Spirit Leads REIT Parade of Stock Offerings

SCOTTSDALE, AZ—REITs this week have been busy tapping into their ready access to the public markets, led by Spirit Realty Capital Inc. The Scottsdale, AZ-based single-tenant REIT expects to realize proceeds of at least $867.2 million from its sale of 23 million shares of common stock and $650 million in convertible senior notes. Other investment trusts pricing stock or bond offerings since Monday have included Gramercy Property Trust, Northstar Realty Finance, Corporate Office Properties Trust, Lexington Realty Trust and Select Income REIT, representing an aggregate of more than $1.5 billion in fundraising activity.

SRC upsized its convertible note offerings between Tuesday and Wednesday, going from $200 million to $300 million of notes maturing in 2021, along with $350 million due in 2019. It also granted underwriters an overallotment option to buy up to $52.5 million of additional 2019 notes and $45 million of 2021 notes.