DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following paragraphs constitute a summary as of the date of this prospectus and do not purport to be a complete description of our capital stock. The following paragraphs are qualified in their entirety by reference to our Charter, our Bylaws, and Maryland law. For a complete description of our capital stock, we refer you to our Charter, and our Bylaws, each of which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.
General
Our Charter provides that we may issue up to 62,500,000 shares of stock, consisting of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 12,500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. We refer to our common stock and preferred stock collectively as “capital stock.” As of the close of business on August 3, 2023, 21,384,016 shares of common stock (excluding 166,050 shares subject to issuance upon satisfaction of performance and time based vesting conditions with respect to the related restricted stock units) and no shares of preferred stock were outstanding. We may issue additional shares of capital stock, either independently or together with other offered securities. The shares of capital stock may be attached to or separate from those offered securities. For a description of restrictions on ownership and transfer that apply to our capital stock, please refer to “Provisions of Maryland Law and of our Charter and Bylaws—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”
Common Stock
Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of capital stock, holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive distributions on such shares if, as and when authorized by our board of directors and declared by us out of assets legally available for distribution and to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up after payment of, or adequate provision for, all known debts and liabilities.
Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of capital stock, each outstanding share of our common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. Holders of shares of common stock have no preference, conversion, sinking fund, redemption, exchange or preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities.
Our Charter authorizes our board of directors to take such action, in addition to the other provisions contained in the Charter, as it deems necessary or advisable, to protect us and the interests of our stockholders by preserving our status as a REIT. Our Charter authorizes our board of directors to refuse or prevent a transfer of shares of our capital stock to any person whose acquisition of such shares would, in the opinion of our board of directors, result in our disqualification as a REIT. In addition, any transfer of our capital stock that, if effective, would result in (i) a stockholder owning shares in excess of the ownership limit set forth in our Charter (as described under “Provisions of Maryland Law and of our Charter and Bylaws—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer”), (ii) our shares of capital stock being owned by less than 100 persons or (iii) our company being “closely held,” shall be void from the date of the purported transfer.
Pursuant to the MGCL, a corporation generally cannot (except under and in compliance with specifically enumerated provisions of the MGCL) dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business unless the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, approves such action, unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the corporation’s charter. Our Charter provides for approval of any such action by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Preferred Stock
Our Charter grants authority to our board of directors to authorize from time to time the issuance, in one or more classes or series, of up to 12,500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of preferred stock are outstanding. Our Charter also authorizes our board of directors to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of our preferred stock into one or more classes or series of preferred stock. Before authorizing the issuance of a new class or series of preferred stock, our board of directors