and certain assignees of partnership units or other Operating Partnership interests; |
| • | transfer restrictions on partnership units and restrictions on admission of partners; |
| • | a requirement that VICI Properties GP LLC may not be removed as the General Partner of our Operating Partnership without its consent; |
| • | the ability of the General Partner in some cases to amend the limited partnership agreement and to cause our Operating Partnership to issue preferred partnership interests in our Operating Partnership with terms that it may determine, in either case, without the approval or consent of any limited partner; and |
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| • | the right of any future limited partners to consent to transfers of units of other Operating Partnership interests except under specified circumstances, including in connection with mergers, consolidations and other business combinations involving us. |
Purpose, Business and Management
Our Operating Partnership is formed for the purpose of conducting any business, enterprise or activity permitted by or under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “DRULPA”), including (1) to conduct the business of ownership, construction, reconstruction, development, redevelopment, alteration, improvement, maintenance, operation, sale, leasing, transfer, encumbrance, financing, refinancing, conveyance and exchange of any asset or property of the Operating Partnership, (2) to acquire or invest in any securities and/or loans relating to such properties, (3) to enter into any partnership, joint venture, business or statutory trust arrangement, limited liability company or other similar arrangement to engage in any business permitted by or under the DRULPA, or to own interests in any entity engaged in any business permitted by or under the DRULPA, (4) to conduct the business of providing property and asset management and brokerage services, and (5) to do anything necessary or incidental to the foregoing. However, our Operating Partnership may not, without the General Partner’s specific consent, which it may give or withhold in its sole and absolute discretion, take, or refrain from taking, any action that, in its judgment, in its sole and absolute discretion:
| • | could adversely affect our ability to continue to qualify as a REIT; |
| • | could subject us to any taxes under Code Section 857 or Code Section 4981 or any other related or successor provision under the Code; |
| • | could violate any law or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over us or our securities or our Operating Partnership; or |
| • | could cause us not to be in compliance in all material respects with any covenants, conditions or restrictions pursuant to an agreement to which we are party unless we have provided our consent to such action. |
The General Partner is accountable to our Operating Partnership as a fiduciary and consequently must exercise good faith and integrity in handling partnership affairs. If there is a conflict between our interests or the interests of our stockholders, on the one hand, and the Operating Partnership or any current or future limited partners, on the other hand, the General Partner will endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either us or our stockholders or any limited partners; provided, however, that any conflict that cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either us or our stockholders or any limited partners shall be resolved in favor of us and our stockholders. The limited partners of our Operating Partnership expressly acknowledge that VICI Properties GP LLC, as General Partner of our Operating Partnership, is acting for the benefit of the Operating Partnership, the limited partners and our stockholders collectively. Neither our company nor our board of directors will be under any obligation to give priority to the separate interests of the limited partners or our stockholders in deciding whether to cause our Operating Partnership to take or decline to take any actions, except as described above. The limited partners agree that our status as a REIT and as a reporting company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act is of benefit to the Operating Partnership and that all actions taken in good faith by the General Partner in support thereof shall be deemed actions taken for the benefit of the Operating Partnership and all partners including the limited partners.
The limited partnership agreement also provides that the General Partner will not be liable to our Operating Partnership, its partners or any other person bound by the limited partnership agreement for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by our Operating Partnership or any limited partner, except for any such losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived as a result of (i) an act or omission on the part of the General Partner that was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (ii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, an act or omission on the part of the General Partner that it had reasonable cause to believe was unlawful; or (iii) for any loss resulting from any transaction
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for which the General Partner actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services in violation or breach of any provision of the limited partnership agreement. Moreover, the limited partnership agreement will provide that our Operating Partnership is required to indemnify the General Partner and its members, managers, managing members, officers, employees, agents and designees from and against any and all claims that relate to the operations of our Operating Partnership, except (1) if the act or omission of the person was material to the matter giving rise to the action and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active or deliberate dishonesty, (2) for any transaction for which the indemnified party received an improper personal benefit, in money, property or services in violation or breach of any provision of the limited partnership agreement or (3) in the case of a criminal proceeding, if the indemnified person had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in the limited partnership agreement and subject to the rights of future holders of any class or series of partnership interest, all management powers over the business and affairs of our Operating Partnership are exclusively vested in VICI Properties GP LLC, in its capacity as the sole General Partner of our Operating Partnership. No limited partner, in its capacity as a limited partner, has any right to participate in or exercise management power over the business and affairs of our Operating Partnership (provided, however, that we, in our capacity as the sole member of the General Partner and not in our capacity as a limited partner of the Operating Partnership, may have the power to direct the actions of the General Partner with respect to the Operating Partnership). VICI Properties GP LLC may not be removed as the General Partner of our Operating Partnership, with or without cause, without its consent, which it may give or withhold in its sole and absolute discretion. In addition to the powers granted to the General Partner under applicable law or any provision of the limited partnership agreement, but subject to certain other provisions of the limited partnership agreement and the rights of future holders of any class or series of partnership interest, VICI Properties GP LLC, in its capacity as the General Partner of our Operating Partnership, has the full and exclusive power and authority to do all things that it deems necessary or desirable to conduct the business and affairs of our Operating Partnership, to exercise or direct the exercise of all of the powers of our Operating Partnership and to effectuate the purposes of our Operating Partnership without the approval or consent of any limited partner. The General Partner may authorize our Operating Partnership to incur debt and enter into credit, guarantee, financing or refinancing arrangements for any purpose, including, without limitation, in connection with any acquisition of properties, on such terms as it determines to be appropriate, and to acquire or dispose of any, all or substantially all of its assets (including goodwill), dissolve, merge, consolidate, reorganize or otherwise combine with another entity, without the approval or consent of any limited partner. With limited exceptions, the General Partner may execute, deliver and perform agreements and transactions on behalf of our Operating Partnership without the approval or consent of any limited partner.
The limited partnership agreement provides that our Operating Partnership will assume and pay when due, or reimburse us for payment of all costs and expenses relating to the operations of, or for the benefit of, our Operating Partnership.
Additional Limited Partners
The General Partner of our Operating Partnership may cause our Operating Partnership to issue additional partnership units or other partnership interests and to admit additional limited partners to our Operating Partnership from time to time, on such terms and conditions and for such capital contributions as it may establish in its sole and absolute discretion, without the approval or consent of any limited partner, including:
| • | upon the conversion, redemption or exchange of any debt, partnership units or other partnership interests or securities issued by our Operating Partnership; |
| • | for less than fair market value; or |
| • | in connection with any merger of any other entity into our Operating Partnership. |
The net capital contribution need not be equal for all limited partners. Each person admitted as an additional limited partner must make certain representations to each other partner relating to, among other matters, such
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person’s ownership of any tenant of our Operating Partnership. No person may be admitted as an additional limited partner without the consent of the General Partner, which the General Partner may give or withhold in its sole and absolute discretion, and no approval or consent of any limited partner will be required in connection with the admission of any additional limited partner.
Our Operating Partnership may issue additional partnership interests in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, with such designations, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption (including, without limitation, terms that may be senior or otherwise entitled to preference over the units) as the general partner may determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, without the approval of any limited partner or any other person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the General Partner may specify, as to any such class or series of partnership interest:
| • | the allocations of items of partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of partnership interest; |
| • | the right of each such class or series of partnership interest to share, on a junior, senior or pari passu basis, in distributions; |
| • | the rights of each such class or series of partnership interest upon dissolution and liquidation of our Operating Partnership; |
| • | the voting rights, if any, of each such class or series of partnership interest; and |
| • | the conversion, redemption or exchange rights applicable to each such class or series of partnership interest. |
Transferability of Interests
Except in connection with a transaction described in “—Termination Transactions,” VICI Properties GP LLC, as General Partner, may not voluntarily withdraw from our Operating Partnership, or transfer or assign all or any portion of its interest in our Operating Partnership, without the consent of the holders of a majority of the limited partnership interests (excluding units owned directly or indirectly by us). Holders of limited partnership units do not vote on matters submitted to our stockholders for approval and do not generally vote on actions to be taken by the Operating Partnership, except as set forth in the preceding sentence, and as set forth below, See “—Amendments of the Limited Partnership Agreement,” “—Termination Transactions,” and “Dissolution.” The limited partners agree not to sell, assign, encumber or otherwise dispose of their Operating Partnership units to any person (other than to us, or the General Partner, to immediate family members or any trust for their benefit, to affiliates of such partner, including, without limitation, any entity controlled by such partner, to a charitable entity or a trust for their benefit, or to a lending institution as collateral for a bona fide loan, subject to certain limitations) unless they have provided the General Partner a right of first offer. All transfers must be made only to “accredited investors” as defined under Rule 501 of the Securities Act or otherwise in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Amendments of the Limited Partnership Agreement
Amendments to the limited partnership agreement may be proposed by our General Partner, or by the limited partners owning at least 50% of the partnership units held by the limited partners (including units held directly or indirectly by us). Generally, the limited partnership agreement may not be amended, modified or terminated without the approval of both the General Partner and limited partners holding a majority of all outstanding partnership units held by the limited partners (other than, in each case, Operating Partnership units owned directly or indirectly by us). The General Partner has the power to unilaterally make certain amendments to the limited partnership agreement without obtaining the consent of the limited partners as may be required to:
| • | add to its obligations as General Partner or surrender any right or power granted to it as General Partner or any of our affiliates for the benefit of the limited partners; |
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| • | reflect the issuance of additional partnership units, transfer of any partnership interest or the admission, substitution, termination or withdrawal of limited partners in each case in accordance with the terms of the limited partnership agreement; |
| • | reflect a change of an inconsequential nature that does not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect, or cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions of the limited partnership agreement not inconsistent with law or with other provisions of the limited partnership agreement, or make other changes concerning matters under the limited partnership agreement that will not otherwise be inconsistent with the limited partnership agreement or law; |
| • | set forth or amend the designations, rights, preferences, privileges and other terms and conditions of any new class of partnership interest permitted to be issued under the limited partnership agreement; |
| • | satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines of U.S. federal or state law; |
| • | reflect changes that are reasonably necessary for us to maintain our status as a REIT or to satisfy REIT requirements, reflect the transfer of all or any part of a partnership interest among the General Partner and any entity disregarded as separate from the General Partner for tax purposes or to ensure that the Operating Partnership will not be classified as a publicly traded partnership for tax purposes; |
| • | modify the manner in which capital accounts are computed or net income or net loss are allocated; or |
| • | to reflect any other modification as is reasonably necessary for the business or operation of the Operating Partnership or the General Partner, which does not violate the restrictions on the General Partner. |
Amendments that would, among other things, convert a limited partner’s interest into a General Partner’s interest, modify the limited liability of a limited partner, adversely alter a partner’s right to receive any distributions or allocations of profits or losses, adversely alter or modify the redemption rights, reduce any limited partner’s right to indemnity, create any liability of a limited partner, amend these restrictions or admit any other person as a General Partner other than in accordance with the successor provisions of the limited partnership agreement or alter the protections of the limited partners in connection with Termination Transactions described below, in each case, must be approved by each limited partner that would be adversely affected by such amendment.
In addition, without the written consent of a majority of the partnership units held by limited partners (excluding units owned directly or indirectly by us), the General Partner, may not do any of the following:
| • | take any action in contravention of an express prohibition or limitation contained in the limited partnership agreement; |
| • | perform any act that would subject a limited partner to liability as a General Partner in any jurisdiction or any liability not contemplated in the limited partnership agreement; |
| • | enter into any contract, mortgage loan or other agreement that prohibits or restricts, or has the effect of prohibiting or restricting, the ability of a limited partner to exercise its redemption/exchange rights explained below; or |
| • | withdraw from the Operating Partnership or transfer any portion of its general partnership interest. |
Distributions to Unitholders
The limited partnership agreement provides that holders of partnership units will be entitled to receive distributions of 100% of available cash, at least quarterly, on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of partnership units held by each of them and by us (subject to the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of any class of preferred partnership interests that may be authorized and issued after the offering). In the event that we declare and pay any dividend of cash or assets to holders of our common stock from the cash flow or
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assets of VICI Golf, each limited partner (other than us) will be paid in preference to any distribution to which we are entitled, an amount equal to the portion of any such dividend, which such limited partner would have received on account of our common stock, which such limited partner would have received if such limited partner’s units had been redeemed for shares of our common stock.
Redemption/Exchange Rights
Each limited partner shall have the right, commencing on the first anniversary of the issuance of the applicable partnership units, to require our Operating Partnership to redeem part or all of its partnership units for cash based upon the fair market value of an equivalent number of shares of our common stock at the time of the redemption. Alternatively, we may elect to acquire those partnership units in exchange for shares of our common stock. Any such exchange will be on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, issuances of stock rights, specified extraordinary distributions and similar events. Commencing on the first anniversary of the issuance of the applicable partnership units, limited partners who hold partnership units may exercise this redemption right from time to time, in whole or in part, except when, as a consequence of shares of our common stock being issued, any person’s actual or constructive stock ownership would exceed our ownership limits, or any other limit as provided in our charter or as otherwise determined by our board of directors as described under the section entitled “Description of Capital Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”
In addition, if the number of partnership units delivered by a limited partner for redemption, together with other shares of our common stock owned or attributed to that limited partner, exceeds 9.8% of the outstanding shares of any class or series of our capital stock (in value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) and we are eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, then we may also elect to redeem the partnership units with the proceeds from a public offering or private placement of our common stock. In the event we elect this option, we may require the other limited partners to also elect whether or not to participate. Participating limited partners will receive on the redemption date the proceeds per share in the public offering (less any discount or commission), but will have a limited opportunity to withdraw their partnership units from the redemption immediately prior to the pricing of the public offering.
Capital Contributions
The limited partnership agreement provides that the General Partner may determine that, subsequent to the Formation Date, our Operating Partnership requires additional funds for the acquisition of additional properties or for other purposes. Under the limited partnership agreement, we are obligated to contribute the proceeds of any offering of our shares of stock as additional capital to our Operating Partnership, except, among other circumstances, in the event that the proceeds from such offering are used to operate or invest in assets of the golf course properties owned by VICI Golf on the Formation Date and only if such proceeds would exceed an amount yet to be determined.
The limited partnership agreement provides that we may make additional capital contributions, including properties, to our Operating Partnership in exchange for additional partnership units. If we contribute additional capital and receive additional partnership interests for the capital contribution, our percentage interests will be increased on a proportionate basis based on the amount of the additional capital contributions and the value of our Operating Partnership at the time of the contributions. Conversely, the percentage interests of the other limited partners will be decreased on a proportionate basis. In addition, if we contribute additional capital and receive additional partnership interests for the capital contribution, the capital accounts of the partners may be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any unrealized gain or loss attributable to the properties as if there were an actual sale of the properties at the fair market value thereof. No person has any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to making additional capital contributions or loans to the Operating Partnership or the issuance or sale of any partnership units or other partnership interests.
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Our Operating Partnership could issue preferred partnership interests in connection with acquisitions of property or otherwise. Any such preferred partnership interests would have priority over common partnership interests with respect to distributions from our Operating Partnership, including the partnership interests that we own.
Tax Matters
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, our Operating Partnership is viewed as “disregarded as an entity separate from its owner,” VICI, which will beneficially own 100% of the equity interests of our Operating Partnership. As a result, all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the Operating Partnership will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of VICI itself, including for purposes of the gross income and asset tests applicable to VICI. However, in the future, if one or more third-party investors are admitted as partners of the Operating Partnership, it will be classified as a partnership for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, in which case VICI Properties GP LLC will serve as the tax matters partner or partnership representative of our Operating Partnership and, as such, will have authority to make tax elections under the Code on behalf of our Operating Partnership.
Termination Transactions
The limited partnership agreement provides that VICI shall not and the Operating Partnership shall not engage in any merger, consolidation or other combination with or into another person, sale of all or substantially all of its assets or any reclassification or any recapitalization or change in outstanding shares of our common stock or the Operating Partnership’s partnership interests (a “termination transaction”), unless in connection with a termination transaction,
(A) all limited partners will receive, or have the right to elect to receive, for each partnership unit an amount of cash, securities or other property equal to the product of:
| • | the number of shares of our common stock into which each partnership unit is then exchangeable, and |
| • | the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid to the holder of one share of our common stock in consideration of one share of our common stock in connection with the termination transaction, |
provided that, if, in connection with a termination transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer is made to and accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, each holder of partnership units will receive, or will have the right to elect to receive, the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property which such holder would have received had it exercised its redemption right and received shares of our common stock in exchange for its partnership units immediately prior to the expiration of such purchase, tender or exchange offer and accepted such purchase, tender or exchange offer; or
(B) the following conditions are met:
| • | substantially all of the assets of the surviving entity are held directly or indirectly by our Operating Partnership or another limited partnership or limited liability company which is the surviving partnership of a merger, consolidation or combination of assets with our Operating Partnership; |
| • | the holders of partnership units own a percentage interest of the surviving partnership based on the relative fair market value of the net assets of our Operating Partnership and the other net assets of the surviving partnership immediately prior to the consummation of this transaction; |
| • | the rights, preferences and privileges of such unit holders in the surviving partnership are at least as favorable as those in effect immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction and as those applicable to any other limited partners or non-managing members of the surviving partnership; and |
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| • | the limited partners may exchange their interests in the surviving partnership for either the consideration available to the limited partners pursuant to the first paragraph in this section, or the right to redeem their common units for cash on terms equivalent to those in effect with respect to their units immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction or if the ultimate controlling person of the surviving partnership has publicly traded common equity securities, shares of those common equity securities, at an exchange ratio based on the relative fair market value of those securities and our common stock; or |
(C) the terms are otherwise consented to by the limited partners holding a majority of the limited partnership units (excluding units owned directly or indirectly by us).
Dissolution
Our Operating Partnership will dissolve, and its affairs will be wound up, upon the first to occur of any of the following:
| • | an event of withdrawal, as defined in DRULPA, including, without limitation, by reason of the bankruptcy of our General Partner, unless, within 90 days after the withdrawal, a majority of interest of the remaining partners agree in writing to continue the business of our Operating Partnership and to the appointment, effective as of the date of withdrawal, of a successor General Partner; |
| • | an election to dissolve our Operating Partnership made by the General Partner, with the consent of the limited partners (including units owned directly or indirectly by us); or |
| • | the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of our Operating Partnership pursuant to the provisions of DRULPA. |
Upon dissolution of our Operating Partnership, the General Partner, or, in the event that there is no remaining General Partner, a liquidator will proceed to liquidate the assets of our Operating Partnership and apply the proceeds from such liquidation in the order of priority set forth in the limited partnership agreement.
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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS
The following description contains general terms and provisions of stock purchase contracts to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the stock purchase contracts offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may not apply to the stock purchase contracts so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such stock purchase contracts. For more information, please refer to the provisions of the stock purchase contract, a form of which we will file with the SEC at or prior to the time of the sale of the stock purchase contracts. For information on incorporation by reference, and how to obtain copies of these documents, see the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
We may issue stock purchase contracts, which are contracts obligating holders to purchase from or sell to us, and obligating us to purchase from or sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of our common stock or preferred stock at a future date or dates. The price per share of common stock or preferred stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula contained in the stock purchase contracts. We may issue stock purchase contracts in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish.
The prospectus supplement may contain, where applicable, the following information about the stock purchase contracts issued under it:
| • | whether the stock purchase contracts obligate the holder to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, our common stock or preferred stock and the nature and amount of common stock or preferred stock, or the method of determining that amount; |
| • | whether the stock purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not; |
| • | whether the stock purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of our common stock or preferred stock; |
| • | any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the stock purchase contracts; and |
| • | whether the stock purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form. |
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts. The preceding description and any description of stock purchase contracts in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the stock purchase contract agreement and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depository arrangements relating to such stock purchase contracts.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
The following description contains general terms and provisions of depositary shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the depositary shares offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may not apply to the depositary shares so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such depositary shares. For more information, please refer to the provisions of the deposit agreement, a form of which we will file with the SEC at or prior to the time of the sale of the depositary shares. For information on incorporation by reference, and how to obtain copies of these documents, see the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
General
We may issue receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest of a share of a particular series of preferred stock, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Shares of preferred stock of each series represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement among us, the depositary named therein and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts. Subject to the terms of the applicable deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary receipt will be entitled, in proportion to the fractional interest of a share of a particular series of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipt, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares (including dividend, voting, conversion, redemption and liquidation rights).
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the applicable deposit agreement. Immediately following the issuance and delivery of the preferred stock by us to a depositary, we will cause such depositary to issue, on our behalf, the depositary receipts. Copies of the applicable form of deposit agreement and depositary receipt may be obtained from us upon request, and the statements made hereunder relating to the deposit agreement and the depositary receipts to be issued thereunder are summaries of certain provisions thereof and do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the applicable deposit agreement and related depositary receipts.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the preferred stock to the record holders of depositary receipts evidencing the related depositary shares in proportion to the number of such depositary receipts owned by such holders, subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the depositary. The depositary, however, will distribute only such amount as can be distributed without attributing to any depositary share a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed will be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to record holders of depositary receipts then outstanding.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts entitled thereto, subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the depositary, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt any other method for such distribution as it deems equitable and appropriate, including the sale of such property (at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem equitable and appropriate) and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.
No distribution will be made in respect of any depositary share to the extent that it represents any preferred stock converted into other securities.
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Withdrawal of Stock
Upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the applicable depositary (unless the related depositary shares have previously been called for redemption or converted into other securities), the holders thereof will be entitled to delivery at such office, to or upon such holder’s order, of the number of whole or fractional shares of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts. Holders of depositary receipts will be entitled to receive whole or fractional shares of preferred stock on the basis of the proportion of preferred stock represented by each depositary share as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, but holders of such preferred stock will not thereafter be entitled to receive depositary shares therefor. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing such excess number of depositary shares.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
Whenever we redeem preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing preferred stock so redeemed, provided we shall have paid in full to the depositary the redemption price of the preferred stock to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the corresponding proportion of the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable with respect to the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional depositary shares) or by any other equitable method determined by us that will not result in a violation of the ownership restrictions in our declaration of trust. See “Description of Capital Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”
From and after the date fixed for redemption, all dividends in respect of the preferred stock so called for redemption will cease to accrue, the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares so called for redemption will cease, except the right to receive any moneys payable upon such redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of such depositary receipts were entitled upon such redemption and surrender thereof to the depositary.
Voting of the Shares of Preferred Stock
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the class or series of preferred stock represented by the applicable series of depositary shares are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in such notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares that represent such preferred stock. Each record holder of depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will vote the amount of preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will abstain from voting the amount of preferred stock represented by such depositary shares to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary receipts evidencing such depositary shares. The depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote, or for the manner or effect of any such vote made, as long as any such action or non-action is in good faith and does not result from negligence or willful misconduct of the depositary.
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Liquidation Preference
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of each depositary receipt will be entitled to the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share evidenced by such depositary receipt, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Conversion of Shares of Preferred Stock
The depositary shares, as such, are not convertible into common stock or any of our other securities or property. Nevertheless, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of depositary shares, the depositary receipts may be surrendered by holders thereof to the depositary with written instructions to the depositary to instruct us to cause conversion of the shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts into whole shares of common stock, other preferred stock, and we agree that upon receipt of such instructions and any amounts payable in respect thereof, we will cause the conversion thereof utilizing the same procedures as those provided for delivery of preferred stock to effect such conversion. If the depositary shares evidenced by a depositary receipt are to be converted in part only, a new depositary receipt or receipts will be issued for any depositary shares not to be converted. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon conversion, and if such conversion would result in a fractional share being issued, an amount will be paid in cash by us equal to the value of the fractional interest based upon the closing price of the common stock on the last business day prior to the conversion.
Amendment and Termination of Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares which represent the preferred stock and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary receipts or that would be materially and adversely inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the related preferred stock will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the existing holders of at least two-thirds of the applicable depositary shares evidenced by the applicable depositary receipts then outstanding. No amendment shall impair the right, subject to certain exceptions in the deposit agreement, of any holder of depositary receipts to surrender any depositary receipt with instructions to deliver to the holder the related preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with law. Every holder of an outstanding depositary receipt at the time any such amendment becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended thereby.
The deposit agreement may be terminated by us upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to the depositary if (i) such termination is necessary to preserve our status as a REIT or (ii) a majority of each series of preferred stock affected by such termination consents to such termination, whereupon the depositary shall deliver or make available to each holder of depositary receipts, upon surrender of the depositary receipts held by such holder, such number of whole or fractional shares of preferred stock as are represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts together with any other property held by the depositary with respect to such depositary receipts. We have agreed that if the deposit agreement is terminated to preserve our status as a REIT, then we will use our best efforts to list the preferred stock issued upon surrender of the related depositary shares on a national securities exchange. In addition, the deposit agreement will automatically terminate if (i) all outstanding depositary shares shall have been redeemed, (ii) there shall have been a final distribution in respect of the related preferred stock in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and such distribution shall have been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares representing such preferred stock or (iii) each related preferred stock shall have been converted into our securities not so represented by depositary shares.
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Charges of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the deposit agreement. In addition, we will pay the fees and expenses of the depositary in connection with the performance of its duties under the deposit agreement. However, holders of depositary receipts will pay the fees and expenses of the depositary for any duties requested by such holders to be performed which are outside of those expressly provided for in the deposit agreement.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the depositary, any such resignation or removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary. A successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and that meets certain combined capital and surplus requirements.
Miscellaneous
The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts any notices, reports and communications from us which are received by the depositary with respect to the related preferred stock.
Neither the depositary nor us will be liable if it is prevented from or delayed in, by law or any circumstances beyond its control, performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of us and the depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performing their duties thereunder in good faith and without negligence (in the case of any action or inaction in the voting of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares), gross negligence or willful misconduct, and we and the depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary receipts, depositary shares or preferred stock represented thereby unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely on written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting preferred stock represented thereby for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed in good faith to be competent to give such information, and on documents believed in good faith to be genuine and signed by a proper party.
In the event the depositary shall receive conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any holders of depositary receipts, on the one hand, and us, on the other hand, the depositary shall be entitled to act on such claims, requests or instructions received from us.
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The following description contains general terms and provisions of warrants to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the warrants offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may not apply to the warrants so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants. For more information, please refer to the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant, forms of which we will file with the SEC at or prior to the time of the sale of the warrant. For information on incorporation by reference, and how to obtain copies of these documents, see the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
We may offer by means of this prospectus warrants for the purchase of our common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares representing preferred stock. We may issue warrants separately or together with any other securities offered by means of this prospectus, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent specified therein or the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, where applicable, of the warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
| • | the title and issuer of such warrants; |
| • | the aggregate number of such warrants; |
| • | the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued; |
| • | the currencies in which the price or prices of such warrants may be payable; |
| • | the designation, amount and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants; |
| • | the designation and terms of the other securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security; |
| • | if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants will be separately transferable; |
| • | the price or prices at which and currency or currencies in which the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| • | the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| • | a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
| • | any other material terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange and exercise of such warrants. |
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The following description contains general terms and provisions of rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the rights offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may not apply to the rights so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such rights. For more information, please refer to the provisions of the rights agreement and rights certificate, forms of which we will file with the SEC at or prior to the time of the sale of the rights. For information on incorporation by reference, and how to obtain copies of these documents, see the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
We may issue rights to our stockholders for the purchase of shares of our common stock. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of rights. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. The rights agreement and the rights certificates relating to each series of rights will be filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the rights to be issued, including the following, where applicable:
| • | the date for determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
| • | the aggregate number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of such rights and the exercise price; |
| • | the aggregate number of rights being issued; |
| • | the date, if any, on and after which such rights may be transferable separately; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise such rights shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| • | a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
| • | any other terms of such rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of such rights. |
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The following description contains general terms and provisions of units to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the units offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may not apply to the units so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such units. For more information, please refer to the provisions of the unit agreement and unit certificate, forms of which we will file with the SEC at or prior to the time of the sale of the units. For information on incorporation by reference, and how to obtain copies of these documents, see the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
We may issue units from time to time in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we determine. We will issue each series of units under a unit agreement to be entered into between us and a unit agent to be designated in the applicable prospectus supplement. When we refer to a series of units, we mean all units issued as part of the same series under the applicable unit agreement.
We may issue units consisting of any combination of two or more securities described in this prospectus. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. These units may be issuable as, and for a specified period of time may be transferable as, a single security only, rather than as the separate constituent securities comprising such units.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the units offered pursuant to it, including one or more of the following:
| • | the title of any series of units; |
| • | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units; |
| • | the aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the units and any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; |
| • | the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable; |
| • | whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form; |
| • | a description of the terms of any unit agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as unit agent, governing the units; |
| • | a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; |
| • | whether the units will be listed on any securities exchange; and |
| • | any other terms of the units and their constituent securities. |
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations of an Investment in VICI
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of an investment in our capital stock (“our stock”). For purposes of this section under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” references to “VICI,” “we,” “our” and “us” generally mean VICI Properties Inc. and its subsidiaries or other lower-tier entities, except as otherwise indicated, and references to “tenants” are to persons who are treated as lessees of real property for purposes of the REIT requirements. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury Regulations”), rulings and other administrative pronouncements issued by the IRS, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below. The summary is also based upon the assumption that we and our subsidiaries and affiliated entities will operate in accordance with our and their applicable organizational documents. This summary is for general information only and is not tax advice. It does not discuss any state, local or non-U.S. tax laws or the possible application of the alternative minimum tax, the 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income or U.S. federal gift or estate taxes, and it does not purport to discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a particular investor in light of its investment or tax circumstances or to investors subject to special tax rules, such as:
| • | banks, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, or other financial institutions; |
| • | dealers or brokers in securities or currencies; |
| • | partnerships, other pass-through entities and trusts, including REITs; |
| • | partners in partnerships holding our stock; |
| • | persons who hold our stock on behalf of other persons as nominees; |
| • | persons who receive our stock as compensation; |
| • | persons holding our stock as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction,” “synthetic security” or other integrated investment; |
| • | persons who are subject to alternative minimum tax; |
| • | tax-exempt organizations, except to the extent provided in “—Taxation of Stockholders—Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders” below; and |
| • | foreign investors, except to the extent provided in “—Taxation of Stockholders—Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders” below. |
In addition, this summary does not address tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of stock purchase contracts, stock represented by depository shares, warrants, rights, units representing an interest in two or more securities or debt securities. In the event we issue any such securities, the prospectus supplement will discuss the related tax considerations in greater detail.
This summary assumes that investors will hold shares of our stock as a capital asset, which generally means property held for investment.
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of holders of our stock depends in some instances on determinations of fact and interpretations of complex provisions of U.S. federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. In addition, the tax consequences to any particular investor holding our stock will depend on the investor’s particular tax circumstances. You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign income and other tax consequences to you in light of your particular investment or tax circumstances of acquiring, holding, exchanging,
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Taxation of VICI
We elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2017, upon the filing of our U.S. federal income tax return for such period. We believe that we are organized and operate in such a manner, and will continue to be organized and operate in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the applicable provisions of the Code.
Our qualification and taxation as a REIT depends on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual operating results, distribution levels, and diversity of share ownership, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Code. Our ability to qualify to be taxed as a REIT also requires that we satisfy certain asset tests, some of which depend upon the fair market values of assets that we own directly or indirectly. Such fair market values may not be susceptible to a precise determination. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any taxable year will satisfy such requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.
Taxation of REITs in General
As indicated above, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Code. The material qualification requirements are summarized below under “—Requirements for Qualification—General.” While we intend to operate so that we qualify and continue to qualify to be taxed as a REIT, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our qualification, or that we will be able to operate in accordance with the REIT requirements in the future. See “—Failure to Qualify,” below.
Provided that we qualify to be taxed as a REIT, generally we will be entitled to a deduction for distributions that we pay and therefore will not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our REIT taxable income that is currently distributed to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” at the corporate and stockholder levels that generally results from an investment in a “C corporation.” A C corporation is a corporation that generally is required to pay tax at the corporate level. Double taxation means taxation once at the corporate level when income is earned and once again at the stockholder level when the income is distributed. In general, the income that we generate (other than at any taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) of ours) is taxed only at the stockholder level upon a distribution to our stockholders.
Most U.S. stockholders (as defined below) that are individuals, trusts or estates are taxed on corporate dividends at a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% (the same as long-term capital gains). With limited exceptions, however, distributions from us or from other entities that are taxed as REITs are generally not eligible for this rate and will continue to be taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income, but non-corporate stockholders will generally be eligible for a deduction equal to 20% of such distributions. Currently, the highest marginal non-corporate U.S. federal income tax rate (exclusive of any Medicare tax, if applicable) applicable to ordinary income is 37% (before application of the 20% deduction which results in an effective 29.6% tax rate). See “—Taxation of Stockholders—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders—Distributions” below.
Any of our net operating losses, foreign tax credits and other tax attributes generated or incurred by us generally do not pass through to VICI stockholders, subject to special rules for certain items such as the undistributed but designated capital gain that we recognize. See “—Taxation of Stockholders—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders—Distributions” below.
If we qualify to be taxed as a REIT, we will nonetheless be subject to U.S. federal tax in the following circumstances:
| • | We will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains. |
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| • | If we have net income from prohibited transactions, which are, in general, sales or other dispositions of inventory or property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, other than foreclosure property, such income will be subject to a 100% tax. See “—Prohibited Transactions” and “—Foreclosure Property” below. |
| • | If we elect to treat property that we acquire in connection with certain leasehold terminations as “foreclosure property,” we may thereby avoid the 100% tax on gain from a resale of that property (if the sale would otherwise constitute a prohibited transaction), but the income from the sale or operation of the property may be subject to corporate income tax at the highest applicable rate (currently 21%). |
| • | If we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test and/or the 95% gross income test, as discussed below, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because we satisfy other requirements, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount based on the magnitude of the failure, as adjusted to reflect the profit margin associated with our gross income. |
| • | If we violate the asset tests (other than certain de minimis violations) or certain other requirements applicable to REITs, as described below, and yet maintain qualification as a REIT because there is reasonable cause for the failure and other applicable requirements are met, we may be subject to a penalty tax. In that case, the amount of the penalty tax will be at least $50,000 per failure, and, in the case of certain asset test failures, will be determined as the amount of net income generated by the nonqualifying assets in question multiplied by the highest corporate tax rate (currently 21%) if that amount exceeds $50,000 per failure. |
| • | If we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our capital gain net income for such year and (iii) any undistributed net taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of (a) the amounts that we actually distributed and (b) the amounts we retained and upon which we paid income tax at the corporate level. |
| • | We may be required to pay monetary penalties to the IRS in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet record-keeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of a REIT’s stockholders, as described below in “—Requirements for Qualification— General” below. |
| • | A 100% tax may be imposed on certain transactions between us and a TRS that do not reflect arm’s-length terms. |
| • | If we acquire appreciated assets from a corporation that is not a REIT (i.e., a “C” corporation) in a transaction in which the adjusted tax basis of the assets in our hands is determined by reference to the adjusted tax basis of the assets in the hands of the C corporation (which is the case with respect to all or substantially all of the properties we acquired from Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, pursuant to our formation transactions as well as certain other properties we have acquired), we may be subject to tax on such appreciation at the highest corporate income tax rate then applicable if we subsequently recognize gain on a disposition of any such assets during the five-year period following our acquisition from the C corporation. Treasury Regulations exclude from the application of this built-in gains tax any gain from the sale of property we acquire in an exchange under Section 1031 (a like-kind exchange) or 1033 (an involuntary conversion) of the Code. |
| • | The taxable income of our TRSs will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax. |
| • | We may elect to retain and pay income tax on our net capital gain. In that case, a stockholder would include its proportionate share of our undistributed net capital gain (to the extent we make a timely designation of such gain to the stockholder) in its income, would be deemed to have paid the tax that we paid on such gain, and would be allowed a credit for the stockholder’s proportionate share of the tax deemed to have been paid, and an adjustment would be made to increase the stockholder’s basis in shares of our stock. |
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In addition, we and our subsidiaries may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local, and foreign income, property, gross receipts and other taxes on our assets and operations. We could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.
Requirements for Qualification—General
The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:
| 1. | that is managed by one or more trustees or directors; |
| 2. | the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest |
| 3. | that would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for its election to be subject to tax as a REIT; |
| 4. | that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to specific provisions of the Code; |
| 5. | the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons; |
| 6. | in which, during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares or other beneficial interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer “individuals” (as defined in the Code to include certain entities such as private foundations); |
| 7. | that makes an election to be taxed as a REIT, or has made such an election for a previous taxable year which has not been revoked or terminated; |
| 8. | that has no earnings and profits from any non-REIT taxable year at the close of any taxable year; and |
| 9. | that meets other tests described below, including with respect to the nature of its income and assets and the amounts of its distributions. |
The Code provides that conditions (1) through (4) above must be met during the entire taxable year, and that condition (5) above must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Conditions (5) and (6) above need not be met during an entity’s initial tax year as a REIT (which, in our case, will be 2017). Our charter provides restrictions regarding the ownership and transfers of our shares of beneficial interest, which are intended to assist us in satisfying the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we, in all cases, will be able to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, except as provided in the next two sentences, our status as a REIT will terminate. To monitor our compliance with condition (6) above, we are generally required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our shares. If we comply with the record-keeping requirement and we do not know or, exercising reasonable diligence, would not have known of our failure to meet condition (6) above, then we will be treated as having met condition (6) above.
To monitor compliance with the share ownership requirements, we generally are required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our shares of beneficial interest. To do so, we must demand written statements each year from the record holders of significant percentages of our stock pursuant to which the record holders must disclose the actual owners of the shares (i.e., the persons required to include our distributions in their gross income). We must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with this demand as part of our records. We could be subject to monetary penalties if we fail to comply with these record- keeping requirements. If you fail or refuse to comply with the demands, you will be required by Treasury Regulations to submit a statement with your tax return disclosing your actual ownership of our stock and other information.
In addition, a REIT must have a taxable year that is the calendar year. We have adopted December 31 as our taxable year-end to satisfy this requirement.
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Effect of Subsidiary Entities
Ownership of Partnership Interests
If we are a partner in an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Treasury Regulations provide that we are deemed to own our proportionate share of the partnership’s assets, and to earn our proportionate share of the partnership’s income, for purposes of the asset and gross income tests applicable to REITs. Our proportionate share of a partnership’s assets and income is based on our capital interest in the partnership (except that for purposes of the 10% value test, as described below, our proportionate share of the partnership’s assets is based on our proportionate interest in the equity and certain debt securities issued by the partnership). We calculate our capital interest in any partnership based on either our percentage ownership of the capital of the partnership or based on the allocations provided in the applicable partnership’s operating agreement, using the more conservative calculation. In addition, the assets and gross income of the partnership are deemed to retain the same character in our hands. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of income of any of our subsidiary partnerships will be treated as our assets and items of income for purposes of applying the REIT requirements.
We have control of VICI Properties L.P (the “Operating Partnership”) and its subsidiaries and intend to operate them in a manner consistent with the requirements for our qualification as a REIT. We have a non-controlling interest in Harrah’s Joliet LandCo LLC, an entity taxed as a partnership that owns the Harrah’s Joliet property and is the lessor under the related Joliet Lease Agreement. Our non-controlling interest represents a 20% third-party ownership of Harrah’s Joliet LandCo LLC. If we become aware that such entity has taken or may take actions that could jeopardize our status as a REIT or incur unexpected tax liability, we may be forced to dispose of the non-controlling interest or transfer it to a TRS. In addition, it is possible that a partnership or limited liability company could take an action which could cause us to fail the gross income or asset test, and that we would not become aware of such action in time to dispose of our interest in the partnership or limited liability company or otherwise take corrective action on a timely basis. In that case, we could fail to qualify to be taxed as a REIT unless we were entitled to relief, as described below.
Disregarded Subsidiaries
If we own a corporate subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary,” that subsidiary is generally disregarded as a separate entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and all of the subsidiary’s assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit are treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit, including for purposes of the gross income and asset tests applicable to REITs. A qualified REIT subsidiary is any corporation, other than a TRS (as described below), that is directly or indirectly (through disregarded subsidiaries) wholly owned by a REIT. Other entities that are wholly owned by us or our subsidiaries, including single member limited liability companies that have not elected to be taxed as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, are also generally disregarded as separate entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests. Disregarded subsidiaries, along with any partnerships in which we hold an equity interest, are sometimes referred to herein as “pass-through subsidiaries.”
In the event that a disregarded subsidiary of ours ceases to be wholly-owned—for example, if any equity interest in the subsidiary is acquired by a person other than us or another disregarded subsidiary of ours—the subsidiary’s separate existence would no longer be disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Instead, the subsidiary would have multiple owners and would generally be treated as a either a partnership or a taxable corporation. Such an event could, depending on the circumstances, adversely affect our ability to satisfy the various asset and gross income requirements applicable to REITs, including the requirements that REITs generally may not own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the securities of another corporation. See “—Asset Tests” and “—Income Tests” below.
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Taxable REIT Subsidiaries
In general, we may jointly elect with a subsidiary corporation, whether or not wholly owned, to treat such subsidiary corporation as a TRS. We generally may not own more than 10% of the securities of a taxable corporation, as measured by voting power or value, and no more than 5% of the value of our assets can be represented by the securities of any single taxable corporation, in each case unless we and such corporation elect to treat such corporation as a TRS, provided that not more than 20% of the value of our total assets is represented by securities of one or more TRSs (25% for our 2017 taxable year). The separate existence of a TRS or other taxable corporation is not ignored for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a TRS or other taxable subsidiary corporation generally is subject to corporate income tax on its earnings, which may reduce the cash flow that we and our subsidiaries generate in the aggregate and may reduce our ability to make distributions to VICI stockholders.
We are not treated as holding the assets of a TRS or other taxable subsidiary corporation or as receiving any income that the subsidiary earns. Rather, the stock issued by a taxable subsidiary corporation to us is an asset in our hands, and we generally treat the distributions paid to us from such taxable subsidiary corporation, if any, as income. This treatment can affect our income and asset test calculations, as described below. Because we do not include the assets and income of TRSs or other taxable subsidiary corporations on a look-through basis in determining our compliance with the REIT requirements, we may use such entities to undertake indirectly activities that the REIT rules might otherwise preclude us from doing directly or through pass-through subsidiaries. For example, we may use TRSs or other taxable subsidiary corporations to perform services or conduct activities that give rise to certain categories of income or to conduct activities that, if conducted by us directly, would be treated in our hands as prohibited transactions.
U.S. federal income tax law 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. Further, the rules impose a 100% excise tax on certain transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT or the REIT’s tenants that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. We intend that all of our transactions with our TRSs, if any and as applicable, will be conducted on an arm’s-length basis.
We have subsidiaries that are corporations and TRSs. In the future, we may form or acquire additional TRSs, or elect to treat certain existing subsidiaries that are qualified REIT subsidiaries or disregarded entities as TRSs. TRSs might be used to hold all or a portion of an investment that, for example, would be treated as a non-real estate security for purposes of the REIT asset tests or excess personal property when testing rents from real property.
Income Tests
In order to qualify to be taxed as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income requirements on an annual basis. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year, excluding gross income from sales of inventory or dealer property in “prohibited transactions,” discharge of indebtedness, certain hedging transactions and certain foreign currency gains, generally must be derived from “rents from real property,” gains from the sale of real estate assets (other than certain publicly offered REIT debt instruments that would not be real estate assets but for the inclusion of publicly offered REIT debt instruments), interests and gain derived from mortgage loans secured by real property or an interest in real property (including certain types of mortgage-backed securities and certain mortgage loans secured by both real and personal property), dividends received from other REITs, and specified income from temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income in each taxable year, excluding gross income from “prohibited transactions,” discharge of indebtedness, certain hedging transactions and certain foreign currency gains, must be derived from some combination of income that qualifies under the 75% gross income test described above, as well as other dividends, interest, and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, which need not have any relation to real property. Income and gain from certain hedging transactions will be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
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Rents from Real Property
Rents we receive from a tenant generally will qualify as “rents from real property” for the purpose of satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if all of the conditions described below are met:
| • | The amount of rent is not based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person from the property. However, an amount we receive or accrue generally will not be excluded from the term “rents from real property” solely because it is based on a fixed-percentage or percentages of gross receipts or sales; |
| • | Neither we nor an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of VICI shares actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the interests in the assets or net profits of a non-corporate tenant, or, if the tenant is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote or 10% or more of the total value of all classes of stock of the tenant, taking into account applicable complex attribution rules. To ensure that our rental income will not be treated as nonqualifying income under the rule described in the preceding sentence, and thus to ensure that we will not inadvertently lose our REIT status as a result of the ownership of shares by a tenant, or a person that holds an interest in a tenant, our charter provides restrictions on ownership and transfer of our shares, including restrictions on such ownership or transfer that would cause the rents received or accrued by us from tenants to be treated as nonqualifying rent for purposes of the REIT gross income requirements. Stockholders should be aware that events unknown to us (i.e., events other than a purchase or other transfer of shares) may result in ownership, under the applicable attribution rules, of shares in excess of our charter ownership limits. |
| • | Rents we receive from such a tenant that is a TRS of ours, however, will not be excluded from the definition of “rents from real property” as a result of this condition if at least 90% of the space at the property to which the rents relate is leased to third parties, and the rents paid by the TRS are substantially comparable to rents paid by our other tenants for comparable space. Whether rents paid by a TRS are substantially comparable to rents paid by other tenants is determined at the time the lease with the TRS is entered into, extended, and modified, if such modification increases the rents due under such lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, if a lease with a “controlled taxable REIT subsidiary” is modified and such modification results in an increase in the rents payable by such TRS, any such increase will not qualify as “rents from real property.” For purposes of this rule, a “controlled taxable REIT subsidiary” is a TRS in which the parent REIT owns stock possessing more than 50% of the voting power or more than 50% of the total value of the outstanding stock of such TRS; |
| • | Rent attributable to personal property that is leased in connection with a lease of real property is not greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease. If this condition is not met, then the portion of the rent attributable to personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property”; and |
| • | We generally are not permitted to operate or manage our properties or to furnish or render services to our tenants, subject to a 1% de minimis exception and except as further provided below. We are permitted, however, to perform directly certain services that are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant” of the property. Examples of these permitted services include the provision of light, heat, or other utilities, trash removal and general maintenance of common areas. In addition, we are permitted to employ an independent contractor from whom we derive no revenue, or a TRS that is wholly or partially owned by us, to provide both customary and non-customary property management or services to our tenants without causing the rent that we receive from those tenants to fail to qualify as “rents from real property.” Any dividends that we receive from a TRS with respect to the TRS’s provision of non-customary services will, however, be nonqualifying income under the 75% gross income test. |
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We believe that all of our leases meet the above requirements so that rents we receive are “rents from real property.” We intend to structure future leases such that we are in compliance with the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
In addition, in order for the rent payable under the leases of our properties to constitute “rents from real property,” the leases must be respected as true leases for U.S. federal income tax purposes and not treated as service contracts, joint ventures, financing arrangements, or another type of arrangement. We have structured, and generally expect to continue to structure, our leases to qualify as true leases for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For example, with respect to the leases, generally:
| • | the ground lease holder or property owning entity, on the one hand, and the lessee, on the other hand, intend for their relationship to be that of a lessor and lessee, and such relationship will be documented by a lease agreement; |
| • | the lessee has the right to exclusive possession and use and quiet enjoyment of the property covered by the lease during the term of the lease; |
| • | the lessee bears the cost of, and is responsible for, day-to-day maintenance and repair of the property and is responsible for how the property is operated; |
| • | the lessee bears the costs and expenses of operating the property, including the cost of any inventory used in their operation, during the term of the lease; |
| • | the lessee benefits from any savings and bears the burdens of any increases in the costs of operating the property during the term of the lease; |
| • | in the event of damage or destruction to a property, the lessee will be at economic risk because it will bear the economic burden of the loss in income from operation of the property subject to the right, in certain circumstances, to terminate the lease in whole or in part if the lessor does not restore the property to its prior condition; |
| • | the lessee generally indemnifies the lessor against all liabilities imposed on the lessor during the term of the lease by reason of (A) injury to persons or damage to property occurring at the property or (B) the lessee’s use, management, maintenance or repair of the property; |
| • | the lessee is obligated to pay, at a minimum, substantial base rent for the period of use of the property under the lease; |
| • | the lessee stands to incur substantial losses or reap substantial gains depending on how successfully it operates the property; |
| • | the lease enables the tenant to derive a meaningful profit, after expenses and taking into account the risks associated with the lease, from the operation of the property during the term of the lease; and |
| • | upon termination of the lease, the property will be expected to have a remaining useful life equal to at least 20% of its expected useful life on the date the lease is entered into, and a fair market value equal to at least 20% of its fair market value on the date the lease was entered into. |
We generally treat our leases with respect to our properties as true leases for U.S. federal income tax purposes; however, there can be no assurance that the IRS would not consider a particular lease a financing arrangement instead of a true lease for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In that case, and in any case in which we intentionally structure a lease as a financing arrangement, our income from that lease would be interest income rather than rent and we expect to treat that interest as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test to the extent that the deemed “loan” amount does not exceed the fair market value of the real estate assets leased (and thus deemed to secure the deemed loan). All of the interest income from our loan would be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. In addition, we expect to treat only a portion of the deemed “loan” amount as a qualifying “real estate asset” for purposes of the 75% asset test if and to the extent
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the loan amount does not exceed the fair market value of the real estate assets leased (and thus deemed to be securing the deemed loan). We believe that the characterization of a lease as a financing arrangement would not adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.
Interest Income
Interest income constitutes qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% gross income test (as described above) to the extent that the obligation upon which such interest is paid is secured by a mortgage on (i) real property or an interest in real property or (ii) property described in (i) and other property if such other property constitutes 15% or less of the total fair market value of the secured property. If we receive interest income with respect to a mortgage loan that is described in the preceding clause (ii), such interest income may need to be apportioned between the real property and the other collateral for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Even if a loan is not secured by real property, or is not fully secured by real property, the income that it generates may nonetheless qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test. The term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, if the determination of all or some of the amount depends in any way on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “interest” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales.
We may originate or acquire mezzanine loans or investments treated as subordinated debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Mezzanine loans include loans secured by equity interests in an entity that directly or indirectly owns real property, rather than by a direct mortgage of the real property. Revenue Procedure 2003-65 provides a safe harbor under which loans secured by a first priority security interest in ownership interests in a partnership or limited liability company owning real property will be treated as real estate assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests described below, and interest derived from those loans will be treated as qualifying income for both the 75% and 95% gross income tests, provided several requirements are satisfied.
Although Revenue Procedure 2003-65 provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. Moreover, it is possible that some mezzanine loans may not meet all of the requirements for reliance on the safe harbor. We intend to invest in mezzanine loans in a manner that will enable us to satisfy the REIT gross income and asset tests.
Dividend Income
We may directly or indirectly receive distributions from TRSs or other corporations that are not REITs or qualified REIT subsidiaries. These distributions generally are treated as dividend income to the extent of the earnings and profits of the distributing corporation. Such distributions will generally constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Any dividends that we receive from another REIT, however, will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 95% and 75% gross income tests.
Fee Income
Any fee income that we earn will generally not be qualifying income for purposes of either gross income test. Any fees earned by a TRS, however, will not be included for purposes of our gross income tests.
Hedging Transactions
Any income or gain that we or our pass-through subsidiaries derive from instruments that hedge certain risks, such as the risk of changes in interest rates, will be excluded from gross income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests, provided that specified requirements are met, including the requirement that the instrument is entered into during the ordinary course of our business, the instrument hedges risks associated with indebtedness issued by us or our pass-through subsidiary that is incurred or to be incurred to acquire or
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carry “real estate assets” (as described under “—Asset Tests,” below), and the instrument is properly identified as a hedge along with the risk that it hedges within prescribed time periods. Certain items of income or gain attributable to hedges of foreign currency fluctuations with respect to income that satisfies the REIT gross income requirements may also be excluded from the 95% and 75% gross income tests as well as certain items of income or gain attributable to certain counteracting hedges that offset prior qualifying hedges where the prior debt is repaid or qualifying assets underlying such prior hedges are sold. To the extent that we do not properly identify such transactions as hedges or we hedge with other types of financial instruments, the income from those transactions is not likely to be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT.
Forward Sale Agreements
We enter into forward sale agreements from time to time and, subject to certain conditions, we have the right to elect physical, cash or net share settlement under these agreements at any time and from time to time, in part or in full. In the event that we elect to settle the forward sale agreements for cash and the settlement price is below the forward sale price, we would be entitled to receive a cash payment from the forward purchasers. Under Section 1032 of the Code, generally, no gains and losses are recognized by a corporation in dealing in its own shares, including pursuant to a “securities futures contract,” as defined in the Code by reference to the Exchange Act. Although we believe that any amount received by us in exchange for our shares of common stock would qualify for the exemption under Section 1032 of the Code, because it is not entirely clear whether the forward sale agreements qualify as “securities futures contracts,” the U.S. federal income tax treatment of any cash settlement payment we receive is uncertain. In the event that we recognize a significant gain from the cash settlement of the forward sale agreements, we might not be able to satisfy the gross income requirements applicable to REITs under the Code.
Failure to Satisfy the Gross Income Tests
If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may still qualify to be taxed as a REIT for such year if we are entitled to relief under applicable provisions of the Code. These relief provisions will be generally available if (i) our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and (ii) following our identification of the failure to meet the 75% or 95% gross income test for any taxable year, we file a schedule with the IRS setting forth each item of our gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income test for such taxable year in accordance with Treasury Regulations. It is not possible to state whether we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions in all circumstances. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances, we will not qualify to be taxed as a REIT. Even if these relief provisions apply, and we retain our status as a REIT, we will be required to pay a tax equal to (1) the greater of (A) the amount by which we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test and (B) the amount by which we fail to satisfy the 95% gross income test, multiplied by (2) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability (i.e., generally our net income divided by our gross income). We may not always be able to comply with the gross income tests for REIT qualification despite periodic monitoring of our income.
Asset Tests
At the close of each calendar quarter, we must also satisfy certain tests relating to the nature of our assets. Specifically:
| • | At least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by some combination of “real estate assets,” cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, and, under some circumstances, stock or debt instruments purchased with new capital. For this purpose, real estate assets include interests in real property and stock of other REITs, as well as some kinds of mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans. The term “real estate assets” also includes debt instruments of publicly offered REITs, personal property securing a mortgage secured by both real property and personal property if the fair market |
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| value of such personal property does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all such property, and personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property generating qualifying rents from real property for which the rent attributable to personal property is not greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease. Assets that do not qualify for purposes of the 75% asset test are subject to the additional asset tests described below; |
| • | The value of any one issuer’s securities that we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets; |
| • | We may not own more than 10% of any one issuer’s outstanding securities, as measured by either voting power or value. The 5% and 10% asset tests do not apply to securities of TRSs or qualified REIT subsidiaries and the 10% asset test does not apply to “straight debt” having specified characteristics or to certain other securities described below. Solely for purposes of the 10% asset test, the determination of our interest in the assets of a partnership or limited liability company in which we own an interest will be based on our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership or limited liability company, excluding for this purpose certain securities described in the Code; |
| • | The aggregate value of all securities of TRSs that we hold, may not exceed 20% of the value of our total assets; and |
| • | Not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by debt instruments of publicly offered REITs to the extent those debt instruments would not be real estate assets but for the inclusion of debt instruments of publicly offered REITs in the meaning of real estate assets. |
Notwithstanding the general rule, as noted above, that for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests we are treated as owning our proportionate share of the underlying assets of a subsidiary partnership, if we hold indebtedness issued by a partnership, the indebtedness will be subject to, and may cause a violation of, the asset tests unless the indebtedness is a qualifying mortgage asset or other conditions are met.
Similarly, although stock of another REIT is a qualifying asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests, any non-mortgage debt that is issued by another REIT may not so qualify (although such debt will not be treated as “securities” for purposes of the 10% asset test, as explained below).
Certain securities will not cause a violation of the 10% asset test (for purposes of value) described above. Such securities include instruments that constitute “straight debt,” which term generally excludes, among other things, securities having contingency features. A security does not qualify as “straight debt” where a REIT (or a controlled TRS of the REIT) owns other securities of the same issuer which do not qualify as straight debt, unless the value of those other securities constitute, in the aggregate, 1% or less of the total value of that issuer’s outstanding securities. In addition to straight debt, the Code provides that certain other securities will not violate the 10% value limitation. Such securities include (i) any loan made to an individual or an estate, (ii) certain rental agreements pursuant to which one or more payments are to be made in subsequent years (other than agreements between a REIT and certain persons related to the REIT under attribution rules), (iii) any obligation to pay rents from real property, (iv) securities issued by governmental entities that are not dependent in whole or in part on the profits of (or payments made by) a non-governmental entity, (v) any security (including debt securities) issued by another REIT and (vi) any debt instrument issued by a partnership if the partnership’s income is of a nature that it would satisfy the 75% gross income test described above under “—Income Tests.” In applying the 10% value limitation, a debt security issued by a partnership is not taken into account to the extent, if any, of the REIT’s proportionate interest in the equity and certain debt securities issued by that partnership.
No independent appraisals have been obtained to support our conclusions as to the value of our total assets or the value of any particular security or securities. Moreover, the values of some assets may not be susceptible to a precise determination, and values are subject to change in the future. Furthermore, the proper classification of an instrument as debt or equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be uncertain in some circumstances,
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which could affect the application of the REIT asset requirements. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that our interests in our subsidiaries or in the securities of other issuers will cause a violation of the REIT asset tests.
Certain relief provisions are available to allow REITs to satisfy the asset requirements or to maintain REIT qualification, notwithstanding certain violations of the asset and other requirements. For example, if we should fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, such a failure would not cause VICI to lose its REIT qualification if (i) it satisfied the asset tests at the close of the preceding calendar quarter and (ii) the discrepancy between the value of its assets and the asset requirements was not wholly or partly caused by an acquisition of nonqualifying assets, but instead arose from changes in the relative market values of our assets. If the condition described in (ii) were not satisfied, VICI still could avoid disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which it arose or by making use of the relief provisions described below.
In the case of de minimis violations of the 10% and 5% asset tests, a REIT may maintain its qualification despite a violation of such requirements if (i) the value of the assets causing the violation does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the REIT’s total assets and $10,000,000 and (ii) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure or the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued, or the relevant tests are otherwise satisfied within that time frame.
Even if we did not qualify for the foregoing relief provisions, one additional provision allows a REIT that fails one or more of the asset requirements to nevertheless maintain its REIT qualification if (i) the REIT provides the IRS with a description of each asset causing the failure, (ii) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (iii) the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 per failure and (b) the product of the net income generated by the assets that caused the failure multiplied by the highest applicable corporate tax rate and (iv) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure or the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued, or otherwise satisfies the relevant asset tests within that time frame.
Annual Distribution Requirements
In order to qualify to be taxed as a REIT, we are required to make distributions, other than capital gain dividends, to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to the sum of:
| • | 90% of our REIT taxable income (with certain adjustments), computed without regard to our net capital gains and the deduction for dividends paid; and |
| • | 90% of our after-tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property (as described below); minus the excess of the sum of specified items of non-cash income over 5% of our REIT taxable income, computed without regard to our net capital gain and the deduction for dividends paid. |
We generally must make these distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for the year and if paid with or before the first regular distribution payment after such declaration. These distributions will be treated as received by VICI stockholders in the year in which paid, except that any distribution that we declare in October, November or December of any year and that is payable to a stockholder of record on a specified date in any such month will be treated as both paid by us and received by the stockholder on December 31 of such year, provided that we actually pay the distribution before the end of January of the following calendar year.
If we fail to distribute, with respect to each calendar year, at least the sum of (i) 85% of our ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our capital gain net income for such year and (iii) any undistributed net taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the sum of (a) the amounts actually distributed, plus (b) the amounts of income we retained and on which we have paid corporate income tax.
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To the extent that we distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, we will be subject to tax at ordinary corporate tax rates on the retained portion. We have the ability to elect to retain, rather than distribute, some or all of our net long-term capital gains and pay tax on such gains. If we were to make this election, VICI stockholders would include their proportionate shares of such undistributed long-term capital gains in income and receive a corresponding credit for their share of the tax that we paid. VICI stockholders would then increase the adjusted basis of their shares by the difference between (i) the amounts of capital gain dividends that we designated and that they included in their taxable income, minus (ii) the tax that we paid on their behalf with respect to that income.
To the extent that we may have available net operating losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses, subject to applicable limitations, may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. Such losses, however, will generally not affect the tax treatment to VICI stockholders of any distributions that are actually made. See “—Taxation of Stockholders—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders—Distributions,” below.
From time to time, we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet the distribution requirements described above, including due to timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses, and the inclusion of income and deduction of expenses in determining our taxable income. In addition, we may decide to retain our cash, rather than distribute it, in order to repay debt, acquire assets, or for other reasons. If these timing differences occur, we may borrow funds to pay distributions or we may pay distributions through the distribution of other property (including our stock) in order to meet the distribution requirements, while preserving our cash.
If our taxable income for a particular year is subsequently determined to have been understated, we may be able to rectify a resultant failure to meet the distribution requirements for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for distributions paid for the earlier year but treated as an additional distribution to our stockholders in the year such dividends are paid. In this case, VICI may be able to avoid losing REIT qualification or being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. We will be required to pay interest based on the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.
Prohibited Transactions
Net income that we derive from a prohibited transaction is subject to a 100% tax. The term “prohibited transaction” generally includes a sale or other disposition of property (other than foreclosure property, as discussed below) that is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. We intend to conduct our operations so that no asset that we own (or are treated as owning) will be treated as, or having been, held as inventory or for sale to customers, and that a sale of any such asset will not be treated as having been in the ordinary course of our business. Whether property is held as inventory or “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business” depends on the particular facts and circumstances. No assurance can be given that any property that we sell will not be treated as inventory or property held for sale to customers, or that we can comply with certain safe-harbor provisions of the Code that would prevent such treatment. The 100% tax does not apply to gains from the sale of property that is held through a TRS or other taxable corporation, although such income will be subject to tax in the hands of the corporation at regular corporate rates. We intend to structure our activities to avoid prohibited transaction characterization.
Derivatives and Hedging Transactions
We may enter into hedging transactions with respect to interest rate exposure on one or more of our assets or liabilities. Any such hedging transactions could take a variety of forms, including the use of derivative instruments such as interest rate swap contracts, interest rate cap or floor contracts, futures or forward contracts,
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and options. Except to the extent provided by Treasury Regulations, (i) income from a hedging transaction we enter into (A) in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of interest rate changes or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets, including gain from the sale or disposition of a position in such a transaction or (B) primarily to manage risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% income tests will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income test; and (ii) if we enter into a position described in clause (i)(A) above with respect to indebtedness described therein or clause (i)(B) above with respect to property generating income described therein, and in connection with the extinguishment or disposition of such indebtedness or property we enter into a transaction that would be a hedging transaction within the meaning of clause (i) above as to any position referred to in this clause (ii) if such position were ordinary property, then any income from such a position or transaction described in this clause (ii) will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income test so long as, in each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the transaction or position is clearly identified, as specified in Treasury Regulations, before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into. To the extent that we enter into hedging transactions that are not described in the preceding clause (i) or (ii), the income from these transactions is likely to be treated as nonqualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Moreover, to the extent that a position in a hedging transaction has positive value at any particular point in time, it may be treated as an asset that does not qualify for purposes of the REIT asset tests. We intend to structure and have structured any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT. We may conduct some or all of our hedging activities (including hedging activities relating to currency risk) through a TRS or other corporate entity, the income from which may be subject to U.S. federal income tax, rather than by participating in the arrangements directly or through pass-through subsidiaries. No assurance can be given, however, that our hedging activities will not give rise to income or assets that do not qualify for purposes of the REIT tests, or that our hedging activities will not adversely affect our ability to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements.
Foreclosure Property
Foreclosure property is real property and any personal property incident to such real property (i) that we acquire as the result of having bid in the property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced the property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after a default (or upon imminent default) on a lease of the property or a mortgage loan held by us and secured by the property, (ii) for which we acquired the related loan or lease at a time when default was not imminent or anticipated and (iii) with respect to which we made a proper election to treat the property as foreclosure property. We generally will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate (currently 21%) on any net income from foreclosure property, including any gain from the disposition of the foreclosure property, other than income that would otherwise be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Any gain from the sale of property for which a foreclosure property election has been made will not be subject to the 100% tax on gains from prohibited transactions described above, even if the property would otherwise constitute inventory or dealer property. We do not anticipate receiving any income from foreclosure property that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test.
Penalty Tax
Any redetermined rents, redetermined deductions, excess interest or redetermined TRS service income we generate will be subject to a 100% penalty tax. In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of any services furnished to any of our tenants by a TRS, and redetermined deductions and excess interest represent any amounts that are deducted by a TRS for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s-length negotiations or if the interest payments were at a commercially reasonable rate. Rents that we receive will not constitute redetermined rents if they qualify for certain safe harbor provisions contained in the Code. Redetermined TRS service income generally represents income of a TRS that is understated as a result of services provided to us or on our behalf.
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Record Keeping Requirements
We are required to comply with applicable record keeping requirements. Failure to comply could result in monetary penalties. For example, we must request on an annual basis information from our stockholders designed to disclose the actual ownership of our outstanding shares of common stock.
Built-In Gains Tax
If we dispose of any asset we acquired from a corporation which is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which our basis in the asset is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of that C corporation, during the five-year period beginning on the date we acquire the asset, we could be required to pay tax at the highest corporate rate on the gain, if any, we recognize on the disposition of the asset, to the extent that gain does not exceed the excess of (1) the fair market value of the asset over (2) our adjusted basis in the asset, in each case on the date we acquired the asset. Such gain is taken into account in determining our taxable income and capital gains, and the amount of tax paid is taken into account as a loss for purposes of the distribution requirements. This is the case with respect to all or substantially all of the properties acquired from CEOC pursuant to our formation transactions as well as certain other properties we have acquired after our formation. We may acquire additional properties subject to these rules in the future.
Failure to Qualify
If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification other than the income or asset tests, we could avoid disqualification as a REIT if our failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect and we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. Relief provisions are also available for failures of the income tests and asset tests, as described above in “—Income Tests” and “—Asset Tests.”
If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions described above do not apply, we would be subject to tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We cannot deduct distributions to stockholders in any year in which we are not a REIT, nor would we be required to make distributions in such a year. In this situation, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes), distributions to stockholders would be taxable as regular corporate dividends. Such dividends paid to U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates may be taxable at the preferential income tax rates (i.e., currently at a 20% maximum U.S. federal rate) for qualified dividends. In addition, subject to the limitations of the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we would also be disqualified from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we lost our qualification. It is not possible to state whether, in all circumstances, we would be entitled to this statutory relief.
Tax Aspects of Investments in Partnerships
General
In general, partnerships are “pass-through” entities that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax. Rather, partners are allocated their proportionate shares of the items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of a partnership, and are subject to tax on these items without regard to whether the partners receive a distribution from the partnership. VICI will include its allocable share of these partnership items for purposes of computing its REIT taxable income, and for purposes of the various REIT income tests, will include its proportionate share of these partnership items based on its capital interest in such partnership (except that for purposes of the 10% value test, our proportionate share of the partnership’s assets is based on our proportionate interest in the equity and certain debt securities issued by the partnership). Capital interest in a partnership is calculated based on either the partner’s percentage ownership of the capital of the partnership or based on the allocations provided in the applicable partnership’s operating agreement, using the more conservative calculation. Consequently, to the
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extent that VICI holds an equity interest in a partnership, such partnership’s assets and operations may affect VICI’s ability to continue to qualify as a REIT, even though it may have no control, or only limited influence, over any such partnership.
Entity Classification
The ownership by VICI of equity interests in a partnership involves special tax considerations, including the possibility of a challenge by the IRS of the status of a subsidiary partnership as a partnership, as opposed to an association taxable as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a subsidiary partnership were treated as an association for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it would be taxable as a corporation and, therefore, generally would be subject to an entity-level tax on its income. In such a situation, the character of VICI’s assets and items of its gross income would change and would preclude it from satisfying the REIT asset tests (particularly the tests generally preventing a REIT from owning more than 10% of the voting securities, or more than 10% of the value of the securities, of any one corporation) or the gross income tests as discussed in “—Asset Tests” and “—Income Tests” above, and in turn would prevent VICI from qualifying as a REIT. See “—Failure to Qualify,” above, for a discussion of the effect of VICI’s failure to meet these tests for a taxable year.
In addition, any change in the status of a subsidiary partnership for tax purposes might be treated as a taxable event, in which case VICI could have taxable income that is subject to the REIT distribution requirements without receiving any cash.
Tax Allocations with Respect to an Investment in a Partnership
Under the Code and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership must be allocated for tax purposes in a manner such that the contributing partner is charged with, or benefits from, the unrealized gain or unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of the unrealized gain or unrealized loss at the time of contribution is generally equal to the difference between the fair market value of the contributed property at the time of contribution, and the adjusted tax basis of such property at the time of contribution, or the book-tax difference. Such allocations are solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes and do not affect the book capital accounts or other economic or legal arrangements among the partners.
Under Section 704(c) of the Code, income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership or partnership property that has been revalued on the books of the partnership, must be allocated in a manner so that the contributing partners, or partners who held an interest in the partnership at the time of such revaluation, are charged with the unrealized gain or benefit from the unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of such contribution or revaluation. Any elections or other decisions relating to Operating Partnership allocations under Section 704(c) of the Code (including whether to use the “traditional method,” the “traditional method with curative allocations” or the “remedial method”) shall be made by the General Partner of the Operating Partnership, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of VICI.
Partnership Audit Rules
Subject to certain exceptions, any audit adjustment to items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit of a partnership (and any partner’s distributive share thereof) is determined, and taxes, interest, or penalties attributable thereto are assessed and collected, at the partnership level. These partnership audit rules could result in partnerships in which we directly or indirect invest, including the Operating Partnership if and when it becomes a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, being required to pay additional taxes, interest and penalties as a result of an audit adjustment, and we, as a direct or indirect partner of these partnerships, could be
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required to bear the economic burden of those taxes, interest, and penalties even though we, as a REIT, may not otherwise have been required to pay additional corporate-level taxes as a result of the related audit adjustment. Investors are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to these changes and their potential impact on their investment.
Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders
The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our stock applicable to taxable U.S. stockholders. A U.S. stockholder is any holder of shares of our stock that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes a “U.S. person”, which includes:
| • | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| • | a corporation (or entity treated as a corporation) created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, or of any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; |
| • | an estate, the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or |
| • | a trust if (i) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
If a partnership, including for this purpose any entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds shares of our stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. An investor that is a partnership and the partners in such partnership should consult their tax advisors about the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of shares of our stock.
Distributions
So long as we qualify to be taxed as a REIT, the distributions that we make to our taxable U.S. stockholders out of current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that we do not designate as capital gain dividends will generally be taken into account by such stockholders as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporations. With limited exceptions, our distributions are not eligible for taxation at the preferential income tax rates (i.e., currently at a 20% maximum U.S. federal income tax rate) for qualified dividends received by most U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates from taxable C corporations but are generally eligible for a deduction equal to 20% of such distributions. This deduction is scheduled to expire after 2025. Such stockholders, however, are taxed at the preferential rates on distributions designated by and received from REITs to the extent that the distributions are attributable to:
| • | income retained by the REIT in the prior taxable year on which the REIT was subject to corporate-level income tax (less the amount of corporate tax on such income); |
| • | dividends received by the REIT from TRSs or other taxable C corporations; or |
| • | income in the prior taxable year from the sales of “built-in gain” property acquired by the REIT from C corporations in carryover basis transactions (less the amount of corporate tax on such income). |
Dividends that we designate as capital gain dividends will generally be taxed to our U.S. stockholders as long-term capital gains to the extent that such dividends do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year or our dividends paid for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which the stockholder that
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receives such dividend has held its shares. We may elect to retain and pay taxes on some or all of our net long- term capital gains, in which case we may elect to apply provisions of the Code that treat our U.S. stockholders as having received, solely for tax purposes, our undistributed capital gains, and the stockholders as receiving a corresponding credit for taxes that we paid on such undistributed capital gains and an increase in the adjusted basis of their shares equal to the difference between (i) the amount of such undistributed capital gains, minus (ii) the amount of such taxes that we paid on their behalf. See “—Taxation of VICI” and “—Annual Distribution Requirements.” U.S. stockholders that are corporations may be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains are generally taxable at maximum U.S. federal rates of 20% in the case of U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates (although depending on the characteristics of the assets that produced these gains and on designations that we may make, certain capital gain dividends may be taxed at a 25% rate), and 21% in the case of U.S. stockholders that are corporations.
Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will generally represent a return of capital and will not be taxable to a U.S. stockholder to the extent that the amount of such distributions does not exceed the adjusted basis of the U.S. stockholder’s shares in respect of which the distributions were made. Rather, the distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of the U.S. stockholder’s shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a U.S. stockholder’s shares, the stockholder generally must include such distributions in income as long-term capital gain if the shares have been held for more than one year, or short-term capital gain if the shares have been held for one year or less. In addition, any distribution that we declare in October, November or December of any year and that is payable to a U.S. stockholder of record on a specified date in any such month will be treated as both paid by us and received by the U.S. stockholder on December 31 of such year, provided that we actually pay the distribution before the end of January of the following calendar year.
To the extent that we have available net operating losses and capital losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. See “—Taxation of VICI” and “—Annual Distribution Requirements.”
Such losses, however, are not passed through to U.S. stockholders and do not offset income of U.S. stockholders from other sources, nor would such losses affect the character of any distributions that we make, which are generally subject to tax in the hands of U.S. stockholders to the extent that we have current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes).
Dispositions of Our Stock
If a U.S. stockholder sells or disposes of shares of our stock, it will generally recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received on the sale or other disposition, and the stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares (generally the amount paid for such shares). In general, capital gains recognized by individuals, trusts and estates upon the sale or disposition of shares of our stock will be subject to a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% if the shares are held for more than one year, and will be taxed at ordinary income rates (of up to 37%) if the shares are held for one year or less. Gains recognized by U.S. stockholders that are corporations are subject to U.S. federal income tax at a maximum rate of 21%, whether or not such gains are classified as long- term capital gains. Capital losses recognized by a U.S. stockholder upon the disposition of shares of our stock that were held for more than one year at the time of disposition will be considered long-term capital losses, and are generally available only to offset capital gain income of the U.S. stockholder but not ordinary income (except in the case of individuals, trusts and estates who may also offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income each year). In addition, any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares of our stock by a U.S. stockholder who has held the shares for nine months or less, after applying holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of actual or deemed distributions that we make that are required to be treated by the stockholder as long- term capital gain.
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If an investor recognizes a loss upon a subsequent disposition of shares of our stock in an amount that exceeds a prescribed threshold, it is possible that the provisions of Treasury Regulations involving “reportable transactions” could apply, with a resulting requirement to separately disclose the loss-generating transaction to the IRS. These regulations, though directed towards “tax shelters,” are broadly written and apply to transactions that would not typically be considered tax shelters. The Code imposes significant penalties for failure to comply with these requirements. You should consult your tax advisor concerning any possible disclosure obligation with respect to the receipt or disposition of shares of our stock or transactions that we might undertake directly or indirectly. Moreover, you should be aware that we and other participants in the transactions in which we are involved (including their advisors) might be subject to disclosure or other requirements pursuant to these regulations.
Redemption of Preferred Stock
The treatment to a holder of preferred stock accorded to any redemption by us (as distinguished from a sale, exchange or other disposition) of our preferred stock can only be determined on the basis of particular facts as to the holder of preferred stock at the time of redemption. In general, a holder of preferred stock will recognize capital gain or loss measured by the difference between the amount received upon the redemption and the holder of the preferred stock’s adjusted tax basis in the preferred stock redeemed (provided the preferred stock is held as a capital asset) if such redemption (i) results in a “complete termination” of a holder’s interest in all classes of our stock under Section 302(b)(3) of the Code or (ii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the holder under Section 302(b)(1) of the Code. In applying these tests, there must be taken into account not only any preferred stock owned by the holder, but also such holder’s ownership of common stock, equity shares, other series of preferred stock and any options (including stock purchase rights) to acquire any of the foregoing. The holder also must take into account any such securities (including options) which are considered to be owned by such holder by reason of the constructive ownership rules set forth in Sections 318 and 302(c) of the Code.
If a particular holder of preferred stock owns (actually or constructively) none of our common stock or an insubstantial percentage of our outstanding common stock or preferred stock, based upon current law, it is probable that the redemption of preferred stock from such a holder would be considered “not essentially equivalent to a dividend.” However, whether a distribution is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” depends on all of the facts and circumstances, and a holder of preferred stock intending to rely on any of these tests at the time of redemption should consult its tax advisor to determine their application to its particular situation.
If the redemption does not meet any of the tests under Section 302 of the Code, then the redemption proceeds received from the preferred stock will be treated as a distribution on the preferred stock as described under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders” and “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders” in the accompanying prospectus. If the redemption is taxed as a distribution, the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the redeemed preferred stock will be transferred to any other stockholdings of the holder of our preferred stock. If the holder of preferred stock owns no other shares of beneficial interest in us, under certain circumstances, such basis may be transferred to a related person, or it may be lost entirely.
Conversion of Preferred Stock
Except as provided below, (i) a U.S. stockholder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the conversion of preferred stock into our common stock, and (ii) a U.S. stockholder’s basis and holding period in our common stock received upon conversion generally will be the same as those of the converted preferred stock (but the basis will be reduced by the portion of adjusted tax basis allocated to any fractional share exchanged for cash). Any of our shares of common stock received in a conversion that are attributable to accumulated and unpaid dividends on the converted preferred stock will be treated as a distribution that is potentially taxable as a dividend. Cash received upon conversion in lieu of a fractional share generally will be treated as a payment in a taxable exchange for such fractional share, and gain or loss will be recognized on the receipt of cash in an
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amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the adjusted tax basis allocable to the fractional share deemed exchanged. This gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. stockholder has held the preferred stock for more than one year at the time of conversion. U.S. stockholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of any transaction by which such holder exchanges shares of our common stock received on a conversion of preferred stock for cash or other property.
Passive Activity Losses and Investment Interest Limitations
Distributions that we make and gains arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. stockholder of our stock will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, stockholder will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against income or gain relating to our stock. A U.S. stockholder may elect to treat capital gain dividends, capital gains from the disposition of our capital shares and income designated as qualified dividend income, as described above, as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation, but in such case, the stockholder will be taxed at ordinary income rates on such amount. To the extent that distributions we make do not constitute a return of capital, they will generally be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of shares of our stock applicable to non-U.S. stockholders. A “non-U.S. stockholder” is any holder of shares of our stock other than a partnership or U.S. person.
Ordinary Dividends
The portion of distributions received by non-U.S. stockholders that (i) is payable out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, (ii) is not designated as capital gains, (iii) is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. stockholder (or if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the non-U.S. stockholder does not maintain a permanent establishment in the United States to which such distributions are attributable) and (iv) is not attributable to gains from the sales or exchanges of United States real property interests, as defined in Section 897 of the Code (“USRPIs”), will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30%, unless reduced or eliminated by treaty. Under certain treaties, however, lower withholding rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from a REIT.
In general, non-U.S. stockholders will not be considered to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of their ownership of shares of our stock. In cases where the distribution income from a non-U.S. stockholder’s investment in our stock is, or is treated as, effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business (through a United States permanent establishment, where applicable), the non-U.S. stockholder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. stockholders are taxed with respect to such distributions. Such effectively connected income must generally be reported on a U.S. income tax return filed by or on behalf of the non-U.S. stockholder. The income, as adjusted for certain items, may also be subject to a branch profits tax at the rate of 30% (unless reduced or eliminated by treaty) in the case of a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation.
Except as otherwise provided below, we expect to withhold U.S. federal income tax at the rate of 30% on any distributions made to a non-U.S. stockholder unless (i) a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. stockholder provides us an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or applicable successor form) evidencing eligibility for that reduced treaty rate; or (ii) the non-U.S. stockholder provides us an IRS Form W-8ECI (or applicable successor form) with us claiming that the distribution is income effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s trade or business.
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Non-Dividend Distributions
Unless shares of our stock constitute a USRPI, distributions that we make which are not dividends out of our earnings and profits, not attributable to gain from the disposition of USRPIs and not in excess of the adjusted tax basis of the non-U.S. stockholder’s shares will not be subject to U.S. income tax. If we cannot determine at the time a distribution is made whether or not the distribution will exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to dividends. For withholding purposes, because we generally cannot determine at the time we make a distribution whether the distribution will exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, we expect to treat all distributions as made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. The non-U.S. stockholder may seek a refund from the IRS of any amounts withheld if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. To the extent that such distributions exceed the non-U.S. stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in such shares, the distributions will generally give rise to gain from the sale or exchange of such shares, the tax treatment of which is described below. However, such excess distributions may be treated as dividend income for certain non-U.S. stockholders.
Capital Gain Dividends and Distributions Attributable to a Sale or Exchange of United States Real Property Interests
Under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”), a distribution that we make to a non-U.S. stockholder, to the extent attributable to gains from dispositions of USRPIs that we held directly or through pass-through subsidiaries, or USRPI capital gains, will, except as described below, be considered effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. stockholder and will be subject to U.S. income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. individuals or corporations, without regard to whether we designate the distribution as a capital gain dividend. See above under “—Ordinary Dividends” for a discussion of the consequences of income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. In addition, we will be required to withhold tax equal to 21% (20% to the extent provided in Treasury Regulations) of the maximum amount that could have been designated as USRPI capital gain dividends. Distributions subject to FIRPTA may also be subject to a branch profits tax at the rate of 30% (unless reduced or eliminated by treaty) in the hands of a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation. A distribution is not attributable to USRPI capital gain if we held an interest in the underlying asset solely as a creditor. Dividends received by a non-U.S. stockholder that we properly designate as capital gain dividends and are attributable to dispositions of assets other than USRPIs generally are not subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax, unless (i) the investment in our stock is effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s U.S. trade or business (through a United States permanent establishment where applicable), in which case the non-U.S. stockholder would be subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders with respect to such gain, except that a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation may also be subject to a branch profits tax at the rate of 30% (unless reduced or eliminated by treaty), or (ii) the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met, in which case the non-U.S. stockholder will be subject to a 30% tax on his capital gains (reduced by certain capital losses). Substantially all of our assets will constitute USRPIs.
A capital gain dividend that would otherwise have been treated as a USRPI capital gain will not be so treated or be subject to FIRPTA, and generally will not be subject to the 21% withholding tax described above, and instead will be treated in the same manner as an ordinary dividend; if the distribution is received (i) with respect to a class of shares that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States and the recipient non-U.S. stockholder does not own more than 10% of that class of shares at any time during the year ending on the date on which the distribution is received; (ii) by certain non-U.S. publicly traded stockholders that meet certain record-keeping and other requirements (“qualified stockholders”) except to the extent owners of such qualified stockholders that are not also qualified stockholders own, actually or constructively, more than 10% of our capital shares; or (iii) by a “qualified foreign pension fund” (as defined in
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the Code) or any entity all of the interests of which are held by such a qualified foreign pension fund. We anticipate that our common stock will continue to be “regularly traded” on an established securities market in the United States.
Retention of Net Capital Gains
Although the law is not clear on the matter, it appears that amounts we designate as retained net capital gains in respect of our stock held by U.S. stockholders generally should be treated with respect to non-U.S. stockholders in the same manner as actual distributions of capital gain dividends. Under this approach, the non-U.S. stockholders may be able to offset as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability their proportionate share of the tax paid by us on such retained net capital gains and to receive from the IRS a refund to the extent their proportionate share of such tax paid by us exceeds their actual U.S. federal income tax liability. If we were to designate any portion of our net capital gain as retained net capital gain, non-U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the taxation of such retained net capital gain.
Dispositions of Our Stock
Unless shares of our stock constitute USRPIs, a sale of such shares by a non-U.S. stockholder generally will not be subject to U.S. taxation under FIRPTA. Subject to certain exceptions discussed below, shares of our stock will be treated as USRPIs if 50% or more of our assets throughout a prescribed testing period consist of interests in real property located within the United States, excluding, for this purpose, interests in real property solely in a capacity as a creditor. We believe that 50% or more of our assets consist, and will continue to consist, of USRPIs.
Even if the foregoing 50% test is met, however, shares of our common stock will not constitute a USRPI if we are a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.” A domestically controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT, less than 50% of value of which is held, directly or indirectly, by non-U.S. persons at all times during a specified testing period. No assurance can be given that we will be a domestically controlled qualified investment entity.
In the event that we are not a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, but shares of our common stock are “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, a non-U.S. stockholder’s sale of shares of our common stock nonetheless also would not be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI, provided that the selling non-U.S. stockholder held 10% or less of the outstanding shares of such class of stock at all times during a prescribed testing period. We expect that our common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market.
Even if none of the foregoing tests are met and shares of our common stock are not considered to be regularly traded on an established securities market, dispositions of our capital shares by qualified stockholders would still be exempt from FIRPTA, except to the extent owners of such qualified stockholders own, actually or constructively, more than 10% of our capital shares. Furthermore, dispositions of our capital shares by “qualified foreign pension funds” or entities all of the interests of which are held by “qualified foreign pension funds” are exempt from FIRPTA. Non-U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.
If gain on the sale of shares of our stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. stockholder would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return and would be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to such gain, subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of non-resident alien individuals. Moreover, in order to enforce the collection of the tax, the purchaser of the shares could be required to withhold 15% of the purchase price and remit such amount to the IRS.
Gain from the sale of shares of our stock that would not otherwise be subject to FIRPTA will nonetheless be taxable in the United States to a non-U.S. stockholder in two cases: (i) if the non-U.S. stockholder’s investment
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in the shares is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. stockholder (through a United States permanent establishment, where applicable), the non-U.S. stockholder will be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to such gain, except that a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation may also be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (unless reduced or eliminated by treaty), or (ii) if the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met, the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gain (reduced by certain capital losses). In addition, even if we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, upon disposition of shares of our common stock, a non-U.S. stockholder may be treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI if the non-U.S. stockholder (a) disposes of shares of our common stock within a 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been treated as gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI and (b) acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, other of shares of the same class of our stock during the 61-day period beginning with the first day of the 30-day period described in clause (a). The preceding sentence shall not apply to a non-U.S. stockholder if the non-U.S. stockholder did not own more than 5% of the shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution described in clause (a) of the preceding sentence and the class of shares is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market in the United States.
Non-U.S. stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of owning shares of our stock.
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders
Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts and individual retirement accounts, generally are exempt from U.S. federal income taxation. However, they may be subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). While some investments in real estate may generate UBTI, the IRS has ruled that dividend distributions from a REIT to a tax-exempt entity do not constitute UBTI. Based on that ruling, and provided that a tax-exempt stockholder has not held shares of our stock as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Code (i.e., where the acquisition or holding of the property is financed through a borrowing by the tax-exempt stockholder), distributions that we make and income from the sale of the shares generally should not give rise to UBTI to a tax-exempt stockholder.
Tax-exempt stockholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) and (c)(20) of the Code are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally require such stockholders to characterize distributions that we make as UBTI.
In certain circumstances, a pension trust that owns more than 10% of the value of shares of our stock could be required to treat a percentage of any distributions received from it as UBTI if we are a “pension-held REIT.” We will not be a pension-held REIT unless (i) we are required to “look through” one or more of our pension trust stockholders in order to satisfy the REIT “closely held” test and (ii) either (a) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of shares of our stock or (b) one or more pension trusts, each individually holding more than 10% of the value of the shares, collectively own more than 50% of the value of the shares. Certain restrictions on ownership and transfer of our shares generally should prevent a tax-exempt entity from owning more than 10% of the value of our stock and generally should prevent us from becoming a pension-held REIT.
Tax-exempt stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of owning our stock.
Other Tax Considerations
Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs
The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. We cannot give you any assurances as to
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whether, or in what form, any proposals affecting REITs or their stockholders might be enacted, but these changes might include, in particular, increases in the U.S. federal income tax rates that apply to various categories of holders of our stock in certain circumstances, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes to the U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in our stock. Investors should consult with their tax advisors regarding the effect of potential changes to the federal tax laws and on an investment in our stock.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
In general, VICI is required to report to U.S. stockholders of our stock and to the IRS the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year and the amount of any tax withheld. Backup withholding, at a rate of 24% through 2025 and 28% thereafter, may apply to dividends paid to a U.S. stockholders unless such holder (1) is a corporation or comes within other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact or (2) provides a taxpayer identification number or social security number, certifies under penalties of perjury that such number is correct and that such holder is not subject to backup withholding and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A U.S. stockholder that does not provide its correct taxpayer identification number or social security number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS.
In general, VICI is required to report annually to non-U.S. stockholders of shares of our stock the IRS the amount of dividends paid to such non-U.S. stockholders and the tax withheld with respect to such dividends, regardless of whether withholding was required. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends, interest and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. stockholder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. Non-U.S. stockholders may be subject to backup withholding unless applicable certification requirements are met.
Payment of the proceeds from a sale of our stock within the United States is subject to both backup withholding and information reporting requirements unless the beneficial owner certifies under penalties of perjury that it is a non-U.S. stockholder (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a United States person) or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Payment of the proceeds of a sale of our stock conducted through certain United States related financial intermediaries is subject to information reporting requirements (but not backup withholding) unless the financial intermediary has documentary evidence in its records that the beneficial owner is a non-U.S. stockholder and specified conditions are met or an exemption is otherwise established.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against the applicable holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
A U.S. Federal withholding tax of 30% generally will be imposed on certain payments made to a “foreign financial institution” (as specifically defined under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act rules) unless such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. tax authorities to withhold certain payments and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners) or otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing these withholding and reporting requirements may be subject to different rules. Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act and administrative guidance, a U.S. Federal withholding tax of 30% generally also will be imposed on certain payments made to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent with certification identifying certain of its direct and indirect U.S. owners. Under certain circumstances, a stockholder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. These withholding taxes are imposed on distributions paid with respect to our stock. While withholding under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
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would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our stock on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued. Stockholders should consult with their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation on their ownership and disposition of shares of our stock.
State, Local and Foreign Taxes
We and our subsidiaries and stockholders may be subject to state, local or foreign taxation in various jurisdictions, including those in which we or they transact business, own property or reside. Our state, local or foreign tax treatment and that of our stockholders and holders of debt securities may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax treatment discussed above. Any foreign taxes that we or our subsidiaries may incur do not pass through to our stockholders as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the application and effect of state, local and foreign income and other tax laws applicable to an investment in our stock.
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We may issue the securities offered by means of this prospectus in whole or in part in book-entry form, meaning that beneficial owners of the securities will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the securities, except in the event the book-entry system for the securities is discontinued. If securities are issued in book entry form, they will be evidenced by one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the securities. The Depository Trust Company is expected to serve as depository. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual securities represented thereby, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository for the global security to a nominee of such depository or by a nominee of such depository to such depository or another nominee of such depository or by the depository or any nominee of such depository to a successor depository or a nominee of such successor. Global securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a class or series of securities that differ from the terms described here will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we anticipate that the following provisions will apply to depository arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a global security, the depository for the global security or its nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of the individual securities represented by such global security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with such depository, who are called “participants.” Such accounts shall be designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to the securities or by us if the securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to the depository’s participants or persons that may hold interests through such participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the applicable depository or its nominee (with respect to beneficial interests of participants) and records of the participants (with respect to beneficial interests of persons who hold through participants). The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and laws may impair the ability to own, pledge or transfer beneficial interest in a global security.
So long as the depository for a global security or its nominee is the registered owner of such global security, such depository or nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by such global security for all purposes under the applicable instrument defining the rights of a holder of the securities. Except as provided below or in the applicable prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interest in a global security will not be entitled to have any of the individual securities of the series represented by such global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable instrument defining the rights of the holders of the securities.
Payments of amounts payable with respect to individual securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository or its nominee will be made to the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security representing such securities. None of us, our officers and directors or any trustee, paying agent or security registrar for an individual series of securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security for such securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depository for a series of securities offered by means of this prospectus or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest, dividend or other amount in respect of a permanent global security representing any of such securities, will immediately credit its participants’ accounts with
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payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global security for such securities as shown on the records of such depository or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such global security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.
If a depository for a series of securities is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depository and a successor depository is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue individual securities of such series in exchange for the global security representing such series of securities. In addition, we may, at any time and in our sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such securities, determine not to have any securities of such series represented by one or more global securities and, in such event, will issue individual securities of such series in exchange for the global security or securities representing such series of securities.
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Sales by Us
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions in any one or more of the following ways:
| • | directly to investors, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process; |
| • | to investors through agents; |
| • | directly to agents; |
| • | to or through brokers or dealers; |
| • | to the public through underwriting syndicates led by one or more managing underwriters; |
| • | to one or more underwriters acting alone for resale to investors or to the public; |
| • | in “at the market offerings” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, or a securities exchange or otherwise; |
| • | through forward delivery contracts; and |
| • | through a combination of any such methods of sale. |
If we sell securities to a dealer acting as principal, the dealer may resell such securities at varying prices to be determined by such dealer in its discretion at the time of resale without consulting with us and such resale prices may not be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Any underwritten offering may be on a best efforts or a firm commitment basis. We may also offer securities through subscription rights distributed to our stockholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to stockholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed securities to third parties.
Sales of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions:
| • | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| • | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| • | at prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
| • | at negotiated prices. |
Any of the prices may represent a discount from the then prevailing market prices.
In the sale of the securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive compensation from purchasers of the securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.
Discounts, concessions and commissions may be changed from time to time. Dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and any discounts, concessions or commissions they receive from us and any profit on the resale of securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under applicable federal and state securities laws.
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The applicable prospectus supplement will, where applicable:
| • | describe the terms of the offering; |
| • | identify any such underwriter, dealer or agent; |
| • | describe any compensation in the form of discounts, concessions, commissions or otherwise received from us by each such underwriter or agent and in the aggregate by all underwriters and agents; |
| • | describe the purchase price or the public offering price of the securities; |
| • | identify the amounts underwritten; and |
| • | identify the nature of the underwriter’s or underwriters’ obligation to take the securities. |
Unless otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement, each series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than shares of our common stock, which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance. We may elect to list any series of preferred stock on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, any offered securities.
We may offer the securities into an existing trading market on the terms described in a prospectus supplement relating thereto. Underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in any at-the-market offerings will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with those derivative transactions third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and such prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or from others to settle those short sales or to close out any related open borrowings of securities, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivative transactions to close out any related open borrowings of securities. If the third party is or may be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act, it will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplements.
Until the distribution of the securities is completed, rules of the SEC may limit the ability of any underwriters and selling group members to bid for and purchase the securities. As an exception to these rules, underwriters are permitted to engage in some transactions that stabilize the price of the securities. Such transactions consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities.
Underwriters may engage in overallotment. If any underwriters create a short position in the securities in an offering in which they sell more securities than are set forth on the cover page of the applicable prospectus supplement, the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing the securities in the open market.
The lead underwriters may also impose a penalty bid on other underwriters and selling group members participating in an offering. This means that if the lead underwriters purchase securities in the open market to reduce the underwriters’ short position or to stabilize the price of the securities, they may reclaim the amount of any selling concession from the underwriters and selling group members who sold those securities as part of the offering.
In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of a security to the extent that it were to discourage resales of the security before the distribution is completed.
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We do not make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above might have on the price of the securities. In addition, we do not make any representation that underwriters will engage in such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Under agreements into which we may enter, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of the securities may be entitled to indemnification by us against or contribution towards certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the applicable securities laws.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, perform services for us or be our tenants in the ordinary course of business.
If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by particular institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in such prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in such prospectus supplement. Each delayed delivery contract will be for an amount no less than, and the aggregate amounts of securities sold under delayed delivery contracts shall be not less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Institutions with which such contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but will in all cases be subject to our approval. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the conditions that (a) the purchase of the securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which the purchaser is subject, and (b) if the securities are being sold to underwriters, we shall have sold to the underwriters the total amount of the securities less the amount thereof covered by the contracts. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts.
To comply with applicable state securities laws, the securities offered by this prospectus will be sold, if necessary, in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, securities may not be sold in some states unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
Underwriters, dealers or agents that participate in the offer of securities, or their affiliates or associates, may have engaged or engage in transactions with and perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business for which they may have received or receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses.
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Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of the securities offered by means of this prospectus and certain U.S. federal income tax matters have been passed upon for us by Hogan Lovells US LLP. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The financial statements of VICI Properties Inc. incorporated in this prospectus by reference from VICI Properties Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of VICI Properties Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The financial statements of MGM Growth Properties LLC and MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP incorporated in this prospectus of VICI Properties Inc. by reference from VICI Properties Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2021, and the effectiveness of MGM Growth Properties LLC’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The historical audited and unaudited financial statements of Caesars (which are not included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus), as the parent and guarantor of CEOC, our significant lessee, have been filed with the SEC. Caesars files annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. In addition, the historical audited and unaudited financial statements of MGM (which are not included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus), which is the parent and will be the guarantor of the entity that will become our significant lessee upon the closing of the MGP Transactions. MGM files annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC (which are not included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus).
SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov and our website at www.viciproperties.com. We make no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information regarding Caesars and MGM that is contained in this prospectus, which is obtained from Caesars’ and MGM’s publicly available information, or that is available through the SEC’s website or otherwise made available by Caesars or MGM, and none of such publicly available Caesars or MGM information is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. None of the information on, or accessible through, our website or any other website identified herein is incorporated into this prospectus, and does not constitute a part of this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information about us by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents and reports listed below:
| • | The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 18, 2021; |
| • | The Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2021; |
| • | The Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2021; |
| • | The Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021; |
| • | The Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on October 27, 2021; |
| • | The Company’s current reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 3, 2021 (other than the information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 and Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2), March 8, 2021, April 29, 2021 (other than the information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 and 7.01 and Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2) May 27, 2021, August 5, 2021, September 8, 2021, September 13, 2021, September 14, 2021, September 15, 2021, September 27, 2021, October 29, 2021 and November 18, 2021; and |
| • | The description of the Company’s common stock, which is contained in Item 1 of its Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on January 29, 2018. |
We also incorporate by reference the information contained in all other documents we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than portions of these documents that are deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules, including current reports on Form 8-K furnished under Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 (including any financial statements or exhibits relating thereto furnished pursuant to Item 9.01)) after the date of this prospectus.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus free of charge upon written or oral request. Our filings with the SEC are available on our website at www.viciproperties.com, in the “Investors” section, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with the SEC. The information that is contained on, or is or becomes accessible through, our website is not part of this prospectus. You may also obtain a copy of these filings at no cost by calling us at (646) 949-4631 or writing to us at the following address:
VICI Properties Inc.
535 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Secretary
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
The following is a statement of the expenses estimated to be incurred by us in connection with the distribution of the securities registered under this Registration Statement:
| Item |
Amount | |||
| SEC Registration Fee |
$ | * | ||
| Legal Fees and Expenses |
$ | ** | ||
| Accounting Fees and Expenses |
$ | ** | ||
| Transfer Agent and Depositary Fees |
$ | ** | ||
| Blue Sky Fees and Expenses |
$ | ** | ||
| Printing Fees |
$ | ** | ||
| Miscellaneous |
$ | ** | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | ** | ||
|
|
|
|||
| * | In accordance with Rule 456(b) and as set forth in footnote (2) to the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table on the front cover page of this registration statement, we are deferring payment of the registration fee for the securities offered by the prospectus included herein. |
| ** | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances. Therefore, these fees cannot be estimated at this time. |
| Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
VICI Properties Inc. is a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland.
Maryland law permits us to include a provision in our charter eliminating the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) a final judgment based upon a finding that his or her action or failure to act was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty by the director or officer and was material to the cause of action adjudicated. Our charter contains a provision that eliminates our directors’ and officers’ liability to us and our stockholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
The MGCL requires us (unless our charter were to provide otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits us to indemnify our present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, by reason of their service in those or certain other capacities unless it is established that:
| • | the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; |
| • | the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or |
| • | in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. |
However, the MGCL prohibits us from indemnifying a director or officer who has been adjudged liable in a suit by us or on our behalf or in which the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that a personal
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benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the standard of conduct for indemnification set forth above or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. However, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by us or on our behalf, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.
In addition, the MGCL permits us to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon our receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
Our charter provides that we will have the power to obligate ourselves, and our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to:
| • | any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or |
| • | any individual who, while a director or officer of our company and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, employee, agent, fiduciary, trustee, member or manager of another corporation, REIT, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. |
Our charter and bylaws provide that we have the power, with approval of our board, to provide such indemnification and advance of expenses to a person who served a predecessor of us in any such capacity described above and to any employee or agent of us or a predecessor of us.
We have entered into an indemnification agreement with each of our directors and executive officers.
We have purchased and maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (i) to our directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (ii) to us with respect to indemnification payments that it may make to such directors and officers.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the staff of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
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| Item 16. | Exhibits |
| * | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference to this registration statement, including a Current Report on Form 8-K. |
| ** | Filed herewith. |
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| Item 17. | Undertakings. |
| (a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser,
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such
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effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
| (b) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (d) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, New York, on November 18, 2021.
| VICI Properties Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Edward B. Pitoniak | |
| Name: Edward B. Pitoniak | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned constitutes and appoints each of Edward B. Pitoniak, John Payne, Samantha Gallagher and David Kieske, or any of them, each acting alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement on Form S-3 (including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that any such attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Name |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ Edward B. Pitoniak |
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director | November 18, 2021 | ||
| Edward B. Pitoniak | ||||
| /s/ David A. Kieske |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | November 18, 2021 | ||
| David A. Kieske | ||||
| /s/ Gabriel F. Wasserman |
Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | November 18, 2021 | ||
| Gabriel F. Wasserman | ||||
| /s/ James R. Abrahamson |
Chair of the Board of Directors | November 18, 2021 | ||
| James R. Abrahamson | ||||
| /s/ Diana F. Cantor |
Director | November 18, 2021 | ||
| Diana F. Cantor | ||||
| /s/ Monica H. Douglas |
Director | November 18, 2021 | ||
| Monica H. Douglas | ||||
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| Name |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ Elizabeth I. Holland |
Director | November 18, 2021 | ||
| Elizabeth I. Holland | ||||
| /s/ Craig Macnab |
Director | November 18, 2021 | ||
| Craig Macnab | ||||
| /s/ Michael D. Rumbolz |
Director | November 18, 2021 | ||
| Michael D. Rumbolz | ||||
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Exhibit 5.1
|
Hogan Lovells US LLP Columbia Square 555 Thirteenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20004 T +1 202 637 5600 F +1 202 637 5910 www.hoganlovells.com |
November 18, 2021
Board of Directors
VICI Properties Inc.
535 Madison Avenue
20th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as counsel to VICI Properties Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-3, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the proposed public offering of an unlimited amount of one or more series of the following securities of the Company (collectively, the “Securities”): (i) shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) stock purchase contracts for Common Stock and Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Contracts”), (iv) depositary shares representing Preferred Stock (the “Depositary Shares”), (v) warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “Common Stock Warrants”), Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock Warrants”) or Depositary Shares (“Depositary Share Warrants” and, collectively with the Common Stock Warrants and the Preferred Stock Warrants, the “Warrants”), (vi) rights to purchase Common Stock (“Subscription Rights”) and (vii) units (the “Units”) comprised of two or more of any of the Securities, all of which may be sold from time to time and on a delayed or continuous basis, as set forth in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement, and as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the prospectus. This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.
For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed an appropriate basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter expressed. In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (including pdfs). As to all matters of fact, we have relied on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so relied on. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.
Hogan Lovells US LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in the District of Columbia. “Hogan Lovells” is an international legal practice that includes Hogan Lovells US LLP and Hogan Lovells International LLP, with offices in: Alicante Amsterdam Baltimore Beijing Birmingham Boston Brussels Colorado Springs Denver Dubai Dusseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hong Kong Houston Johannesburg London Los Angeles Luxembourg Madrid Mexico City Miami Milan Minneapolis Monterrey Moscow Munich New York Northern Virginia Paris Perth Philadelphia Rome San Francisco São Paulo Shanghai Silicon Valley Singapore Sydney Tokyo Warsaw Washington, D.C. Associated Offices: Budapest Jakarta Riyadh Shanghai FTZ Ulaanbaatar. Business Service Centers: Johannesburg Louisville. Legal Services Center: Berlin. For more information see www.hoganlovells.com
| Board of Directors VICI Properties Inc. |
2 | November 18, 2021 |
For purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that (i) the issuance, sale, amount and terms of any Securities of the Company to be offered from time to time will have been duly authorized and established by proper action of the board of directors of the Company (“Board of Directors”) or a duly authorized committee of such Board of Directors (“Board Action”) consistent with the procedures and terms described in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, and applicable Maryland corporate law, in a manner that does not violate any law, government or court-imposed order or restriction or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company or otherwise impair the legal or binding nature of the obligations represented by the applicable Securities; (ii) at the time of offer, issuance and sale of any Securities, the Registration Statement will have been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and no stop order suspending its effectiveness will have been issued and remain in effect; (iii) any Warrants will be issued under one or more warrant agreements, each to be between the Company and a financial institution identified therein as a warrant agent; (iv) prior to any issuance of Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares, appropriate articles supplementary shall be filed and accepted for record by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation; (v) any Depositary Shares will be issued under one or more deposit agreements by the financial institution identified therein as a depositary, each deposit agreement to be between the Company and the financial institution identified therein as a depositary; (vi) any Purchase Contracts will be issued under one or more purchase contract agreements; (vii) any Subscription Rights will be issued under one or more subscription rights agreements, each to be between the Company and a financial institution identified therein as a rights agent; (viii) if being sold by the issuer thereof, the Securities will be delivered against payment of valid consideration therefor and in accordance with the terms of the applicable Board Action authorizing such sale and any applicable underwriting agreement or purchase agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable prospectus supplement; (ix) the Company will remain a Maryland corporation; (x) the Securities will not be issued in violation of the ownership limit contained in the Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended; and (xi) the laws of the State of New York will be the governing law under any deposit agreement, warrant agreement or rights agreement.
To the extent that the obligations of the Company with respect to the Securities may be dependent upon such matters, we assume for purposes of this opinion that the other party under any purchase contract agreements for any Purchase Contracts, under any deposit agreement for any Depositary Shares, under any warrant agreement for any Warrants, under any subscription rights agreement for any Subscription Rights, and under any unit agreement for any Units, namely, the purchase contract agent, the depositary, the warrant agent, the rights agent, or the unit agent, respectively, is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; that such other party is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by such purchase contract agreement, deposit agreement, warrant agreement, subscription rights agreement or unit agreement, as applicable; that such purchase contract agreement, deposit agreement, warrant agreement, subscription rights agreement or unit agreement, as applicable, has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other party and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the other party enforceable against the other party in accordance with its terms; that such other party is in compliance with respect to performance of its obligations under such purchase contract agreement, deposit agreement, warrant agreement, subscription rights agreement or unit agreement, as applicable, with all applicable laws, rules and regulations; and that such other party has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under such warrant agreement, deposit agreement, subscription rights agreement or unit agreement, as applicable.
| Board of Directors VICI Properties Inc. |
3 | November 18, 2021 |
This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the applicable provisions of the following, as currently in effect: (i) the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended and (ii) as to the opinions given in paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) the laws of the State of New York (but not including any laws, statutes, ordinances, administrative decisions, rules or regulations of any political subdivision below the state level). We express no opinion herein as to any other statutes, rules or regulations (and in particular, we express no opinion as to any effect that such other statutes, rules or regulations may have on the opinions expressed herein).
Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
(a) The Common Stock (including any Common Stock duly issued upon the exchange or conversion of Preferred Stock that are exchangeable for or convertible into Common Stock or upon the exercise of Common Stock Warrants or Subscription Rights and receipt by the Company of any additional consideration payable upon such conversion, exchange or exercise), upon due execution and delivery on behalf of the Company of certificates therefor, including global certificates, or the entry of the issuance thereof in the books and records of the Company, as the case may be, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(b) The Preferred Stock (including any Preferred Stock represented by Depositary Shares) or that are duly issued upon the exercise of Preferred Stock Warrants and receipt by the Company of any additional contribution payable upon such exchange or conversion, upon due execution and delivery on behalf of the Company of certificates therefor, including global certificates, or the entry of the issuance thereof in the books and records of the Company, as the case may be, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(c) The Purchase Contracts, upon due execution and delivery of a purchase contract agreement relating thereto on behalf of the Company and the purchase contract agent named therein, and upon due execution and delivery of the Purchase Contracts on behalf of the Company, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
(d) The depositary receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares, upon due countersignature thereof and issuance against a deposit of duly authorized and validly issued Preferred Stock in accordance with the deposit agreement relating thereto, will be validly issued and entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in such depositary receipts and deposit agreement.
(e) The Warrants, upon due execution and delivery of a warrant agreement relating thereto on behalf of the Company and the warrant agent named therein and due authentication of the Warrants by such warrant agent, and upon due execution and delivery of the Warrants on behalf of the Company, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
(f) The Subscription Rights, upon due execution and delivery of a subscription rights agreement relating thereto on behalf of the Company and the rights agent named therein and upon due execution and delivery of one or more certificates bearing such terms on behalf of the Company, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
| Board of Directors VICI Properties Inc. |
4 | November 18, 2021 |
(g) The Units, upon due execution and delivery of a unit agreement relating thereto on behalf of the Company, and upon due execution and delivery of such Units and the underlying Securities, if applicable that are components of such Units in accordance with the applicable unit agreement, warrant agreement (in the case of underlying Warrants), deposit agreement (in the case of underlying Depositary Shares) or purchase contract agreement (in the case of underlying Purchase Contracts), and assuming that any underlying Securities not issued by the Company that are components of such Units have been duly and properly authorized for issuance and constitute valid and binding obligations enforceable against the issuer thereof in accordance with their terms, such Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
The opinions expressed in Paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) above with respect to the valid and binding nature of obligations may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights (including, without limitation, the effect of statutory and other law regarding fraudulent conveyances, fraudulent transfers and preferential transfers) and by the exercise of judicial discretion and the application of principles of equity, good faith, fair dealing, reasonableness, conscionability and materiality (regardless of whether the Securities are considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
This opinion letter has been prepared for use in connection with the Registration Statement. We assume no obligation to advise of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Act.
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ Hogan Lovells US LLP |
| HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP |
Exhibit 8.1
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Hogan Lovells US LLP Columbia Square 555 Thirteenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20004 T +1 202 637 5600 F +1 202 637 5910 www.hoganlovells.com |
November 18, 2021
VICI Properties, Inc.
535 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10022
| Re: | REIT Qualification Opinion |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as tax counsel to VICI Properties Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-3, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the proposed public offering of an unlimited amount of one or more series of the following securities of the Company (collectively, the “Securities”): (i) shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) stock purchase contracts for Common Stock and Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Contracts”), (iv) depositary shares representing Preferred Stock (the “Depositary Shares”), (v) warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “Common Stock Warrants”), Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock Warrants”) or Depositary Shares (“Depositary Share Warrants” and, collectively with the Common Stock Warrants and the Preferred Stock Warrants, the “Warrants”), (vi) rights to purchase Common Stock (“Subscription Rights”) and (vii) units (the “Units”) comprised of two or more of any of the Securities, all of which may be sold from time to time and on a delayed or continuous basis, as set forth in the prospectus (the “Prospectus”) which forms a part of the Registration Statement, and as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the Prospectus. You have requested our opinion concerning certain federal income tax considerations relating to the Company, including with respect to the qualification of the Company as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under Section 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
Bases for Opinions
The opinions set forth in this letter are based on relevant current provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (including proposed and temporary Treasury Regulations), and interpretations of the foregoing as expressed in court decisions, applicable legislative history, and the administrative rulings and practices of the United States Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), including its practices and policies in issuing private letter rulings, which are not binding on the IRS except with respect to a taxpayer that receives such a ruling, all as of the date hereof. These provisions and interpretations are subject to change by the IRS, Congress and the courts (as applicable), which may or may not be retroactive in effect and which might result in material modifications of our opinions. Our opinions do not foreclose the possibility of a contrary determination by the IRS or a court of competent jurisdiction, or of a contrary position taken by the IRS or the United States Treasury Department in regulations or
rulings issued in the future. In this regard, an opinion of counsel with respect to an issue represents counsel’s best professional judgment with respect to the outcome on the merits with respect to such issue, if such issue were to be litigated, but an opinion is not binding on the IRS or the courts, and is not a guarantee that the IRS will not assert a contrary position with respect to such issue or that a court will not sustain such a position asserted by the IRS.
In rendering the following opinions, we have examined such statutes, regulations, records, agreements, certificates and other documents as we have considered necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions, including, but not limited to (including all exhibits and schedules thereto) which we have, with your consent, relied upon (without any independent investigation or review thereof):
| 1. | the Registration Statement and Prospectus; |
| 2. | the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021; |
| 3. | the Third Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. (“Caesars”), et. al., under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, dated January 13, 2017 (the “Plan of Reorganization”); |
| 4. | the documents that effectuate, or were entered into pursuant to, the Plan of Reorganization; |
| 5. | the documents that effectuate, or were entered into in connection with, the purchase and/or lease of properties by subsidiaries of the Company subsequent to the Company’s separation from Caesars; and |
| 6. | certain organizational documents of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (those documents referred to in clauses (1) through (6), the “Reviewed Documents”). |
The opinions set forth in this letter are premised on, among other things, the written representations of the Company contained in a certificate to us (including all exhibits and attachments thereto), dated as of the date hereof (the “Officer’s Certificate”).
Although we have discussed the Officer’s Certificate with the signatory thereto, for purposes of rendering our opinions, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the Reviewed Documents and the Officer’s Certificate. We consequently have relied upon the representations and statements of the Company as described in the Reviewed Documents and the Officer’s Certificate, and assumed that the information presented in such documents or otherwise furnished to us is accurate and complete in all material respects.
In this regard, we have assumed with your consent the following:
| 1. | that (A) all of the representations and statements as to factual matters set forth in the Reviewed Documents and the Officer’s Certificate are true, correct, and complete as of the date hereof, (B) any representation or statement in the Reviewed Documents and the Officer’s Certificate made as a belief or made “to the knowledge of” or similarly qualified is true, correct and complete in all material respects as of the date hereof, without such qualification, (C) any representation or statement in the Reviewed Documents and the Officer’s Certificate as to the Company’s intent is assumed to be carried out in accordance with such intent, (D) each agreement described in the Reviewed Documents is valid and binding in accordance with its terms, (E) each of the obligations of the parties to the Reviewed Documents, and their |
| subsidiaries, as described in the Reviewed Documents, has been or will be performed or satisfied in accordance with its terms (and no covenants or conditions described therein and affecting this opinion letter have been or will be waived or modified), and (F) there are no agreements, arrangements, or understandings among the parties that supplement or are inconsistent with the Reviewed Documents; |
| 2. | the genuineness of all signatures, the proper execution of all documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of documents submitted to us as copies, and the authenticity of the originals from which any copies were |
| 4. | that any documents as to which we have reviewed only a form were or will be duly executed without material changes from the form reviewed by us; |
| 5. | the Company’s separation from Caesars was consummated in accordance with the provisions of the Reviewed Documents and as described therein; |
| 6. | the Eldorado Transaction (as defined in the Prospectus) was consummated in a manner consistent with the Company’s representations included in the Officer’s Certificate; |
| 7. | the Venetian Acquisition (as defined in the Prospectus) will be consummated in a manner consistent with the Company’s representations included in the Officer’s Certificate; |
| 8. | the MGP Transactions (as defined in the Prospectus) will be consummated in a manner consistent with the Company’s representations included in the Officer’s Certificate; and |
| 9. | that from and after the date of this letter, the Company, will comply with its representation contained in the Officer’s Certificate that the Company will utilize all appropriate “savings provisions” (including the provisions of Sections 856(c)(6), 856(c)(7), and 856(g) of the Code, and the provision included in Section 856(c)(4) of the Code (flush language) allowing for the disposal of assets within 30 days after the close of a calendar quarter, and all available deficiency dividend procedures) available to the Company under the Code in order to correct any violations of the applicable real estate investment trust (“REIT”) qualification requirements of Sections 856 and 857 of the Code to the full extent the remedies under such provisions are available. |
Any material variation or difference in the facts from those set forth in the documents that we have reviewed and upon which we have relied (including, in particular, the Reviewed Documents and the Officer’s Certificate) may adversely affect the conclusions stated herein. In addition, we note that the Company may engage in transactions in connection with which we have not provided tax advice and have not reviewed, and of which we may be unaware.
Opinions
Based upon and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, including, without limitation, the discussion in the next paragraph below, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2017, the Company has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and the Company’s current organization and current and proposed method of operation (as described in the Reviewed Documents and the Officer’s Certificate) will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2021, and future taxable years; and |
| 2. | the portions of the discussion in the Prospectus under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” that describe provisions of applicable U.S. federal income tax law are correct in all material respects as of the date hereof. |
Qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code depends upon the ability of the Company to meet on an ongoing basis (through actual quarterly and annual operating results, distribution levels, diversity of share ownership and otherwise) the various qualification tests imposed under the Code, and upon the Company utilizing any and all appropriate “savings provisions” (including the provisions of Sections 856(c)(6), 856(c)(7), and 856(g) of the Code and the provision included in Section 856(c)(4) of the Code (flush language) allowing for the disposal of assets within 30 days after the close of a calendar quarter, and all available deficiency dividend procedures) available to the Company under the Code to correct violations of specified REIT qualification requirements of Sections 856 and 857 of the Code. Our opinions set forth above do not foreclose the possibility that the Company may have to utilize one or more of these “savings provisions” in the future, which could require the Company to pay an excise or penalty tax (which could be significant in amount) in order to maintain its REIT qualification. We have not undertaken and will not undertake to review the Company’s compliance with these requirements on a continuing basis, nor will we do so in the future. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations, the sources of its income, the nature of its assets, the level of its distributions to shareholders and the diversity of its share ownership for any given taxable year will satisfy the requirements under the Code for qualification and taxation as a REIT.
This opinion letter has been prepared solely for your use for filing as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We assume no obligation by reason of this opinion letter or otherwise to advise you of any changes in our opinion letter after the date hereof. Except as provided in the next paragraph, this opinion letter may not be distributed, quoted in whole or in part or otherwise reproduced in any document, or filed with any governmental agency without our express written consent.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Hogan Lovells US LLP in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, however, we do not admit thereby that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Hogan Lovells US LLP
HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of VICI Properties Inc. of our reports dated February 18, 2021, relating to the financial statements of VICI Properties Inc., and the effectiveness of VICI Properties Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of VICI Properties Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2020. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
November 18, 2021
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 23, 2021 relating to the financial statements of MGM Growth Properties LLC and the effectiveness of MGM Growth Properties LLC’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing as Exhibit 99.1 in the Current Report on Form 8-K of VICI Properties Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 8, 2021. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Las Vegas, Nevada
November 18, 2021
Exhibit 23.3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 23, 2021 relating to the financial statements of MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP, appearing as Exhibit 99.1 in the Current Report on Form 8-K of VICI Properties Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 8, 2021. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Las Vegas, Nevada
November 18, 2021