e424b3
Filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-130735
PROSPECTUS
Apartment Investment and
Management Company
8,834,582 Shares of Class A Common Stock
Apartment Investment and Management Company is a self-administered and self-managed real
estate investment trust engaged in the acquisition, ownership, management and redevelopment of
apartment properties.
This Prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time by certain stockholders of
shares of Class A Common Stock. The registration of the shares does not necessarily mean that any
of the shares will be offered or sold by the selling stockholders. We will receive no proceeds
from any sales of the shares, but will incur expenses in connection with the offering. See
Selling Stockholders and Plan of Distribution.
The selling stockholders may sell the Class A Common Stock offered hereby from time to time on
the New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange or automated interdealer
quotation system on which shares of Class A Common Stock are then listed or quoted, through
negotiated transactions or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale or at
negotiated prices.
The Class A Common Stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
AIV. On January 25, 2006, the closing sale price of
the Class A Common Stock on the NYSE was $41.81 per share.
Investing in the Class A Common Stock involves certain risks. See Risk Factors beginning on
page 2.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
January 26,
2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with
different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer
is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the
date on the front of those documents.
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APARTMENT INVESTMENT AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Apartment Investment and Management Company, or Aimco, is a Maryland corporation incorporated
on January 10, 1994. We are a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or
REIT, engaged in the acquisition, ownership, management and redevelopment of apartment properties.
As of September 30, 2005, we owned or managed a real estate portfolio of 1,424 apartment properties
containing 251,250 apartment units located in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
As of September 30, 2005, we:
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owned an equity interest in and consolidated 166,087 units in 651 properties (which we
refer to as consolidated), of which 165,277 units were also managed by us; |
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owned an equity interest in and did not consolidate 38,591 units in 286 properties
(which we refer to as unconsolidated), of which 32,406 units were also managed by us; |
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provided services or managed, for third-party owners, 46,572 units in 487 properties,
primarily pursuant to long-term agreements (including 41,439 units in 434 properties that
are asset managed only, and not also property managed), although in certain cases we may
indirectly own generally less than one percent of the operations of such properties through
a partnership syndication or other fund. |
Through our wholly owned subsidiaries, AIMCO-GP, Inc. and AIMCO-LP, Inc., we own a majority of
the ownership interests in AIMCO Properties, L.P., which we refer to as the Aimco Operating
Partnership. As of September 30, 2005, we held approximately a 90% interest in the common
partnership units and equivalents of the Aimco Operating Partnership. We conduct substantially all
of our business, and own substantially all of our assets, through the Aimco Operating Partnership.
Interests in the Aimco Operating Partnership that are held by limited partners other than Aimco are
referred to as OP Units. OP Units include common OP Units, partnership preferred units, or
preferred OP Units, and high performance partnership units, or High Performance Units. The Aimco
Operating Partnerships income is allocated to holders of common OP Units based on the weighted
average number of common OP Units and equivalents outstanding during the period. The Aimco
Operating Partnership records the issuance of common OP Units and the assets acquired in purchase
transactions based on the market price of Aimcos Class A Common Stock (which we refer to as Common
Stock) at the date of execution of the purchase contract. The holders of the common OP Units
receive distributions, prorated from the date of issuance, in an amount equivalent to the dividends
paid to holders of Common Stock. Generally after a holding period of twelve months, holders of
common OP Units may redeem such units for cash or, at the Aimco Operating Partnerships option,
Common Stock.
At September 30, 2005, 95,700,187 shares of our Common Stock were outstanding and the Aimco
Operating Partnership had 10,367,386 common OP Units and equivalents outstanding for a combined
total of 106,067,573 shares of Common Stock and OP Units outstanding (excluding preferred OP
Units).
Except as the context otherwise requires, we, our, us and the Company refer to Aimco,
the Aimco Operating Partnership and Aimcos consolidated corporate subsidiaries and consolidated
real estate partnerships, collectively.
Our principal executive offices are located at 4582 South Ulster Street Parkway, Suite 1100,
Denver, Colorado 80237 and our telephone number is (303) 757-8101. Our website is located at
www.aimco.com; the information available on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus.
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RISK FACTORS
Before you invest in the Class A Common Stock, you should be aware that there are various
risks, including those described below. You should consider carefully these risk factors together
with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus before
you decide to purchase our securities.
Some of the information in this prospectus may contain forward-looking statements. These
statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as may, will, expect,
anticipate, estimate, continue or other similar words. These statements discuss future
expectations, contain projections of results of operations or financial condition or state other
forward-looking information. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind
the risk factors and other cautionary statements included or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus. The risk factors noted in this section and other factors noted throughout this
prospectus, including certain risks and uncertainties, could cause our actual results to differ
materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
Changes in the real estate market may limit our ability to generate Funds From Operations.
Our ability to make payments to our investors, including holders of Class A Common Stock,
depends on our ability to generate Funds From Operations (as defined by the National Association of
Real Estate Investment Trusts) in excess of required debt payments and capital expenditure
requirements. Funds From Operations and the value of our properties may be adversely affected by
events or conditions beyond our control, including:
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the general economic climate; |
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competition from other apartment communities and other housing options; |
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local conditions, such as an increase in unemployment or an increase in the supply of
apartments, that might adversely affect apartment occupancy or rental rates; |
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changes in governmental regulations and the related cost of compliance; |
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increases in operating costs (including real estate taxes) due to inflation and other
factors, which may not be offset by increased rents; |
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changes in tax laws and housing laws, including the enactment of rent control laws or
other laws regulating multifamily housing; |
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changes in interest rates and the availability of financing; and |
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the relative illiquidity of real estate investments. |
If we are not able successfully to acquire, operate, redevelop and expand properties, our growth
and results of operations will be adversely affected.
The selective acquisition, redevelopment and expansion of properties are one component of our
growth strategy. However, we may not be able to complete successfully transactions in the future.
Although we seek to acquire, operate, redevelop and expand properties only when such activities
increase our net income on a per share basis, such transactions may fail to perform in accordance
with our expectations. When we redevelop or expand properties, we are subject to the risks that:
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costs may exceed original estimates; |
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occupancy and rental rates at the property may be below our projections; |
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financing may not be available on favorable terms or at all; |
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redevelopment and leasing of the properties may not be completed on schedule; and |
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we may experience difficulty or delays in obtaining necessary zoning, land-use,
building, occupancy and other governmental permits and authorizations. |
We may have difficulty integrating any acquired businesses or properties.
We have grown rapidly. Since our initial public offering in July 1994, we have completed
numerous acquisition transactions, expanding our portfolio of owned or managed properties from 132
properties with 29,343 apartment units to 1,424 properties with 251,250 apartment units as of
September 30, 2005. These acquisitions have included purchases of properties and interests in
entities that own or manage properties, as well as corporate mergers. Our ability to successfully
integrate acquired businesses and properties depends, among other things, on our ability to:
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attract and retain qualified personnel; |
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integrate the personnel and operations of the acquired businesses; |
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maintain standards, controls, procedures and policies; and |
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maintain adequate accounting and information systems. |
We can provide no assurance that we will be able to accomplish these goals and successfully
integrate any acquired businesses or properties. If we fail to integrate successfully such
businesses, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
We may be subject to litigation associated with partnership acquisitions that could increase our
expenses and prevent completion of beneficial transactions.
We have engaged in, and intend to continue to engage in, the selective acquisition of
interests in partnerships that own apartment properties. In some cases, we have acquired the
general partner of a partnership and then made an offer to acquire the limited partners interests
in the partnership. In these transactions, we may be subject to litigation based on claims that we,
as the general partner, have breached our fiduciary duty to our limited partners or that the
transaction violates the relevant partnership agreement or state law. Although we intend to comply
with our fiduciary obligations and the relevant partnership agreements, we may incur additional
costs in connection with the defense or settlement of this type of litigation. In some cases, this
type of litigation may adversely affect our desire to proceed with, or our ability to complete, a
particular transaction. Any litigation of this type could also have a material adverse effect on
our financial condition or results of operations.
Our existing and future debt financing could render us unable to operate, result in foreclosure on
our properties or prevent us from making distributions on our equity.
Our strategy is generally to incur debt to increase the return on our equity while maintaining
acceptable interest coverage ratios. We seek to maintain a ratio of free cash flow to combined
interest expense and preferred stock dividends of greater than 2:1 and to match debt maturities to
the character of the assets financed. For the year ended December 31, 2004, however, we had a ratio
of free cash flow to combined interest expense and preferred stock dividends of 1.5:1, and this
ratio in prior periods has also deviated from our goal. In addition, our Board of Directors could
change this strategy at any time and increase our leverage. Our organizational documents do not
limit the amount of debt that we may incur, and we have significant amounts of debt outstanding.
Payments of principal and interest may leave us with insufficient cash resources to operate our
properties or pay distributions required to be paid in order to maintain our qualification as a
REIT. We are also subject to the risk that our cash flow from operations will be insufficient to
make required payments of principal and interest, and the risk that existing indebtedness may not
be refinanced or that the terms of any refinancing will not be as favorable as the terms
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of existing indebtedness. If we fail to make required payments of principal and interest on
any debt, our lenders could foreclose on the properties securing such debt, which would result in
loss of income and asset value to us. Substantially all of the properties that we own or control
are encumbered by debt.
Increases in interest rates would increase our interest expense.
As of September 30, 2005, we had approximately $2.0 billion of variable-rate indebtedness
outstanding. Based on this level of debt, an increase in interest rates of 1% would result in our
income and cash flows being reduced by $20.0 million on an annual basis and could reduce our
ability to service our indebtedness and make dividends or other distributions. Of the total debt
subject to variable interest rates, floating rate tax-exempt bond financing was $730.2 million.
Floating rate tax-exempt bond financing is benchmarked against the Bond Market Association
Municipal Swap Index, or the BMA Index, which since 1981 has averaged 52.1% of the 10-year Treasury
Yield. If this relationship continues, an increase in the 10- year Treasury Yield of 1% (0.52% in
tax-exempt interest rates) would result in our income before minority interests and cash flows
being reduced by $16.5 million on an annual basis.
Covenant restrictions may limit our ability to make payments to our investors.
Some of our debt and other securities contain covenants that restrict our ability to make
distributions or other payments to our investors unless certain criteria are satisfied. Our credit
facility provides, among other things, that we may make distributions to our investors during any
four fiscal quarter period in an aggregate amount that does not exceed the greater of 95% of our
Funds From Operations for such period or such amount as may be necessary to maintain our REIT
status.
Our outstanding classes of preferred stock prohibit the payment of dividends on our Common
Stock if we fail to pay the dividends to which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled. If
we are unable to pay dividends on our Common Stock, we may fail to qualify as a REIT. This would
subject us to corporate taxation and reduce our ability to make distributions to our investors.
We depend on distributions and other payments from our subsidiaries that they may be prohibited
from making to us.
All of our properties are owned, and all of our operations are conducted, by the Aimco
Operating Partnership and our other subsidiaries. As a result, we depend on distributions and other
payments from our subsidiaries in order to satisfy our financial obligations and make payments to
our investors. The ability of our subsidiaries to make such distributions and other payments
depends on their earnings and may be subject to statutory or contractual limitations. As an equity
investor in our subsidiaries, our right to receive assets upon their liquidation or reorganization
will be effectively subordinated to the claims of their creditors. To the extent that we are
recognized as a creditor of such subsidiaries, our claims may still be subordinate to any security
interest in or other lien on their assets and to any of their debt or other obligations that are
senior to our claims.
Laws benefiting disabled persons may result in our incurrence of unanticipated expenses.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or ADA, all places intended to be used by
the public are required to meet certain Federal requirements related to access and use by disabled
persons. Likewise, the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, or FHAA, requires apartment properties
first occupied after March 13, 1990 to be accessible to the handicapped. These and other Federal,
state and local laws may require modifications to our properties, or restrict renovations of the
properties. Noncompliance with these laws could result in the imposition of fines or an award of
damages to private litigants and also could result in an order to correct any non-complying
feature, which could result in substantial capital expenditures. Although we believe that our
properties are substantially in compliance with present requirements, we may incur unanticipated
expenses to comply with the ADA and the FHAA.
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Affordable housing regulations may limit rent increases at some of our properties, reducing our
revenue and, in some cases, causing us to sell properties that we might otherwise continue to own.
We own an equity interest in certain affordable properties and manage for third parties and
affiliates other properties that benefit from governmental programs intended to provide housing to
people with low or moderate incomes. These programs, which are usually administered by the United
States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, or state housing finance agencies,
typically provide mortgage insurance, favorable financing terms or rental assistance payments to
the property owners. As a condition of the receipt of assistance under these programs, the
properties must comply with various requirements, which typically limit rents to pre-approved
amounts. If permitted rents on a property are insufficient to cover costs, a sale of the property
may become necessary, which could result in a loss of management fee revenue. We usually need to
obtain the approval of HUD in order to manage, or acquire a significant interest in, a HUD-assisted
property. We may not always receive such approval.
We depend on our senior management.
Our success depends upon the retention of our senior management, including Terry Considine,
our chief executive officer and president. We cannot assure you that we would be able to find
qualified replacements for the individuals who make up our senior management if their services were
no longer available. The loss of services of one or more members of our senior management team
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations. We do not currently maintain key-man life insurance for any of our employees. The loss
of any member of senior management could adversely affect our ability to pursue effectively our
business strategy.
We may fail to qualify as a REIT.
We believe that we operate, and have always operated, in a manner that enables us to meet the
requirements for qualification as a REIT for Federal income tax purposes. Our continued
qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, investment,
organizational, distribution, stockholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis.
Our ability to satisfy the asset tests depends upon our analysis of the fair market values of our
assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination, and for which we will not
obtain independent appraisals. Our compliance with the REIT income and quarterly asset requirements
also depends upon our ability to manage successfully the composition of our income and assets on an
ongoing basis. Moreover, the proper classification of an instrument as debt or equity for Federal
income tax purposes may be uncertain in some circumstances, which could affect the application of
the REIT qualification requirements. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Internal
Revenue Service, or the IRS, will not contend that our interests in subsidiaries or other issuers
constitutes a violation of the REIT requirements. Moreover, future economic, market, legal, tax or
other considerations may cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT, or our Board of Directors may
determine to revoke our REIT status. If we fail to qualify as a REIT, we will not be allowed a
deduction for dividends paid to our stockholders in computing our taxable income, and we will be
subject to Federal income tax at regular corporate rates, including any applicable alternative
minimum tax. This would substantially reduce our funds available for payment to our investors.
Unless entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, we also would be
disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we
ceased to qualify as a REIT.
In addition, our failure to qualify as a REIT would trigger the following consequences:
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we would be obligated to repurchase certain classes of our preferred stock, plus accrued
and unpaid dividends to the date of repurchase; and |
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we would be in default under our credit facilities and certain other loan agreements. |
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REIT distribution requirements limit our available cash.
As a REIT, we are subject to annual distribution requirements, which limit the amount of cash
we retain for other business purposes, including amounts to fund our growth. We generally must
distribute annually at least 90% of our net REIT taxable income, excluding any net capital gain, in
order for our distributed earnings not to be subject to corporate income tax. We intend to make
distributions to our stockholders to comply with the requirements of the Code. However, differences
in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash could require us
to sell assets or borrow funds on a short-term or long-term basis to meet the 90% distribution
requirement of the Code.
Legislative or other actions affecting REITs could have a negative effect on us.
The rules dealing with Federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved
in the legislative process and by the IRS and the United States Treasury Department. Changes to the
tax laws, which may have retroactive application, could adversely affect our investors or us. We
cannot predict how changes in the tax laws might affect our investors or us. For example, under
legislation effective January 1, 2001, if any of our taxable REIT subsidiaries were deemed to
operate or manage a health care or lodging facility, we would fail to qualify as a REIT. Although
we believe that, since January 1, 2001, none of our taxable REIT subsidiaries have operated or
managed any health care or lodging facilities, the statute provides little guidance as to the
definition of a health care or lodging facility. Accordingly, we cannot assure that the IRS will
not contend that any of our taxable REIT subsidiaries operate or manage a health care or lodging
facility, resulting in our disqualification as a REIT.
A reduction, in 2003, in the maximum tax rate applicable to dividends may make REIT investments
less attractive.
Tax legislation enacted in 2003 reduced (through 2008) the maximum tax rate for dividends
payable to individuals from 38.6% to 15%. Dividends payable by REITs are generally not eligible for
the reduced rates. Although this legislation does not adversely affect the taxation of REITs or
dividends paid by REITs, the more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate dividends could
cause investors who are individuals to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less
attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could
adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including our Common Stock. In addition, the
relative attractiveness of real estate in general may be adversely affected by the newly favorable
tax treatment given to corporate dividends, which could negatively affect the value of our real
estate assets.
The FBI has issued alerts regarding potential terrorist threats involving apartment buildings a
risk for which we are only partially insured.
From time to time, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, and the United States
Department of Homeland Security issue alerts regarding potential terrorist threats involving
apartment buildings. Threats of future terrorist attacks, such as those announced by the FBI and
the Department of Homeland Security, could have a negative effect on rent and occupancy levels at
our properties. The effect that future terrorist activities or threats of such activities could
have on our business is uncertain and unpredictable. If we incur a loss at a property as a result
of an act of terrorism, we could lose all or a portion of the capital we have invested in the
property, as well as the future revenue from the property. Since September 2001, our lenders have
increased their scrutiny regarding terrorism exposure, and we have sometimes been required to
purchase terrorism insurance. In all cases, we have purchased insurance that exceeds the minimum
requirements of our lenders. Currently, these costs have not had a negative effect on our
consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
The market place for insurance coverage is uncertain and in some cases insurance is becoming more
expensive and more difficult to obtain.
The current insurance market is characterized by volatility with respect to premiums,
deductibles and coverage. For certain types of coverage, such as property coverage, we are
currently experiencing stable or declining premiums. For other types of coverage, however, such as
liability and executive coverage, we continue to experience rising premiums, higher deductibles,
and more restrictive coverage language. Although we make use of
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many alternative methods of risk financing that enable us to insulate ourselves to some degree
from variations in coverage language and cost, sustained deterioration in insurance marketplace
conditions may have a negative effect on our operating results.
Limits on ownership of shares in our charter may result in the loss of economic and voting rights
by purchasers that violate those limits.
Our charter limits ownership of our Common Stock by any single stockholder to 8.7% of our
outstanding shares of Common Stock, or 15% in the case of certain pension trusts, registered
investment companies and Mr. Considine. Our charter also limits ownership of our Common Stock and
preferred stock by any single stockholder to 8.7% of the value of the outstanding Common Stock and
preferred stock, or 15% in the case of certain pension trusts, registered investment companies and
Mr. Considine. The charter also prohibits anyone from buying shares of our capital stock if the
purchase would result in us losing our REIT status. This could happen if a transaction results in
fewer than 100 persons owning all of our shares of capital stock or results in five or fewer
persons, applying certain attribution rules of the Code, owning 50% or more of the value of all of
our shares of capital stock. If anyone acquires shares in excess of the ownership limit or in
violation of the ownership requirements of the Code for REITs:
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the transfer will be considered null and void; |
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we will not reflect the transaction on our books; |
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we may institute legal action to enjoin the transaction; |
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we may demand repayment of any dividends received by the affected person on those shares; |
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we may redeem the shares; |
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the affected person will not have any voting rights for those shares; and |
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the shares (and all voting and dividend rights of the shares) will be held in trust for
the benefit of one or more charitable organizations designated by us. |
We may purchase the shares of capital stock held in trust at a price equal to the lesser of
the price paid by the transferee of the shares or the then current market price. If the trust
transfers any of the shares of capital stock, the affected person will receive the lesser of the
price paid for the shares or the then current market price. An individual who acquires shares of
capital stock that violate the above rules bears the risk that the individual:
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may lose control over the power to dispose of such shares; |
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may not recognize profit from the sale of such shares if the market price of the shares increases; |
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may be required to recognize a loss from the sale of such shares if the market price decreases; and |
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may be required to repay to us any distributions received from us as a result of his or
her ownership of the shares. |
Our charter may limit the ability of a third party to acquire control of us.
The 8.7% ownership limit discussed above may have the effect of precluding acquisition of
control of us by a third party without the consent of our Board of Directors. Our charter
authorizes our Board of Directors to issue up to 510,587,500 shares of capital stock. As of
September 30, 2005, 426,157,976 shares were classified as Common Stock and 84,429,524 shares were
classified as preferred stock. Under our charter, our Board of Directors has the authority to
classify and reclassify any of our unissued shares of capital stock into shares of capital stock
with such
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preferences, rights, powers and restrictions as our Board of Directors may determine. The
authorization and issuance of a new class of capital stock could have the effect of delaying or
preventing someone from taking control of us, even if a change in control were in our stockholders
best interests.
Maryland business statutes may limit the ability of a third party to acquire control of us.
As a Maryland corporation, we are subject to various Maryland laws that may have the effect of
discouraging offers to acquire us and increasing the difficulty of consummating any such offers,
even if our acquisition would be in our stockholders best interests. The Maryland General
Corporation Law restricts mergers and other business combination transactions between us and any
person who acquires beneficial ownership of shares of our stock representing 10% or more of the
voting power without our Board of Directors prior approval. Any such business combination
transaction could not be completed until five years after the person acquired such voting power,
and generally only with the approval of stockholders representing 80% of all votes entitled to be
cast and 66 2/3% of the votes entitled to be cast, excluding the interested stockholder, or upon
payment of a fair price. Maryland law also provides generally that a person who acquires shares of
our capital stock that represent 10% or more of the voting power in electing directors will have no
voting rights unless approved by a vote of two-thirds of the shares eligible to vote. Additionally,
Maryland law provides, among other things, that the board of directors has broad discretion in
adopting stockholders rights plans and has the sole power to fix the record date, time and place
for special meetings of the stockholders. In addition, Maryland law provides that corporations
that:
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have at least three directors who are not employees of the entity or related to an acquiring person; and |
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are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, |
may elect in their charter or bylaws or by resolution of the board of directors to be subject to
all or part of a special subtitle that provides that:
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the corporation will have a staggered board of directors; |
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any director may be removed only for cause and by the vote of two-thirds of the votes
entitled to be cast in the election of directors generally, even if a lesser proportion is
provided in the charter or bylaws; |
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the number of directors may only be set by the board of directors, even if the procedure
is contrary to the charter or bylaws; |
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vacancies may only be filled by the remaining directors, even if the procedure is
contrary to the charter or bylaws; and |
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the secretary of the corporation may call a special meeting of stockholders at the
request of stockholders only on the written request of the stockholders entitled to cast at
least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting, even if the procedure
is contrary to the charter or bylaws. |
To date, we have not made any of the elections described above.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any cash proceeds upon any sale of Class A Common Stock by the selling
stockholders.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
This prospectus relates to periodic offers and sales of up to 8,834,582 shares of Class A
Common Stock by the selling stockholders listed and described below and their pledgees, donees and
other successors in interest (collectively, the Selling Stockholders). The following table sets
forth certain information with respect to the Selling Stockholders and their beneficial ownership
of shares of Class A Common Stock as of the date hereof. Except as indicated below, none of the
Selling Stockholders holds any position, office or has had any other material relationship with us,
or any of our predecessors or affiliates, during the past three years. The shares owned by each
group of Selling Stockholders listed below represent less than 1% of the shares of Class A Common
Stock outstanding as of December 28, 2005. Because the Selling Stockholders may sell some or all of
the shares offered hereby, and because there are currently no agreements, arrangements or
understandings with respect to the sale of any of such shares, no estimate can be given as to the
number of shares that will be held by the Selling Stockholders upon termination of any offering
made hereby. In addition, the Selling Stockholders may have previously sold some or all of the
shares set forth opposite their name in the table below.
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Shares Owned |
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Shares Offered |
Selling Stockholder |
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Prior to Offering |
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Hereby |
770 Millersport Apartments |
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2,109 |
(1) |
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2,109 |
(1) |
Marc B. Abrams |
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104,043 |
(1) |
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104,043 |
(1) |
Jeffrey Adler (2) |
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47,347 |
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13,260 |
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Harry Alcock (3) |
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90,606 |
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23,644 |
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Evalt Ayerdi |
|
|
727 |
(1) |
|
|
727 |
(1) |
Terry Considine (4) |
|
|
1,832,735 |
(5) |
|
|
1,158,508 |
(6) |
Elizabeth C. Considine (7)(4) |
|
|
232,441 |
(8) |
|
|
74,743 |
|
Considine Investment Co. (9)(4) |
|
|
294,416 |
(10) |
|
|
1,208 |
(1) |
Considine Family Foundation (11)(4) |
|
|
98,963 |
|
|
|
4,800 |
|
Miles Cortez (12) |
|
|
135,355 |
|
|
|
62,371 |
|
Robert B. Downing |
|
|
138,718 |
(1) |
|
|
138,718 |
(1) |
Patti Fielding (13) |
|
|
37,648 |
|
|
|
15,084 |
|
Lance Graber (14) |
|
|
108,395 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
Francis P. Lavin |
|
|
344,122 |
(1) |
|
|
344,122 |
(1) |
Paul McAuliffe (15) |
|
|
243,812 |
|
|
|
64,865 |
|
David Robertson (16) |
|
|
255,152 |
|
|
|
68,603 |
|
Mark E. Schifrin |
|
|
138,885 |
(1) |
|
|
138,885 |
(1) |
Richard R. Singleton |
|
|
95,070 |
(1) |
|
|
95,070 |
(1) |
Titaho Limited Partnership RLLLP (17)(4) |
|
|
4,932,308 |
(18) |
|
|
4,932,308 |
(18) |
Titahotwo Limited Partnership RLLLP (19)(4) |
|
|
1,197,800 |
(20) |
|
|
535,500 |
|
Leo E. Zickler |
|
|
538,892 |
(1) |
|
|
538,892 |
(1) |
Certain persons and entities who acquired
common OP Units during 2001 |
|
|
135,304 |
(1) |
|
|
135,304 |
(1) |
Certain persons and entities who acquired
common OP Units during 2002 |
|
|
120,856 |
(1) |
|
|
120,856 |
(1) |
Certain persons and entities who acquired
common OP Units during 2003 |
|
|
141,539 |
(1) |
|
|
141,539 |
(1) |
Certain persons and entities who acquired
common OP Units during 2004 |
|
|
67,813 |
(1) |
|
|
67,813 |
(1) |
Certain persons and entities who acquired
common OP Units during 2005 |
|
|
1,610 |
(1) |
|
|
1,610 |
(1) |
9
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents shares of Class A Common Stock issuable in exchange for common OP Units held by
the Selling Stockholder. |
|
(2) |
|
Jeffrey Adler is Executive Vice President Conventional Property Operations of Aimco. |
|
(3) |
|
Harry Alcock is Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Aimco. |
|
(4) |
|
Terry Considine is the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aimco. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes 254,056 shares currently held, 510,452 shares issuable in exchange for common OP
Units, and 1,068,227 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes 49,247 shares currently held, 41,034 shares issuable in exchange for common OP Units
and 1,068,227 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options. |
|
(7) |
|
Elizabeth C. Considine is the wife of Terry Considine. |
|
(8) |
|
Includes 74,743 shares currently held, and 157,698 shares issuable in exchange for common OP
Units. |
|
(9) |
|
Terry Considine is the President and owner of Considine Investment Co. |
|
(10) |
|
Represents 114,681 shares currently held, and 179,735 shares issuable in exchange for common
OP Units. |
|
(11) |
|
Terry Considine is a director and secretary of the Considine Family Foundation. |
|
(12) |
|
Miles Cortez is Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Aimco. |
|
(13) |
|
Patti Fielding is Executive Vice President Securities and Debt and Treasurer of Aimco. |
|
(14) |
|
Lance Graber is Executive Vice President AIMCO Capital Transactions, East of Aimco. |
|
(15) |
|
Paul McAuliffe is Executive Vice President of Aimco. |
|
(16) |
|
David Robertson is Executive Vice President of Aimco and President and Chief Executive
Officer of AIMCO Capital. |
|
(17) |
|
Terry Considines brother is the trustee for the sole general partner of Titaho Limited
Partnership RLLLP. |
|
(18) |
|
Includes 4,932,308 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options. |
|
(19) |
|
Terry Considine is the general partner of, and holds a 0.5% ownership interest in, Titahotwo
Limited Partnership RLLLP. |
|
(20) |
|
Includes 1,195,500 shares currently held, and 2,300 shares issuable in exchange for common OP
Units. |
10
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time by the selling stockholders of
up to 8,834,582 shares of Class A Common Stock. The selling stockholders may sell shares from time
to time in one or more transactions, which may include underwritten offerings, sales in open market
or block transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, or such other national securities exchange or
automated interdealer quotation system on which shares of Class A Common Stock are then listed or
quoted, sales in the over-the-counter market, privately negotiated transactions, put or call
options transactions relating to the shares, short sales of shares, hedging transactions, or in
transactions in which shares may be delivered in connection with issuance of securities by issuers
other than Aimco that are exchangeable for or payable in such shares, distributions to
beneficiaries, partners, members, or stockholders of the selling stockholders or a combination of
such methods of sale or by any other legally available means, at market prices prevailing at the
time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of the sale or at
negotiated prices. Such transactions may or may not involve brokers or dealers. None of the selling
stockholders have advised us that they have entered into any agreements, understandings or
arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the sale of the securities offered
hereby, nor is there an underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed
sale of shares by the selling stockholders. In addition, any of the shares covered by this
prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
Securities Act), may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
The selling stockholders may effect such transactions by selling shares directly to purchasers
or to or through broker-dealers, which may act as agents or principals. Such broker-dealers may
receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling
stockholders or the purchasers of shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom
they sell as principal, or both (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in
excess of customary commissions). In effecting sales, such broker-dealers may arrange for other
broker-dealers to participate.
The selling stockholders may enter into options or other transactions with broker-dealers or
other financial institutions who may resell the securities offered hereby pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect the transaction).
If shares are sold in an underwritten offering, the shares will be acquired by the
underwriters for their own accounts and may be resold from time to time in one or more
transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or prices at the
time of the sale or at negotiated prices. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or
commissions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. Underwriters
may sell shares to or through broker-dealers, and such broker-dealers may receive compensation in
the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or the purchasers of shares
for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they sell as principal, or both (which
compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions).
Depending upon the circumstances of any sale hereunder, the selling stockholders and any
underwriter or broker-dealer who acts in connection with the sale of shares hereunder may be deemed
to be underwriters, within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, and any
compensation received by them and any profit on any resale of shares sold by them while acting as
principals may be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act.
The anti-manipulation provisions of Regulation M promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 may apply to sales by the selling stockholders in the market.
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, the securities offered
hereby will be offered or sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or
dealers. In addition, in certain jurisdictions the securities offered hereby may not be offered or
sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in such jurisdictions or an exemption
or federal preemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
We have agreed to pay all expenses in connection with the registration of the shares being
offered hereby. Selling stockholders are responsible for paying brokers commissions, underwriting
discounts and any other selling
11
expenses, as well as fees and expenses of selling stockholders counsel. We have agreed to
indemnify certain of the selling stockholders, and their respective officers and directors and any
person who controls such selling stockholders, against certain liabilities and expenses arising out
of or based upon the information set forth or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, including liabilities under the
Securities Act. We or the selling stockholders may agree to indemnify any agent, dealer or
broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving sales of the shares against certain
liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
Upon our being notified by a selling stockholder that any material arrangement has been
entered into with an underwriter or a broker-dealer for the sale of shares through a special
offering, block trade, exchange distribution or a secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker
or dealer, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such selling stockholder and of the
participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii) the price at which such
shares were sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such
broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any
investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and
(vi) other facts material to the transaction. In addition, upon our being notified by a named
selling stockholder that a donee or pledgee intends to sell more than 500 shares, a supplement to
this prospectus will be filed.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain Federal income tax consequences of an investment in the
stock of Aimco. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code, regulations promulgated by
the U.S. Treasury Department (the Regulations), rulings and other administrative pronouncements
issued by the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS), and judicial decisions, all as in effect as of
the date of this prospectus and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations,
possibly with retroactive affect. 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. No
advance ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS regarding any matter discussed in this
prospectus. This summary is also based on the assumptions that the operation of Aimco, the Aimco
Operating Partnership, the limited liability companies and limited partnerships in which they own
controlling interests (collectively, the Subsidiary Partnerships) and any affiliated entities
will be in accordance with their applicable organizational documents or partnership agreements.
This summary is for general information only and does not purport to discuss all aspects of Federal
income taxation which 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:
|
|
|
financial institutions; |
|
|
|
|
insurance companies; |
|
|
|
|
regulated investment companies; |
|
|
|
|
holders that receive Aimco stock through the exercise of stock options or otherwise as compensation; |
|
|
|
|
persons holding Aimco stock as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction,
synthetic security or other integrated investment; |
and, except to the extent discussed below:
|
|
|
tax-exempt organization; and |
|
|
|
|
foreign investors. |
12
This summary assumes that investors will hold our stock as a capital asset, which generally means
property held for investment.
THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES DEPENDS IN SOME INSTANCES ON
DETERMINATIONS OF FACT AND INTERPRETATIONS OF COMPLEX PROVISIONS OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAW FOR
WHICH NO CLEAR PRECEDENT OR AUTHORITY MAY BE AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF
HOLDING AIMCO STOCK OR SECURITIES TO ANY PARTICULAR HOLDER WILL DEPEND ON THE HOLDERS PARTICULAR
TAX CIRCUMSTANCES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISOR REGARDING
THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF ACQUIRING, HOLDING, EXCHANGING, OR
OTHERWISE DISPOSING OF SECURITIES AND OF AIMCOS ELECTION TO BE SUBJECT TO TAX, FOR FEDERAL INCOME
TAX PURPOSES, AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST.
Taxation of Aimco
The REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code are highly technical and complex. The
following summary sets forth certain aspects of the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that
govern the Federal income tax treatment of a REIT and its stockholders. This summary is qualified
in its entirety by the applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions, Regulations, and administrative
and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly retroactively.
Aimco has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code commencing with its
taxable year ended December 31, 1994, and Aimco intends to continue such election. Although Aimco
believes that, commencing with Aimcos initial taxable year ended December 31, 1994, Aimco was
organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT, and its actual method of
operation has enabled, and its proposed method of operation will enable, it to meet the
requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, no assurance
can be given that Aimco has been or will remain so qualified. Such qualification and taxation as a
REIT depend upon Aimcos ability to meet, through actual annual operating results, distribution
levels, requirements regarding diversity of stock ownership, and the various qualification tests
imposed under the Internal Revenue Code as discussed below. No assurance can be given that the
actual results of Aimcos operation for any one taxable year will satisfy such requirements. See
Failure to Qualify. No assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge Aimcos eligibility
for taxation as a REIT.
Aimco expects to receive an opinion from the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
LLP to the effect that, beginning with its initial taxable year ended December 31, 1994, Aimco was
organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code and that
its actual method of operation has enabled, and its proposed method of operation will enable, Aimco
to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. This opinion will be based upon
certain representations and covenants made by Aimco, including representations regarding its
income, properties and the past, present and future conduct of its business operations.
Furthermore, this opinion will be conditioned on, and Aimcos qualification and taxation as a REIT
depend on, Aimcos ability to meet, through actual annual operating results, the various REIT
qualification tests, the results of which will not be reviewed by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom LLP. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of Aimcos operations for
any taxable year satisfy such requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. Such
requirements are discussed in more detail under the heading Requirements for Qualification.
The opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will be expressed as of its date, and
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will have no obligation to advise Aimco of any change in
applicable law or of any change in matters stated, represented or assumed after the date of such
opinion. You should be aware that opinions of counsel are not binding on the IRS or any court.
Taxation of REITs in General
Provided Aimco qualifies as a REIT, it will generally be entitled to a deduction for dividends
that it pays and therefore will not be subject to Federal corporate income tax on its net income
that is currently distributed to its
13
stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the double taxation (at the corporate
and stockholder levels) that generally results from investment in a corporation. Rather, income
generated by a REIT is generally taxed only at the stockholder level upon a distribution of
dividends by the REIT.
The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (the 2003 Act) reduced the rates
at which individual stockholders are taxed on corporate dividends from a maximum of 38.6% (as
ordinary income) to a maximum of 15% (the same as long-term capital gains) for the 2003 through
2008 tax years. With limited exceptions, however, dividends received by stockholders from Aimco or
from other entities that are taxed as REITs are generally not eligible for the reduced rates, and
will continue to be taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income, which, pursuant to the 2003 Act,
will be as high as 35% through 2010. See Taxation of Stockholders Taxation of Taxable Domestic
Stockholders Distributions.
Net operating losses, foreign tax credits and other tax attributes of a REIT generally do not
pass through to the stockholders of the REIT, subject to special rules for certain items such as
capital gains recognized by REITs. See Taxation of Stockholders.
If Aimco qualifies as a REIT, it will nonetheless be subject to Federal income tax in the
following circumstances:
|
|
|
Aimco will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable income,
including undistributed net capital gains. |
|
|
|
|
A 100% excise tax may be imposed on some items of income and expense that are directly
or constructively paid between Aimco and its taxable REIT subsidiaries (as described below)
if and to the extent that the IRS successfully asserts that the economic arrangements
between Aimco and its taxable REIT subsidiaries are not comparable to similar arrangements
between unrelated parties. |
|
|
|
|
If Aimco has net income from prohibited transactions, which are, in general, sales or
other dispositions of 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. |
|
|
|
|
If Aimco should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test
(as discussed below), but has nonetheless maintained its qualification as a REIT because
certain other requirements have been met, it will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount
based on the magnitude of the failure adjusted to reflect the profit margin associated with
Aimcos gross income. |
|
|
|
|
If Aimco should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85%
of its REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of its REIT capital gain net income for
such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, Aimco would be
required to pay a 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of
(a) the amounts actually distributed, plus (b) retained amounts on which income tax is paid
at the corporate level. |
|
|
|
|
Aimco may be required to pay monetary penalties to the IRS in certain circumstances,
including if it fails to meet the record keeping requirements intended to monitor its
compliance with rules relating to the composition of a REITs stockholders, as described
below in Requirements for QualificationGeneral. |
|
|
|
|
If Aimco acquires appreciated assets from a corporation that is not a REIT (i.e., a
subchapter C corporation) in a transaction in which the adjusted tax basis of the assets
in the hands of Aimco is determined by reference to the adjusted tax basis of the assets in
the hands of the subchapter C corporation, Aimco may be subject to tax on such appreciation
at the highest corporate income tax rate then applicable if Aimco subsequently recognizes
gain on the disposition of any such asset during the ten-year period following its
acquisition from the subchapter C corporation. |
14
|
|
|
Certain earnings of Aimcos subsidiaries that are subchapter C corporations are subject
to Federal corporate income tax. |
|
|
|
|
Aimco may be subject to the alternative minimum tax on its items of tax preference,
including any deductions of net operating losses. |
|
|
|
|
Aimco and its subsidiaries may be subject to a variety of taxes, including state, local
and foreign income taxes, property taxes and other taxes on their assets and operations.
Aimco could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently
contemplated. |
Requirements for Qualification
The Internal Revenue 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) which would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for the special Internal Revenue Code
provisions applicable to REITs;
(4) that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to certain provisions
of the Internal Revenue 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 stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined
in the Internal Revenue Code to include certain entities); and |
|
(7) |
|
which meets other tests described below (including with respect to the nature of its income and
assets). |
The Internal Revenue Code provides that conditions (1) through (4) must be met during the
entire taxable year, and that the condition (5) 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.
Aimco believes that it has been organized, has operated and has issued sufficient shares of
stock to satisfy conditions (1) through (7) inclusive. Aimcos articles of incorporation provide
certain restrictions regarding transfers of its shares, which are intended to assist Aimco in
satisfying the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. These
restrictions, however, may not ensure that Aimco will, in all cases, be able to satisfy the share
ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above.
To monitor Aimcos compliance with the share ownership requirements, Aimco is generally
required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of its shares. To do so, Aimco must
demand written statements each year from the record holders of certain percentages of its stock in
which the record holders are to disclose the actual owners of the shares (i.e., the persons
required to include in gross income the dividends paid by Aimco). A list of those persons failing
or refusing to comply with this demand must be maintained as part of Aimcos records. Failure by
Aimco to comply with these record keeping requirements could subject it to monetary penalties. A
stockholder who fails or refuses to comply with the demand is required by the Regulations to submit
a statement with its tax return disclosing the actual ownership of the shares and certain other
information.
In addition, a corporation may not elect to become a REIT unless its taxable year is the
calendar year. Aimco satisfies this requirement.
15
Effect of Subsidiary Entities
Ownership of Partnership Interests. In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership,
the Regulations provide that the REIT is deemed to own its proportionate share of the partnerships
assets and to earn its proportionate share of the partnerships income. In addition, the assets and
gross income of the partnership are deemed to retain the same character in the hands of the REIT
for purposes of the asset and gross income tests applicable to REITs as described below. Thus,
Aimcos proportionate share of the assets, liabilities and items of income of the Subsidiary
Partnerships will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income of Aimco for purposes of
applying the REIT requirements described below. A summary of certain rules governing the Federal
income taxation of partnerships and their partners is provided below in Tax Aspects of
Investments in Affiliated EntitiesPartnerships.
Disregarded Subsidiaries. Aimcos indirect interests in the Aimco Operating Partnership and
other Subsidiary Partnerships are held through wholly owned corporate subsidiaries of Aimco
organized and operated as qualified REIT subsidiaries within the meaning of the Internal Revenue
Code. A qualified REIT subsidiary is any corporation, other than a taxable REIT subsidiary as
described below, that is wholly-owned by a REIT, or by other disregarded subsidiaries, or by a
combination of the two. If a REIT owns a qualified REIT subsidiary, that subsidiary is disregarded
for Federal income tax purposes, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and
credit of the subsidiary are treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and
credit of the REIT itself, including for purposes of the gross income and asset tests applicable to
REITs as summarized below. Each qualified REIT subsidiary, therefore, is not subject to Federal
corporate income taxation, although it may be subject to state or local taxation. Other entities
that are wholly-owned by a REIT, including single member limited liability companies, are also
generally disregarded as separate entities for Federal income tax purposes, including for purposes
of the REIT income and asset tests. Disregarded subsidiaries, along with partnerships in which
Aimco holds an equity interest, are sometimes referred to herein as pass-through subsidiaries.
In the event that a disregarded subsidiary of Aimco ceases to be wholly-owned for example,
if any equity interest in the subsidiary is acquired by a person other than Aimco or another
disregarded subsidiary of Aimco the subsidiarys separate existence would no longer be
disregarded for Federal income tax purposes. Instead, it would have multiple owners and would be
treated as either a partnership or a taxable corporation. Such an event could, depending on the
circumstances, adversely affect Aimcos ability to satisfy the various asset and gross income
requirements applicable to REITs, including the requirement that REITs generally may not own,
directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the securities of another corporation. See Asset
Tests and Income Tests.
Taxable Subsidiaries. A REIT, in general, may jointly elect with subsidiary corporations,
whether or not wholly-owned, to treat the subsidiary corporation as a taxable REIT subsidiary
(TRS). A TRS also includes any corporation, other than a REIT, with respect to which a TRS in
which a REIT owns an interest, owns securities possessing 35% of the total voting power or total
value of the outstanding securities of such corporation. The separate existence of a TRS or other
taxable corporation, unlike a disregarded subsidiary as discussed above, is not ignored for Federal
income tax purposes. As a result, a parent REIT is not treated as holding the assets of a TRS or
as receiving any income that the TRS earns. Rather, the stock issued by the TRS is an asset in the
hands of the parent REIT, and the REIT recognizes as income, the dividends, if any, that it
receives from the subsidiary. This treatment can affect the income and asset test calculations
that apply to the REIT, as described below. As a taxable corporation, a TRS is required to pay
regular Federal income tax, and state and local income tax where applicable.
Certain of Aimcos operations (property management, asset management, risk, etc.) are
conducted through its taxable REIT subsidiaries. Because Aimco is not required to include the
assets and income of such taxable REIT subsidiaries in determining Aimcos compliance with the REIT
requirements, Aimco uses its taxable REIT subsidiaries to facilitate its ability to offer services
and activities to its residents that are not generally considered as qualifying REIT services and
activities. If Aimco fails to properly structure and provide such nonqualifying services and
activities through its taxable REIT subsidiaries, its ability to satisfy the REIT gross income
requirement, and also its REIT status, may be jeopardized.
A TRS may generally engage in any business except the operation or management of a lodging or
health care facility. The operation or management of a health care or lodging facility precludes a
corporation from
16
qualifying as a taxable REIT subsidiary. If any of Aimcos taxable REIT subsidiaries were
deemed to operate or manage a health care or lodging facility, such taxable REIT subsidiaries would
fail to qualify as taxable REIT subsidiaries, and Aimco would fail to qualify as a REIT. Aimco
believes that none of its taxable REIT subsidiaries operate or manage any health care or lodging
facilities. However, the statute provides little guidance as to the definition of a health care or
lodging facility. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that any of
Aimcos taxable REIT subsidiaries operate or manage a health care or lodging facility,
disqualifying it from treatment as a taxable REIT subsidiary, thereby resulting in the
disqualification of Aimco as a REIT.
Several provisions of the Internal Revenue Code regarding arrangements between a REIT and a
TRS ensure that a TRS will be subject to an appropriate level of Federal income taxation. For
example, a TRS is limited in its ability to deduct interest payments made to its REIT owner. In
addition, Aimco would be obligated to pay a 100% penalty tax on some payments that it receives
from, or on certain expenses deducted by, its taxable REIT subsidiaries, if the IRS were to
successfully assert that the economic arrangements between Aimco and its taxable REIT subsidiaries
are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties. See Taxation of REITs in
General Penalty Tax.
Income Tests
In order to maintain qualification as a REIT, Aimco annually must satisfy two gross income
requirements:
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First, at least 75% of Aimcos gross income for each taxable year, excluding gross
income from sales of inventory or dealer property in prohibited transactions, must be
derived from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including
rents from real property, interest income derived from mortgage loans secured by real
property, and gains from the sale of real estate, as well as certain types of temporary
investments. |
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Second, at least 95% of Aimcos gross income for each taxable year, excluding gross
income from prohibited transactions, must be derived from some combination of such income
from investments in real property (i.e., income that qualifies under the 75% income test
described above), as well as other dividends, interest and gains from the sale or
disposition of stock or securities, which need not have any relation to real property. |
Rents received by Aimco directly or through the Subsidiary Partnerships will qualify as rents
from real property in satisfying the gross income requirements described above, only if several
conditions are met, including the following. If rent is partly attributable to personal property
leased in connection with a lease of real property, the portion of the total rent attributable to
the personal property will not qualify as rents from real property unless it constitutes 15% or
less of the total rent received under the lease. Moreover, for rents received to qualify as rents
from real property, the REIT generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or
render services to the tenants of such property, other than through an independent contractor
from which the REIT derives no revenue. Aimco and its affiliates are permitted, however, to
directly perform 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. In addition, Aimco and its affiliates may directly or indirectly provide non-customary
services to tenants of its properties without disqualifying all of the rent from the property if
the payment for such services does not exceed 1% of the total gross income from the property. For
purposes of this test, the income received from such non-customary services is deemed to be at
least 150% of the direct cost of providing the services. Moreover, Aimco is generally permitted to
provide services to tenants or others through a TRS without disqualifying the rental income
received from tenants for purposes of the REIT income requirements.
Aimco manages apartment properties for third parties and affiliates through its taxable REIT
subsidiaries. These taxable REIT subsidiaries receive management fees and other income. A portion
of such fees and other income accrue to Aimco through distributions from the taxable REIT
subsidiaries that are classified as dividend income to the extent of the earnings and profits of
the taxable REIT subsidiaries. Such distributions will generally qualify for purposes of the 95%
gross income test but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test.
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If Aimco fails to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable
year, it may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for the year if it is entitled to relief under certain
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These relief provisions will be generally available if
Aimcos failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect,
Aimco attaches a schedule of the sources of its income to its tax return, and any incorrect
information on the schedule was not due to fraud with intent to evade tax. It is not possible to
state whether Aimco 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
involving Aimco, Aimco will not qualify as a REIT. As discussed above under Taxation of REITs in
General, even where these relief provisions apply, a tax is imposed based upon the amount by which
Aimco fails to satisfy the particular gross income test.
Asset Tests
Aimco, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, must also satisfy four tests relating
to the nature of its assets:
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First, at least 75% of the value of the total assets of Aimco 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, such
as land, buildings, leasehold interests in real property, stock of other corporations that
qualify as REITs, and some kinds of mortgage backed securities and mortgage loans. Assets
that do not qualify for purposes of the 75% test are subject to the additional asset tests
described below. |
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Second, not more than 25% of Aimcos total assets may be represented by securities other
than those in the 75% asset class. |
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Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class, the value of any one issuers
securities owned by Aimco may not exceed 5% of the value of Aimcos total assets, Aimco may
not own more than 10% of any one issuers outstanding voting securities, and Aimco may not
own more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. The
5% and 10% asset limitations do not apply to securities of taxable REIT subsidiaries, and
the 10% value test does not apply to straight debt having specified characteristics
Pursuant to the recently enacted American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the 2004 Act), in
addition to straight debt, the 10% value test does not apply to (a) any loan made to an
individual or an estate, (b) certain rental agreements in 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), (c) any obligation to pay rents from real property, (d) 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, and (e) any security issued by another
REIT. The 2004 Act also modified the definition of straight debt effective for taxable
years beginning after December 31, 2000 to provide that certain contingency features do not
result in an obligation failing to qualify as straight debt. The 2004 Act also provides
that no securities issued by a corporation or partnership qualify as straight debt if a
REIT (or a taxable REIT subsidiary in which the REIT owns a greater than 50% interest by
vote or value) owns other securities of such issuer that do not qualify as straight debt,
unless the value of the securities not qualifying as straight debt that are owned by the
REIT (or taxable REIT subsidiary in which the REIT owns a greater than 50% interest by vote
or value) constitute, in the aggregate, 1% or less of the total value of that issuers
outstanding securities. |
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Fourth, the aggregate value of all securities of taxable REIT subsidiaries held by Aimco
may not exceed 20% of the value of Aimcos total assets. |
Aimco believes that the value of the securities held by Aimco in its taxable REIT subsidiaries
will not exceed, in the aggregate, 20% of the value of Aimcos total assets and that Aimcos
ownership interests in its taxable REIT subsidiaries qualify under the asset tests set forth above.
Notwithstanding the general rule that a REIT is treated as owning its share of the underlying
assets of a subsidiary partnership for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests, if a REIT holds
indebtedness issued by a
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partnership, the indebtedness will be subject to, and may cause a violation of, the asset
tests, resulting in loss of REIT status, unless it is a qualifying mortgage asset, satisfies the
rules for straight debt, or is sufficiently small so as not to otherwise cause an asset test
violation. Similarly, although stock of another REIT is a qualifying asset for purposes of the
REIT asset tests, non-mortgage debt held by us that is issued by another REIT may not so qualify.
The 2004 Act provides that, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2000, certain
indebtedness issued by a partnership that does not qualify as straight debt is nevertheless not
treated as a security for purposes of applying the 10% value test (a) to the extent of the REITs
interest as a partner in that partnership or (b) if at least 75% of the partnerships gross income
(excluding income from prohibited transactions) is income qualifying for the 75% gross income
test discussed above. The 2004 Act also provides that securities issued by other REITs are not
taken into account for purposes of applying the 10% value test for taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2000.
Aimco believes that its holding of securities and other assets comply, and will continue to
comply, with the foregoing REIT asset requirements, including the provisions modified by the 2004
Act, and it intends to monitor compliance on an ongoing basis. No independent appraisals have been
obtained, however, to support Aimcos conclusions as to the value of its assets, including the
Aimco Operating Partnerships total assets and the value of the Aimco Operating Partnerships
interest in the taxable REIT subsidiaries. Moreover, 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 Federal income tax purposes may be uncertain
in some circumstances, which could affect the application of the REIT asset requirements.
Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that Aimcos interests in its
subsidiaries or in the securities of other issuers will cause a violation of the REIT asset
requirements and loss of REIT status.
Annual Distribution Requirements
In order for Aimco to qualify as a REIT, Aimco is required to distribute dividends (other than
capital gain dividends) to its stockholders in an amount at least equal to:
(i) 90% of Aimcos REIT taxable income (computed without regard to the deduction for
dividends paid and net capital gain of Aimco), and
(ii) 90% of the net income, if any, from foreclosure property (as described below), minus
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the sum of certain items of noncash income. |
These distributions must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following
taxable year if declared before Aimco timely files its tax return for such year and if paid with or
before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. In order for distributions to be
counted for this purpose, and to give rise to a tax deduction by Aimco, they must not be
preferential dividends. A dividend is not a preferential dividend if it is pro rata among all
outstanding shares of stock within a particular class, and is in accordance with the preferences
among different classes of stock as set forth in Aimcos organizational documents.
To the extent that Aimco distributes at least 90%, but less than 100%, of its REIT taxable
income, as adjusted, it will be subject to tax thereon at ordinary corporate tax rates. In any
year, Aimco may elect to retain, rather than distribute, its net capital gain and pay tax on such
gain. In such a case, Aimcos stockholders would include their proportionate share of such
undistributed long-term capital gain in income and receive a corresponding credit for their share
of the tax paid by Aimco. Aimcos stockholders would then increase the adjusted basis of their
Aimco shares by the difference between the designated amounts included in their long-term capital
gains and the tax deemed paid with respect to their shares.
To the extent that a REIT has available net operating losses carried forward from prior tax
years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that it must make in order to comply with
the REIT distribution requirements. Such losses, however, will generally not affect the character,
in the hands of stockholders, of any distributions that are actually made by the REIT, which are
generally taxable to stockholders to the extent that the
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REIT has current or accumulated earnings and profits. See Taxation of Stockholders
Taxation of Taxable Domestic Stockholders Distributions.
If Aimco should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of:
(i) 85% of its REIT ordinary income for such year,
(ii) 95% of its REIT capital gain net income for such year (excluding retained net capital
gain), and
(iii) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods,
Aimco would be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the sum
of (x) the amounts actually distributed, and (y) the amounts of income retained on which it has
paid corporate income tax. Aimco believes that it has made, and intends to make, timely
distributions so that it is not subject to the 4% excise tax.
It is possible that Aimco, from time to time, may not have sufficient cash to meet the 90%
distribution requirement due to timing differences between (i) the actual receipt of cash
(including receipt of distributions from the Aimco Operating Partnership) and (ii) the inclusion of
certain items in income by Aimco for Federal income tax purposes. In the event that such timing
differences occur, in order to meet the distribution requirements, Aimco may find it necessary to
arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings, or to pay dividends in the form of
taxable in-kind distributions of property.
Under certain circumstances, Aimco may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution
requirement for a year by paying deficiency dividends to stockholders in a later year, which may
be included in Aimcos deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. In this case, Aimco may
be able to avoid losing its REIT status or being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency
dividends; however, Aimco will be required to pay interest and a penalty based on the amount of any
deduction taken for deficiency dividends.
Failure to Qualify
If Aimco fails to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief
provisions do not apply, Aimco will be subject to tax, including any applicable alternative minimum
tax, on its taxable income at regular corporate rates. Distributions to stockholders in any year in
which Aimco fails to qualify will not be deductible by Aimco nor will they be required to be made.
In such event, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to
stockholders that are individuals will generally be taxable at capital gains rates (through 2008)
pursuant to the 2003 Act, and, subject to certain limitations of the Internal Revenue Code,
corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless Aimco is
entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, Aimco would also be disqualified from
re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which
qualification was lost. It is not possible to state whether, in all circumstances, Aimco would be
entitled to this statutory relief.
Prohibited Transactions
Net income derived by a REIT 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) that is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a
trade or business. Aimco intends to conduct its operations so that no asset owned by Aimco or its
pass-through subsidiaries will be held for sale to customers, and that a sale of any such asset
will not be in the ordinary course of Aimcos business. Whether property is held primarily for
sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business depends, however, on the
particular facts and circumstances. No assurance can be given that any property sold by Aimco will
not be treated as property held for sale to customers, or that Aimco can comply with certain
safe-harbor provisions of the Internal Revenue 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.
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The 2004 Act also contains two additional relief provisions for REITs that fail to satisfy the
10% vote or value REIT asset tests described above. Pursuant to a new de minimis relief
provision, a REIT which fails the 10% vote or value tests is excused if the failure was (a) de
minimis (generally, if the value of the assets causing the failure does not exceed the lesser of 1%
of the REITs total assets, and $10,000,000), and (b) either the REIT disposes of the assets
causing the failure within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which the REIT identifies
the failure, or the 10% vote and value tests are otherwise satisfied within that time frame. The
2004 Act also provides an additional non-de minimis relief provision pursuant to which a REIT
that fails to satisfy the 10% vote or value tests in a taxable year may still qualify as a REIT if
(a) the REIT provides the IRS with a description of each asset causing the failure, (b) the failure
was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (c) the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater
of $50,000 and the highest rate of corporate tax imposed (currently 35%) on the net income
generated by the assets causing the failure, and (d) either the REIT disposes of the assets causing
the failure within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which the REIT identifies the
failure, or otherwise satisfies the 10% vote and value tests within that time frame. These two
additional relief provisions are effective for taxable years beginning in 2005.
Penalty Tax
Aimco will be subject to a 100% penalty tax on the amount of certain non-arms length payments
received from, or certain expenses deducted by, its taxable REIT subsidiaries if the IRS were to
successfully assert that the economic arrangements between Aimco and its taxable REIT subsidiaries
are not comparable to similar transaction between unrelated parties. Such amounts may include
rents from real property that are overstated as a result of services furnished by a TRS to tenants
of Aimco and amounts that are deducted by a TRS for payments made to Aimco that are in excess of
the amounts that would have been charged by an unrelated party.
Aimco believes that the fees paid to its taxable REIT subsidiaries for tenant services are
comparable to the fees that would be paid to an unrelated third party negotiating at arms-length.
This determination, however, is inherently factual, and the IRS may assert that the fees paid by
Aimco do not represent arms-length amounts. If the IRS successfully made such an assertion, Aimco
would be required to pay a 100% penalty tax on the excess of an arms-length fee for tenant
services over the amount actually paid.
Tax Aspects of Aimcos Investments in Affiliated Partnerships
General
Substantially all of Aimcos investments are held indirectly through the Aimco Operating
Partnership. In general, partnerships are pass-through entities that are not subject to 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 potentially subject to tax on these items,
without regard to whether the partners receive a distribution from the partnership. Aimco will
include in its income its proportionate share of the foregoing partnership items for purposes of
the various REIT income tests and in the computation of its REIT taxable income. Moreover, for
purposes of the REIT asset tests, Aimco will include its proportionate share of assets held by the
Subsidiary Partnerships. See Federal Income Taxation of Aimco and Aimco Investors Taxation of
Aimco Effect of Subsidiary Entities Ownership of Partnership Interests.
Entity Classification
Aimcos direct and indirect investment in partnerships involves special tax considerations,
including the possibility of a challenge by the IRS of the status of any of the Subsidiary
Partnerships as a partnership, as opposed to as an association taxable as a corporation, for
Federal income tax purposes. If any of these entities were treated as an association for Federal
income tax purposes, it would be taxable as a corporation and therefore could be subject to an
entity-level tax on its income. In such a situation, the character of Aimcos assets and items of
gross income would change and could preclude Aimco from satisfying the REIT asset tests and gross
income tests (see Federal Income Taxation of Aimco and Aimco Investors Taxation of Aimco Asset
Tests and Federal Income Taxation of Aimco and Aimco Investors Taxation of Aimco Income
Tests), and in turn could prevent Aimco from qualifying as a REIT. See Federal Income Taxation
of Aimco and Aimco Investors Taxation of Aimco Failure to Qualify above for a summary of the
effect of Aimcos failure to meet these tests for a taxable year. In
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addition, any change in the status of any of the Subsidiary Partnerships for tax purposes
might be treated as a taxable event, in which case Aimco might incur a tax liability without any
related cash distributions.
Tax Allocations with Respect to the Properties
Under the Internal Revenue Code and the Regulations, 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 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 (a Book Tax Difference). Such allocations are solely for Federal
income tax purposes and do not affect the book capital accounts or other economic or legal
arrangements among the partners. The Aimco Operating Partnership was formed by way of contributions
of appreciated property. Consequently, allocations must be made in a manner consistent with these
requirements. Where a partner contributes cash to a partnership at a time that the partnership
holds appreciated (or depreciated) property, the Regulations provide for a similar allocation of
these items to the other (i.e., non-contributing) partners. These rules apply to the contribution
by Aimco to the Aimco Operating Partnership of the cash proceeds received in any offerings of its
stock.
In general, certain unitholders will be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for
tax purposes and increased taxable income and gain on the sale by the Aimco Operating Partnership
or other Subsidiary Partnerships of the contributed properties. This will tend to eliminate the
Book-Tax Difference over the life of these partnerships. However, the special allocations do not
always entirely rectify the Book-Tax Difference on an annual basis or with respect to a specific
taxable transaction such as a sale. Thus, the carryover basis of the contributed properties in the
hands of the Aimco Operating Partnership or other Subsidiary Partnerships may cause Aimco to be
allocated lower depreciation and other deductions, and possibly greater amounts of taxable income
in the event of a sale of such contributed assets in excess of the economic or book income
allocated to it as a result of such sale. This may cause Aimco to recognize, over time, taxable
income in excess of cash proceeds, which might adversely affect Aimcos ability to comply with the
REIT distribution requirements. See Federal Income Taxation of Aimco and Aimco Investors
Taxation of Aimco Annual Distribution Requirements.
With respect to any property purchased or to be purchased by any of the Subsidiary
Partnerships (other than through the issuance of units) subsequent to the formation of Aimco, such
property will initially have a tax basis equal to its fair market value and the special allocation
provisions described above will not apply.
Sale of the Properties
Aimcos share of any gain realized by the Aimco Operating Partnership or any other Subsidiary
Partnership on the sale of any property held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the
ordinary course of business will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject
to a 100% penalty tax. See Federal Income Taxation of Aimco and Aimco Investors Taxation of
Aimco Prohibited Transactions. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or
primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a partnerships trade or business is a
question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances with respect to the particular
transaction. The Aimco Operating Partnership and the other Subsidiary Partnerships intend to hold
their properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of
acquiring, developing, owning and operating the properties and to make such occasional sales of the
properties, including peripheral land, as are consistent with Aimcos investment objectives.
Taxation of Taxable REIT Subsidiaries
A portion of the amounts to be used to fund distributions to stockholders is expected to come
from distributions made by Aimcos taxable REIT subsidiaries to the Aimco Operating Partnership,
and interest paid by the taxable REIT subsidiaries on certain notes held by the Aimco Operating
Partnership. In general, taxable REIT subsidiaries pay Federal, state and local income taxes on
their taxable income at normal corporate rates. Any Federal, state or local income taxes that
Aimcos taxable REIT subsidiaries are required to pay will reduce Aimcos cash flow from operating
activities and its ability to make payments to holders of its securities.
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Taxation of Stockholders
Taxable Domestic Stockholders
Distributions. Provided that Aimco qualifies as a REIT, distributions made to Aimcos taxable
domestic stockholders out of current or accumulated earnings and profits (and not designated as
capital gain dividends) will be taken into account by them as ordinary income (35% maximum Federal
rate through 2010) and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporations.
With limited exceptions, dividends received from REITs are not eligible for taxation at the
preferential income tax rates (15% maximum Federal rate through 2008) for qualified dividends
received by individuals from taxable C corporations pursuant to the 2003 Act. Stockholders that
are individuals, however, are taxed at the preferential rates on dividends designated by and
received from REITs to the extent that the dividends are attributable to (i) 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 tax), (ii) dividends received by the REIT from taxable REIT subsidiaries or other
taxable C corporations, or (iii) 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).
Distributions (and retained net capital gains) that are designated as capital gain dividends
will generally be taxed to stockholders as long-term capital gains, to the extent that they do not
exceed Aimcos actual net capital gain for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which
the stockholder has held its stock. However, corporate stockholders may be required to treat up to
20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains are generally
taxable at maximum Federal rates of 15% (through 2008) in the case of stockholders who are
individuals, and 35% in the case of stockholders that are corporations. Capital gains attributable
to the sale of depreciable real property held for more than 12 months are subject to a 25% maximum
Federal income tax rate for taxpayers who are individuals, to the extent of previously claimed
depreciation deductions.
In determining the extent to which a distribution constitutes a dividend for tax purposes,
Aimcos earnings and profits generally will be allocated first to distributions with respect to
preferred stock prior to allocating any remaining earnings and profits to distributions on Aimcos
common stock. If Aimco has net capital gains and designates some or all of its distributions as
capital gain dividends to that extent, the capital gain dividends will be allocated among different
classes of stock in proportion to the allocation of earnings and profits as described above.
Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to
a stockholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the stockholders shares
in respect of which the distributions were made, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such
shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a stockholders shares,
they will be included in income as long-term capital gain, or short-term capital gain if the shares
have been held for one year or less. In addition, any dividend declared by Aimco in October,
November or December of any year and payable to a stockholder of record on a specified date in any
such month will be treated as both paid by Aimco and received by the stockholder on December 31 of
such year, provided that the dividend is actually paid by Aimco before the end of January of the
following calendar year.
To the extent that a REIT has available net operating losses and capital losses carried
forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that must be made
in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. See Federal Income Taxation of Aimco
and Aimco Investors Taxation of Aimco Annual Distribution Requirements. Such losses, however,
are not passed through to stockholders and do not offset income of stockholders from other sources,
nor would they affect the character of any distributions that are actually made by a REIT, which
are generally subject to tax in the hands of stockholders to the extent that the REIT has current
or accumulated earnings and profits.
Dispositions of Aimco Stock. In general, capital gains recognized by individuals upon the sale
or disposition of shares of Aimco stock will, pursuant to the 2003 Act, be subject to a maximum
Federal income tax rate of 15% (from May 6, 2003 through 2008) if the Aimco stock is held for more
than 12 months, and will be taxed at ordinary income rates (of up to 35% through 2010) if the Aimco
stock is held for 12 months or less. Gains recognized by stockholders that are corporations are
subject to Federal income tax at a maximum rate of 35%, whether or not classified as long-term
capital gains. Capital losses recognized by a stockholder upon the disposition of Aimco stock held
for more than one year at the time of disposition will be considered long-term capital losses, and
are
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generally available only to offset capital gain income of the stockholder but not ordinary
income (except in the case of individuals, who may offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income each
year). In addition, any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares of Aimco stock by a stockholder who
has held the shares for six months or less, after applying holding period rules, will be treated as
a long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions received from Aimco that are required to be
treated by the stockholder as long-term capital gain.
A redemption of Aimco stock (including preferred stock or equity stock) will be treated under
Section 302 of the Internal Revenue Code as a dividend subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates
(to the extent of Aimcos current or accumulated earnings and profits), unless the redemption
satisfies certain tests set forth in Section 302(b) of the Internal Revenue Code enabling the
redemption to be treated as a sale or exchange of the stock. The redemption will satisfy such test
if it (i) is substantially disproportionate with respect to the holder (which will not be the
case if only the stock is redeemed, since it generally does not have voting rights), (ii) results
in a complete termination of the holders stock interest in Aimco, or (iii) is not essentially
equivalent to a dividend with respect to the holder, all within the meaning of Section 302(b) of
the Internal Revenue Code. In determining whether any of these tests have been met, shares
considered to be owned by the holder by reason of certain constructive ownership rules set forth in
the Internal Revenue Code, as well as shares actually owned, must generally be taken into account.
Because the determination as to whether any of the alternative tests of Section 302(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code is satisfied with respect to any particular holder of the stock will depend
upon the facts and circumstances as of the time the determination is made, prospective investors
are advised to consult their own tax advisors to determine such tax treatment. If a redemption of
the stock is treated as a distribution that is taxable as a dividend, the amount of the
distribution would be measured by the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property
received by the stockholders. The stockholders adjusted tax basis in such redeemed stock would be
transferred to the holders remaining stockholdings in Aimco. If, however, the stockholder has no
remaining stockholdings in Aimco, such basis may, under certain circumstances, be transferred to a
related person or it may be lost entirely.
If an investor recognizes a loss upon a subsequent disposition of stock or other securities of
Aimco in an amount that exceeds a prescribed threshold, it is possible that the provisions of
recently adopted Regulations involving reportable transactions could apply, with a resulting
requirement to separately disclose the loss generating transaction to the IRS. While these
Regulations are directed towards tax shelters, they are written quite broadly, and apply to
transactions that would not typically be considered tax shelters. In addition, legislative
proposals have been introduced in Congress, that, if enacted, would impose significant penalties
for failure to comply with these requirements. Prospective investors should consult your tax
advisors concerning any possible disclosure obligation with respect to the receipt or disposition
of stock or securities of Aimco, or transactions that might be undertaken directly or indirectly by
Aimco. Moreover, prospective investors should be aware that Aimco and other participants in the
transactions involving Aimco (including their advisors) might be subject to disclosure or other
requirements pursuant to these Regulations
Taxation of Foreign Stockholders
The following is a summary of certain anticipated U.S. Federal income and estate tax
consequences of the ownership and disposition of securities applicable to Non-U.S. Holders of
securities. A Non-U.S. Holder is generally any person other than (i) a citizen or resident of the
United States, (ii) a corporation or partnership 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, (iii) an estate
whose income is includable in gross income for U.S. Federal income tax purposes regardless of its
source or (iv) a trust if a United States court is able to exercise primary supervision over the
administration of such trust and one or more United States fiduciaries have the authority to
control all substantial decisions of such trust. The discussion is based on current law and is for
general information only. The discussion addresses only certain and not all aspects of U.S. Federal
income and estate taxation.
Ordinary Dividends. The portion of dividends received by Non-U.S. Holders payable out of
Aimcos earnings and profits which are not attributable to capital gains of Aimco and which are not
effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S.
withholding tax at the rate of 30% (unless reduced by treaty and the Non-U.S. Holder provides
appropriate documentation regarding its eligibility for treaty benefits). In general, Non-U.S.
Holders will not be considered engaged in a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of their
ownership of securities. In cases where the dividend income from a Non-U.S. Holders investment in
securities is, or is treated as, effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holders conduct of a U.S.
trade or business,
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the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. tax at graduated rates, in the same
manner as domestic stockholders are taxed with respect to such dividends, and may also be subject
to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation.
Non-Dividend Distributions. Unless Aimco stock constitutes a United States real property
interest (a USRPI) within the meaning of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980
(FIRPTA), distributions by Aimco which are not dividends out of the earnings and profits of Aimco
will not be subject to U.S. income tax. If it cannot be determined at the time at which 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.
However, the Non-U.S. Holder 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 current and accumulated
earnings and profits of Aimco. If Aimco stock constitutes a USRPI, distributions by Aimco in excess
of the sum of its earnings and profits plus the stockholders basis in its Aimco stock will be
taxed under FIRPTA at the rate of tax, including any applicable capital gains rates, that would
apply to a domestic stockholder of the same type (e.g., an individual or a corporation, as the case
may be), and the collection of the tax will be enforced by a refundable withholding at a rate of
10% of the amount by which the distribution exceeds the stockholders share of Aimcos earnings and
profits.
Capital Gain Dividends. Under FIRPTA, a distribution made by Aimco to a Non-U.S. Holder, to
the extent attributable to gains from dispositions of USRPIs held by Aimco directly or through
pass-through subsidiaries (USRPI Capital Gains), will be considered effectively connected with a
U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. Holder and will be subject to U.S. income tax at the rates
applicable to U.S. individuals or corporations, without regard to whether the distribution is
designated as a capital gain dividend. In addition, Aimco will be required to withhold tax equal to
35% of the amount of dividends to the extent such dividends constitute USRPI Capital Gains.
Distributions subject to FIRPTA may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a
Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation. A distribution is not a USRPI capital gain if Aimco held
the underlying asset solely as a creditor. Capital gain dividends received by a non-U.S. holder
from a REIT that are not USRPI capital gains are generally not subject to U.S. income or
withholding tax. Pursuant to the 2004 Act, beginning in 2005 capital gain dividends received by a
foreign stockholder are treated in the same manner as ordinary income dividends, provided that (1)
the capital gain dividends are received with respect to a class of stock that is regularly traded
on an established securities market located in the United States, and (2) the foreign stockholder
does not own more than 5% of that class of stock at any time during the taxable year in which the
capital gain dividends are received.
Dispositions of Aimco Stock. Unless Aimco stock constitutes a USRPI, a sale of the stock by a
Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. The stock will not
constitute a USRPI if Aimco is a domestically controlled REIT. A domestically controlled REIT is
a REIT in which, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of its
shares is held directly or indirectly by Non-U.S. Holders. Aimco believes that it is, and it
expects to continue to be, a domestically controlled REIT. If Aimco is, and continues to be, a
domestically controlled REIT, the sale of Aimco stock should not be subject to taxation under
FIRPTA. Because most classes of stock of Aimco are publicly traded, however, no assurance can be
given that Aimco is or will continue to be a domestically controlled REIT.
Even if Aimco does not constitute a domestically controlled REIT, a Non-U.S. Holders sale of
stock generally nonetheless will generally not be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI
provided that:
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the stock is of a class that is regularly traded (as defined by applicable
Regulations) on an established securities market (e.g., the NYSE, on which Aimco stock is
listed), and |
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the selling Non-U.S. Holder held 5% or less of such class of Aimcos outstanding stock
at all times during a specified testing period. |
If gain on the sale of stock of Aimco were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the Non-U.S.
Holder 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
nonresident alien individuals) and the purchaser of the stock could be required to withhold 10% of
the purchase price and remit such amount to the IRS.
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Gain from the sale of Aimco stock that would not otherwise be subject to taxation under FIRPTA
will nonetheless be taxable in the United States to a Non-U.S. Holder in two cases. First, if the
Non-U.S. Holders investment in the Aimco stock is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or
business conducted by such Non-U.S. Holder, the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to the same
treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to such gain. Second, if the Non-U.S. Holder is a
nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the
taxable year and has a tax home in the United States, the nonresident alien individual will be
subject to a 30% tax on the individuals capital gain.
Estate Tax
Aimco stock owned or treated as owned by an individual who is not a citizen or resident (as
specially defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes) of the United States at the time of death
will be includible in the individuals gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an
applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise. Such individuals estate may be subject to U.S.
federal estate tax on the property includible in the estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes.
Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding
Aimco will report to its U.S. stockholders and to the IRS the amount of distributions paid
during each calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any. Under the backup withholding
rules, a stockholder may be subject to backup withholding at the rate of 28% (through 2010) with
respect to distributions paid unless such holder (i) is a corporation or comes within certain other
exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact or (ii) provides a taxpayer
identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise
complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A stockholder who does
not provide Aimco with his correct taxpayer identification number also may be subject to penalties
imposed by the IRS. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against the
stockholders income tax liability. In addition, Aimco may be required to withhold a portion of
capital gain distributions to any Non-U.S. Holders. The IRS has issued final Regulations regarding
the withholding, backup withholding and information reporting rules as applied to Non-U.S. Holders.
Prospective investors in securities should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of
these Regulations.
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders
Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts and
individual retirement accounts, generally are exempt from Federal income taxation. However, they
are subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). While many 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 (1) a tax-exempt
stockholder has not held its Aimco stock as debt financed property within the meaning of the
Internal Revenue Code (i.e., where the acquisition or holding of the property is financed through a
borrowing by the tax-exempt stockholder), and (2) the Aimco stock is not otherwise used in an
unrelated trade or business, Aimco believes that distributions from Aimco and income from the sale
of the Aimco stock should not give rise to UBTI to a tax-exempt stockholder.
Tax-exempt stockholder that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations,
supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans that are exempt
from taxation under paragraphs (7), (9), (17) and (20), respectively, of Section 501(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally will require them to
characterize distributions from Aimco as UBTI.
In addition, in certain circumstances, a pension trust that owns more than 10% of Aimcos
stock could be required to treat a percentage of the dividends from Aimco as UBTI (the UBTI
Percentage). The UBTI Percentage is the gross income derived by Aimco from an unrelated trade or
business (determined as if Aimco were a pension trust) divided by the gross income of Aimco for the
year in which the dividends are paid. The UBTI rule applies to a pension trust holding more than
10% of Aimcos stock only if:
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Aimco qualifies as a REIT by reason of the modification of the 5/50 Rule that allows the
beneficiaries of the pension trust to be treated as holding shares of Aimco in proportion
to their actuarial interest in the pension trust, and |
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either (A) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of Aimcos stock or (B) a
group of pension trusts each individually holding more than 10% of the value of Aimcos
stock collectively owns more than 50% of the value of Aimcos stock. |
The restrictions on ownership and transfer of Aimcos stock should prevent an Exempt Organization
from owning more than 10% of the value of Aimcos stock.
Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs
The recently enacted 2004 Act makes numerous changes to the REIT tax rules, including the
adoption of a new REIT asset test relief provision, as described above. Except as noted above, the
provisions of the 2004 Act are effective for taxable years beginning in 2005.
The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 reduced the maximum tax rates at
which individuals are taxed on capital gains from 20% to 15% (from May 6, 2003 through 2008) and on
dividends payable by taxable C corporations from 38.6% to 15% (from January 1, 2003 through 2008).
While gains from the sale of the stock of REITs are eligible for the reduced tax rates, dividends
payable by REITs are not eligible for the reduced tax rates except in limited circumstances. See
Taxation of Stockholders Taxation of Taxable Domestic Stockholders Distributions. As a
result, dividends received from REITs generally will continue to be taxed at ordinary income rates
(now at a maximum rate of 35% through 2010). The more favorable tax rates applicable to regular
corporate dividends could cause investors who are individuals to perceive investments in REITs to
be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay
dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including stock of Aimco.
In addition, recent revenue proposals, if enacted, would amend Section 163(j) of the Internal
Revenue Code to limit the ability of a TRS to deduct interest paid to its parent REIT in excess the
limitations currently in effect.
The rules dealing with Federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved
in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. No assurance can be
given as to whether, or in what form, the proposal described above (or any other proposals
affecting REITs or their stockholders) will be enacted. Changes to the Federal laws and
interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in Aimco or the Aimco Operating
Partnership.
State, Local and Foreign Taxes
The Aimco Operating Partnership and its partners and Aimco and its stockholders may be subject
to state, local or foreign taxation in various jurisdictions, including those in which it or they
transact business, own property or reside. It should be noted that the Aimco Operating Partnership
owns properties located in a number of states and local jurisdictions, and the Aimco Operating
Partnership may be required to file income tax returns in some or all of those jurisdictions. The
state, local or foreign tax treatment of the Aimco Operating Partnership and its partners and Aimco
and its stockholders may not conform to the Federal income tax consequences discussed above.
Consequently, prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application
and effect of state, local and foreign tax laws on an investment in the Aimco Operating Partnership
or Aimco.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the
SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SECs public reference room at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information
on the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SECs web
site at http://www.sec.gov. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 filing number for Aimco is 1-13232.
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The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means
that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The
information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later
information filed with the SEC will update and supersede this information. We incorporate by
reference the documents listed below, and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until the offering is completed.
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Apartment Investment and Management Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004; |
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Apartment Investment and Management Companys Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended March 31, 2005, June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005; |
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Apartment Investment and Management Companys Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of Aimco; |
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Apartment Investment and Management Companys Current Reports on Form 8-K, dated January
27, 2005 (filed February 1, 2005); February 16, 2005 (filed February 23, 2005); May 25,
2005 (filed May 27, 2005); May 31, 2005 (filed June 2, 2005); June 7, 2005 (filed June 7,
2005); June 16, 2005 (filed June 22, 2005); July 14, 2005 (filed July 14, 2005); November
21, 2005 (filed November 22, 2005); December 19, 2005 (filed December 19, 2005); December 28, 2005 (filed December 28, 2005); and
December 28, 2005 (filed December 28, 2005); and |
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the description of Apartment Investment and Management Companys capital stock contained
in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 1-13232) filed July 19, 1994, including
any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following
address and telephone number:
Corporate Secretary
Apartment Investment and Management Company
4582 South Ulster Street Parkway
Suite 1100
Denver, Colorado 80237
(303) 757-8101
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this
prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The selling
stockholders named herein are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer
is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of
any date other than the date on the front of the document.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain tax matters will be passed upon for Aimco by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
The validity of the Class A Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon for Aimco by DLA Piper
Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP, Baltimore, Maryland.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Aimco appearing in its Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on December 28, 2005 (including schedules appearing therein), and Aimco managements
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31,
2004 included in Aimcos Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 have been
audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their
reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements
and managements assessment are, and audited financial statements and Aimco
managements assessments of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting to
be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the
reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements and managements assessments
(to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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