COLE CREDIT PROPERTY TRUST II, INC.
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2007
Registration No. 333-121094
 
 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 9 TO
FORM S-11
FOR REGISTRATION UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
OF CERTAIN REAL ESTATE COMPANIES
COLE CREDIT PROPERTY TRUST II, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Governing Instruments)
2555 East Camelback Road, Suite 400
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
(602) 778-8700

(Address, Including Zip Code and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Blair D. Koblenz
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc.
2555 East Camelback Road, Suite 400
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
(602) 778-8700

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Lauren Burnham Prevost, Esq.
David M. Calhoun, Esq.
Heath D. Linsky, Esq.
Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP
1600 Atlanta Financial Center
3343 Peachtree Road, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30326-1044
(404) 233-7000
     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable following effectiveness of this Registration Statement.
     If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
     If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
     If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, check the following box. o
 
 

 


Table of Contents

 
    This Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 consists of the following:
 
1. The Registrant’s final form of Prospectus dated June 27, 2005, previously filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) on June 29, 2005 and refiled herewith.
 
2. Supplement No. 19 dated April 27, 2007, Supplement No. 18 dated April 18, 2007, Supplement No. 17 dated March 29, 2007, Supplement No. 16 dated March 20, 2007, Supplement No. 15 dated January 24, 2007, Supplement No. 14 dated January 11, 2007 and Supplement No. 13 dated December 20, 2006 to the Registrant’s Prospectus dated June 27, 2005, included herewith, each of which will be delivered as an unattached document along with the Prospectus dated June 27, 2005. Supplement No. 13 supercedes and replaces all prior supplements.
 
3. Part II, included herewith.
 
4. Signatures, included herewith.

 


Table of Contents

(COLE CREDIT LOGO)
Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc.
Maximum Offering of 50,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
Minimum Offering of 250,000 Shares of Common Stock
 
     Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc. is a newly organized Maryland corporation that intends to qualify as a real estate investment trust beginning with the taxable year ending December 31, 2005.
     We are offering up to a maximum of 45,000,000 shares of our common stock in our primary offering for $10.00 per share, with discounts available for certain categories of purchasers. We also are offering up to 5,000,000 shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan at a purchase price during this offering of $9.15 per share. We will offer these shares until June 27, 2007, which is two years after the effective date of this offering, unless the offering is extended.
     The dealer manager of this offering, Cole Capital Corporation, a member firm of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., is our affiliate and will offer the shares on a best efforts basis. The minimum permitted purchase is generally $2,500. We will not sell any shares unless we sell a minimum of 250,000 shares to the public by June 27, 2006, which is one year from the effective date of this offering. Pending satisfaction of this condition, all subscription payments will be placed in an account held by the escrow agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in trust for subscribers’ benefit, pending release to us. You will not receive interest on such payments unless they are held for more than 35 days unless we do not sell at least 250,000 shares by June 27, 2006, which is one year from the effective date of this offering, in which case we will promptly return all funds in the escrow account (including interest), and we will stop offering shares.
     See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 18 to read about risks you should consider before buying shares of our common stock. These risks include the following:
    •  We have no operating history nor do we currently own any properties. We are a “blind pool” because we do not own any investments and have not identified any investments we will make with proceeds from this offering. You will be unable to evaluate the economic merit of our investments or how the proceeds from this offering are invested and there may be a substantial delay in receiving a return, if any, on your investment.
 
    •  There are substantial conflicts among us and our sponsor, advisor, dealer manager and property manager, such as the fact that our chairman and chief executive officer owns 100% of our advisor, our dealer-manager and our property manager, and our advisor and other affiliated entities may compete with us and acquire properties suitable to our investment objectives.
 
    •  No public market currently exists, and one may never exist, for shares of our common stock. If you are able to sell your shares, you would likely have to sell them at a substantial discount.
 
    •  Until we generate operating cash flow sufficient to pay distributions to our stockholders, we may make distributions from the proceeds of this offering or from borrowings in anticipation of future cash flow, which may constitute a return of capital, reduce the amount of capital we ultimately invest in properties and negatively impact the value of your investment.
 
    •  We may fail to qualify as a real estate investment trust, also known as a REIT. If we fail to qualify as a REIT, or if we qualify and subsequently lose our REIT status, our operations and our ability to make distributions would be adversely affected.
 
    •  You may not own more than 9.8% in value of the outstanding shares of our stock or more than 9.8% of the number or value of any class or series of our outstanding shares of stock.
 
    •  We may incur substantial debt, which could hinder our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders or could decrease the value of your investment in the event that income on, or the value of, the property securing the debt falls.
 
    •  We are dependent on our advisor to select investments and conduct our operations. Adverse changes in the financial condition of our advisor or our relationship with our advisor could adversely affect us.
 
    •  We will pay substantial fees and expenses to our advisor, its affiliates and participating broker-dealers, which payments increase the risk that you will not earn a profit on your investment.
 
    •  This is a “best efforts” offering and some or all of our shares may not be sold.
     Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Attorney General of the State of New York nor any other state securities regulator has approved or disapproved of our common stock, determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete or passed on or endorsed the merits of this offering. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
     This investment involves a high degree of risk. You should purchase these securities only if you can afford a complete loss of your investment.
                                   
    Price   Selling   Dealer   Net Proceeds
    to Public   Commissions   Manager Fee   (Before Expenses)
                 
Primary Offering
                               
 
Per Share
  $ 10.00     $ 0.70     $ 0.15     $ 9.15  
 
Total Minimum
  $ 2,500,000     $ 175,000     $ 37,500     $ 2,287,500  
 
Total Maximum
  $ 450,000,000     $ 31,500,000     $ 6,750,000     $ 411,750,000  
Distribution Reinvestment Plan
                               
 
Per Share
  $ 9.15     $     $     $ 9.15  
 
Total Maximum
  $ 45,750,000     $     $     $ 45,750,000  
June 27, 2005


Table of Contents

SUITABILITY STANDARDS
      An investment in our common stock involves a significant risk and is only suitable for persons who have adequate financial means, desire a relatively long-term investment and who will not need immediate liquidity from their investment. Initially, we will not have a public market for the common stock and we cannot assure you that one will develop, which means that it may be difficult for you to sell your shares. This investment is not suitable for persons who require immediate liquidity or guaranteed income, or who seek a short-term investment.
      In consideration of these factors, we have established suitability standards for initial stockholders and subsequent purchasers of shares from our stockholders. These suitability standards require that a purchaser of shares have, excluding the value of a purchaser’s home, furnishings and automobiles, either:
  •  a net worth of at least $150,000; or
 
  •  a gross annual income of at least $45,000 and a net worth of at least $45,000.
      The minimum purchase is 250 shares ($2,500). You may not transfer less shares than the minimum purchase requirement. In addition, you may not transfer or subdivide your shares so as to retain less than the number of shares required for the minimum purchase. In order to satisfy the minimum purchase requirements for retirement plans, unless otherwise prohibited by state law, a husband and wife may jointly contribute funds from their separate IRAs, provided that each such contribution is made in increments of $1,000. You should note that an investment in shares of our common stock will not, in itself, create a retirement plan and that, in order to create a retirement plan, you must comply with all applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
      After you have purchased the minimum investment, any additional purchase must be at least 100 shares ($1,000), except for purchases of shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan, which may be in lesser amounts.
      Several states have established suitability requirements that are more stringent than the standards that we have established and described above. Shares will be sold only to investors in these states who meet the special suitability standards set forth below:
  •  Arizona, California, Iowa, Michigan and Tennessee – Investors must have either (a) a net worth of at least $225,000 or (2) gross annual income of at least $60,000 and a net worth of at least $60,000.
 
  •  Maine – Investors must have either (1) a net worth of at least $200,000 or (2) gross annual income of at least $50,000 and a net worth of at least $50,000.
 
  •  Kansas – In addition to our standard suitability requirements, it is recommended that investors should invest no more than ten percent of their liquid net worth in our shares and securities of other real estate investment trusts.
 
  •  Ohio, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania – Investors must have either (a) a minimum annual gross income of $70,000 and a minimum net worth of $70,000 or (b) a minimum net worth of $250,000. The investor’s maximum investment in the issuer and affiliates cannot exceed 10% of the Ohio, Massachusetts or Pennsylvania resident’s net worth.
      In all states listed above, net worth is to be determined excluding the value of a purchaser’s home, furnishings and automobiles.
      Because the minimum offering of our common stock is less than $25,000,000, Pennsylvania investors are cautioned to evaluate carefully our ability to accomplish fully our stated objectives and to inquire as to the current dollar volume of our subscription proceeds.

i


Table of Contents

      Each participating broker-dealer, authorized representative or any other person selling shares on our behalf is required to:
  •  make every reasonable effort to determine that the purchase of shares is a suitable and appropriate investment for each investor based on information provided by such investor to the broker-dealer, including such investor’s age, investment objectives, income, net worth, financial situation and other investments held by such investor; and
 
  •  maintain records for at least six years of the information used to determine that an investment in the shares is suitable and appropriate for each investor.
In making this determination, your participating broker-dealer, authorized representative or other person selling shares on our behalf will, based on a review of the information provided by you, consider whether you:
  •  meet the minimum income and net worth standards established in your state;
  •  can reasonably benefit from an investment in our common stock based on your overall investment objectives and portfolio structure;
  •  are able to bear the economic risk of the investment based on your overall financial situation; and
  •  have an apparent understanding of:
  the fundamental risks of an investment in our common stock;
  the risk that you may lose your entire investment;
  the lack of liquidity of our common stock;
  the restrictions on transferability of our common stock;
  the background and qualifications of our advisor; and
  the tax consequences of an investment in our common stock.
      In the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, the suitability standards must be met by the fiduciary account, by the person who directly or indirectly supplied the funds for the purchase of the shares or by the beneficiary of the account. Given the long-term nature of an investment in our shares, our investment objectives and the relative illiquidity of our shares, our suitability standards are intended to help ensure that shares of our common stock are an appropriate investment for those of you who become investors.

ii


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
           
    Page
     
    i  
    1  
    6  
      6  
      6  
      6  
      6  
      7  
      8  
      8  
      8  
      9  
      11  
      11  
      11  
      14  
      15  
      15  
      15  
      16  
      16  
      16  
    18  
      18  
      21  
      23  
      28  
      36  
      37  
      39  
    42  
    43  
    45  
      45  
      46  
      46  
      47  
      47  
      48  
      49  
      50  
      50  
 EX-23.3 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 EX-23.4 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

iii


 

           
    Page
     
      51  
      53  
      54  
      56  
      57  
      57  
    59  
    64  
    65  
      65  
      66  
      66  
      66  
      66  
      67  
      67  
      67  
      67  
    70  
      70  
      70  
      76  
      78  
      79  
      81  
      81  
      82  
      82  
      83  
    84  
      84  
      85  
      86  
      86  
      86  
    87  
      87  
      87  
    90  
      90  
      90  
      90  
      92  
      96  

iv


 

           
    Page
     
      96  
      97  
      99  
      99  
      101  
      101  
      101  
    106  
      106  
      106  
      107  
      108  
      108  
      108  
      108  
      109  
      110  
      110  
      110  
      111  
    112  
      112  
      112  
      113  
      114  
      116  
      117  
      117  
      118  
      119  
      119  
      119  
      121  
    123  
      123  
      124  
      124  
      124  
      125  
      125  
    126  
      126  
      126  
      126  

v


 

           
    Page
     
      128  
      128  
      129  
      129  
    130  
      130  
      130  
      130  
      131  
      132  
      133  
      133  
      134  
      134  
    134  
    135  
    135  
    135  
    135  
    F-1  
    A-1  
    B-1  
    C-1  

vi


Table of Contents

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS OFFERING
      Below we have provided some of the more frequently asked questions and answers relating to an offering of this type. Please see “Prospectus Summary” and the remainder of this prospectus for more detailed information about this offering.
Q: What is a REIT?
 
A: In general, a real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that:
 
• pays distributions to investors of at least 90.0% of its taxable income;
 
• avoids the “double taxation” treatment of income that generally results from investments in a corporation because a REIT generally is not subject to federal corporate income taxes on its net income, provided certain income tax requirements are satisfied; and
 
• combines the capital of many investors to acquire a large-scale diversified real estate portfolio under professional management.
 
Q: How are you different from your competitors who offer unlisted finite-life public REIT shares or real estate limited partnership units?
 
A: We will focus our investments on the acquisition of freestanding, single-tenant commercial properties net leased to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants. Unlike funds that invest in a limited number of multi-tenant properties, we plan to acquire a diversified portfolio with a larger number of single-tenant properties. Therefore, lower than expected results of operations from one or a few investments will not necessarily preclude our ability to realize our investment objectives of current income to our investors and preservation of capital from our overall portfolio. Our management believes that freestanding retail properties, as compared to shopping centers, malls or other retail complexes as a whole, offer a distinct investment advantage since these properties generally offer superior locations that are less dependent on the financial stability of adjoining tenants. In addition, since we intend to acquire properties that are geographically diverse, we expect to minimize the potential adverse impact of economic downturns in local markets. Also, when we acquire a property, we focus on properties with a long term lease with investment grade or other creditworthy tenants.
 
Q: What is the experience of your officers and directors?
 
A: Christopher H. Cole, our chairman, chief executive officer and president, has been active in the acquisition, financing, management and structuring of commercial real estate transactions for over 25 years and has been engaged as a general partner in the structuring and management of real estate limited partnerships since February 1979. He also is the chief executive officer of Cole REIT Advisors II LLC, (Cole Advisors II), which is our advisor. Through Mr. Cole’s affiliated entities, as of December 31, 2004, Mr. Cole has sponsored 47 private real estate programs with an aggregate of over 5,000 investors since January 1, 1995.
 
Blair D. Koblenz, our executive vice president and chief financial officer, has been active in the structuring and financial management of commercial real estate investments for over 20 years. He also is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Cole Advisors II. Prior to joining the Cole entities in 1994, he practiced in public accounting from 1979 to 1982 with an emphasis in taxation and business planning. He then served in a financial officer capacity for real estate investment companies and operators in Arizona from 1982 to 1994.
 
John M. Pons, our secretary, also is vice president, secretary and counsel of Cole Advisors II. Prior to joining the Cole entities in September 2003, Mr. Pons was an associate general counsel and assistant secretary with GE Capital Franchise Finance Corporation since December 2001. Prior to December 2001, Mr. Pons was engaged in a private legal practice. Mr. Pons has over nine years experience in all aspects of real estate law, including the acquisition, sale, leasing, development and financing of real property.

1


Table of Contents

Marcus E. Bromley is a member of our board of directors, chairman of its audit committee and a member of its compensation committee. Since December 1993, Mr. Bromley has served as a member of the board of trustees of Gables Residential Trust, a multi-family residential REIT listed on the New York Stock Exchange. From December 1993 until June 2000, Mr. Bromley also served as the chief executive officer of Gables Residential Trust. Prior to joining Gables Residential Trust, Mr. Bromley was a division partner of Trammell Crow Residential.
 
Elizabeth L. Watson is a member of our board of directors, chairperson of its audit committee and a member of its compensation committee. Since September 2003, Ms. Watson has been a partner in and has served as the chief operating officer for NGP Capital Partners III, LLC (NGP Capital). In addition to other positions in the real estate capital market industry, from 1992 until 1994, Ms. Watson served as senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Prime Retail, Inc., a publicly traded REIT that developed and owned factory outlet centers, and its predecessor company, The Prime Group.
 
Q: Will you acquire properties in joint ventures?
 
A: Possibly. We may want to acquire properties through one or more joint ventures in order to diversify our portfolio of properties in terms of geographic region, property type and tenant industry group. Increased portfolio diversification will reduce the risk to investors as compared to a program with a smaller number of investments. Our joint ventures may be with our affiliates or with third parties. Generally, we will only enter into a joint venture in which we will control the decisions of the joint venture. If we do enter into joint ventures, we may assume liabilities related to the joint venture that exceed the percentage of our investment in the joint venture.
 
Q: What steps do you take to make sure you invest in environmentally compliant property?
 
A: Generally, we will obtain a Phase I environmental assessment of each property purchased. These assessments, however, may not reveal all environmental hazards. In certain instances, we will rely upon the experience of our advisor and we expect that in most cases we will obtain a representation from the seller that, to its knowledge, the property is not contaminated with hazardous materials.
 
Q: What will be the terms of your leases?
 
A: We will seek to secure leases from investment grade and other creditworthy tenants before or at the time we acquire a property. We expect that our leases generally will be net leases, which means that the tenant would be responsible for the cost of repairs, maintenance, property taxes, utilities, insurance and other operating costs. In certain of these leases, we will be responsible for the replacement of specific structural components of a property, such as the roof of the building or the parking lot. We expect that our leases generally will have terms of ten or more years, some of which may have renewal options. We may, however, enter into leases that have a shorter term.
 
Q: How will you determine whether tenants have the appropriate creditworthiness for each building lease?
 
A: We will determine creditworthiness pursuant to various methods, including reviewing financial data and other information about the tenant. In addition, we may use an industry credit rating service to determine the creditworthiness of potential tenants and any personal guarantor or corporate guarantor of each potential tenant. We will compare the reports produced by these services to the relevant financial and other data collected from these parties before consummating a lease transaction. Such relevant data from potential tenants and guarantors include income statements and balance sheets for current and prior periods, net worth or cash flow of guarantors, and business plans and other data we deem relevant.
 
Q: What is an “UPREIT”?
 
A: UPREIT stands for “Umbrella Partnership Real Estate Investment Trust.” We use an UPREIT structure because a sale of property directly to a REIT generally is a taxable transaction to the

2


Table of Contents

selling property owner. In an UPREIT structure, a seller of a property that desires to defer taxable gain on the sale of its property may transfer the property to the UPREIT in exchange for limited partnership units in the UPREIT and defer taxation of gain until the seller later exchanges its UPREIT units on a one-for-one basis for REIT shares. If the REIT shares are publicly traded, at the time of the exchange of units for shares, the former property owner will achieve liquidity for its investment. Using an UPREIT structure may give us an advantage in acquiring desired properties from persons who may not otherwise sell their properties because of unfavorable tax results.
 
Q: Will the distributions I receive be taxable as ordinary income?
 
A: Yes and no. Generally, distributions that you receive, including distributions that are reinvested pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan, will be taxed as ordinary income to the extent they are from current or accumulated earnings and profits. We expect that some portion of your distributions may not be subject to tax in the year received because depreciation expense reduces taxable income but does not reduce cash available for distribution. The portion of your distribution that is not subject to tax immediately is considered a return of capital for tax purposes and will reduce the tax basis of your investment. This, in effect, defers a portion of your tax until your investment is sold or we are liquidated, at which time you will be taxed at capital gains rates. However, because each investor’s tax considerations are different, we suggest that you consult with your tax advisor. You also should review the section of this prospectus entitled “Federal Income Tax Considerations.”
 
Q: What will you do with the money raised in this offering before you invest the proceeds in real estate?
 
A:
Until we invest the proceeds of this offering in real estate, we may invest in short-term, highly liquid or other authorized investments. Such short-term investments will not earn as high of a return as we expect to earn on our real estate investments, and we may be not be able to invest the proceeds in real estate promptly.
 
Q: How does a best efforts offering work?
 
A: When shares are offered to the public on a “best efforts” basis, the brokers participating in the offering are only required to use their best efforts to sell the shares and have no firm commitment or obligation to purchase any of the shares. Therefore, we may not sell all or any of the shares that we are offering.
 
Q: Who can buy shares?
 
A: Generally, you may buy shares pursuant to this prospectus provided that you have either (1) a net worth of at least $45,000 and a gross annual income of at least $45,000, or (2) a net worth of at least $150,000. For this purpose, net worth does not include your home, home furnishings and automobiles. You should carefully read the more detailed description under “Suitability Standards” immediately following the cover page of this prospectus.
 
Q: For whom is an investment in our shares recommended?
 
A: An investment in our shares may be appropriate for you if you meet the minimum suitability standards mentioned above, seek to diversify your personal portfolio with a finite-life, real estate-based investment, seek to receive current income, seek to preserve capital, wish to obtain the benefits of potential long-term capital appreciation and are able to hold your investment for a time period consistent with our liquidity plans. On the other hand, we caution persons who require immediate liquidity or guaranteed income, or who seek a short-term investment, that an investment in our shares will not meet those needs.
 
Q: May I make an investment through my IRA, SEP or other tax-deferred account?
 
A: Yes. You may make an investment through your individual retirement account (IRA), a simplified employee pension (SEP) plan or other tax-deferred account. In making these investment decisions,

3


Table of Contents

you should consider, at a minimum, (1) whether the investment is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing your IRA, plan or other account, (2) whether the investment satisfies the fiduciary requirements associated with your IRA, plan or other account, (3) whether the investment will generate unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) to your IRA, plan or other account, (4) whether there is sufficient liquidity for such investment under your IRA, plan or other account, (5) the need to value the assets of your IRA, plan or other account annually or more frequently, and (6) whether the investment would constitute a prohibited transaction under applicable law.
 
Q: Have you arranged for a custodian for investments made through IRA, SEP or other tax-deferred accounts?
 
A: Yes. Sterling Trust Company has agreed to serve as custodian for investments made through IRA, SEP and certain other tax-deferred accounts. Sterling Trust Company has agreed to provide this service to our stockholders with annual maintenance fees charged at a discounted rate.
 
Q: Is there any minimum investment required?
 
A: Yes. Generally, you must invest at least $2,500. Investors who already own our shares can make additional purchases for less than the minimum investment. You should carefully read the more detailed description of the minimum investment requirements appearing under “Suitability Standards” immediately following the cover page of this prospectus.
 
Q: How do I subscribe for shares?
 
A: If you choose to purchase shares in this offering, you will need to complete and sign a subscription agreement, like the one contained in this prospectus as Appendix B, for a specific number of shares and pay for the shares at the time you subscribe.
 
Q: Who is the transfer agent?
 
A: The name, address and telephone number of our transfer agent is as follows:
 
Phoenix Transfer, Inc.
2401 Kerner Boulevard
San Rafael, California 94901
(866) 341-2653
 
To ensure that any account changes are made promptly and accurately, all changes including your address, ownership type and distribution mailing address should be directed to the transfer agent.
 
Q: Will I be notified of how my investment is doing?
 
A: Yes. We will provide you with periodic updates on the performance of your investment with us, including:
 
• following our commencement of distributions to stockholders, four quarterly or 12 monthly distribution reports;
• three quarterly financial reports;
• an annual report;
• an annual Form 1099; and
• supplements to the prospectus during the offering period.
 
We will provide this information to you via one or more of the following methods, in our discretion and with your consent, if necessary:
 
• U.S. mail or other courier;
• facsimile;
• electronic delivery; and
• posting on our affiliated website, which is www.colecapital.com.

4


Table of Contents

Q: When will I get my detailed tax information?
 
A: Your Form 1099 tax information will be placed in the mail by January 31 of each year.
 
Q: Who can help answer my questions?
 
A: If you have more questions about the offering or if you would like additional copies of this prospectus, you should contact your registered representative or contact:
Cole Capital Corporation
2555 East Camelback Road, Suite 400
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
(866) 341-2653
Attn: Investor Services
www.colecapital.com

5


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
      This prospectus summary highlights material information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. Because it is a summary, it may not contain all of the information that is important to you. To understand this offering fully, you should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors” section and the financial statements, before making a decision to invest in our common stock.
Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc.
      Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc. is a newly organized Maryland corporation incorporated on September 29, 2004, that intends to qualify as a REIT beginning with the taxable year that will end December 31, 2005. We expect to use substantially all of the net proceeds from this offering to acquire and operate commercial real estate primarily consisting of high quality, freestanding, single-tenant commercial properties net leased to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants located throughout the United States. Because we have not yet identified any specific properties to purchase, we are considered to be a blind pool.
      Our office is located at 2555 East Camelback Road, Suite 400, Phoenix, Arizona 85016. Our telephone number outside the State of Arizona is 866-341-2653. Our fax number is 602-778-8780, and the e-mail address of our investor relations department is investorservices@colecapital.com.
      Additional information about us and our affiliates may be obtained at www.colecapital.com, but the contents of that site are not incorporated by reference in or otherwise a part of this prospectus.
Our Advisor
      Cole Advisors II, a Delaware limited liability company, will be our advisor and will be responsible for managing our affairs on a day-to-day basis and for identifying and making acquisitions on our behalf.
Our Management
      We operate under the direction of our board of directors, the members of which are accountable to us and our stockholders as fiduciaries. Currently, we have three directors, Christopher H. Cole, Marcus E. Bromley and Elizabeth L. Watson. Mr. Bromley and Ms. Watson each will be independent of Cole Advisors II. Our executive officers and one of our directors are affiliated with Cole Advisors II. Our charter, which requires that a majority of our directors be independent of Cole Advisors II, requires that our independent directors will be responsible for reviewing the performance of Cole Advisors II and must approve other matters set forth in our charter. See the “Conflicts of Interest — Certain Conflict Resolution Procedures” section of this prospectus. Our directors will be elected annually by the stockholders.
Our REIT Status
      If we qualify as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on income that we distribute to our stockholders. Under the Internal Revenue Code, a REIT is subject to numerous organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that it distribute at least 90.0% of its annual taxable income to its stockholders. If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any year, our income will be taxed at regular corporate rates, and we may be precluded from qualifying for treatment as a REIT for the four-year period following our failure to qualify. Even if we qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we may still be subject to state and local taxes on our income and property and to federal income and excise taxes on our undistributed income.

6


Table of Contents

Summary Risk Factors
      Following are the most significant risks relating to your investment:
  •  Our advisor and its affiliates will face conflicts of interest, including significant conflicts among us and our advisor, since (i) our chairman, chief executive officer and president owns 100% of our advisor, our dealer manager and our property manager, (ii) our advisor and other affiliated entities may compete with us and acquire properties suitable to our investment objectives, and (iii) our advisor’s compensation arrangements with us and other Cole-sponsored programs may provide incentives that are not aligned with the interests of our stockholders.
 
  •  We have no operating history, nor do we currently own any properties. This is considered a blind pool offering since we have not identified any properties to acquire with the proceeds of this offering. As a result, you will be unable to evaluate the economic merit of our investments or how the proceeds of this offering are invested and there may be a substantial delay in receiving a return, if any, on your investment.
 
  •  You may not own more than 9.8% in value of the outstanding shares of our common stock or more than 9.8% of the number or value of any class or series of our outstanding shares of stock. Therefore, your ability to control the direction of our company will be limited.
 
  •  No public market currently exists for our shares of common stock and one may never exist. If you are able to sell your shares, you would likely have to sell them at a substantial discount from their public offering price.
 
  •  This is a best efforts offering and some or all of our shares may not be sold.
 
  •  If we raise substantially less than the maximum offering, we may not be able to invest in a diverse portfolio of properties, and the value of your investment may vary more widely with the performance of specific properties.
 
  •  We may incur substantial debt, which could hinder our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders or could decrease the value of your investment in the event that income on, or the value of, the property securing the debt falls.
 
  •  Until the proceeds from this offering are invested and generating operating cash flow sufficient to make distributions to our stockholders, we intend to pay all or a substantial portion of our distributions from the proceeds of this offering or from borrowings in anticipation of future cash flow, which may constitute a return of your capital, reduce the amount of capital we ultimately invest in properties, and negatively impact the value of your investment.
 
  •  We may fail to qualify as a REIT. If we fail to qualify as a REIT, or if we qualify and subsequently lose our REIT status, our operations and our ability to make distributions would be adversely affected.
 
  •  We are dependent on our advisor to select investments and conduct our operations; thus, we would be adversely affected by adverse changes in the financial condition of our advisor or our relationship with our advisor.
 
  •  We will pay substantial fees and expenses to our advisor and its affiliates, which payments are not dependent on the quality of the property acquired or the services provided to us.
 
  •  Our board of directors has the authority to designate and issue one or more classes or series of preferred stock without stockholder approval, with rights and preferences senior to the rights of holders of common stock, including rights to payment of distributions. If we issue any preferred shares, the amount of funds available for the payment of distributions on the common stock could be reduced or eliminated.
      Before you invest in us, you should carefully read and consider the more detailed “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus.

7


Table of Contents

Description of Real Estate Investments
      We expect to use substantially all of the net proceeds from this offering to acquire and operate commercial real estate primarily consisting of high quality, freestanding, single-tenant commercial properties net leased to investment grade tenants, which generally are companies that have a debt rating by Moody’s of Baa3 or better or a credit rating by Standard & Poor’s of BBB- or better, or are guaranteed by a company with such rating, and other creditworthy tenants located throughout the United States. We intend to hold each property for eight to ten years. We also may invest in entities that make similar investments. In addition, if our advisor determines that, due to the state of the real estate market or in order to diversify our investment portfolio, it would be advantageous to us, we also may invest in mortgage loans secured by commercial properties.
      Our advisor, Cole Advisors II, will make recommendations to our board of directors for our investments. All acquisitions of commercial properties will be evaluated for tenant creditworthiness and the reliability and stability of their future income and capital appreciation potential. We will consider the risk profile, credit quality and reputation of tenants and the impact of each particular acquisition as it relates to the portfolio as a whole. Our board of directors will exercise its fiduciary duties to our stockholders in determining to approve or reject each of these investment recommendations.
      Because we have not yet identified any specific properties to purchase, we are considered to be a blind pool. As we acquire properties, we will supplement this prospectus to describe material changes to our portfolio.
Estimated Use of Proceeds of This Offering
      Depending primarily on the number of shares we sell in this offering and assuming all shares sold under our distribution reinvestment plan are sold at $9.15 per share, we estimate for each share sold in this offering that approximately $8.86 will be available for the purchase of real estate. We will use the remainder of the offering proceeds to pay the costs of the offering, including selling commissions and the dealer manager fee, and to pay a fee to our advisor for its services in connection with the selection and acquisition of properties. We will not pay selling commissions or a dealer manager fee on shares sold under our distribution reinvestment plan. The table below sets forth our estimated use of proceeds from this offering:
                                   
    Minimum Offering   Maximum Offering
         
    Amount   Percent   Amount   Percent
                 
Gross Offering Proceeds
  $ 2,500,000       100.0 %   $ 495,750,000       100.0 %
Less Public Offering Expenses:
                               
 
Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fee
    212,500       8.5 %     38,250,000       7.7 %
 
Organization and Offering Expenses
    37,500       1.5 %     7,436,250       1.5 %
                         
Amount Available for Investment
  $ 2,250,000       90.0 %   $ 450,063,750       90.8 %
Acquisition and Development:
                               
 
Acquisition and Advisory Fees
    43,902       1.8 %     8,781,732       1.8 %
 
Acquisition Expenses
    10,976       0.4 %     2,195,433       0.4 %
 
Initial Working Capital Reserve
    0       0 %     0       0 %
                         
Amount Invested in Properties
  $ 2,195,122       87.8 %   $ 439,086,585       88.6 %
                         
Investment Objectives
      Our primary investment objectives are:
  •  to provide current income for you through the payment of cash distributions; and
 
  •  to preserve, protect and return your invested capital.

8


Table of Contents

      We also seek capital gain from our investments. See the “Investment Objectives and Policies” section of this prospectus for a more complete description of our investment policies and investment restrictions.
Conflicts of Interest
      Cole Advisors II, as our advisor, will experience conflicts of interest in connection with the management of our business affairs, including the following:
  •  The management personnel of Cole Advisors II, each of whom also makes investment decisions for other Cole-sponsored programs, must determine which investment opportunities to recommend to us or another Cole-sponsored program or joint venture and must determine how to allocate resources among us and the other Cole-sponsored programs;
 
  •  Cole Advisors II may structure the terms of joint ventures between us and other Cole-sponsored programs;
 
  •  We have retained Fund Realty Advisors, Inc. (Fund Realty Advisors), an affiliate of Cole Advisors II, to manage and lease some or all of our properties;
 
  •  Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will have to allocate their time between us and other real estate programs and activities in which they are involved; and
 
  •  Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will receive fees in connection with transactions involving the purchase, management and sale of our properties regardless of the quality of the property acquired or the services provided to us.
      Our officers and one of our directors also will face these conflicts because of their affiliation with Cole Advisors II. In addition, three persons who are officers and/or a director of our company also serve as officers and/or directors of Cole Credit Property Trust, Inc. (Cole REIT I), an affiliated, private real estate program, and Cole REIT Advisors, LLC (Cole Advisors), the advisor to Cole REIT I. These conflicts of interest could result in decisions that are not in our best interests. See the “Conflicts of Interest” section of this prospectus for a detailed discussion of the various conflicts of interest relating to your investment, as well as the procedures that we have established to mitigate a number of these potential conflicts.

9


Table of Contents

      The following chart shows the ownership structure of the various Cole entities that are affiliated with Cole Advisors II.
(CHART)
 
(1)  Christopher H. Cole, our chairman, chief executive officer and president, owns 99% of the membership interests, and Cole Holdings Corporation owns 1% of the membership interests, of Cole Capital Partners.
 
(2)  The investors will own registered shares of common stock in Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc.
 
(3)  Cole Holdings Corporation currently owns 20,000 shares of our common stock. The amount shown is prior to this offering. After the offering, Cole Holdings Corporation will own between 7.4% of our common stock, assuming a minimum offering, and 0.04% of our common stock, assuming a maximum offering, including the sale of 5,000,000 shares under our distribution reinvestment plan.

10


Table of Contents

Prior Offering Summary
      Since January 1, 1995 our chairman, chief executive officer and president, Christopher H. Cole, through entities he directly or indirectly controls, has previously sponsored 48 privately offered real estate programs, including 24 limited partnerships, four debt offerings and 19 tenant-in-common programs, and is currently sponsoring Cole REIT I, a privately offered REIT. As of March 31, 2005, such programs have raised an aggregate of approximately $287.2 million from over 5,400 investors, and have owned and operated a total of 118 commercial real estate properties. Neither Mr. Cole, nor any of our other affiliates, has previously sponsored or organized a publicly offered REIT. The “Prior Performance Summary” section of this prospectus contains a discussion of the programs sponsored by Mr. Cole since January 1, 1995. Certain financial results and information relating to such programs with investment objectives similar to ours is also provided in the “Prior Performance Tables” included as Appendix A to this prospectus. The prior performance of the programs previously sponsored by Mr. Cole is not necessarily indicative of the results that we will achieve. Therefore, you should not assume that you will experience returns, if any, comparable to those experienced by investors in such prior real estate programs.
The Offering
      We are offering an aggregate of 45,000,000 shares of common stock in our primary offering on a best-efforts basis at $10.00 per share. Discounts are available for certain categories of purchasers as described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus. We are also offering 5,000,000 shares of common stock under our distribution reinvestment plan at $9.15 per share, subject to certain limitations, as described in the “Distribution Reinvestment Plan” section of this prospectus. We will offer shares of common stock in our primary offering until the earlier of June 27, 2007, which is two years from the effective date of this offering, unless the offering is extended, or the date we sell 45,000,000 shares. We may sell shares under the distribution reinvestment plan beyond the termination of our primary offering until we have sold 5,000,000 shares through the reinvestment of distributions, but only if there is an effective registration statement with respect to the shares. Under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), and in some states, we may not be able to continue the offering for these periods without filing a new registration statement, or in the case of shares sold under the distribution reinvestment plan, renew or extend the registration statement in such state. We may terminate this offering at any time prior to the stated termination date.
      We will not sell any shares unless we sell a minimum of 250,000 shares of our common stock by June 27, 2006, which is one year from the effective date of this offering. Our directors, officers, advisor and their respective affiliates may purchase for investment shares of our common stock in this offering. However, purchases by our directors, officers, advisor or their affiliates will not count toward meeting this minimum threshold. Pending satisfaction of this condition, all subscription payments will be placed in an account held by the escrow agent, Well Fargo Bank, N.A., in trust for subscribers’ benefit, pending release to us. If we do not sell 250,000 shares of our common stock to the public by June 27, 2006, which is one year from the effective date of this offering, we will terminate this offering and return all subscribers’ funds, plus interest, without deduction for any expenses within ten days thereafter. Funds in escrow will be invested in short-term investments that mature on or before June 27, 2006, which is one year from the effective date of this offering, or that can be readily sold or otherwise disposed of for cash by such date without any dissipation of the offering proceeds invested. See “Plan of Distribution – Special Notice to Pennsylvania Investors” regarding the sale of shares to Pennsylvania investors.
Compensation to Cole Advisors II and its Affiliates
      Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will receive compensation and reimbursement for services relating to this offering and the investment and management of our assets. The most significant items of compensation are included in the table below. The selling commissions and dealer manager fee may vary for different categories of purchasers. See the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus. The table below assumes the shares are sold through distribution channels associated with the highest possible selling

11


Table of Contents

commissions and dealer manager fees and accounts for the fact that shares are sold through our distribution reinvestment plan at $9.15 per share with no selling commissions and no dealer manager fee.
             
        Estimated Amount for
        Minimum Offering
        (250,000 shares)/Maximum
        Offering
Type of Compensation   Determination of Amount   (50,000,000 shares)
         
           Offering Stage        
Selling Commissions
  We will pay to Cole Capital Corporation 7.0% of gross proceeds of our primary offering; we will not pay any selling commissions on sales of shares under our distribution reinvestment plan; Cole Capital Corporation will reallow all selling commissions to participating broker-dealers.     $175,000/$31,500,000  
Dealer Manager Fee
  We will pay to Cole Capital Corporation 1.5% of gross proceeds of our primary offering; we will not pay a dealer manager fee with respect to sales under our distribution reinvestment plan.     $37,500/$6,750,000  
Other Organization and Offering Expenses
  We will reimburse Cole Advisors II up to 1.5% of gross offering proceeds for organization and offering expenses.     $37,500/$7,436,250  
               Operational Stage        
Acquisition and Advisory Fees
  We will pay Cole Advisors II 2.0% of the contract purchase price of each property acquired.     $43,902/$8,781,732  
Acquisition Expenses
  We will reimburse Cole Advisors II for acquisition expenses incurred in acquiring property. We expect these fees to be approximately 0.5% of the purchase price of each property. In no event will the total of all acquisition and advisory fees and acquisition expenses payable with respect to a particular investment exceed 6% of the contract purchase price.   Actual amounts are dependent upon the actual expenses incurred in acquiring a property or asset, and therefore cannot be determined at this time.
Asset Management Fees
  We will pay Cole Advisors II a monthly fee equal to 0.02083%, which is one-twelfth of 0.25%, of the aggregate assets value plus costs and expenses incurred by the advisor in providing asset management services.   Not determinable at this time. Because the fee is based on a fixed percentage of aggregate asset value there is no maximum dollar amount of this fee.

12


Table of Contents

             
        Estimated Amount for
        Minimum Offering
        (250,000 shares)/Maximum
        Offering
Type of Compensation   Determination of Amount   (50,000,000 shares)
         
Property Management and Leasing Fees
  For the management and leasing of our properties, we will pay Fund Realty Advisors, an affiliate of our advisor, a property management fee equal to 2.0% of gross revenues plus market-based leasing commissions applicable to the geographic location of the property. We also will reimburse Fund Realty Advisors’ costs of managing the properties. Fund Realty Advisors or its affiliates may also receive a fee for the initial leasing of newly constructed properties, which would generally equal one month’s rent. The aggregate of all property management and leasing fees paid to our affiliates plus all payments to third parties for such fees will not exceed the amount that other nonaffiliated management and leasing companies generally charge for similar services in the same geographic location as determined by a survey of brokers and agents in such area.   Not determinable at this time. Because the fee is based on a fixed percentage of gross revenue and/or market rates, there is no maximum dollar amount of this fee.
Operating Expenses
  We will reimburse our advisor’s costs of providing administrative services, subject to the limitation that we will not reimburse our advisor for any amount by which our operating expenses (including the asset management fee) at the end of the four preceding fiscal quarters exceeds the greater of(i) 2% of average invested assets, or (ii) 25% of net income other than any additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debt or other similar non-cash reserves and excluding any gain from the sale of assets for that period. Additionally, we will not reimburse our advisor for personnel costs in connection with services for which the advisor receives acquisition fees or real estate commissions.   Not determinable at this time.
Financing Coordination Fee
  If our advisor provides services in connection the origination or refinancing of any debt that we obtain and use to acquire properties or to make other permitted investments, we will pay the advisor a financing coordination fee equal to 1% of the amount available under such financing, subject to certain limitations.   Not determinable at this time. Because the fee is based on a fixed percentage of any debt financing, there is no maximum dollar amount of this fee.

13


Table of Contents

             
        Estimated Amount for
        Minimum Offering
        (250,000 shares)/Maximum
        Offering
Type of Compensation   Determination of Amount   (50,000,000 shares)
         
Liquidation/ Listing Stage
Real Estate Commissions
  Up to one-half of the brokerage commission paid on the sale of property, not to exceed 2.0% of the contract price for property sold, in each case, payable to our advisor if our advisor or its affiliates, as determined by a majority of the independent directors, provided a substantial amount of services in connection with the sale.   Not determinable at this time. Because the commission is based on a fixed percentage of the contract price for a sold property, there is no maximum dollar amount of these commissions.
Subordinated Participation in Net Sale Proceeds (payable only if we are not listed on an exchange)
  10.0% of remaining net sale proceeds after return of capital plus payment to investors of an 8.0% cumulative, non-compounded return on the capital contributed by investors. We cannot assure you that we will provide this 8.0% return, which we have disclosed solely as a measure for our advisor’s incentive compensation.   Not determinable at this time. There is no maximum amount of these payments.
Subordinated Incentive Listing Fee (payable only if we are listed on an exchange, which we have no intent to do at this time)
  10.0% of the amount by which our adjusted market value plus distributions exceeds the aggregate capital contributed by investors plus an amount equal to an 8.0% cumulative, non-compounded annual return to investors. We cannot assure you that we will provide this 8.0% return, which we have disclosed solely as a measure for our advisor’s incentive compensation.   Not determinable at this time. There is no maximum amount of this fee.
Distribution Policy
      To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are required to make aggregate annual distributions to our stockholders of at least 90.0% of our annual taxable income (which does not necessarily equal net income as calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP)). Our board of directors may authorize distributions in excess of those required for us to maintain REIT status depending on our financial condition and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant. We have not established a minimum distribution level. We expect to calculate our quarterly or monthly distributions based upon daily record and distribution declaration dates so investors may be entitled to distributions immediately upon purchasing our shares. We expect that such distributions will begin no later than the third quarter after the commencement of this offering. However, because we have not identified any probable investments, there can be no assurance as to when, or if, we will begin to generate sufficient cash flow for distribution to our stockholders. In the event we do not have enough cash to make distributions, we may borrow, issue additional securities or sell assets in order to fund distributions. Until we are generating operating cash flow sufficient to make distributions to our

14


Table of Contents

stockholders, we intend to pay all or a substantial portion of our distributions from the proceeds of this offering or from borrowings, including possible borrowings from our advisor or its affiliates, in anticipation of future cash flow, which may reduce the amount of capital we ultimately invest in properties, and negatively impact the value of your investment.
Listing
      We will seek to list our shares of common stock for trading on a national securities exchange or for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market when and if our independent directors believe listing would be in the best interest of our stockholders. However, at this time, we have no intent to list our shares. We do not anticipate that there will be any market for our common stock unless and until our shares are listed. If we do not list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange or on The Nasdaq National Market by the tenth anniversary of the commencement of this offering, our charter requires that we either:
  •  seek stockholder approval of an extension or amendment of this listing deadline; or
 
  •  seek stockholder approval of the liquidation of our corporation.
      If we seek and do not obtain stockholder approval of an extension or amendment to the listing deadline, we would then be required to seek stockholder approval of our liquidation. If we seek and fail to obtain stockholder approval of our liquidation, our charter would not require us to list or liquidate and we could continue to operate as before. In such event, there would be no public market for shares of our common stock and you could be required to hold the shares indefinitely. If we seek and obtain stockholder approval of our liquidation, we would begin an orderly sale of our properties and distribute, subject to our advisor’s subordinated participation our net proceeds to you.
Distribution Reinvestment Plan
      Under our distribution reinvestment plan, you may have the distributions you receive reinvested in additional shares of our common stock. The purchase price per share under our distribution reinvestment plan will be the higher of 91.5% of the fair market value per share as determined by our board of directors and $9.15 per share. No sales commissions or dealer manager fees will be paid on shares sold under the distribution reinvestment plan. If you participate in the distribution reinvestment plan, you will not receive the cash from your distributions, other than special distributions that are designated by our board of directors. As a result, you may have a tax liability with respect to your share of our taxable income, but you will not receive cash distributions to pay such liability. We may terminate the distribution reinvestment plan at our discretion at any time upon ten days prior written notice to you. Additionally, we will be required to discontinue sales of shares under the distribution reinvestment plan on the earlier of June 27, 2007, which is two years from the effective date of this offering, unless the offering is extended, or the date we sell 5,000,000 shares under the plan, unless we file a new registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable states.
Share Redemption Program
      Our board of directors has adopted a share redemption program that enables our stockholders to sell their shares to us in limited circumstances. Our share redemption program permits you to sell your shares back to us after you have held them for at least one year, subject to the significant conditions and limitations described below.
      There are several restrictions on your ability to sell your shares to us under the program. You generally have to hold your shares for one year before selling your shares to us under the plan; however, we may waive the one-year holding period in the event of the death or bankruptcy of a stockholder. In addition, we will limit the number of shares redeemed pursuant to our share redemption program as follows: (1) during any calendar year, we will not redeem in excess of 3.0% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year; and (2) funding for the redemption of shares

15


Table of Contents

will be limited to the amount of net proceeds we receive from the sale of shares under our distribution reinvestment plan. These limits may prevent us from accommodating all requests made in any year. During the term of this offering, and subject to certain provisions described in “Description of Shares — Share Redemption Program,” the redemption price per share will depend on the length of time you have held such shares as follows: after one year from the purchase date — 92.5% of the amount you paid for each share; after two years from the purchase date — 95.0% of the amount you paid for each share; after three years from the purchase date — 97.5% of the amount you paid for each share; and after four years from the purchase date — 100.0% of the amount you paid for each share.
      Upon receipt of a request for redemption, we will conduct a Uniform Commercial Code search to ensure that no liens are held against the shares. We will charge an administrative fee of $250 to the stockholder for the search and other costs, which will be deducted from the proceeds of the redemption or, if a lien exists, will be charged to the stockholder. Repurchases will be made quarterly. If funds are not available to redeem all requested redemptions at the end of each quarter, the shares will be purchased on a pro rata basis and the unfulfilled requests will be held until the next quarter, unless withdrawn. Our board of directors may amend, suspend or terminate the share redemption program at any time upon 30 days prior written notice to our stockholders.
Cole Operating Partnership II, LP
      We expect to own substantially all of our real estate properties through Cole Operating Partnership II, LP (Cole OP II), our operating partnership. We may, however, own properties directly, through subsidiaries of Cole OP II or through other entities. We are the sole general partner of Cole OP II and Cole Advisors II is the initial limited partner of Cole OP II. Our ownership of properties in Cole OP II is referred to as an “UPREIT.” This UPREIT structure may enable sellers of properties to transfer their properties to Cole OP II in exchange for limited partnership interests of Cole OP II and defer gain recognition for tax purposes with respect to such transfers of properties. The holders of units in Cole OP II may have their units redeemed for cash or, at our option, shares of our common stock. At present, we have no plans to acquire any specific properties in exchange for units of Cole OP II.
ERISA Considerations
      The section of this prospectus entitled “ERISA Considerations” describes the effect the purchase of shares will have on individual retirement accounts and retirement plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and/or the Internal Revenue Code. ERISA is a federal law that regulates the operation of certain tax-advantaged retirement plans. Any retirement plan trustee or individual considering purchasing shares for a retirement plan or an individual retirement account should read the “Investment by Tax-Exempt Entities and ERISA Considerations” section of this prospectus very carefully.
Description of Shares
Uncertificated Shares
      Our board of directors has authorized the issuance of shares of our stock without certificates. We expect that, unless and until our shares are listed on a national securities exchange or The Nasdaq National Market, we will not issue shares in certificated form. Our transfer agent maintains a stock ledger that contains the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares that the stockholder holds. With respect to uncertificated stock, we will continue to treat the stockholder registered on our stock ledger as the owner of the shares until the record owner and the new owner delivers a properly executed stock transfer form to us, along with a fee to cover reasonable transfer costs, in an amount determined by our board of directors. We will provide the required form to you upon request.

16


Table of Contents

Stockholder Voting Rights and Limitations
      We intend to hold annual meetings of our stockholders for the purpose of electing our directors and/or conducting other business matters that may be presented at such meetings. We may also call special meetings of stockholders from time to time. You are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock you own at any of these meetings.
Restriction on Share Ownership
      Our charter contains restrictions on ownership of the shares that prevent any one person from owning more than 9.8% in value of our outstanding shares and more than 9.8% in value or number, whichever is more restrictive, of any class or series of our outstanding shares of stock unless exempted by our board of directors. These restrictions are designed to enable us to comply with ownership restrictions imposed on REITs by the Internal Revenue Code. For a more complete description of the shares, including restrictions on the ownership of shares, please see the “Description of Shares” section of this prospectus. Our charter also limits your ability to transfer your shares to prospective stockholders unless (i) they meet the minimum suitability standards regarding income or net worth, which are described in the “Suitability Standards” section immediately following the cover page of this prospectus, and (ii) the transfer complies with minimum purchase requirements, which are described below in the section entitled “How to Subscribe.”

17


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS
      An investment in our common stock involves various risks and uncertainties. You should carefully consider the following risk factors in conjunction with the other information contained in this prospectus before purchasing our common stock. The risks discussed in this prospectus can adversely affect our business, operating results, prospects and financial condition. These risks could cause the value of our common stock to decline and could cause you to lose all or part of your investment. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face but do represent those risks and uncertainties that we believe are material to our business, operating results, prospects and financial condition. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also harm our business.
Risks Related to an Investment in Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc.
We have no prior operating history or established financing sources, and the prior performance of real estate investment programs sponsored by affiliates of our advisor may not be an indication of our future results.
      We have no operating history and you should not rely upon the past performance of other real estate investment programs sponsored by affiliates of our advisor to predict our future results. We were incorporated in September 2004. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not made any investments in real estate or otherwise and do not own any properties or have any operations or independent financing. Although Mr. Cole and other members of our advisor’s management have significant experience in the acquisition, finance, management and development of commercial real estate, this is the first publicly offered REIT sponsored by Mr. Cole or his affiliates. Accordingly, the prior performance of real estate investment programs sponsored by affiliates of Mr. Cole and our advisor may not be indicative of our future results.
      Moreover, neither our advisor nor we have any established financing sources. Presently, both we and our advisor are funded by capital contributions from Cole Holdings Corporation, a company wholly owned by Mr. Cole. If our capital resources, or those of our advisor, are insufficient to support our operations, we will not be successful.
      You should consider our prospects in light of the risks, uncertainties and difficulties frequently encountered by companies that are, like us, in their early stage of development. To be successful in this market, we must, among other things:
  •  identify and acquire investments that further our investment strategies;
 
  •  increase awareness of the Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc. name within the investment products market;
 
  •  expand and maintain our network of licensed securities brokers and other agents;
 
  •  attract, integrate, motivate and retain qualified personnel to manage our day-to-day operations;
 
  •  respond to competition for our targeted real estate properties and other investments as well as for potential investors; and
 
  •  continue to build and expand our operations structure to support our business.
      We cannot guarantee that we will succeed in achieving these goals, and our failure to do so could cause you to lose all or a portion of your investment.
Because this is a blind pool offering, you will not have the opportunity to evaluate our investments before we make them, which makes an investment in us more speculative.
      We have not yet acquired or identified any investments that we may make, and we do not currently own any properties. Additionally, we will not provide you with information to evaluate our investments

18


Table of Contents

prior to our acquisition of properties. We will seek to invest substantially all of the offering proceeds available for investment, after the payment of fees and expenses, in the acquisition of freestanding, single-tenant commercial properties net leased to investment grade or other creditworthy tenants. We may also, in the discretion of our advisor, invest in other types of real estate or in entities that invest in real estate. In addition, our advisor may make or invest in mortgage loans or participations therein on our behalf if our board of directors determines, due to the state of the real estate market or in order to diversify our investment portfolio or otherwise, that such investments are advantageous to us. We have established policies relating to the creditworthiness of tenants of our properties, but our board of directors will have wide discretion in implementing these policies, and you will not have the opportunity to evaluate potential tenants. For a more detailed discussion of our investment policies, see the “Investment Objectives and Policies — Acquisition and Investment Policies” section of this prospectus.
There is no public trading market for our shares and there may never be one; therefore, it will be difficult for you to sell your shares.
      There is currently no public market for our shares and there may never be one. You may not sell your shares unless the buyer meets applicable suitability and minimum purchase standards. Our charter also prohibits the ownership of more than 9.8% of our stock, unless exempted by our board of directors, which may inhibit large investors from desiring to purchase your shares. Moreover, our share redemption program includes numerous restrictions that would limit your ability to sell your shares to us. Our board of directors could choose to amend, suspend or terminate our share redemption program upon 30 days’ notice. We describe these restrictions in more detail under the “Description of Shares — Share Redemption Program” section of this prospectus. Therefore, it may be difficult for you to sell your shares promptly or at all. If you are able to sell your shares, you will likely have to sell them at a substantial discount to the price you paid for the shares. It also is likely that your shares would not be accepted as the primary collateral for a loan. You should purchase the shares only as a long-term investment because of the illiquid nature of the shares.
If we, through Cole Advisors II, are unable to find suitable investments, then we may not be able to achieve our investment objectives or pay distributions.
      Our ability to achieve our investment objectives and to pay distributions is dependent upon the performance of Cole Advisors II, our advisor, in acquiring of our investments, selecting tenants for our properties and securing independent financing arrangements. We currently do not own any properties or have any operations, financing or investments. Except for investors who purchase shares in this offering after such time as this prospectus is supplemented to describe one or more identified investments, you will have no opportunity to evaluate the terms of transactions or other economic or financial data concerning our investments. You must rely entirely on the management ability of Cole Advisors II and the oversight of our board of directors. We cannot be sure that Cole Advisors II will be successful in obtaining suitable investments on financially attractive terms or that, if it makes investments on our behalf, our objectives will be achieved. If we, through Cole Advisors II, are unable to find suitable investments, we will hold the proceeds of this offering in an interest-bearing account, invest the proceeds in short-term, investment-grade investments or, if we cannot find at least one suitable investment within one year after we reach our minimum offering, or if our board of directors determines it is in the best interests of our stockholders, liquidate. In such an event, our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders would be adversely affected.
We may suffer from delays in locating suitable investments, which could adversely affect our ability to make distributions and the value of your investment.
      We could suffer from delays in locating suitable investments, particularly as a result of our reliance on our advisor at times when management of our advisor is simultaneously seeking to locate suitable investments for other affiliated programs. Delays we encounter in the selection, acquisition and, in the event we develop properties, development of income-producing properties, likely would adversely affect our ability to make distributions and the value of your overall returns. In such event, we my pay all or a

19


Table of Contents

substantial portion of our distributions from the proceeds of this offering or from borrowings in anticipation of future cash flow, which may constitute a return of your capital. Distributions from the proceeds of this offering or from borrowings also could reduce the amount of capital we ultimately invest in properties. This, in turn, would reduce the value of your investment. In particular, where we acquire properties prior to the start of construction or during the early stages of construction, it will typically take several months to complete construction and rent available space. Therefore, you could suffer delays in the receipt of cash distributions attributable to those particular properties. You should expect to wait several months after the closing of a property acquisition before we are in a position to pay cash distributions attributable to such property.
If we are unable to raise substantial funds, we will be limited in the number and type of investments we may make, the value of your investment in us will fluctuate with the performance of the specific properties we acquire.
      This offering is being made on a best efforts basis, whereby the brokers participating in the offering are only required to use their best efforts to sell our shares and have no firm commitment or obligation to purchase any of the shares. As a result, the amount of proceeds we raise in this offering may be substantially less than the amount we would need to achieve a broadly diversified property portfolio. We may be unable to raise even the minimum offering amount. If we are unable to raise substantially more than the minimum offering amount, we will make fewer investments resulting in less diversification in terms of the number of investments owned, the geographic regions in which our investments are located and the types of investments that we make. In such event, the likelihood of our profitability being affected by the performance of any one of our investments will increase. For example, in the event we only sell 250,000 shares, we may be able to make only one investment. If we only are able to make one investment, we would not achieve any asset diversification. Additionally, we are not limited in the number or size of our investments or the percentage of net proceeds we may dedicate to a single investment. Your investment in our shares will be subject to greater risk to the extent that we lack a diversified portfolio of investments. In addition, our inability to raise substantial funds would increase our fixed operating expenses as a percentage of gross income, and our financial condition and ability to pay distributions could be adversely affected.
If our advisor loses or is unable to obtain key personnel, our ability to implement our investment strategies could be delayed or hindered, which could adversely affect our ability to make distributions and the value of your investment.
      Our success depends to a significant degree upon the contributions of certain of our executive officers and other key personnel of our advisor, including Christopher H. Cole, Blair D. Koblenz, Richard M. Arnitz, Jonathan T. Albro, John H. Lotka, John M. Pons, Sean D. Leahy, D. Kirk McAllaster, Jr. and Christopher P. Robertson, each of whom would be difficult to replace. Our advisor does not have an employment agreement with any of these key personnel and we cannot guarantee that all, or any particular one, will remain affiliated with us and/or advisor. If any of our key personnel were to cease their affiliation with our advisor, our operating results could suffer. Further, we do not intend to separately maintain key person life insurance on Mr. Cole or any other person. We believe that our future success depends, in large part, upon our advisor’s ability to hire and retain highly skilled managerial, operational and marketing personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense, and we cannot assure you that our advisor will be successful in attracting and retaining such skilled personnel. If our advisor loses or is unable to obtain the services of key personnel or does not establish or maintain appropriate strategic relationships, our ability to implement our investment strategies could be delayed or hindered, and the value of your investment may decline.

20


Table of Contents

Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to recover claims against our officers, directors and our advisor are limited, which could reduce your and our recovery against them if they cause us to incur losses.
      Maryland law provides that a director has no liability in that capacity if he or she performs his or her duties in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the corporation’s best interests and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. Our charter, in the case of our directors, officers, employees and agents, and the advisory agreement, in the case of our advisor, require us to indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents and our advisor and its affiliates for actions taken by them in good faith and without negligence or misconduct. Additionally, our charter limits the liability of our directors and officers for monetary damages to the maximum extent permitted under Maryland law. As a result, we and our stockholders may have more limited rights against our directors, officers, employees and agents, and our advisor and its affiliates, than might otherwise exist under common law, which could reduce your and our recovery against them. In addition, we may be obligated to fund the defense costs incurred by our directors, officers, employees and agents or our advisor in some cases which would decrease the cash otherwise available for distribution to you. See the section captioned “Management — Limited Liability and Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees and Other Agents” elsewhere herein.
Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest
      We will be subject to conflicts of interest arising out of our relationships with our advisor and its affiliates, including the material conflicts discussed below. The “Conflicts of Interest” section of this prospectus provides a more detailed discussion of the conflicts of interest between us and our advisor and its affiliates, and our policies to reduce or eliminate certain potential conflicts.
Cole Advisors II will face conflicts of interest relating to the purchase and leasing of properties, and such conflicts may not be resolved in our favor, which could adversely affect our investment opportunities.
      Since January 1, 1995, affiliates of our advisor have sponsored 47 privately offered real estate investment programs, including 24 limited partnerships, a real estate investment trust, three debt offerings and 19 tenant-in-common programs, 18 of which currently are operating. Affiliates of our advisor may sponsor other real estate investment programs in the future. We may be buying properties at the same time as one or more of the other Cole-sponsored programs managed by officers and key personnel of Cole Advisors II. There is a risk that Cole Advisors II will choose a property that provides lower returns to us than a property purchased by another Cole-sponsored program. We cannot be sure that officers and key personnel acting on behalf of Cole Advisors II and on behalf of managers of other Cole-sponsored programs will act in our best interests when deciding whether to allocate any particular property to us. In addition, we may acquire properties in geographic areas where other Cole-sponsored programs own properties. Also, we may acquire properties from, or sell properties to, other Cole-sponsored programs. If one of the other Cole-sponsored programs attracts a tenant that we are competing for, we could suffer a loss of revenue due to delays in locating another suitable tenant. You will not have the opportunity to evaluate the manner in which these conflicts of interest are resolved before or after making your investment. Similar conflicts of interest may apply if our advisor determines to make or purchase mortgage loans or participations in mortgage loans on our behalf, since other Cole-sponsored programs may be competing with us for these investments.
Cole Advisors II will face conflicts of interest relating to joint ventures, which could result in a disproportionate benefit to the other venture partners at our expense.
      We may enter into joint ventures with other Cole-sponsored programs for the acquisition, development or improvement of properties. Cole Advisors II may have conflicts of interest in determining which Cole-sponsored program should enter into any particular joint venture agreement. The co-venturer may have economic or business interests or goals that are or may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. In addition, Cole Advisors II may face a conflict in structuring the terms of the

21


Table of Contents

relationship between our interests and the interest of the affiliated co-venturer and in managing the joint venture. Since Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will control both the affiliated co-venturer and, to a certain extent, us, agreements and transactions between the co-venturers with respect to any such joint venture will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiation of the type normally conducted between unrelated co-venturers, which may result in the co-venturer receiving benefits greater than the benefits that we receive. In addition, we may assume liabilities related to the joint venture that exceed the percentage of our investment in the joint venture.
We may participate in Tenant-in-Common Programs with affiliates of our advisor that will not be the result of arm’s-length negotiations and will result in conflicts of interest.
      Cole Capital Partners, LLC (Cole Capital Partners), an affiliate of our advisor, has developed a program to facilitate the acquisition of real estate properties to be owned in co-tenancy arrangements with persons who are looking to invest proceeds from a sale of real estate to qualify for like-kind exchange treatment under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code (a Tenant-in-Common Program). Tenant-in-Common Programs are structured as the acquisition of real estate owned in co-tenancy arrangements with other investors in the property (Tenant-in-Common Participants) who are seeking to defer taxes under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. When Cole Capital Partners develops such a program, it generally organizes a new entity (a Cole Exchange Entity) to acquire all or part of a property. We may participate in the program by either co-investing in the property with the Cole Exchange Entity or purchasing a co-tenancy interest from the Cole Exchange Entity, generally at the Cole Exchange Entity’s cost. In that event, as an owner of tenant-in-common interests in properties, we will be subject to the risks inherent in the ownership of co-tenancy interests with unrelated third parties. Our purchase of co-tenancy interests will present conflicts of interest between us and affiliates of our advisor. The business interests of Cole Capital Partners and the Cole Exchange Entity may be adverse to, or to the detriment of, our interests. Further, any agreement that we enter into with a Cole Exchange Entity will not be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction and, as a result of the affiliation between our advisor, Cole Capital Partners and the Cole Exchange Entity, our advisor may be reluctant to enforce the agreements against such entities.
Cole Advisors II and its officers and employees and certain of our key personnel will face competing demands relating to their time, and this may cause our operating results to suffer.
      Cole Advisors II and its officers and employees and certain of our key personnel and their respective affiliates are key personnel, general partners and sponsors of other real estate programs having investment objectives and legal and financial obligations similar to ours and may have other business interests as well. Because these persons have competing demands on their time and resources, they may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time between our business and these other activities. During times of intense activity in other programs and ventures, they may devote less time and fewer resources to our business than is necessary or appropriate. If this occurs, the returns on our investments may suffer.
Our officers and some of our directors face conflicts of interest related to the positions they hold with affiliated entities, which could hinder our ability to successfully implement our business strategy and to generate returns to you.
      Our executive officers and some of our directors are also officers and directors of our advisor, our property manager, our dealer manager and other affiliated entities. As a result, these individuals owe fiduciary duties to these other entities and their stockholders and limited partners, which fiduciary duties may conflict with the duties that they owe to our stockholders and us. Their loyalties to these other entities could result in actions or inactions that are detrimental to our business, which could harm the implementation of our business strategy and our investment and leasing opportunities. Conflicts with our business and interests are most likely to arise from involvement in activities related to (i) allocation of new investments and management time and services between us and the other entities, (ii) our purchase of properties from, or sale of properties, to affiliated entities, (iii) the timing and terms of the investment in

22


Table of Contents

or sale of an asset, (iv) development of our properties by affiliates, (v) investments with affiliates of our advisor, (vi) compensation to our advisor, and (vii) our relationship with our dealer manager and property manager. If we do not successfully implement our business strategy, we may be unable to generate cash needed to make distributions to you and to maintain or increase the value of our assets.
Cole Advisors II will face conflicts of interest relating to the incentive fee structure under our advisory agreement, which could result in actions that are not necessarily in the long-term best interests of our stockholders.
      Under our advisory agreement, Cole Advisors II will be entitled to fees that are structured in a manner intended to provide incentives to our advisor to perform in our best interests and in the best interests of our stockholders. However, because our advisor does not maintain a significant equity interest in us and is entitled to receive substantial minimum compensation regardless of performance, our advisor’s interests will not be wholly aligned with those of our stockholders. In that regard, our advisor could be motivated to recommend riskier or more speculative investments in order for us to generate the specified levels of performance or sales proceeds that would entitle our advisor to fees. In addition, our advisor’s entitlement to fees upon the sale of our assets and to participate in sale proceeds could result in our advisor recommending sales of our investments at the earliest possible time at which sales of investments would produce the level of return that would entitle the advisor to compensation relating to such sales, even if continued ownership of those investments might be in our best long-term interest. Our advisory agreement will require us to pay a performance-based termination fee to our advisor in the event that we terminate the advisor prior to the listing of our shares for trading on an exchange or, absent such listing, in respect of its participation in net sales proceeds. To avoid paying this fee, our independent directors may decide against terminating the advisory agreement prior to our listing of our shares or disposition of our investments even if, but for the termination fee, termination of the advisory agreement would be in our best interest. In addition, the requirement to pay the fee to the advisor at termination could cause us to make different investment or disposition decisions than we would otherwise make, in order to satisfy our obligation to pay the fee to the terminated advisor. Moreover, our advisor will have the right to terminate the advisory agreement upon a change of control and thereby trigger the payment of the performance fee, which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing the change of control.
There is no separate counsel for us and our affiliates, which could result in conflicts of interest.
      Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP acts as legal counsel to us and also represents our advisor and some of its affiliates. There is a possibility in the future that the interests of the various parties may become adverse and, under the Code of Professional Responsibility of the legal profession, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP may be precluded from representing any one or all of such parties. If any situation arises in which our interests appear to be in conflict with those of our advisor or its affiliates, additional counsel may be retained by one or more of the parties to assure that their interests are adequately protected. Moreover, should a conflict of interest not be readily apparent, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP may inadvertently act in derogation of the interest of the parties which could affect our ability to meet our investment objectives.
Risks Related to This Offering and Our Corporate Structure
The limit on the number of shares a person may own may discourage a takeover that could otherwise result in a premium price to our stockholders.
      Our charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes our directors to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to preserve our qualification as a REIT. Unless exempted by our board of directors, no person may own more than 9.8% in value of our outstanding stock and more than 9.8% in value or number, whichever is more restrictive, of any class of our outstanding stock. This restriction may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium price

23


Table of Contents

for holders of our common stock. See the “Description of Shares — Restriction on Ownership and Transfer” section of this prospectus.
Our charter permits our board of directors to issue stock with terms that may subordinate the rights of common stockholders or discourage a third party from acquiring us in a manner that might result in a premium price to our stockholders.
      Our charter permits our board of directors to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of stock. In addition, our board of directors, without any action by our stockholders, may amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares or the number of shares of any class or series of stock that we have authority to issue. Our board of directors may classify or reclassify any unissued common stock or preferred stock and establish the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption of any such stock. Thus, our board of directors could authorize the issuance of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have a priority as to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation over the rights of the holders of our common stock. Preferred stock could also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium price for holders of our common stock. See the “Description of Shares — Preferred Stock” section of this prospectus.
Maryland law prohibits certain business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us to be acquired.
      Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:
  •  any person who beneficially owns 10.0% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s shares; or
 
  •  an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10.0% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the corporation.
      A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which he or she otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.
      After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
  •  80.0% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and
 
  •  two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.
      These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares. The business combination statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Pursuant to the statute, our board of directors has exempted any business combination

24


Table of Contents

involving Cole Advisors II or any affiliate of Cole Advisors II. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the super-majority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations between us and Cole Advisors II or any affiliate of Cole Advisors II. As a result, Cole Advisors II and any affiliate of Cole Advisors II may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interest of our stockholders, without compliance with the super-majority vote requirements and the other provisions of the statute. The business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer. For a more detailed discussion of the Maryland laws governing us and the ownership of our shares of common stock, see the section of this prospectus captioned “Description of Shares.”
If we are required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we could not continue our business, which may significantly reduce the value of your investment.
      We are not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (Investment Company Act), pursuant to an exemption in Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act and certain No-Action Letters from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pursuant to this exemption, (1) at least 55% of our assets must consist of real estate fee interests or loans secured exclusively by real estate or both, (2) at least 25% of our assets must consist of loans secured primarily by real estate (this percentage will be reduced by the amount by which the percentage in (1) above is increased); and (3) up to 20% of our assets may consist of miscellaneous investments. We intend to monitor compliance with these requirements on an ongoing basis. If we were obligated to register as an investment company, we would have to comply with a variety of substantive requirements under the Investment Company Act imposing, among other things:
  •  limitations on capital structure;
 
  •  restrictions on specified investments;
 
  •  prohibitions on transactions with affiliates; and
 
  •  compliance with reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy disclosure and other rules and regulations that would significantly change our operations.
      In order to maintain our exemption from regulation under the Investment Company Act, we must engage primarily in the business of buying real estate, and these investments must be made within a year after the offering ends. If we are unable to invest a significant portion of the proceeds of this offering in properties within one year of the termination of the offering, we may avoid being required to register as an investment company by temporarily investing any unused proceeds in government securities with low returns. This would reduce the cash available for distribution to investors and possibly lower your returns.
      To maintain compliance with the Investment Company Act exemption, we may be unable to sell assets we would otherwise want to sell and may need to sell assets we would otherwise wish to retain. In addition, we may have to acquire additional income or loss generating assets that we might not otherwise have acquired or may have to forgo opportunities to acquire interests in companies that we would otherwise want to acquire and would be important to our investment strategy. If we were required to register as an investment company but failed to do so, we would be prohibited from engaging in our business, and criminal and civil actions could be brought against us. In addition, our contracts would be unenforceable unless a court were to require enforcement, and a court could appoint a receiver to take control of us and liquidate our business.
You are bound by the majority vote on matters on which you are entitled to vote, and therefore, your vote on a particular matter may be superceded by the vote of others.
      You may vote on certain matters at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, including the election of directors. However, you will be bound by the majority vote on matters requiring approval of a majority of the stockholders even if you do not vote with the majority on any such matter.

25


Table of Contents

If you do not agree with the decisions of our board of directors, you only have limited control over changes in our policies and operations and may not be able to change such policies and operations.
      Our board of directors determines our major policies, including our policies regarding financing, growth, debt capitalization, REIT qualification and distributions. Our board of directors may amend or revise these and other policies without a vote of the stockholders. Under the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter, our stockholders have a right to vote only on the following:
  •  the election or removal of directors;
 
  •  any amendment of our charter (including a change in our investment objectives), except that our board of directors may amend our charter without stockholder approval, to increase or decrease the aggregate number of our shares, to increase or decrease the number of our shares of any class or series that we have the authority to issue, or to classify or reclassify any unissued shares by setting or changing the preferences, conversion or other rights, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications or terms and conditions of redemption of such shares, provided however, that any such amendment does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the stockholders;
 
  •  our liquidation or dissolution; and
 
  •  any merger, consolidation or sale or other disposition of substantially all of our assets.
All other matters are subject to the discretion of our board of directors.
  You are limited in your ability to sell your shares pursuant to our share redemption program and may have to hold your shares for an indefinite period of time.
      Our board of directors could choose to amend the terms of our share redemption program without stockholder approval. Our board is also free to terminate the program upon 30 days notice. In addition, the share redemption program includes numerous restrictions that would limit your ability to sell your shares. Generally, you must have held your shares for at least one year in order to participate in our share redemption program. Subject to funds being available, we will limit the number of shares redeemed pursuant to our share redemption program as follows: (1) during any calendar year, we will not redeem in excess of 3.0% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year; and (2) funding for the redemption of shares will be limited to the net proceeds we receive from the sale of shares under our distribution reinvestment plan. These limits might prevent us from accommodating all redemption requests made in any year. See the “Description of Shares – Share Redemption Program” section of this prospectus for more information about the share redemption program. These restrictions severely limit your ability to sell your shares should you require liquidity and limit your ability to recover the value you invested or the fair amount value of your shares.
We established the offering price on an arbitrary basis; as a result, the actual value of your investment may be substantially less than what you pay.
      Our board of directors has arbitrarily determined the selling price of the shares and such price bears no relationship to our book or asset values, or to any other established criteria for valuing issued or outstanding shares. Because the offering price is not based upon any independent valuation, the offering price may not be indicative of the proceeds that you would receive upon liquidation.
Because the dealer manager is one of our affiliates, you will not have the benefit of an independent review of the prospectus or us customarily performed in underwritten offerings.
      The dealer manager, Cole Capital Corporation, is one of our affiliates and will not make an independent review of us or the offering. Accordingly, you will have to rely on your own broker or dealer to make an independent review of the terms of this offering. If your broker-dealer does not conduct such a review, you will not have the benefit of an independent review of the terms of this offering. Further, the

26


Table of Contents

due diligence investigation of us by the dealer manager cannot be considered to be an independent review and, therefore, may not be as meaningful as a review conducted by an unaffiliated broker-dealer or investment banker.
Your interest in Cole REIT II will be diluted if we issue additional shares.
      Existing stockholders and potential investors in this offering do not have preemptive rights to any shares issued by us in the future. Our charter currently has authorized 100,000,000 shares of stock, of which 90,000,000 shares are designated as common stock and 10,000,000 are designated as preferred stock. Subject to any limitations set forth under Maryland law, our board of directors may increase the number of authorized shares of stock, increase or decrease the number of shares of any class or series of stock designated, or reclassify any unissued shares without the necessity of obtaining stockholder approval. All of such shares may be issued in the discretion of our board of directors. Therefore, in the event that we (1) sell shares in this offering or sell additional shares in the future, including those issued pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan, (2) sell securities that are convertible into shares of our common stock, (3) issue shares of our common stock in a private offering of securities to institutional investors, (4) issue shares of our common stock upon the exercise of the options granted to our independent directors, (5) issue shares to our advisor, its successors or assigns, in payment of an outstanding fee obligation as set forth under our advisory agreement, or (6) issue shares of our common stock to sellers of properties acquired by us in connection with an exchange of limited partnership interests of Cole OP II, existing stockholders and investors purchasing shares in this offering will likely experience dilution of their equity investment in us. In addition, the partnership agreement for Cole OP II contains provisions that would allow, under certain circumstances, other entities, including other Cole-sponsored programs, to merge into or cause the exchange or conversion of their interest for interests of Cole OP II. Because the limited partnership interests of Cole OP II may, in the discretion of our board of directors, be exchanged for shares of our common stock, any merger, exchange or conversion between Cole OP II and another entity ultimately could result in the issuance of a substantial number of shares of our common stock, thereby diluting the percentage ownership interest of other stockholders. Because of these and other reasons described in this “Risk Factors” section, you should not expect to be able to own a significant percentage of our shares.
Payment of fees to Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will reduce cash available for investment and distribution.
      Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will perform services for us in connection with the offer and sale of the shares, the selection and acquisition of our investments, and the management and leasing of our properties, the servicing our mortgage loans, if any, and the administration of our other investments. They will be paid substantial fees for these services, which will reduce the amount of cash available for investment in properties or distribution to stockholders. For a more detailed discussion of these fees, see the “Management Compensation” section of this prospectus.
We may be unable to pay or maintain cash distributions or increase distributions over time.
      There are many factors that can affect the availability and timing of cash distributions to stockholders. Distributions will be based principally on cash available from our operations. The amount of cash available for distributions will be affected by many factors, such as our ability to buy properties as offering proceeds become available, the yields on securities of other real estate programs that we invest in, and our operating expense levels, as well as many other variables. Actual cash available for distributions may vary substantially from estimates. With no prior operating history, we cannot assure you that we will be able to pay or maintain distributions or that distributions will increase over time. Nor can we give any assurance that rents from the properties will increase, that the securities we buy will increase in value or provide constant or increased distributions over time, or that future acquisitions of real properties, mortgage loans or our investments in securities will increase our cash available for distributions to stockholders. Our actual results may differ significantly from the assumptions used by our board of directors in establishing the

27


Table of Contents

distribution rate to stockholders. For a description of the factors that can affect the availability and timing of cash distributions to stockholders, see the section of this prospectus captioned “Description of Shares — Distributions Policy.”
If we are unable to obtain funding for future capital needs, cash distributions to our stockholders and the value of our investments could decline.
      When tenants do not renew their leases or otherwise vacate their space, we will often need to expend substantial funds for tenant improvements to the vacated space in order to attract replacement tenants. In addition, although we expect that our leases with tenants will require tenants to pay routine property maintenance costs, we will likely be responsible for any major structural repairs, such as repairs to the foundation, exterior walls and rooftops.
      We will use substantially all of this offering’s gross proceeds to buy real estate and pay various fees and expenses. We do not intend to reserve any proceeds from this offering for future capital needs. Accordingly, if we need additional capital in the future to improve or maintain our properties or for any other reason, we will have to obtain financing from other sources, such as cash flow from operations, borrowings, property sales or future equity offerings. These sources of funding may not be available on attractive terms or at all. If we cannot procure additional funding for capital improvements, our investments may generate lower cash flows or decline in value, or both.
General Risks Related to Investments in Real Estate
Our operating results will be affected by economic and regulatory changes that have an adverse impact on the real estate market in general, and we cannot assure you that we will be profitable or that we will realize growth in the value of our real estate properties.
      Our operating results will be subject to risks generally incident to the ownership of real estate, including:
  •  changes in general economic or local conditions;
 
  •  changes in supply of or demand for similar or competing properties in an area;
 
  •  changes in interest rates and availability of permanent mortgage funds that may render the sale of a property difficult or unattractive;
 
  •  changes in tax, real estate, environmental and zoning laws; and
 
  •  periods of high interest rates and tight money supply.
      These and other reasons may prevent us from being profitable or from realizing growth or maintaining the value of our real estate properties.
Most of our retail properties will depend upon a single tenant for all of their rental income, and our financial condition and ability to make distributions may be adversely affected by the bankruptcy or insolvency, a downturn in the business, or a lease termination of a single tenant.
      We expect that most of our properties will be occupied by only one tenant and, therefore, the success of those properties will be materially dependent on the financial stability of such tenants. Lease payment defaults by tenants could cause us to reduce the amount of distributions we pay. A default of a tenant on its lease payments to us would cause us to lose the revenue from the property and force us to find an alternative source of revenue to meet any mortgage payment and prevent a foreclosure if the property is subject to a mortgage. In the event of a default, we may experience delays in enforcing our rights as landlord and may incur substantial costs in protecting our investment and re-letting the property. If a lease is terminated, there is no assurance that we will be able to lease the property for the rent previously received or sell the property without incurring a loss. A default by a tenant, the failure of a guarantor to fulfill its obligations or other premature termination of a lease, or a tenant’s election not to extend a lease

28


Table of Contents

upon its expiration, could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and our ability to pay distributions.
If a tenant declares bankruptcy, we may be unable to collect balances due under relevant leases.
      Any or all of the tenants, or a guarantor of a tenant’s lease obligations, could be subject to a bankruptcy proceeding pursuant to Title 11 of the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such a bankruptcy filing would bar all efforts by us to collect pre-bankruptcy debts from these entities or their properties, unless we receive an enabling order from the bankruptcy court. Post-bankruptcy debts would be paid currently. If a lease is assumed, all pre-bankruptcy balances owing under it must be paid in full. If a lease is rejected by a tenant in bankruptcy, we would have a general unsecured claim for damages. If a lease is rejected, it is unlikely we would receive any payments from the tenant because our claim is capped at the rent reserved under the lease, without acceleration, for the greater of one year or 15% of the remaining term of the lease, but not greater than three years, plus rent already due but unpaid. This claim could be paid only in the event funds were available, and then only in the same percentage as that realized on other unsecured claims.
      A tenant or lease guarantor bankruptcy could delay efforts to collect past due balances under the relevant leases, and could ultimately preclude full collection of these sums. Such an event could cause a decrease or cessation of rental payments that would mean a reduction in our cash flow and the amount available for distributions to you. In the event of a bankruptcy, we cannot assure you that the tenant or its trustee will assume our lease. If a given lease, or guaranty of a lease, is not assumed, our cash flow and the amounts available for distributions to you may be adversely affected.
If a sale-leaseback transaction is re-characterized, our financial condition could be adversely affected.
      We may enter into sale-leaseback transactions, whereby we would purchase a property and then lease the same property back to the person from whom we purchased it. In the event of the bankruptcy of a tenant, a transaction structured as a sale-leaseback may be re-characterized as either a financing or a joint venture, either of which outcomes could adversely affect our business.
      If the sale-leaseback were re-characterized as a financing, we might not be considered the owner of the property, and as a result would have the status of a creditor in relation to the tenant. In that event, we would no longer have the right to sell or encumber our ownership interest in the property. Instead, we would have a claim against the tenant for the amounts owed under the lease, with the claim arguably secured by the property. The tenant/debtor might have the ability to propose a plan restructuring the term, interest rate and amortization schedule of its outstanding balance. If confirmed by the bankruptcy court, we could be bound by the new terms, and prevented from foreclosing our lien on the property. These outcomes could adversely affect our cash flow and the amount available for distributions to you.
      If the sale-leaseback were re-characterized as a joint venture, our lessee and we could be treated as co-venturers with regard to the property. As a result, we could be held liable, under some circumstances, for debts incurred by the lessee relating to the property. The imposition of liability on us could adversely affect our cash flow and the amount available for distributions to our stockholders.
Properties that have vacancies for a significant period of time could be difficult to sell, which could diminish the return on your investment.
      A property may incur vacancies either by the continued default of tenants under their leases or the expiration of tenant leases. If vacancies continue for a long period of time, we may suffer reduced revenues resulting in less cash to be distributed to stockholders. In addition, because properties’ market values depend principally upon the value of the properties’ leases, the resale value of properties with prolonged vacancies could suffer, which could further reduce your return.

29


Table of Contents

We may obtain only limited warranties when we purchase a property.
      The seller of a property will often sell such property in its “as is” condition on a “where is” basis and “with all faults,” without any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular use or purpose. In addition, purchase agreements may contain only limited warranties, representations and indemnifications that will only survive for a limited period after the closing. The purchase of properties with limited warranties increases the risk that we may lose some or all of our invested capital in the property as well as the loss of rental income from that property.
We may be unable to secure funds for future tenant improvements, which could adversely impact our ability to pay cash distributions to our stockholders.
      When tenants do not renew their leases or otherwise vacate their space, it is usual that, in order to attract replacement tenants, we will be required to expend substantial funds for tenant improvements and tenant refurbishments to the vacated space. We will use substantially all of this offering’s gross proceeds to buy real estate and pay various fees and expenses. We do not intend to reserve any proceeds from this offering for future capital needs. Accordingly, if we need additional capital in the future to improve or maintain our properties or for any other reason, we will have to obtain financing from other sources, such as cash flow from operations, borrowings, property sales or future equity offerings. These sources of funding may not be available on attractive terms or at all. If we cannot procure additional funding for capital improvements, our investments may generate lower cash flows or decline in value, or both.
Our inability to sell a property when we desire to do so could adversely impact our ability to pay cash distributions to you.
      The real estate market is affected by many factors, such as general economic conditions, availability of financing, interest rates and other factors, including supply and demand, that are beyond our control. We cannot predict whether we will be able to sell any property for the price or on the terms set by us, or whether any price or other terms offered by a prospective purchaser would be acceptable to us. We cannot predict the length of time needed to find a willing purchaser and to close the sale of a property.
      We may be required to expend funds to correct defects or to make improvements before a property can be sold. We cannot assure you that we will have funds available to correct such defects or to make such improvements.
      In acquiring a property, we may agree to restrictions that prohibit the sale of that property for a period of time or impose other restrictions, such as a limitation on the amount of debt that can be placed or repaid on that property. These provisions would restrict our ability to sell a property.
We may not be able to sell our properties at a price equal to, or greater than, the price for which we purchased such property, which may lead to a decrease in the value of our assets.
      Many of our leases will not contain rental increases over time. Therefore, the value of the property to a potential purchaser may not increase over time, which may restrict our ability to sell a property, or in the event we are able to sell such property, may lead to a sale price less than the price that we paid to purchase the property.
We may acquire or finance properties with lock-out provisions, which may prohibit us from selling a property, or may require us to maintain specified debt levels for a period of years on some properties.
      Lock-out provisions could materially restrict us from selling or otherwise disposing of or refinancing properties. These provisions would affect our ability to turn our investments into cash and thus affect cash available for distributions to you. Lock out provisions may prohibit us from reducing the outstanding indebtedness with respect to any properties, refinancing such indebtedness on a non-recourse basis at maturity, or increasing the amount of indebtedness with respect to such properties.

30


Table of Contents

      Lock-out provisions could impair our ability to take actions during the lock-out period that would otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders and, therefore, may have an adverse impact on the value of the shares, relative to the value that would result if the lock-out provisions did not exist. In particular, lock-out provisions could preclude us from participating in major transactions that could result in a disposition of our assets or a change in control even though that disposition or change in control might be in the best interests of our stockholders.
Rising expenses could reduce cash flow and funds available for future acquisitions.
      Any properties that we buy in the future, will be subject to operating risks common to real estate in general, any or all of which may negatively affect us. If any property is not fully occupied or if rents are being paid in an amount that is insufficient to cover operating expenses, we could be required to expend funds with respect to that property for operating expenses. The properties will be subject to increases in tax rates, utility costs, operating expenses, insurance costs, repairs and maintenance and administrative expenses.
      While some of our properties may be leased on a triple-net-lease basis or require the tenants to pay a portion of such expenses, renewals of leases or future leases may not be negotiated on that basis, in which event we will have to pay those costs. If we are unable to lease properties on a triple-net-lease basis or on a basis requiring the tenants to pay all or some of such expenses, or if tenants fail to pay required tax, utility and other impositions, we could be required to pay those costs which could adversely affect funds available for future acquisitions or cash available for distributions.
Adverse economic conditions will negatively affect our returns and profitability.
      Recent geopolitical events have exacerbated the general economic slowdown that has affected the nation as a whole and the local economies where our properties may be located. The following market and economic challenges may adversely affect our operating results:
  •  poor economic times may result in tenant defaults under leases;
 
  •  re-leasing may require concessions or reduced rental rates under the new leases; and
 
  •  increased insurance premiums, resulting in part from the increased risk of terrorism, may reduce funds available for distribution or, to the extent such increases are passed through to tenants, may lead to tenant defaults. Increased insurance premiums may make it difficult to increase rents to tenants on turnover, which may adversely affect our ability to increase our returns.
      Our operations could be negatively affected to the extent that an economic downturn is prolonged or becomes more severe.
If we suffer losses that are not covered by insurance or that are in excess of insurance coverage, we could lose invested capital and anticipated profits.
      Each tenant is responsible for insuring its goods and premises and, in some circumstances, may be required to reimburse us for a share of the cost of acquiring comprehensive insurance for the property, including casualty, liability, fire and extended coverage customarily obtained for similar properties in amounts that our advisor determines are sufficient to cover reasonably foreseeable losses. Tenants of single-user properties leased on a triple-net-lease basis typically are required to pay all insurance costs associated with those properties. Material losses may occur in excess of insurance proceeds with respect to any property, as insurance may not be sufficient to fund the losses. However, there are types of losses, generally of a catastrophic nature, such as losses due to wars, acts of terrorism, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, pollution or environmental matters, which are either uninsurable or not economically insurable, or may be insured subject to limitations, such as large deductibles or co-payments. Insurance risks associated with potential terrorism acts could sharply increase the premiums we pay for coverage against property and casualty claims. Additionally, mortgage lenders in some cases have begun to insist that commercial property owners purchase specific coverage against terrorism as a condition for providing

31


Table of Contents

mortgage loans. It is uncertain whether such insurance policies will be available, or available at reasonable cost, which could inhibit our ability to finance or refinance our potential properties. In these instances, we may be required to provide other financial support, either through financial assurances or self-insurance, to cover potential losses. We cannot assure you that will have adequate coverage for such losses. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 is designed for a sharing of terrorism losses between insurance companies and the federal government. We cannot be certain how this act will impact us or what additional cost to us, if any, could result. If such an event damaged or destroyed one or more of our properties, we could lose both our invested capital and anticipated profits from such property.
Terrorist attacks, such as the attacks that occurred in New York and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001, and other acts of violence or war may affect the markets in which we operate, our operations and our profitability.
      Terrorist attacks may negatively affect our operations and your investment in our common shares. We cannot assure you that there will not be further terrorist attacks against the United States or United States businesses. Properties we may acquire may be located in areas that may be susceptible to attack, which may make these properties more likely to be viewed as terrorist targets than similar, less recognizable properties. These attacks or armed conflicts may directly impact the value of our properties through damage, destruction, loss or increased security costs. We may obtain terrorism insurance as required by our lenders. The terrorism insurance that we obtain may not be sufficient to cover loss for damages to our properties as a result of terrorist attacks. In addition, certain losses resulting from these types of events are uninsurable and others would not be covered by our current terrorism insurance. Additional terrorism insurance may not be available at a reasonable price or at all.
      The United States’ armed conflict in Iraq and other parts of the world could have a further impact on our tenants. The consequences of any armed conflict are unpredictable, and we may not be able to foresee events that could have an adverse effect on our business or your investment.
      More generally, any of these events could result in increased volatility in or damage to the United States and worldwide financial markets and economy. They also could result in a continuation of the current economic uncertainty in the United States or abroad. Our revenues will be dependent upon payment of rent by retailers, which may be particularly vulnerable to uncertainty in the local economy. Adverse economic conditions could affect the ability of our tenants to pay rent, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition, as well as our ability to pay distributions to stockholders.
Real estate related taxes may increase and if these increases are not passed on to tenants, our income will be reduced.
      Some local real property tax assessors may seek to reassess some of our properties as a result of our acquisition of the property. Generally, from time to time our property taxes increase as property values or assessment rates change or for other reasons deemed relevant by the assessors. An increase in the assessed valuation of a property for real estate tax purposes will result in an increase in the related real estate taxes on that property. Although some tenant leases may permit us to pass through such tax increases to the tenants for payment, there is no assurance that renewal leases or future leases will be negotiated on the same basis. Increases not passed through to tenants will adversely affect our income, cash available for distributions, and the amount of distributions to you.
Revenue from our properties depends on the amount of our tenants’ retail revenue, making us vulnerable to general economic downturns and other conditions affecting the retail industry.
      Some of our leases may provide for base rent plus contractual base rent increases. Some of our leases may also include a percentage rent clause for additional rent above the base amount based upon a specified percentage of the sales our tenants generate.

32


Table of Contents

      Under those leases that contain percentage rent clauses, our revenue from tenants may decrease as the sales of our tenants decrease. Generally, retailers face declining revenues during downturns in the economy. As a result, the portion of our revenue that we derive from percentage rent leases could decline upon a general economic downturn.
CC&Rs may restrict our ability to operate a property.
      Some of our properties will most likely be contiguous to other parcels of real property, comprising part of the same shopping center development. In connection therewith, there will likely exist significant covenants, conditions and restrictions, known as “CC&Rs,” restricting the operation of such property and any improvements on that property, and related to granting easements on that property. Moreover, the operation and management of the contiguous properties may impact such property. Compliance with CC&Rs may adversely affect our operating costs and reduce the amount of funds that we have available to pay distributions.
Our operating results may be negatively affected by potential development and construction delays and resultant increased costs and risks.
      While we do not currently intend to do so, we may use proceeds from this offering to acquire and develop properties upon which we will construct improvements. We will be subject to uncertainties associated with re-zoning for development, environmental concerns of governmental entities and/or community groups, and our builder’s ability to build in conformity with plans, specifications, budgeted costs, and timetables. If a builder fails to perform, we may resort to legal action to rescind the purchase or the construction contract or to compel performance. A builder’s performance may also be affected or delayed by conditions beyond the builder’s control. Delays in completion of construction could also give tenants the right to terminate preconstruction leases. We may incur additional risks when we make periodic progress payments or other advances to builders before they complete construction. These and other such factors can result in increased costs of a project or loss of our investment. In addition, we will be subject to normal lease-up risks relating to newly constructed projects. We also must rely on rental income and expense projections and estimates of the fair market value of property upon completion of construction when agreeing upon a price at the time we acquire the property. If our projections are inaccurate, we may pay too much for a property, and our return on our investment could suffer.
      While we do not currently intend to do so, we may invest in unimproved real property. Returns from development of unimproved properties are also subject to risks associated with re-zoning the land for development and environmental concerns of governmental entities and/or community groups. Although we intend to limit any investment in unimproved property to property we intend to develop, your investment nevertheless is subject to the risks associated with investments in unimproved real property.
If we contract with an affiliated development company for newly developed property, we cannot guarantee that our earnest money deposit made to the development company will be fully refunded.
      While we currently do not have an affiliated development company, our sponsor and/or its affiliates may form a development company. In such an event, we may enter into one or more contracts, either directly or indirectly through joint ventures with affiliates or others, to acquire real property from an affiliate of Cole Advisors II that is engaged in construction and development of commercial real properties. Properties acquired from an affiliated development company may be either existing income-producing properties, properties to be developed or properties under development. We anticipate that we will be obligated to pay a substantial earnest money deposit at the time of contracting to acquire such properties. In the case of properties to be developed by an affiliated development company, we anticipate that we will be required to close the purchase of the property upon completion of the development of the property by our affiliate. At the time of contracting and the payment of the earnest money deposit by us, our development company affiliate typically will not have acquired title to any real property. Typically, our development company affiliate will only have a contract to acquire land, a development agreement to develop a building on the land and an agreement with one or more tenants to lease all or part of the

33


Table of Contents

property upon its completion. We may enter into such a contract with our development company affiliate even if at the time of contracting we have not yet raised sufficient proceeds in our offering to enable us to close the purchase of such property. However, we will not be required to close a purchase from our development company affiliate, and will be entitled to a refund of our earnest money, in the following circumstances:
  •  our development company affiliate fails to develop the property;
 
  •  all or a specified portion of the pre-leased tenants fail to take possession under their leases for any reason; or
 
  •  we are unable to raise sufficient proceeds from our offering to pay the purchase price at closing.
      The obligation of our development company affiliate to refund our earnest money will be unsecured, and no assurance can be made that we would be able to obtain a refund of such earnest money deposit from it under these circumstances since our development company affiliate may be an entity without substantial assets or operations. However, our development company affiliate’s obligation to refund our earnest money deposit may be guaranteed by Fund Realty Advisors, our property manager, which will enter into contracts to provide property management and leasing services to various Cole-sponsored programs, including us, for substantial monthly fees. As of the time Fund Realty Advisors may be required to perform under any guaranty, we cannot assure that Fund Realty Advisors will have sufficient assets to refund all of our earnest money deposit in a lump sum payment. If we were forced to collect our earnest money deposit by enforcing the guaranty of Fund Realty Advisors, we will likely be required to accept installment payments over time payable out of the revenues of Fund Realty Advisors’ operations. We cannot assure you that we would be able to collect the entire amount of our earnest money deposit under such circumstances. See “Investment Objectives and Policies — Acquisition and Investment Policies.”
Competition with third parties in acquiring properties and other investments may reduce our profitability and the return on your investment.
      We compete with many other entities engaged in real estate investment activities, including individuals, corporations, bank and insurance company investment accounts, other REITs, real estate limited partnerships, and other entities engaged in real estate investment activities, many of which have greater resources than we do. Larger REITs may enjoy significant competitive advantages that result from, among other things, a lower cost of capital and enhanced operating efficiencies. In addition, the number of entities and the amount of funds competing for suitable investments may increase. Any such increase would result in increased demand for these assets and therefore increased prices paid for them. If we pay higher prices for properties and other investments, our profitability will be reduced and you may experience a lower return on your investment.
Our properties will face competition that may affect tenants’ ability to pay rent and the amount of rent paid to us may affect the cash available for distributions and the amount of distributions.
      We intend to locate our properties in developed areas. Therefore, there are and will be numerous other retail properties within the market area of each of our properties that will compete with us for tenants. The number of competitive properties could have a material effect on our ability to rent space at our properties and the amount of rents charged. We could be adversely affected if additional competitive properties are built in locations competitive with our properties, causing increased competition for customer traffic and creditworthy tenants. This could result in decreased cash flow from tenants and may require us to make capital improvements to properties that we would not have otherwise made, thus affecting cash available for distributions, and the amount available for distributions to you.
Delays in acquisitions of properties may an have adverse effect on your investment.
      There may be a substantial period of time before the proceeds of this offering are invested. Delays we encounter in the selection, acquisition and/or development of properties could adversely affect your

34


Table of Contents

returns. Where properties are acquired prior to the start of construction or during the early stages of construction, it will typically take several months to complete construction and rent available space. Therefore, you could suffer delays in the payment of cash distributions attributable to those particular properties.
Costs of complying with governmental laws and regulations, including those relating to environmental matters, may adversely affect our income and the cash available for any distributions.
      All real property and the operations conducted on real property are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental protection and human health and safety. These laws and regulations generally govern wastewater discharges, air emissions, the operation and removal of underground and above-ground storage tanks, the use, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of solid and hazardous materials, and the remediation of contamination associated with disposals. Some of these laws and regulations may impose joint and several liability on tenants, owners or operators for the costs to investigate or remediate contaminated properties, regardless of fault or whether the acts causing the contamination were legal. This liability could be substantial. In addition, the presence of hazardous substances, or the failure to properly remediate these substances, may adversely affect our ability to sell, rent or pledge such property as collateral for future borrowings.
      Some of these laws and regulations have been amended so as to require compliance with new or more stringent standards as of future dates. Compliance with new or more stringent laws or regulations or stricter interpretation of existing laws may require us to incur material expenditures. Future laws, ordinances or regulations may impose material environmental liability. Additionally, our tenants’ operations, the existing condition of land when we buy it, operations in the vicinity of our properties, such as the presence of underground storage tanks, or activities of unrelated third parties may affect our properties. In addition, there are various local, state and federal fire, health, life-safety and similar regulations with which we may be required to comply, and that may subject us to liability in the form of fines or damages for noncompliance. Any material expenditures, fines, or damages we must pay will reduce our ability to make distributions and may reduce the value of your investment.
      State and federal laws in this area are constantly evolving, and we intend to monitor these laws and take commercially reasonable steps to protect ourselves from the impact of these laws, including obtaining environmental assessments of most properties that we acquire; however, we will not obtain an independent third-party environmental assessment for every property we acquire. In addition, we cannot assure you that any such assessment that we do obtain will reveal all environmental liabilities or that a prior owner of a property did not create a material environmental condition not known to us. We cannot predict what other environmental legislation or regulations will be enacted in the future, how existing or future laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted, or what environmental conditions may be found to exist in the future. We cannot assure you that our business, assets, results of operations, liquidity or financial condition will not be adversely affected by these laws, which may adversely affect cash available for distributions, and the amount of distributions to you.
If we sell properties by providing financing to purchasers, defaults by the purchasers would adversely affect our cash flows.
      If we decide to sell any of our properties, we intend to use our best efforts to sell them for cash. However, in some instances we may sell our properties by providing financing to purchasers. When we provide financing to purchasers, we will bear the risk that the purchaser may default, which could negatively impact our cash distributions to stockholders. Even in the absence of a purchaser default, the distribution of the proceeds of sales to our stockholders, or their reinvestment in other assets, will be delayed until the promissory notes or other property we may accept upon the sale are actually paid, sold, refinanced or otherwise disposed of. In some cases, we may receive initial down payments in cash and other property in the year of sale in an amount less than the selling price and subsequent payments will be spread over a number of years. If any purchaser defaults under a financing arrangement with us, it could negatively impact our ability to pay cash distributions to our stockholders.

35


Table of Contents

Our recovery of an investment in a mortgage that has defaulted may be limited.
      There is no guarantee that the mortgage, loan or deed of trust securing an investment will, following a default, permit us to recover the original investment and interest that would have been received absent a default. The security provided by a mortgage, deed of trust or loan is directly related to the difference between the amount owed and the appraised market value of the property. Although we intend to rely on a current real estate appraisal when we make the investment, the value of the property is affected by factors outside our control, including general fluctuations in the real estate market, rezoning, neighborhood changes, highway relocations and failure by the borrower to maintain the property.
Our costs associated with complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act may affect cash available for distributions.
      Our properties will be subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Disabilities Act). Under the Disabilities Act, all places of public accommodation are required to comply with federal requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. The Disabilities Act has separate compliance requirements for “public accommodations” and “commercial facilities” that generally requires that buildings and services, including restaurants and retail stores, be made accessible and available to people with disabilities. The Disabilities Act’s requirements could require removal of access barriers and could result in the imposition of injunctive relief, monetary penalties, or, in some cases, an award of damages. We will attempt to acquire properties that comply with the Disabilities Act or place the burden on the seller or other third party, such as a tenant, to ensure compliance with the Disabilities Act. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to acquire properties or allocate responsibilities in this manner. If we cannot, our funds used for Disabilities Act compliance may affect cash available for distributions and the amount of distributions to you.
Risks Associated with Debt Financing
We may incur mortgage indebtedness and other borrowings, which may increase our business risks.
      We expect that in most instances, we will acquire real properties by using either existing financing or borrowing new funds. In addition, we may incur mortgage debt and pledge all or some of our real properties as security for that debt to obtain funds to acquire additional real properties. We may borrow if we need funds to satisfy the REIT tax qualification requirement that we distribute at least 90.0% of our annual REIT taxable income to our stockholders. We may also borrow if we otherwise deem it necessary or advisable to assure that we maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.
      If there is a shortfall between the cash flow from a property and the cash flow needed to service mortgage debt on a property, then the amount available for distributions to stockholders may be reduced. In addition, incurring mortgage debt increases the risk of loss since defaults on indebtedness secured by a property may result in lenders initiating foreclosure actions. In that case, we could lose the property securing the loan that is in default, thus reducing the value of your investment. For tax purposes, a foreclosure of any of our properties would be treated as a sale of the property for a purchase price equal to the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage. If the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage exceeds our tax basis in the property, we would recognize taxable income on foreclosure, but would not receive any cash proceeds. We may give full or partial guarantees to lenders of mortgage debt to the entities that own our properties. When we provide a guaranty on behalf of an entity that owns one of our properties, we will be responsible to the lender for satisfaction of the debt if it is not paid by such entity. If any mortgages contain cross-collateralization or cross-default provisions, a default on a single property could affect multiple properties. If any of our properties are foreclosed upon due to a default, our ability to pay cash distributions to our stockholders will be adversely affected.

36


Table of Contents

High mortgage rates may make it difficult for us to finance or refinance properties, which could reduce the number of properties we can acquire and the amount of cash distributions we can make.
      If we place mortgage debt on properties, we run the risk of being unable to refinance the properties when the loans come due, or of being unable to refinance on favorable terms. If interest rates are higher when the properties are refinanced, we may not be able to finance the properties and our income could be reduced. If any of these events occur, our cash flow would be reduced. This, in turn, would reduce cash available for distribution to you and may hinder our ability to raise more capital by issuing more stock or by borrowing more money.
Lenders may require us to enter into restrictive covenants relating to our operations, which could limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
      When providing financing, a lender could impose restrictions on us that affect our distribution and operating policies and our ability to incur additional debt. Loan documents we enter into may contain covenants that limit our ability to further mortgage the property, discontinue insurance coverage or replace Cole Advisors II as our advisor. These or other limitations may adversely affect our flexibility and our ability to achieve our operating plans.
Increases in interest rates could increase the amount of our debt payments and adversely affect our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.
      We expect that we will incur indebtedness in the future. Interest we pay will reduce cash available for distributions. Additionally, if we incur variable rate debt, increases in interest rates would increase our interest costs, which could reduce our cash flows and our ability to pay distributions to you. In addition, if we need to repay existing debt during periods of rising interest rates, we could be required to liquidate one or more of our investments in properties at times that may not permit realization of the maximum return on such investments.
We have broad authority to incur debt, and high debt levels could hinder our ability to make distributions and could decrease the value of your investment.
      Our charter generally limits us to incurring debt no greater than 60% of the greater of cost (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves) or fair market value of all of our assets, unless any excess borrowing is approved by a majority of our independent directors and disclosed to our stockholders in our next quarterly report, along with a justification for such excess borrowing. High debt levels would cause us to incur higher interest charges, would result in higher debt service payments, and could be accompanied by restrictive covenants. These factors could limit the amount of cash we have available to distribute and could result in a decline in the value of your investment.
We anticipate that during the term of this offering we will request that our independent directors approve our ability to incur debt greater than the debt limit discussed above.
      During the term of this offering, we may want to conserve our cash resources. Therefore, we anticipate that we will, upon the approval of a majority of our independent directors, incur debt that is in excess of 60% of the greater of cost (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves) or fair market value of all of our assets. We anticipate that we will receive, from time to time, such authority. This will result in our having a greater than normal debt servicing payments, which may restrict our ability to purchase additional properties or the availability of cash to make distributions to our stockholders.
Risks Associated with Section 1031 Exchange Transactions and Tenant-in-Common Investments
We may have increased exposure to liabilities from litigation as a result of our participation in a Tenant-in-Common Program.
      Cole Capital Partners, an affiliate of our advisor, has developed Tenant-in-Common Programs to facilitate the acquisition of real estate properties to be owned in co-tenancy arrangements with persons who

37


Table of Contents

are looking to invest proceeds from a sale of real estate to qualify for like-kind exchange treatment under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. We may participate in the Tenant-in-Common program by either co-investing in the property with the Cole Exchange Entity or purchasing a tenant-in common interest from the Cole Exchange Entity, generally at the Cole Exchange Entity’s cost. Changes in tax laws may result in Tenant-in-Common Programs no longer being available, which may adversely affect such programs or cause them not to achieve their intended value. The Cole Exchange Entities are affiliates of our advisor, and, as such, even though we do not sponsor these Tenant-in-Common Programs, we may be named in or otherwise required to defend against any lawsuits brought by Tenant-in-Common Participants because of our affiliation with sponsors of such transactions. Furthermore, in the event that the Internal Revenue Service conducts an audit of the purchasers of co-tenancy interests and successfully challenges the qualification of the transaction as a like-kind exchange, purchasers of co-tenancy interests may file a lawsuit against the entity offering the co-tenancy interests, its sponsors, and/or us. In such event we may be involved in one or more such offerings and could therefore be named in or otherwise required to defend against lawsuits brought by other Tenant-in-Common Participants. Any amounts we are required to expend defending any such claims will reduce the amount of funds available for investment by us in properties or other investments and may reduce the amount of funds available for distribution to our stockholders. In addition, disclosure of any such litigation may adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital in the future through the sale of stock.
  We may be subject to risks associated with Tenant-in-Common Programs inherent in ownership of co-tenancy interests with non-affiliated third parties.
      In connection with some of our property acquisitions, we currently or subsequently may become tenant-in-common owners of properties in which Cole Exchange Entities sell tenant-in-common interests to Tenant-in-Common Participants. As an owner of tenant-in-common interests in properties, we will be subject to the risks interest to the ownership of co-tenancy interests with unrelated third parties. In a substantial majority of these transactions, the underlying property serves as collateral for the mortgage loan to finance the purchase of the property. To the extent the loan is not repaid in full as part of the Tenant-in-Common Program, the loan remains outstanding after the sale of the co-tenancy interests to the Tenant-in-Common Participants. Each co-tenant is a borrower under the loan agreements. However, these loans generally are non-recourse against the Tenant-in-Common Participants interests and are secured by the real property. However, the Tenant-in-Common Participants are required to indemnify, and become liable to, the lender for customary carve-outs under the applicable financing documents, including but not limited to fraud or intentional misrepresentation by a co-tenant or a guarantor of the loan, physical waste of the property, misapplication or misappropriation of insurance proceeds, and failure to pay taxes.
We will be subject to risks associated with the co-tenants in our co-tenancy arrangements that otherwise may not be present in other real estate investments.
      We may enter in tenant-in-common or other co-tenancy arrangements with respect to a portion of the properties we acquire. Ownership of co-tenancy interests involves risks generally not otherwise present with an investment in real estate such as the following:
  •  the risk that a co-tenant may at any time have economic or business interests or goals that are or become inconsistent with our business interests or goals;
 
  •  the risk that a co-tenant may be in a position to take action contrary to our instructions or requests or contrary to our policies or objectives;
 
  •  the possibility that an individual co-tenant might become insolvent or bankrupt, or otherwise default under the applicable mortgage loan financing documents, which may constitute an event of default under all of the applicable mortgage loan financing documents or allow the bankruptcy court to reject the tenants-in-common agreement or management agreement entered into by the co-tenants owning interests in the property;

38


Table of Contents

  •  the possibility that a co-tenant might not have adequate liquid assets to make cash advances that may be required in order to fund operations, maintenance and other expenses related to the property, which could result in the loss of current or prospective tenants and may otherwise adversely affect the operation and maintenance of the property, and could cause a default under the mortgage loan financing documents applicable to the property and may result in late charges, penalties and interest, and may lead to the exercise of foreclosure and other remedies by the lender;
 
  •  the risk that a co-tenant could breach agreements related to the property, which may cause a default under, or result in personal liability for, the applicable mortgage loan financing documents, violate applicable securities law and otherwise adversely affect the property and the co-tenancy arrangement; or
 
  •  the risk that a default by any co-tenant would constitute a default under the applicable mortgage loan financing documents that could result in a foreclosure and the loss of all or a substantial portion of the investment made by the co-tenants.
Any of the above might subject a property to liabilities in excess of those contemplated and thus reduce the amount available for distribution to our stockholders.
      In the event that our interests become adverse to those of the other co-tenants, we will not have the contractual right to purchase the co-tenancy interests from the other co-tenants. Even if we are given the opportunity to purchase such co-tenancy interests in the future, we cannot guarantee that we will have sufficient funds available at the time to purchase co-tenancy interests from the Tenant-in-Common Participants.
      We might want to sell our co-tenancy interests in a given property at a time when the other co-tenants in such property do not desire to sell their interests. Therefore, we may not be able to sell our interest in a property at the time we would like to sell. In addition, we anticipate that it will be much more difficult to find a willing buyer for our co-tenancy interests in a property than it would be to find a buyer for a property we owned outright.
Federal Income Tax Risks
Failure to qualify as a REIT would adversely affect our operations and our ability to make distributions.
      Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, our legal counsel, has rendered its opinion that we will qualify as a REIT, based upon our representations as to the manner in which we are and will be owned, invest in assets and operate, among other things. However, our qualification as a REIT will depend upon our ability to meet, through investments, actual operating results, distributions and satisfaction of specific stockholder rules, the various tests imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP will not review these operating results or compliance with the qualification standards on an ongoing basis. This means that we may fail to satisfy the REIT requirements in the future. Also, this opinion represents Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP’s legal judgment based on the law in effect as of the date of this prospectus. Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP’s opinion is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts and we will not apply for a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding our status as a REIT. Future legislative, judicial or administrative changes to the federal income tax laws could be applied retroactively, which could result in our disqualification as a REIT.
      If we fail to qualify as a REIT for any taxable year, we will be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at corporate rates. In addition, we would generally be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year of losing our REIT status. Losing our REIT status would reduce our net earnings available for investment or distribution to stockholders because of the additional tax liability. In addition, distributions to stockholders would no longer qualify for the distributions paid deduction, and we would no longer be required to make distributions. If this occurs, we might be required to borrow funds or liquidate some investments in order to pay the applicable tax.

39


Table of Contents

Recharacterization of the Tenant-in-Common Programs may result in a 100% tax on income from a prohibited transaction, which would diminish our cash distributions to you.
      The Internal Revenue Service could recharacterize transactions under the Tenant in Common Program such that Cole OP II, rather than the Tenant-in-Common Participant, is treated as the bona fide owner, for tax purposes, of properties acquired and resold by a Tenant-in-Common Participant in connection with the Tenant-in-Common Programs. Such characterization could result in the fees paid to Cole OP II by a Tenant-in-Common Participant as being deemed income from a prohibited transaction, in which event the fee income paid to us in connection with the Tenant-in-Common Programs would be subject to a 100% penalty tax. If this occurs, our ability to pay cash distributions to you will be adversely affected. We anticipate that the Cole Exchange Entity will obtain a legal opinion in connection with each Tenant-in-Common Program to the effect that the program will qualify as a like-kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. However, no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service will not take a position contrary to such an opinion.
Recharacterization of sale-leaseback transactions may cause us to lose our REIT status.
      We may purchase properties and lease them back to the sellers of such properties. While we will use our best efforts to structure any such sale-leaseback transaction so that the lease will be characterized as a “true lease,” thereby allowing us to be treated as the owner of the property for federal income tax purposes, we cannot assure you that the IRS will not challenge such characterization. In the event that any sale-leaseback transaction is challenged and recharacterized as a financing transaction or loan for federal income tax purposes, deductions for depreciation and cost recovery relating to such property would be disallowed. If a sale-leaseback transaction were so recharacterized, we might fail to satisfy the REIT qualification “asset tests” or the “income tests” and, consequently, lose our REIT status effective with the year of recharacterization. Alternatively, the amount of our REIT taxable income could be recalculated which might also cause us to fail to meet the distribution requirement for a taxable year.
You may have tax liability on distributions you elect to reinvest in our common stock.
      If you participate in our distribution reinvestment plan, you will be deemed to have received, and for income tax purposes will be taxed on, the amount reinvested in common stock to the extent the amount reinvested was not a tax-free return of capital. As a result, unless you are a tax-exempt entity, you may have to use funds from other sources to pay your tax liability on the value of the common stock received.
In certain circumstances, we may be subject to federal and state income taxes as a REIT, which would reduce our cash available for distribution to you.
      Even if we qualify and maintain our status as a REIT, we may be subject to federal income taxes or state taxes. For example, net income from a “prohibited transaction” will be subject to a 100% tax. We may not be able to make sufficient distributions to avoid excise taxes applicable to REITs. We may also decide to retain income we earn from the sale or other disposition of our property and pay income tax directly on such income. In that event, our stockholders would be treated as if they earned that income and paid the tax on it directly. However, stockholders that are tax-exempt, such as charities or qualified pension plans, would have no benefit from their deemed payment of such tax liability. We may also be subject to state and local taxes on our income or property, either directly or at the level of Cole OP II or at the level of the other companies through which we indirectly own our assets. Any federal or state taxes we pay will reduce our cash available for distribution to you.
Legislative or regulatory action could adversely affect investors.
      Under recently enacted tax legislation, the tax rate applicable to qualifying corporate distributions received by individuals prior to 2009 has been reduced to a maximum rate of 15.0%. This special tax rate is generally not applicable to distributions paid by a REIT, unless such distributions represent earnings on which the REIT itself has been taxed. As a result, distributions (other than capital gain distributions) we pay to individual investors generally will be subject to the tax rates that are otherwise applicable to

40


Table of Contents

ordinary income, which currently are as high as 35.0%. This change in law may make an investment in our shares comparatively less attractive to individual investors than an investment in the shares of non-REIT corporations, and could have an adverse effect on the value of our common stock. You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor with respect to the impact of recent legislation on your investment in our common stock and the status of legislative, regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on an investment in our common stock. You should also note that our counsel’s tax opinion assumes that no legislation will be enacted after the date of this prospectus that will be applicable to an investment in our shares.
Foreign purchasers of our common stock may be subject to FIRPTA tax upon the sale of their shares.
      A foreign person disposing of a U.S. real property interest, including shares of a U.S. corporation whose assets consist principally of U.S. real property interests, is generally subject to a tax, known as FIRPTA tax, on the gain recognized on the disposition. Such FIRPTA tax does not apply, however, to the disposition of stock in a REIT if the REIT is “domestically controlled.” A REIT is “domestically controlled” if less than 50.0% of the REIT’s stock, by value, has been owned directly or indirectly by persons who are not qualifying U.S. persons during a continuous five-year period ending on the date of disposition or, if shorter, during the entire period of the REIT’s existence.
      We cannot assure you that we will qualify as a “domestically controlled” REIT. If we were to fail to so qualify, gain realized by foreign investors on a sale of our shares would be subject to FIRPTA tax, unless our shares were traded on an established securities market and the foreign investor did not at any time during a specified testing period directly or indirectly own more than 5.0% of the value of our outstanding common stock. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Special Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Stockholders — Sale of our Shares by a Non-U.S. Stockholder.”
There are special considerations that apply to pension or profit-sharing trusts or IRAs investing in
our shares.
      If you are investing the assets of a pension, profit-sharing, 401(k), Keogh or other qualified retirement plan or the assets of an IRA in our common stock, you should satisfy yourself that, among other things:
  •  your investment is consistent with your fiduciary obligations under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code;
 
  •  your investment is made in accordance with the documents and instruments governing your plan or IRA, including your plan’s investment policy;
 
  •  your investment satisfies the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA;
 
  •  your investment will not impair the liquidity of the plan or IRA;
 
  •  your investment will not produce UBTI for the plan or IRA;
 
  •  you will be able to value the assets of the plan annually in accordance with ERISA requirements; and
 
  •  your investment will not constitute a prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code.
      For a more complete discussion of the foregoing issues and other risks associated with an investment in shares by retirement plans, please see the “Investment by Tax-Exempt Entities and ERISA Considerations” section of this prospectus.

41


Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
      This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. Such statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “would,” “could,” “should” and variations of these words and similar expressions. Although we believe that our expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, these expectations may not prove to be correct. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements include those set forth above, as well as general economic, business and market conditions, changes in federal and local laws and regulations and increased competitive pressures.

42


Table of Contents

ESTIMATED USE OF PROCEEDS
      The following table sets forth information about how we intend to use the proceeds raised in this offering, assuming that we sell either the minimum offering of 250,000 shares, or the maximum offering of $495,750,000 of shares, respectively, of common stock pursuant to this offering. Many of the figures set forth below represent management’s best estimate since they cannot be precisely calculated at this time. Assuming a maximum offering we expect that approximately 88.6% of the money that stockholders invest will be used to buy real estate or make other investments, while the remaining approximately 11.4% will be used for working capital, including reserves for working capital, and to pay expenses and fees including the payment of fees to Cole Advisors II, our advisor, and Cole Capital Corporation, our dealer manager.
                                   
    Minimum Offering   Maximum Offering
         
    Amount(1)   Percent   Amount(2)   Percent
                 
Gross Offering Proceeds
  $ 2,500,000       100.0 %   $ 495,750,000       100.0 %
Less Public Offering Expenses:
                               
 
Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fee(3)
    212,500       8.5 %     38,250,000       7.7 %
 
Organization and Offering Expenses(4)
    37,500       1.5 %     7,436,250       1.5 %
                         
Amount Available for Investment(5)
  $ 2,250,000       90.0 %   $ 450,063,750       90.8 %
Acquisition and Development:
                               
 
Acquisition and Advisory Fees(6)
    43,902       1.8 %     8,781,732       1.8 %
 
Acquisition Expenses(7)
    10,976       0.4 %     2,195,433       0.4 %
 
Initial Working Capital Reserve(8)
    0       0 %     0       0 %
                         
Amount Invested in Properties(9)
  $ 2,195,122       87.8 %   $ 439,086,585       88.6 %
                         
 
(1)  Assumes the minimum offering of 250,000 shares are sold in this offering.
 
(2)  Assumes the maximum offering is sold, which includes 45,000,000 shares offered to the public at $10.00 per share and 5,000,000 shares offered pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan at $9.15 per share.
 
(3)  Includes selling commissions equal to 7.0% of aggregate gross offering proceeds, which commissions may be reduced under certain circumstances, and a dealer manager fee equal to 1.5% of aggregate gross offering proceeds, both of which are payable to the dealer manager, an affiliate of our advisor. The dealer manager, in its sole discretion, may reallow selling commissions of up to 7.0% of gross offering proceeds to other broker-dealers participating in this offering attributable to the units sold by them and may reallow its dealer manager fee up to 1.5% of gross offering proceeds in marketing fees and due diligence expenses to broker-dealers participating in this offering based on such factors including the participating broker-dealer’s level of marketing support, level of due diligence review and success of its sales efforts, each as compared to those of the other participating broker-dealers. Additionally, we will not pay a selling commission or a dealer manager fee on shares purchased pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. The amount of selling commissions may be reduced under certain circumstances for volume discounts. See the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus for a description of such provisions.
 
(4)  Organization and offering expenses consist of reimbursement of actual legal, accounting, printing and other accountable offering expenses, including amounts to reimburse Cole Advisors II, our advisor, for marketing, salaries and direct expenses of its employees while engaged in registering and marketing the shares and other marketing and organization costs, other than selling commissions and the dealer manager fee. Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will be responsible for the payment of organization and offering expenses, other than selling commissions and the dealer manager fee, to the extent they exceed 1.5% of gross offering proceeds without recourse against or reimbursement by us. We currently estimate that approximately $7,436,250 of organization and offering costs will be incurred if the maximum offering of 50,000,000 (approximately $495,750,000) shares is sold.
 
(5)  Until required in connection with the acquisition and development of properties, substantially all of the net proceeds of the offering and, thereafter, any working capital reserves we may have may be invested in short-term, highly-liquid investments including government obligations, bank certificates of deposit, short-term debt obligations and interest-bearing accounts.
 
(6)  Acquisition and advisory fees are defined generally as fees and commissions paid by any party to any person in connection with identifying, reviewing, evaluating, investing in and the purchase, development or construction of

43


Table of Contents

properties. We will pay our advisor, acquisition and advisory fees up to a maximum amount of 2.0% of the contract purchase price of each property acquired, which for purposes of this table we have assumed is an aggregate amount equal to our estimated amount invested in properties. Acquisition and advisory fees do not include acquisition expenses. For purposes of this table, we have assumed that no financing is used to acquire properties or other real estate assets.
(7)  Acquisition expenses include legal fees and expenses, travel expenses, costs of appraisals, nonrefundable option payments on property not acquired, accounting fees and expenses, title insurance premiums and other closing costs and miscellaneous expenses relating to the selection, acquisition and development of real estate properties. For purposes of this table, we have assumed expenses of 0.5% of average invested assets, which for purposes of this table we have assumed is our estimated amount invested in properties; however, expenses on a particular acquisition may be higher. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to our charter, the total of all acquisition expenses and acquisition fees payable with respect to a particular property or investment shall be reasonable, and shall not exceed an amount equal to 6% of the contract price of the property, or in the case of a mortgage loan 6% of the funds allowed.
 
(8)  Working capital reserves typically are utilized for extraordinary expenses that are not covered by revenue generation of the property, such as tenant improvements, leasing commissions and major capital expenditures. Alternatively, a lender may require its own formula for escrow of working capital reserves. We do not expect to maintain working capital reserves.
 
(9)  Includes amounts anticipated to be invested in properties net of fees and expenses.

44


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT
General
      We operate under the direction of our board of directors, the members of which are accountable to us and our stockholders as fiduciaries. The board is responsible for the management and control of our affairs. The board has retained Cole Advisors II to manage our day-to-day affairs and the acquisition and disposition of our investments, subject to the board’s supervision. Our charter has been reviewed and ratified by at least a majority of our board of directors, including the independent directors. This ratification by our board of directors is required by the Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts published by the North American Securities Administrators Association, also known as the NASAA REIT Guidelines.
      Our charter and bylaws provide that the number of our directors may be established by a majority of the entire board of directors but may not be fewer than three nor more than 15, provided, however, that there may be fewer than three directors at any time that we have only one stockholder of record. We have a total of three directors, including two independent directors. Our charter provides that, from and after the commencement of this offering, a majority of the directors must be independent directors. An “independent director” is a person who is not one of our officers or employees or an officer or employee of Cole Advisors II or its affiliates or any other real estate investment trust organized by our sponsor or advised by Cole Advisors II, has not otherwise been affiliated with such entities for the previous two years and does not serve as a director of more than three REITs organized by Christopher H. Cole or advised by Cole Advisors II. Of our three directors, two will be considered independent directors. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or officers, or officers of our advisor. Each director who is not an independent director must have at least three years of relevant experience demonstrating the knowledge and experience required to successfully acquire and manage the type of assets being acquired by us. At least one of the independent directors must have at least three years of relevant real estate experience. Currently, each of our directors has substantially in excess of three years of relevant real estate experience.
      During the discussion of a proposed transaction, independent directors may offer ideas for ways in which transactions may be structured to offer the greatest value to us, and our management will take these suggestions into consideration when structuring transactions. Each director will serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualifies. Although the number of directors may be increased or decreased, a decrease will not have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director.
      Any director may resign at any time and may be removed with or without cause by the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting properly called for the purpose of the proposed removal. The notice of the meeting will indicate that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to determine if the director shall be removed. Neither our advisor, any member of our board of directors nor any of their affiliates may vote or consent on matters submitted to the stockholders regarding the removal of our advisor or any director after we accept any subscriptions for the purchase of shares in this offering. In determining the requisite percentage in interest required to approve such a matter after we accept any subscriptions for the purchase of shares in this offering, any shares owned by such persons will not be included.
      Any vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors or the death, resignation, removal, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity of a director may be filled only by a vote of a majority of the remaining directors. Independent directors shall nominate replacements for vacancies in the independent director positions. If at any time there are no directors in office, successor directors shall be elected by the stockholders. Each director will be bound by the charter and the bylaws.
      The directors are not required to devote all of their time to our business and are only required to devote the time to our affairs as their duties require. The directors will meet quarterly or more frequently if necessary. We do not expect that the directors will be required to devote a substantial portion of their

45


Table of Contents

time to discharge their duties as our directors. Consequently, in the exercise of their responsibilities, the directors will be relying heavily on our advisor. Our directors shall have a fiduciary duty to our stockholders to supervise the relationship between us and our advisor. The board is empowered to fix the compensation of all officers that it selects and approve the payment of compensation to directors for services rendered to us in any other capacity.
      Our board of directors will have written policies on investments and borrowing, the expected terms of which are set forth in this prospectus. The directors may establish further written policies on investments and borrowings and shall monitor our administrative procedures, investment operations and performance to ensure that the policies are fulfilled and are in the best interest of the stockholders.
      The board also will be responsible for reviewing our fees and expenses on at least an annual basis and with sufficient frequency to determine that the expenses incurred are in the best interest of the stockholders. In addition, a majority of the directors, including a majority of the independent directors who are not otherwise interested in the transaction, must approve all transactions with Cole Advisors II or its affiliates. The independent directors will also be responsible for reviewing the performance of Cole Advisors II and determining that the compensation to be paid to Cole Advisors II is reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services to be performed and that the provisions of the advisory agreement are being carried out. Specifically, the independent directors will consider factors such as:
  •  the amount of the fees paid to Cole Advisors II in relation to the size, composition and performance of our investments;
 
  •  the success of Cole Advisors II in generating appropriate investment opportunities;
 
  •  rates charged to other REITs, especially REITs of similar structure, and other investors by advisors performing similar services;
 
  •  additional revenues realized by Cole Advisors II and its affiliates through their relationship with us, whether we pay them or they are paid by others with whom we do business;
 
  •  the quality and extent of service and advice furnished by Cole Advisors II and the performance of our investment portfolio; and
 
  •  the quality of our portfolio relative to the investments generated by Cole Advisors II or its affiliates for its other clients.
      Neither our advisor nor any of its affiliates will vote or consent to the voting of shares of our common stock they now own or hereafter acquire on matters submitted to the stockholders regarding either (1) the removal of Cole Advisors II, any non-independent director or any of their respective affiliates, or (2) any transaction between us and Cole Advisors II, any non-independent director or any of their respective affiliates.
Committees of the Board of Directors
      Our entire board of directors considers all major decisions concerning our business, including any property acquisitions. However, our bylaws provide that our board may establish such committees as the board believes appropriate. The board will appoint the members of the committee in the board’s discretion. Our bylaws require that a majority of the members of each committee of our board is to be comprised of independent directors.
Audit Committee
      Our board of directors has established an audit committee, which consists of our two independent directors. The audit committee, by approval of at least a majority of the members, selects the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our annual financial statements, reviews with the independent registered public accounting firm the plans and results of the audit engagement, approves the audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, reviews the independence

46


Table of Contents

of the independent registered public accounting firm, considers the range of audit and non-audit fees and reviews the adequacy of our internal accounting controls. Our board of directors has adopted a charter for the audit committee that sets forth its specific functions and responsibilities.
Compensation Committee
      Our board of directors has established a compensation committee which consists of our two independent directors. The primary purpose of the compensation committee will be to oversee our compensation programs. Our board of directors has adopted a charter for the compensation committee that sets forth its specific functions and responsibilities.
Executive Officers and Directors
      We have provided below certain information about our executive officers and directors.
             
Name   Age   Position(s)
         
Christopher H. Cole
    52     Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President
Blair D. Koblenz
    47     Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
John M. Pons
    41     Secretary
Marcus E. Bromley
    55     Director
Elizabeth L. Watson
    45     Director
      Christopher H. Cole has served as the chairman, chief executive officer and president of our company since our formation. He also has been the chief executive officer and president of Cole Advisors II since its formation. Mr. Cole also has served as the president and chief executive officer of Cole Capital Partners since 2003 and has been engaged as a general partner in the structuring and management of real estate limited partnerships since February 1979. He also is the chief executive officer and president of Cole Capital Advisors, Inc. (Cole Capital Advisors), Equity Fund Advisors, Inc. (Equity Fund Advisors), and Cole Advisors. Mr. Cole is the chief executive officer, president and treasurer of Fund Realty Advisors, Inc. (Fund Realty Advisors). He is the president of CHC Partners, which has served as the general partner in prior real estate programs, since 1985. Mr. Cole has been the president and chief executive officer of Cole Equities since 1980. He currently serves as executive vice president of Cole Capital Corporation. He has served as the chairman, chief executive officer and president of Cole REIT I since its formation. Mr. Cole served as the president of Cole Partnerships, Inc. from its formation to August 1995 and currently serves as chief executive officer.
      Blair D. Koblenz has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of our company since its formation. He has been active in the structuring and financial management of commercial real estate investments for over 20 years. He is also executive vice president and chief financial officer of Cole Capital Partners, Cole Capital Advisors, Equity Fund Advisors, Cole Advisors and Cole Advisors II. Mr. Koblenz is the executive vice president, chief financial officer and secretary of Fund Realty Advisors. He has served as president of Cole Capital Corporation since December 2002 and previously served as vice president. He also serves as vice president and chief financial officer of Cole Partnerships, Partnership Advisors, Cole Real Estate Services, Inc., and CHC Partners. He serves as secretary of Cole Equities, a consulting company. Mr. Koblenz has served as a director and executive vice president/ chief financial officer of Cole REIT I since its formation in March 2004. Prior to joining Cole in 1994, he practiced in public accounting at Toback & Company, CPA from 1979 to 1982 with an emphasis in taxation and business planning. He then served in a financial officer capacity for real estate investment companies and operators in Arizona from 1982 to 1994. Mr. Koblenz received his B.S. degree in Accounting from Arizona State University and is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in the State of Arizona. He holds the designation of Certified Financial Planner as authorized by the CFP Board of Standards and holds

47


Table of Contents

securities licenses. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Arizona Society of CPAs, the Financial Planning Association and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT).
      John M. Pons has served as secretary of our company since its formation. He also is vice president and counsel of Cole Capital Partners, Cole Capital Advisors and Equity Fund Advisors, and is vice president, secretary and counsel of Cole Advisors and Cole Advisors II. From December 2001 until joining Cole in September 2003, Mr. Pons was associate general counsel and assistant secretary of GE Capital Franchise Finance Corporation. Prior to December 2001, Mr. Pons was engaged in a private legal practice. Mr. Pons has over nine years experience in all aspects of real estate law, including the acquisition, sale, leasing, development and financing of real property. Before attending law school, Mr. Pons was a Captain in the United States Air Force where he served from 1988 until 1992. Mr. Pons received a B.S. degree in Mathematics from Colorado State University and a M.S. degree in Administration from Central Michigan University before attending the University of Denver where he earned his J.D. (Order of St. Ives) in 1995.
      Marcus E. Bromley has been a member of our board of directors, chairman of our board’s audit committee and a member of our board’s compensation committee since May 2005. Mr. Bromley has served as a member of the board of trustees of Gables Residential Trust (GBP), a $2 billion multi-family residential REIT with operations in Texas, Atlanta, South Florida, Washington, D.C. and Southern California that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, since December 1993. From December 1993 until June 2000, Mr. Bromley also served as the chief executive officer of Gables Residential Trust. Prior to joining Gables Residential Trust, Mr. Bromley was a division partner of Trammell Crow Residential from 1982 until 1993. Mr. Bromley holds a B.S. in Economics from Washington & Lee University and a M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina.
      Elizabeth L. Watson has been a member of our board of directors, the chairperson of our board’s audit committee and a member of our board’s compensation committee since May 2005. Since September 2003, Ms. Watson has been a partner in and has served as the chief operating officer for NGP Capital Partner III, LLC (NGP Capital). Prior to joining NGP Capital, she was a retail research analyst for Legg Mason Wood Walker from June 2002 until September 2003. From November 1997 until June 2002, Ms. Watson was a partner in and served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of National Government Properties (NGP). Before joining NGP, Ms. Watson served as the senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Government Properties Investors, Inc. (GPI) from June 1994 until March 1997. From 1992 until 1994, Ms. Watson served as senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Prime Retail, Inc., a publicly traded REIT that developed and owned factory outlet centers, and its predecessor company, The Prime Group. Ms. Watson received her B.S. Accounting and M.B.A. from the University of Maryland. She holds a Masters of Real Estate from John Hopkins University and an International Executive M.B.A. from Georgetown University. For the past ten years, she has been a lecturer for Johns Hopkins University’s Real Estate Master Program and has taught real estate accounting and taxation, real estate finance and real estate investments. She is a licensed certified public accountant and is a member of the Maryland Association of CPAs, NAREIT and the National Association of Real Estate Companies.
Compensation of Directors
      We pay each of our independent directors a retainer of $25,000 per year plus $2,000 for each board or board committee meeting the director attends in person ($2,500 for attendance by the chairperson of the audit committee at each meeting of the audit committee) and $250 for each meeting the director attends by telephone. In the event there are multiple meetings of the board and one or more committees in a single day, the fees will be limited to $2,500 per day ($3,000 for the chairperson of the audit committee if there is a meeting of such committee.) In addition, we have reserved 1,000,000 shares of common stock for future issuance upon the exercise of stock options that may be granted to our independent directors pursuant to our stock option plan (described below). We granted to each of our independent directors an option to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price equal to $9.15 per share (or greater, if such higher price is necessary so that such option shall not be considered a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code) as of the date each independent

48


Table of Contents

director was elected as a director. We expect that the independent directors will receive an additional 5,000-share option grant on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders, each with an exercise price equal to $9.15 per share during such time as we are offering shares to the public at $10.00 per share and thereafter at 100.0% of the then-current fair market value per share. All directors receive reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of our board of directors. If a director is also an employee of Cole REIT II or Cole Advisors II or their affiliates, we do not pay compensation for services rendered as a director. As of May 9, 2005, we had not paid compensation to any of our directors in their capacity as a member of our board of directors, other than granting options.
2004 Independent Directors’ Stock Option Plan
      We have adopted an independent directors’ stock option plan” that is designed to attract and retain independent directors by providing them with the opportunity to purchase our shares in order to attract and retain these directors. Options granted to our independent directors under the plan provide these directors with an incentive to increase the value of our shares and a stake in our future that corresponds to the stake of each of our stockholders. A total of 1,000,000 shares have been authorized and reserved for issuance under the plan.
      The plan is administered by our board of directors. All of our independent directors will be eligible to participate in the plan. The plan authorizes the grant of non-qualified stock options to our independent directors, subject to the absolute discretion of the board and the applicable limitations of the plan. We intend to grant options under our stock option plan to each qualifying director annually. The initial option grant generally will be made on the date the qualifying director first becomes a director, unless the grant would cause the director to exceed our 9.8% ownership limit, in which case the grant will be delayed. Annual grants are expected to be made on the date of each annual stockholder meeting in which the respective independent director is re-elected. The exercise price for the options granted under our independent director stock option plan initially would be $9.15 per share (or greater, if such higher price is necessary so that such options shall not be considered a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code). It is intended that the exercise price for future options granted under our independent director stock option plan will be at least 100.0% of the fair market value of our common stock as of the date that the option is granted.
      Options granted to independent directors under the plan will become exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant. Options granted under our stock option plan will lapse and no longer be exercisable on the first to occur of (1) the tenth anniversary of the date they are granted or (2) immediately following the date the director ceases to be a director for cause. Options granted under the plan may be exercised by payment of cash or through the delivery of shares of our common stock with a fair market value equal to the exercise price to be paid. No options issued under our stock option plan may be exercised if such exercise would jeopardize our status as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code.
      The term of the plan is ten years. Upon the earlier of our dissolution or liquidation, upon our reorganization, merger or consolidation with one or more corporations as a result of which we are not the surviving corporation, or upon the sale of all or substantially all of our properties, the plan will terminate, and any outstanding options will be forfeited. Alternatively, the board of directors may provide in writing in connection with any such transaction for any or all of the following alternatives:
  •  the assumption by the successor corporation of the options granted or the replacement of the options with options exercisable into the stock of the successor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary of such corporation, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and exercise prices;
 
  •  the continuance of the plan and the options by such successor corporation under the original terms; and/or

49


Table of Contents

  •  the payment in cash or shares of our common stock in lieu of and in complete satisfaction of such options.
Provisions Applicable to Our Stock Option Plan
      In no event shall an option be granted under our stock option plan to an independent director if the shares available for purchase subject to such grant, when added to all other shares available for purchase and all other shares purchased pursuant to other issued and outstanding options, would exceed 9.8% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock determined as of the date of grant of such option. Except as otherwise provided in an option agreement, if a change of control occurs and the agreements effectuating the change of control do not provide for the assumption or substitution of all options granted under the plan, the board in its sole and absolute discretion, may, with respect to any or all of such options, take any or all of the following actions to be effective as of the date of the change of control (or as of any other date fixed by the board occurring within the 30-day period immediately preceding the date of the change of control, but only if such action remains contingent upon the change of control), such date being referred to herein as the “Action Effective Date”:
  •  accelerate the vesting and/or exercisability of the non-assumed option;
 
  •  unilaterally cancel any such non-assumed option that has not vested and/or that has not become exercisable;
 
  •  unilaterally cancel such non-assumed option in exchange for:
  whole and/or fractional shares (or for whole shares and cash in lieu of any fractional share) that, in the aggregate, are equal in value to the gain that could be realized by the award recipient upon the exercise of such option (taking into account vesting and/or exercisability of such option); or
 
  cash or other property equal in value to the gain that could be realized upon the exercise of such option (taking into account vesting and/or exercisability of such option);
  •  unilaterally cancel such non-assumed option after providing the holder of such option with (1) an opportunity to exercise such non-assumed option to the extent vested within a specified period prior to the date of the change of control, and (2) notice of such opportunity to exercise prior to the commencement of such specified period; and/or
 
  •  unilaterally cancel such non-assumed option if there would be no gain realized upon the immediate exercise price of such option (taking into account vesting).
      If the number of our outstanding shares is changed into a different number or kind of shares or securities through a reorganization or merger in which we are the surviving entity, or through a combination, recapitalization or otherwise, an appropriate adjustment will be made in the number and kind of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of options granted under the plan. A corresponding adjustment to the exercise price of such options granted prior to any change will also be made. Any such adjustment, however, will not change the total payment, if any, applicable to the portion of the options not exercised, but will change only the exercise price for each share.
Compliance with the American Jobs Creation Act
      As part of our strategy for compensating our independent directors, we intend to issue options to purchase our common stock in our independent directors’ stock option plan, which is described above. This method of compensating individuals may possibly be considered to be a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (including amendment by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004).
      Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code is a recently enacted section that affects plans, agreements and arrangements that meet the definition of “nonqualified deferred compensation plans” under such provision. Under Section 409A, “nonqualified deferred compensation plans” must meet certain

50


Table of Contents

requirements regarding the timing of distributions or payments and the timing of agreements or elections to defer, and must also prohibit any possibility of acceleration of distributions or payments, as well as certain other requirements. Currently, based on the statutory language and the committee reports accompanying the statute, it is possible that some stock options (those with an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of the underlying stock as of the date of grant) could be considered as “nonqualified deferred compensation plans.”
      If Section 409A applies to any of the awards issued under the plan, or if Section 409A applies to any other arrangement or agreement that we may make, and if such award, arrangement or agreement does not meet the timing and prohibition requirements of Section 409A, then (i) all amounts deferred for all taxable years under the award, arrangement or agreement would be currently includible in gross income to the extent not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and not previously included in the gross income of the affected individual, (ii) interest at the underpayment rate plus one percentage point would be imposed on the underpayments that would have occurred had the compensation been includible in income when first deferred (or, if later, when not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture), and (iii) a 20% additional tax is imposed on the amounts required to be included in income. Furthermore, if the affected individual is our employee, we would be required to withhold federal income taxes on this amount, although there may be no funds being paid to the individual from which we could withhold taxes. We will also be required to report on an appropriate form (W-2 or 1099) amounts which are deferred, whether or not they meet the requirements of new Section 409A, and if we fail to do so, penalties could apply.
      We do not intend to issue any award, or enter into any agreement or arrangement that would be considered a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” under Section 409A, unless such award, agreement or arrangement complies with the timing and prohibition requirements of Section 409A. It is our current belief, based upon the statute and legislative history, that the awards, agreements and arrangements that we currently intend to implement will not be subject to taxation under Section 409A either because the award, agreement or arrangement will not be considered a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan,” or our expectation that the Internal Revenue Service will provide guidance or regulations clarifying that Section 409A would not apply to such award, agreement or arrangement. Furthermore, if this belief is not correct, we intend to either terminate or modify such award, agreement or arrangement (during a transitional period that the Internal Revenue Service is required to provide by Section 885(f) of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, which enacted Section 409A) so that Section 409A would not apply to such award, agreement or arrangement, or so that such award, agreement or arrangement complies with Section 409A’s timing and prohibition requirements. Nonetheless, there can be no assurances that any award, agreement or arrangement which we have entered into will not be affected by Section 409A, or that any such award, agreement or arrangement will not be subject to income taxation under Section 409A.
Limited Liability and Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees and Other Agents
      We are permitted to limit the liability of our directors, officers and other agents, and to indemnify them, only to the extent permitted by Maryland law and the NASAA REIT Guidelines.
      Maryland law permits us to include in our charter a provision limiting the liability of our directors and officers to our stockholders and us for money damages, except for liability resulting from (i) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (ii) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and that is material to the cause of action.
      The Maryland General Corporation Law requires us (unless our charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he is made a party by reason of his service in that capacity. The Maryland General Corporation Law allows directors and officers to be indemnified against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and expenses actually incurred in a proceeding unless the following can be established:
  •  an act or omission of the director or officer was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

51


Table of Contents

  •  the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services;
 
  •  with respect to any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe his act or omission was unlawful; or
 
  •  in a proceeding by us or on our behalf, the director or officer was adjudged to be liable to us (although a court may order indemnification for expenses relating to an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received).
      Our charter provides that we will indemnify and hold harmless a director, an officer, an employee, an agent, Cole Advisors II or an affiliate against any and all losses or liabilities reasonably incurred by such party in connection with or by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted to be performed on our behalf in such capacity. This provision does not reduce the exposure of directors and officers to liability under federal or state securities laws, nor does it limit the stockholders’ ability to obtain injunctive relief or other equitable remedies for a violation of a director’s or an officer’s duties to us, although the equitable remedies may not be an effective remedy in some circumstances.
      In addition to the above provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, and as set forth in the NASAA REIT Guidelines, our charter further limits our ability to indemnify and hold harmless our directors, our officers, our employees, our agents, Cole Advisors II and our affiliates for losses arising from our operation by requiring that the following additional conditions are met:
  •  the directors, the officers, the employees, the agents, Cole Advisors II or our affiliates have determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in our best interests;
 
  •  the directors, the officers, the employees, the agents, Cole Advisors II or our affiliates were acting on our behalf or performing services for us;
 
  •  in the case of non-independent directors, Cole Advisors II or our affiliates, the liability or loss was not the result of negligence or misconduct by the party seeking indemnification;
 
  •  in the case of independent directors, the liability or loss was not the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the party seeking indemnification; and
 
  •  the indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of our net assets and not from the stockholders.
      We have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless Cole Advisors II and its affiliates performing services for us from specific claims and liabilities arising out of the performance of their obligations under the advisory agreement. As a result, our stockholders and we may be entitled to a more limited right of action than they and we would otherwise have if these indemnification rights were not included in the advisory agreement.
      The general effect to investors of any arrangement under which any of our controlling persons, directors or officers are insured or indemnified against liability is a potential reduction in distributions resulting from our payment of premiums associated with insurance. In addition, indemnification could reduce the legal remedies available to our stockholders and us against the officers and directors.
      The Securities and Exchange Commission takes the position that indemnification against liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), is against public policy and unenforceable. Indemnification of our directors, our officers, our employees, our agents, Cole Advisors II or our affiliates and any persons acting as a broker-dealer will not be allowed for liabilities arising from or out of a violation of state or federal securities laws, unless one or more of the following conditions are met:
  •  there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations;

52


Table of Contents

  •  such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
 
  •  a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against the indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which our securities were offered as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.
      Our charter provides that the advancement of our funds to our directors, officers, employees, agents, advisor or affiliates for legal expenses and other costs incurred as a result of any legal action for which indemnification is being sought is permissible only if all of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the legal action relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of us; (ii) our directors, officers, employees, agents, advisor or affiliates provide us with written affirmation of their good faith belief that they have met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification; (iii) the legal action is initiated by a third party who is not a stockholder or, if the legal action is initiated by a stockholder acting in his or her capacity as such, a court of competent jurisdiction specifically approves such advancement; and (iv) our directors, officers, employees, agents, advisor or affiliates agree in writing to repay the advanced funds to us together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, in cases in which such persons are found not to be entitled to indemnification.
      Indemnification will be allowed for settlements and related expenses of lawsuits alleging securities laws violations and for expenses incurred in successfully defending any lawsuits, provided that a court either:
  •  approves the settlement and finds that indemnification of the settlement and related costs should be made; or
 
  •  dismisses the lawsuit with prejudice or there is a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee and a court approves the indemnification.
The Advisor
      Our advisor is Cole Advisors II. Some of our officers and directors also are officers, key personnel and/or directors of Cole Advisors II. Cole Advisors II has contractual responsibility to us and our stockholders pursuant to the advisory agreement.
      The officers and key personnel of our advisor are as follows:
             
Name   Age   Position(s)
         
Christopher H. Cole
    52     Chief Executive Officer and President
Blair D. Koblenz
    47     Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Christopher P. Robertson
    38     Vice President, Acquisitions
John M. Pons
    41     Vice President, Secretary and Counsel
D. Kirk McAllaster, Jr. 
    38     Director of Finance and Compliance
Sean D. Leahy
    34     Director of Portfolio Management
John H. Lotka
    55     Director of Marketing
      The backgrounds of Messrs. Cole, Koblenz and Pons are described in the “Management — Executive Officers and Directors” section of this prospectus. Below is a brief description of the other officers and key employees of Cole Advisors II.
      Christopher P. Robertson is vice president, acquisitions for Cole Capital Partners, Cole Advisors and Cole Advisors II. Prior to joining Cole in October 2003, Mr. Robertson worked for Shell Capital, Inc., an investment banking division of Shell Oil Company, as vice president of business development. From 1998

53


Table of Contents

until joining Shell Capital in 2000, he was employed at Franchise Finance Corporation of America as its vice president of corporate finance. While at Franchise Finance Corporation he structured numerous sale-leaseback and senior debt transactions in the restaurant, convenience store/gas, and automotive aftermarket industries. Mr. Robertson received a B.B.A. degree from Baylor University with majors in both Finance and Real Estate in 1988. In 1993, Mr. Robertson received a M.B.A. degree in Finance from Pepperdine University.
      D. Kirk McAllaster, Jr. is director of finance and compliance of Cole Capital Partners, Cole Advisors and Cole Advisors II. Prior to joining Cole in May 2003, Mr. McAllaster worked for six years with Deloitte & Touche LLP, most recently as audit senior manager. He has over 14 years of accounting and finance experience in public accounting and private industry. Mr. McAllaster received a B.S. degree from California State Polytechnic University — Pomona with a major in Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of CPA’s and the Arizona Society of CPAs.
      Sean D. Leahy is director of portfolio management of Cole Capital Partners, Cole Capital Advisors, Cole Advisors and Cole Advisors II. Prior to joining Cole in September 2003, Mr. Leahy spent four years as assistant vice president with the Phoenix office of Lowe Enterprises, Inc., a national pension fund advisor, where he was involved with acquisitions and dispositions, and leasing and asset management for the company’s Arizona portfolio of commercial properties. Prior to joining Lowe Enterprises, Mr. Leahy spent five years with the Phoenix office of Ernst & Young, LLP, most recently as a Real Estate Consulting Manager. Mr. Leahy is a licensed real estate broker and Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Leahy received a B.S. degree with majors in Finance and Accounting from the University of Arizona.
      John H. Lotka is chief marketing officer of Cole Capital Markets, Inc. and director of marketing for Cole Advisors II. Prior to joining Cole in March 2005, he was founder and chief executive officer of Maximum Impact Partners, LLC, a sales and marketing consulting firm working exclusively with investment management companies. From 1988 until 1997 he served as vice president of marketing at Nuveen Investments, a mutual fund company. From 1983 until 1988, he served as a partner at Frankel & Co., formerly the nation’s largest independent marketing services agency, now part of the Publicis Advertising Group. From 1979 until 1980, he served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer of United of America Bank, a community bank. Mr. Lotka also formerly served as a member of the ICI Sales Force Marketing Committee and was a founding member of the Forum for Investor Advice, a mutual fund industry trade group. Mr. Lotka received his B.S. in business administration from the University of Arizona. He also holds a certificate from the Graduate Institute of Bank Marketing, a joint program from University of Southern California and Louisiana State University.
      In addition to the directors and executive officers listed above, Cole Advisors II employs personnel who have extensive experience in selecting and managing commercial properties similar to the properties sought to be acquired by us.
The Advisory Agreement
      Many of the services to be performed by Cole Advisors II in managing our day-to-day activities are summarized below. This summary is provided to illustrate the material functions that we expect Cole Advisors II will perform for us as our advisor, and it is not intended to include all of the services that may be provided to us by third parties. Under the terms of the advisory agreement, Cole Advisors II will undertake to use its commercially reasonable best efforts to present to us investment opportunities consistent with our investment policies and objectives as adopted by our board of directors. In its performance of this undertaking, Cole Advisors II, either directly or indirectly by engaging an affiliate, shall, among other duties and subject to the authority of our board of directors:
  •  find, evaluate, present and recommend to us investment opportunities consistent with our investment policies and objectives;
 
  •  serve as our investment and financial advisor and provide research and economic and statistical data in connection with our assets and our investment policies;

54


Table of Contents

  •  provide the daily management and perform and supervise the various administrative functions reasonably necessary for our management and operations;
 
  •  investigate, select, and, on our behalf, engage and conduct business with such third parties as the advisor deems necessary to the proper performance of its obligations under the advisory agreement;
 
  •  consult with our officers and board of directors and assist the board of directors in the formulating and implementing of our financial policies;
 
  •  structure and negotiate the terms and conditions of our real estate acquisitions, sales or joint ventures;
 
  •  review and analyze each property’s operating and capital budget;
 
  •  acquire properties and make investments on our behalf in compliance with our investment objectives and policies;
 
  •  arrange, structure and negotiate financing and refinancing of properties;
 
  •  enter into leases of property and service contracts for assets and, to the extent necessary, perform all other operational functions for the maintenance and administration of such assets, including the servicing of mortgages; and
 
  •  prepare and review on our behalf, with the participation of one designated principal executive officer and principal financial officer, all reports and returns required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Internal Revenue Service and other state or federal governmental agencies.
      The term of the advisory agreement will end on its first anniversary and may be renewed for an unlimited number of successive one-year periods. Additionally, either party may terminate the advisory agreement without penalty immediately upon a change of control of us, or upon 60 days’ written notice. If we elect to terminate the agreement, we will be required to obtain the approval of a majority of our independent directors. In the event of the termination of our advisory agreement, our advisor will be required to cooperate with us and take all reasonable steps requested by us to assist our board of directors in making an orderly transition of the advisory function.
      Cole Advisors II and its officers, employees and affiliates expect to engage in other business ventures and, as a result, their resources will not be dedicated exclusively to our business. However, pursuant to the advisory agreement, Cole Advisors II will be required to devote sufficient resources to our administration to discharge its obligations. Cole Advisors II currently has no paid employees; however, as of March 31, 2005, its affiliates had approximately 61 full-time employees each of whom may dedicate a portion of his or her time providing services to our advisor. Our advisor will be responsible for a pro rata portion of each employee’s compensation based upon the approximate percentage of time the employee dedicates to our advisor. Cole Advisors II may assign the advisory agreement to an affiliate upon approval of a majority of our independent directors. We may assign or transfer the advisory agreement to a successor entity; provided that at least a majority of our independent directors determines that any such successor advisor possesses sufficient qualifications to perform the advisory function and to justify the compensation payable to the advisor. Our independent directors will base their determination on the general facts and circumstances that they deem applicable, including the overall experience and specific industry experience of the successor advisor and its management. Other factors that will be considered are the compensation to be paid to the successor advisor and any potential conflicts of interest that may occur.
      The fees payable to Cole Advisors II under the advisory agreement are described in detail at “Management Compensation” below. We also describe in that section our obligation to reimburse Cole Advisors II for organization and offering expenses, administrative and management services and payments made by Cole Advisors II to third parties in connection with potential acquisitions.

55


Table of Contents

Affiliated Companies
Property Manager
      Our properties will be managed and leased initially by Fund Realty Advisors, our property manager. Cole Capital Advisors is the sole shareholder of Fund Realty Advisors, and Cole Holdings Corporation is the sole owner of Cole Capital Advisors. Christopher H. Cole is the sole owner of Cole Holdings Corporation. Mr. Cole serves as chief executive officer, president and treasurer of Fund Realty Advisors, and Blair D. Koblenz serves as its executive vice president, chief financial officer and secretary. See “Conflicts of Interest.”
      The property manager was organized in 2002 to lease and manage properties that we or affiliated entities acquire. We will pay the property manager property management fees equal to 2.0% of gross revenues from our properties. In addition, we will pay leasing commissions to the property manager based upon the customary leasing commission applicable to the geographic location of the property; provided however, that the aggregate of all property management and leasing fees paid to the property manager plus all payments to third parties will not exceed the amount that other nonaffiliated management and leasing companies generally charge for similar services in the same geographic location. The property manager will derive substantially all of its income from the property management and leasing services it performs for us and other Cole-sponsored programs.
      In the event that the property manager assists a tenant with tenant improvements, a separate fee may be charged to, and payable by, us. This fee will not exceed 5.0% of the cost of the tenant improvements. The property manager will only provide these services if it does not cause any of our income from the applicable property to be treated as other than rents from real property for purposes of the applicable REIT requirements described under “Federal Income Tax Considerations” below.
      The property manager will hire, direct and establish policies for employees who will have direct responsibility for the operations of each property we acquire, which may include but not be limited to on-site managers and building and maintenance personnel. Certain employees of the property manager may be employed on a part-time basis and also may be employed by our advisor or certain companies affiliated with it.
      The property manager also will direct the purchase of equipment and supplies and will supervise all maintenance activity. The management fees to be paid to the property manager will cover, without additional expense to us, all of the property manager’s general overhead costs. The principal office of the property manager is located at 2555 East Camelback Road, Suite 400, Phoenix, Arizona 85016.
Dealer Manager
      Cole Capital Corporation, our dealer manager, is a member firm of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD). Cole Capital Corporation was organized in December 1992 for the purpose of participating in and facilitating the distribution of securities of real estate programs sponsored by Cole Capital Partners, its affiliates and its predecessors.
      Cole Capital Corporation will provide certain wholesaling, sales, promotional and marketing assistance services to us in connection with the distribution of the shares offered pursuant to this prospectus. It may also sell a limited number of shares at the retail level.
      Cole Capital Corporation is wholly owned by Cole Capital Advisors which, in turn, is wholly owned by Cole Holdings Corporation, which is wholly owned by Christopher H. Cole. Cole Capital Corporation is an affiliate of both our advisor and the property manager. See “Conflicts of Interest.”

56


Table of Contents

      The current officers of Cole Capital Corporation are:
             
Name   Age   Position(s)
         
Blair D. Koblenz
    47     President and Secretary
Christopher H. Cole
    52     Executive Vice President and Treasurer
Richard M. Arnitz
    40     Senior Vice President
Jonathan T. Albro
    42     Senior Vice President
      The backgrounds of Messrs. Koblenz and Cole are described in the “Management — Executive Officers and Directors” section of this prospectus.
      Richard M. Arnitz is president of Cole Capital Markets, Inc., and senior vice president of Cole Capital Corporation. Prior to joining Cole in March 2005, Mr. Arnitz was vice president of AIG SunAmerica Retirement Markets since 2000, where he was responsible for all internal sales operations and the distribution of variable annuity products. From 1987 to 2000 he served as a due diligence analyst and head of the due diligence department at Sentra Securities, WS Griffith, and Spelman & Co., rising to director of marketing at Sentra Securities and Spelman & Co. He holds a General Securities Principal license. Mr. Arnitz received a B.S. from Arizona State University in Corporate Finance with specialized courses in accounting, real estate and capital management.
      Jonathan T. Albro is executive vice president, national sales manager of Cole Capital Markets, Inc. and senior vice president of Cole Capital Corporation. Mr. Albro has 20 years experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Cole in March 2005, he served as senior vice president, national sales manager, of MetLife Investors from November 2001 to March 2005. He served as senior vice president, national sales manager from November 1998 to January 2001 with Villanova Capital, which became Gartmore Global Investments, a global asset manager. Mr. Albro held various senior executive positions with Hartford Life from 1992 to 1998. He holds a general securities principal license.
Investment Decisions
      The primary responsibility for the investment decisions of Cole Advisors II and its affiliates, the negotiation for these investments, and the property management and leasing of these investment properties will reside with Christopher H. Cole, Blair D. Koblenz, Sean D. Leahy and Christopher P. Robertson. Cole Advisors II will seek to invest in commercial properties that satisfy our investment objectives. Our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, must approve all acquisitions of real estate properties.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
      Advisory Agreement We will enter into an Advisory Agreement with Cole Advisors II, whereby Cole Advisors II will manage our day-to-day operations. In return, we will pay to Cole Advisors II a monthly asset management fee equal to 0.02083% of the aggregate asset value of our assets. We also will pay to Cole Advisors II up to 2.0% of the contract purchase price of each property or asset that we acquire, along with reimbursement of acquisition expenses. We also will pay to Cole Advisors II a financing coordination fee equal to 1.0% of the amount available under any debt financing that we obtain and use for the acquisition of properties and other investments. Additionally, we will be required to pay to Cole Advisors II fees based on a percentage of proceeds or stock value upon our sale of assets or the listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange or for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market, but only if, in the case of our sale of assets, our investors have received a return of their net capital invested and an 8.0% annual cumulative, non-compounded return or, in the case of the listing or quotation of our common stock, the market value of our common stock plus the distributions paid to our investors exceeds the sum of the total amount of capital raised from investors plus the amount of cash flow necessary to generate an 8.0% annual cumulative, non-compounded return to investors. Upon termination of the Advisory Agreement, we may be required to pay to Cole Advisors II a similar performance fee if Cole

57


Table of Contents

Advisors II would have been entitled to a subordinated participation in net sale proceeds had the portfolio been liquidated (based on an independent appraised value of the portfolio) on the date of termination.
      Christopher H. Cole, our chief executive officer, president and a member of our board of directors, indirectly owns 100% of the ownership and voting interests of Cole Advisors II. Mr. Cole also is the chief executive officer and president of Cole Advisors II. Blair D. Koblenz, our executive vice president and chief financial officer is the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Cole Advisors II. John M. Pons, our vice president, secretary and counsel is the vice president, secretary and counsel of Cole Advisors II. For a further description of this agreement, see “Management — The Advisory Agreement” and “Management Compensation.” See also “Conflicts of Interest.”
      Property Management and Leasing Agreement We will enter into a Property Management and Leasing Agreement with Fund Realty Advisors. We will pay to Fund Realty Advisors fees equal to 2.0% of gross revenues from our properties. In addition, we will pay leasing commissions to Fund Realty Advisors based upon the customary leasing commissions applicable to the geographic location of the property, subject to certain limits and a monthly asset management fee equal to 0.02083% of the aggregate asset value of our assets. Christopher H. Cole, our chief executive officer, president and a member of our board of directors, indirectly owns 100% of the ownership and voting interests of Fund Realty Advisors. Mr. Cole also is the chief executive officer, president and treasurer of Fund Realty Advisors. Blair D. Koblenz, our executive vice president and chief financial officer, is the executive vice president, chief financial officer and secretary of Fund Realty Advisors. For a further description of this agreement, see “Management — Affiliated Companies — Property Manager” and “Management Compensation.” See also “Conflicts of Interest.”
      Dealer Manager Agreement. We will enter into a Dealer Manager Agreement with Cole Capital Corporation, our dealer manager. We will pay to Cole Capital Corporation 7.0% of the gross offering proceeds from this offering, except that no selling commissions will be paid on shares sold under our distribution reinvestment plan. Cole Capital Corporation may reallow all or part of the selling commission to participating broker-dealers. Cole Capital Corporation also will waive the selling commission with respect to shares sold by an investment advisory representative. Additionally, we will pay to Cole Capital Corporation a dealer manager fee equal to 1.5% of the gross offering proceeds sold through broker-dealers. Cole Capital Corporation may reallow all or part of the dealer manager fee to participating broker-dealers. We will not pay a dealer manager fee for shares purchased through our distribution reinvestment plan. Christopher H. Cole, our chief executive officer, president and a member of our board of directors, indirectly owns 100% of the ownership and voting interests of Cole Capital Corporation. Mr. Cole also is the executive vice president and treasurer of Cole Capital Corporation. Blair D. Koblenz, our executive vice president and chief financial officer, is the president and secretary of Cole Capital Corporation. For a further description of this agreement, see “Management — Affiliated Companies — Dealer Manager,” “Management Compensation” and “Plan of Distribution.” See also “Conflicts of Interest.”

58


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION
      We have no paid employees. Cole Advisors II, our advisor, and its affiliates will manage our day-to-day affairs. The following table summarizes all of the compensation and fees we will pay to Cole Advisors II and its affiliates, including amounts to reimburse their costs in providing services. The selling commissions may vary for different categories of purchasers. See “Plan of Distribution.” This table assumes the shares are sold through distribution channels associated with the highest possible selling commissions and dealer manager fee.
             
        Estimated Amount for
        Minimum Offering/
Type of Compensation(1)   Determination of Amount   Maximum Offering(2)
         
    Offering Stage        
Selling Commissions — Cole Capital Corporation(3)
 
We will pay to Cole Capital Corporation 7.0% of the gross offering proceeds before reallowance of commissions earned by participating broker-dealers, except that no selling commission is payable on shares sold under our distribution reinvestment plan. Cole Capital Corporation, our dealer manager, will reallow 100.0% of commissions earned to participating broker-dealers.
   
$175,000/$31,500,000
 
 
Dealer Manager Fee — Cole Capital Corporation(3)
 
We will pay to Cole Capital Corporation 1.5% of the gross offering proceeds before reallowance to participating broker-dealers, except that no dealer manager fee is payable on shares sold under our distribution reinvestment plan. Cole Capital Corporation will reallow a portion of its dealer manager fee to participating broker-dealers. See “Plan of Distribution.”
   
$37,500/$6,750,000
 
 
Reimbursement of Other Organization and Offering Expenses — Cole Advisors II(4)
  We will reimburse Cole Advisors II up to 1.5% of our gross offering proceeds. Cole Advisors II will incur or pay our organization and offering expenses (excluding selling commissions and the dealer manager fee). We will then reimburse Cole Advisors II for these amounts up to 1.5% of aggregate gross offering proceeds.     $37,500/$7,436,250  
 
    Acquisition and Operational Stage        
 
Acquisition and Advisory Fees —
Cole Advisors II(5)(6)
 
We will pay to Cole Advisors II a 2.0% of the contract purchase price of each property or asset.
   
$43,902/$8,781,732
 
 
Acquisition Expenses — Cole Advisors II
 
We will reimburse our advisor for acquisition expenses incurred in the process of acquiring property. We expect these expenses to be approximately 0.5% of the purchase price of each property. In no event will the total of all fees and acquisition expenses payable with respect to a particular property or investment exceed 6% of the contract purchase price.
 
Actual amounts are dependent upon the expenses incurred in acquiring a property or asset, and therefore, cannot be determined at this time.

59


Table of Contents

             
        Estimated Amount for
        Minimum Offering/
Type of Compensation(1)   Determination of Amount   Maximum Offering(2)
         
Asset Management Fee — Cole Advisors II(7)(8)
 
We will pay to Cole Advisors II a monthly fee equal to 0.02083%, which is one-twelfth of 0.25%, of the aggregate asset value.
 
Actual amounts are dependent upon the aggregate asset value of our properties and, therefore, cannot be determined at the present time. Because the fee is based on a fixed percentage of aggregate asset value there is no limit on the aggregate amount of these fees.
 
Property Management Fees — Fund Realty Advisors(8)
 
We will pay to Fund Realty Advisors up to 2.0% of the gross revenues from the properties plus reimbursement of Fund Realty Advisors’ costs of managing the properties.
 
Actual amounts are dependent upon the gross revenues from properties and, therefore, cannot be determined at the present time. Because the fee is based on a fixed percentage of the gross revenue and/or market rates, there is no limit on the aggregate amount of these fees.
 
Leasing Commissions — Fund Realty Advisors(8)
 
We will pay to Fund Realty Advisors prevailing market rates. Fund Realty Advisors may also receive a fee for the initial listing of newly constructed properties, which generally would equal one month’s rent.
  Actual amounts are dependent upon prevailing market rates in the geographic regions in which we acquire property and, therefore, cannot be determined at the present time. There is no limit on the aggregate amount of these commissions.
 
Financing Coordination Fee — Cole Advisors II(6)
 
For services in connection with the origination or refinancing of any debt financing obtained that we use to acquire properties or to make other permitted investments, we will pay our advisor a financing coordination fee equal to 1.0% of the amount available under such financing; provided, however, that our advisor will not be entitled to a financing coordination fee in connection with the refinancing of any loan secured by any particular property that was previously subject to a refinancing in which our advisor received such a fee. Financing coordination fees payable from loan proceeds from permanent financing will be paid to our advisor as we acquire such permanent financing. However, no acquisition fees will be paid on the investments of loan proceeds from any line of credit until such time as we have invested all net offering proceeds.
 
Actual amounts are dependent on the amount of any debt financing or refinancing and, therefore, cannot be determined at the present time. Because the fee is based on a fixed percentage of any debt financing, there is no limit on the aggregate amount of these fees.

60


Table of Contents

             
        Estimated Amount for
        Minimum Offering/
Type of Compensation(1)   Determination of Amount   Maximum Offering(2)
         
 
Operating Expenses — Cole Advisors II(9)
  We will reimburse the expenses incurred by Cole Advisors II in connection with its provision of administrative services, including related personnel costs, subject to the limitation that we will not reimburse our advisor for any amount by which the operating expenses (including the asset management fee) at the end of the four preceding fiscal quarters exceeds the greater of (i) 2% of average invested assets, or (ii) 25% of net income other than any additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debt or other similar non-cash reserves and excluding any gain from the sale of assets for that period.   Actual amounts are dependent upon the expenses incurred and, therefore, cannot be determined at the present time.
    Liquidation/ Listing Stage        
 
Real Estate Commissions — Cole Advisors II or its Affiliates(10)
  For substantial assistance in connection with the sale of properties, we will pay our advisor or its affiliates an amount equal to up to one-half of the brokerage commission paid on the sale of property, not to exceed 2.0% of the contract price of each property sold; provided, however, in no event may the real estate commissions paid to our advisor, its affiliates and unaffiliated third parties exceed 6.0% of the contract sales price.   Actual amounts are dependent upon the contract price of properties sold and, therefore, cannot be determined at the present time. Because the commission is based on a fixed percentage of the contract price for a sold property, there is no limit on the aggregate amount of these commissions.
 
Subordinated Participation in Net Sale Proceeds — Cole Advisors II(11)
  After investors have received a return of their net capital invested and an 8.0% annual cumulative, non- compounded return, then Cole Advisors II is entitled to receive 10.0% of remaining net sale proceeds. We cannot assure you that we will provide this 8.0% return, which we have disclosed solely as a measure for our advisor’s incentive compensation.   Actual amounts are dependent upon results of operations and, therefore, cannot be determined at the present time. There is no limit on the aggregate amount of these payments.
 
Subordinated Incentive Listing Fee — Cole Advisors II(11)(12)
  Upon listing our common stock on a national securities exchange or for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market, our advisor is entitled to a fee equal to 10.0% of the amount, if any, by which (1) the market value of our outstanding stock plus distributions paid by us prior to listing, exceeds (2) the sum of the total amount of capital raised from investors and the amount of cash flow necessary to generate an 8.0% annual cumulative, non- compounded return to investors. We have no intent to list our shares at this time. We cannot assure you that we will provide this 8.0% return, which we have disclosed solely as a measure for our advisor’s incentive compensation.   Actual amounts are dependent upon total equity and debt capital we raise and results of operations and, therefore, cannot be determined at the present time. There is no limit on the aggregate amount of this fee.
 
  (1)  We will pay all fees, commissions and expenses in cash, other than the subordinated participation in net sales proceeds and incentive listing fees with respect to which we may pay to Cole Advisors II in cash, common stock, a promissory note or any combination of the foregoing, as we may determine in our discretion.

61


Table of Contents

  (2)  The estimated maximum dollar amounts are based on the sale of a maximum of 45,000,000 shares to the public at $10.00 per share and the sale of 5,000,000 shares at $9.15 per share pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan.
 
  (3)  Selling commissions and, in some cases, the dealer manager fee, will not be charged with regard to shares sold to or for the account of certain categories of purchasers. See “Plan of Distribution”. Selling commissions and the dealer manager fee will not be charged with regard to shares purchased pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan.
 
  (4)  These organization and offering expenses include all expenses (other than selling commissions and the dealer manager fee) to be paid by us in connection with the offering, including our legal, accounting, printing, mailing and filing fees, charges of our escrow holder, due diligence expense reimbursements to participating broker-dealers and amounts to reimburse Cole Advisors II for its portion of the salaries of the employees of its affiliates who provide services to our advisor and other costs in connection with preparing supplemental sales materials, holding educational conferences and attending retail seminars conducted by broker-dealers. Our advisor will be responsible for the payment of all such organization and offering expenses to the extent such expenses exceed 1.5% of the aggregate gross proceeds of this offering.
 
  (5)  This estimate assumes the amount of proceeds available for investment is equal to the gross offering proceeds less the public offering expenses, and we have assumed that no financing is used to acquire properties or other real estate assets. Our charter limits our ability to purchase property if the total of all acquisition fees and expenses relating to the purchase exceeds 6.0% of the contract purchase price unless a majority of our directors (including a majority of our independent directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction approve fees and expenses in excess of this limit and determine the transaction to be commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to us.
 
  (6)  Included in the computation of such fees will be any real estate commission, acquisition and advisory fee, development fee, construction fee, non-recurring management fee, loan fees, financing coordination fees or points or any fee of a similar nature.
 
  (7)  Aggregate asset value will be equal to the aggregate value of our assets (other than investments in bank accounts, money markets funds or other current assets) at cost before deducting depreciation, bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves and without reduction for any debt relating to such assets at the date of measurement, except that during such periods in which our board of directors is determining on a regular basis the current value of our net assets for purposes of enabling fiduciaries of employee benefit plans stockholders to comply with applicable Department of Labor reporting requirements, aggregate asset value is the greater of (i) the amount determined pursuant to the foregoing or (ii) our assets’ aggregate valuation most recently established by our board without reduction for depreciation, bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves and without reduction for any debt secured by or relating to such assets.
 
  (8)  The property management and leasing fees payable to Fund Realty Advisors are subject to the limitation that the aggregate of all property management and leasing fees paid to Fund Realty Advisors and its affiliates plus all payments to third parties for property management and leasing services may not exceed the amount that other non-affiliated property management and leasing companies generally charge for similar services in the same geographic location. Additionally, all property management and leasing fees, including both those paid to Fund Realty Advisors and third parties, are subject to the limit on total operating expenses as described in footnote (5). Fund Realty Advisors may subcontract its duties for a fee that may be less than the fee provided for in our property management agreement with Fund Realty Advisors.
 
  (9)  We may reimburse our advisor in excess of that limit in the event that a majority of our independent directors determine, based on unusual and non-recurring factors, that a higher level of expense is justified. In such an event, we will send notice to each of our stockholders within 60 days after the end of the fiscal quarter for which such determination was made, along with an explanation of the factors our independent directors considered in making such determination. We will not reimburse our advisor for personnel costs in connection with services for which the advisor receives acquisition fees or real estate commissions.
 
       We lease our office space from an affiliate of our advisor and share the space with other Cole-related entities. The amount we will pay under the lease will be determined on a monthly basis based upon on the allocation of the overall lease cost to the approximate percentage of time, size of the area that we utilize and other resources allocated to us.
(10)  Although we are most likely to pay real estate commissions to Cole Advisors II or an affiliate in the event of our liquidation, these fees may also be earned during our operational stage.
 
(11)  Upon termination of the advisory agreement, Cole Advisors II may be entitled to a similar performance fee if Cole Advisors II would have been entitled to a subordinated participation in net sale proceeds had the portfolio been liquidated (based on an independent appraised value of the portfolio) on the date of termination. Under our charter, we could not increase these success-based fees without the approval of a majority of our independent directors, and any increase in the subordinated participation in net sale proceeds would have to be reasonable. Our charter provides that such incentive fee is “presumptively reasonable” if it does not exceed 10.0% of the balance of such net proceeds remaining after investors have received a return of their net capital contributions and an 8.0% per year cumulative, non-compounded return.
 
      Cole Advisors II cannot earn both the subordinated participation in net sale proceeds and the subordinated incentive listing fee either of which may be, at our discretion, paid in the form of cash, shares of our common stock, a promissory note, or any combination of the foregoing. If shares are used for payment, we do not anticipate that they will be registered under the Securities Act and therefore, will be subject to restrictions on transferability. Any portion of the subordinated participation in net sale proceeds that Cole Advisors II receives prior to our listing will offset the amount otherwise due pursuant to the subordinated incentive listing fee.

62


Table of Contents

(12)  If at any time the shares become listed on a national securities exchange or included for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market, we will negotiate in good faith with Cole Advisors II a fee structure appropriate for an entity with a perpetual life. Our independent directors must approve the new fee structure negotiated with Cole Advisors II. The market value of our outstanding stock will be calculated based on the average market value of the shares issued and outstanding at listing over the 30 trading days beginning 180 days after the shares are first listed or included for quotation. We have the option to pay the subordinated incentive listing fee in the form of stock, cash, a promissory note or any combination thereof. In the event the subordinated incentive listing fee is earned by Cole Advisors II as a result of the listing of the shares, any previous payments of the subordinated participation in net sale proceeds will offset the amounts due pursuant to the subordinated incentive listing fee, and we will not be required to pay Cole Advisors II any further subordinated participation in net sale proceeds.
     At least a majority of our independent directors must determine, from time to time but at least annually, that our total fees and expenses are reasonable in light of our investment performance, net assets, net income and the fees and expenses of other comparable unaffiliated REITs. Each such determination will be reflected in the minutes of our board of directors. Our independent directors shall also supervise the performance of our advisor and the compensation that we pay to it to determine that the provisions of our advisory agreement are being carried out.
      Each such determination will be recorded in the minutes of our board of directors and based on the factors set forth below and other factors that the independent directors deem relevant:
  •  the size of the advisory fee in relation to the size, composition and profitability of our portfolio;
 
  •  the success of Cole Advisors II in generating opportunities that meet our investment objectives;
 
  •  the rates charged to other REITs, especially similarly structured REITs, and to investors other than REITs by advisors performing similar services;
 
  •  additional revenues realized by Cole Advisors II through its relationship with us;
 
  •  the quality and extent of service and advice furnished by Cole Advisors II;
 
  •  the performance of our investment portfolio, including income, conservation or appreciation of capital, frequency of problem investments and competence in dealing with distress situations; and
 
  •  the quality of our portfolio in relationship to the investments generated by Cole Advisors II for the account of other clients.
      Since Cole Advisors II and its affiliates are entitled to differing levels of compensation for undertaking different transactions on our behalf, such as the property management fees for operating our properties and the subordinated participation in net sale proceeds, our advisor has the ability to affect the nature of the compensation it receives by undertaking different transactions. However, Cole Advisors II is obligated to exercise good faith and integrity in all its dealings with respect to our affairs pursuant to the advisory agreement. See “Management — The Advisory Agreement.”

63


Table of Contents

STOCK OWNERSHIP
      The following table shows, as of the date of this prospectus, the amount of our common stock beneficially owned by (1) any person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5.0% of our outstanding shares, (2) members of our board of directors and proposed directors, (3) our executive officers, and (4) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
                 
    Common Stock
    Beneficially Owned(2)
     
    Number of Shares   Percentage
Name of Beneficial Owner(1)   of Common Stock   of Class
         
Cole Holdings Corporation
    20,000       100.0%  
Christopher H. Cole, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President(3)
    20,000       100.0%  
Blair D. Koblenz, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
           
John M. Pons, Vice President, Secretary and Counsel
           
Marcus E. Bromley, Director
           
Elizabeth L. Watson, Director
           
All directors and executive officers as a group (five persons)(3)
    20,000       100.0%  
 
(1)  Address of each beneficial owner listed is 2555 East Camelback Road, Suite 400, Phoenix, Arizona 85016.
 
(2)  For purposes of calculating the percentage beneficially owned, the number of shares of common stock deemed outstanding includes (a) 20,000 shares outstanding as of the date of this prospectus, and (b) shares issuable pursuant to options held by the respective person or group that may be exercised within 60 days following the date of this prospectus. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that deem shares to be beneficially owned by any person or group who has or shares voting and investment power with respect to such shares.
 
(3)  Includes 20,000 shares owned by Cole Holdings Corporation. Mr. Cole is the sole stockholder of Cole Holdings Corporation and controls the voting and disposition decisions of Cole Holdings Corporation.

64


Table of Contents

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
      We are subject to various conflicts of interest arising out of our relationship with Cole Advisors II, our advisor, and its affiliates, including conflicts related to the arrangements pursuant to which Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will be compensated by us. The agreements and compensation arrangements between us and our advisor and its affiliates were not determined by arm’s-length negotiations. See the “Management Compensation” section of this prospectus. Some of the conflicts of interest in our transactions with our advisor and its affiliates, and the limitations on our advisor adopted to address these conflicts, are described below.
      Our advisor and its affiliates will try to balance our interests with their duties to other Cole-sponsored programs. However, to the extent that our advisor or its affiliates take actions that are more favorable to other entities than to us, these actions could have a negative impact on our financial performance and, consequently, on distributions to you and the value of our stock. In addition, our directors, officers and certain of our stockholders may engage for their own account in business activities of the types conducted or to be conducted by us and our subsidiaries. For a description of some of the risks related to these conflicts of interest, see the section of this prospectus captioned “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest.”
      Our independent directors have an obligation to function on our behalf in all situations in which a conflict of interest may arise, and all of our directors have a fiduciary obligation to act on behalf of our stockholders.
Interests in Other Real Estate Programs
      An affiliate of our advisor acts as an advisor to, and our officers and certain of our directors act as officers and directors of Cole REIT I, which is a currently operating, privately offered, real estate investment trust that has similar investment objectives to us. In addition, as of March 31, 2005, an affiliate of our advisor has issued approximately $63.3 million of debt pursuant to three private offerings, the proceeds of which were used to acquire single-tenant properties in 31 states. Cole Capital Partners, an affiliate of our advisor, has sponsored 16 currently operating tenant-in-common real estate programs. Affiliates of our advisor and of our officers also act as officers and directors of general partners of seven other currently operating limited partnerships that have invested in unimproved and improved real properties located in 19 different states, including Cole Credit Property Fund Limited Partnership (Cole Credit LP I) and Cole Credit Property Fund II Limited Partnership (Cole Credit LP II). See “Prior Performance Summary.” Affiliates of our officers and entities owned or managed by such affiliates also may acquire or develop real estate for their own accounts, and have done so in the past. Furthermore, affiliates of our officers and entities owned or managed by such affiliates intend to form additional real estate investment entities in the future, whether public or private, which can be expected to have the same investment objectives and policies as we do and which may be involved in the same geographic area, and such persons may be engaged in sponsoring one or more of such entities at approximately the same time as our shares of common stock are being offered. Our advisor, its affiliates and affiliates of our officers are not obligated to present to us any particular investment opportunity that comes to their attention, even if such opportunity is of a character that might be suitable for investment by us. Our advisor and its affiliates likely will experience conflicts of interest as they simultaneously perform services for us and other affiliated real estate programs.
      Any affiliated entity, whether or not currently existing, could compete with us in the sale or operation of the properties. We will seek to achieve any operating efficiency or similar savings that may result from affiliated management of competitive properties. However, to the extent that affiliates own or acquire property that is adjacent, or in close proximity, to a property we own, our property may compete with the affiliate’s property for tenants or purchasers.
      Every transaction that we enter into with our advisor or its affiliates is subject to an inherent conflict of interest. Our board of directors may encounter conflicts of interest in enforcing our rights against any

65


Table of Contents

affiliate in the event of a default by or disagreement with an affiliate or in invoking powers, rights or options pursuant to any agreement between us and our advisor or any of its affiliates.
Other Activities of Cole Advisors II and its Affiliates
      We will rely on Cole Advisors II for the day-to-day operation of our business pursuant to an advisory agreement. As a result of the interests of members of its management in other Cole-sponsored programs and the fact that they have also engaged and will continue to engage in other business activities, Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will have conflicts of interest in allocating their time between us and other Cole-sponsored programs and other activities in which they are involved. However, Cole Advisors II believes that it and its affiliates have sufficient personnel to discharge fully their responsibilities to all of the Cole-sponsored programs and other ventures in which they are involved.
      In addition, each of our executive officers, including Christopher H. Cole, who also serves as the chairman of our board of directors, also serves as an officer of our advisor, our property manager, our dealer manager and/or other affiliated entities. As a result, these individuals owe fiduciary duties to these other entities, which may conflict with the fiduciary duties that they owe to us and our stockholders.
      We may purchase properties or interests in properties from affiliates of Cole Advisors II. The prices we pay to affiliates of our advisor for these properties will not be the subject of arm’s-length negotiations, which could mean that the acquisitions may be on terms less favorable to us than those negotiated with unaffiliated parties. However, our charter provides that the purchase price of any property acquired from an affiliate may not exceed its fair market value as determined by a competent independent appraiser. In addition, the price must be approved by a majority of our directors who have no financial interest in the transaction, including a majority of our independent directors. If the price to us exceeds the cost paid by our affiliate, our board of directors must determine that there is substantial justification for the excess cost.
Competition in Acquiring, Leasing and Operating of Properties
      Conflicts of interest will exist to the extent that we may acquire properties in the same geographic areas where properties owned by other Cole-sponsored programs are located. In such a case, a conflict could arise in the leasing of properties in the event that we and another Cole-sponsored program were to compete for the same tenants in negotiating leases, or a conflict could arise in connection with the resale of properties in the event that we and another Cole-sponsored program were to attempt to sell similar properties at the same time. Conflicts of interest may also exist at such time as we or our affiliates managing property on our behalf seek to employ developers, contractors or building managers, as well as under other circumstances. Cole Advisors II will seek to reduce conflicts relating to the employment of developers, contractors or building managers by making prospective employees aware of all such properties seeking to employ such persons. In addition, Cole Advisors II will seek to reduce conflicts that may arise with respect to properties available for sale or rent by making prospective purchasers or tenants aware of all such properties. However, these conflicts cannot be fully avoided in that there may be established differing compensation arrangements for employees at different properties or differing terms for resales or leasing of the various properties.
Affiliated Dealer Manager
      Since Cole Capital Corporation, our dealer manager, is an affiliate of Cole Advisors II, we will not have the benefit of an independent due diligence review and investigation of the type normally performed by an unaffiliated, independent underwriter in connection with the offering of securities. See the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus.
Affiliated Property Manager
      We anticipate that properties we acquire will be managed and leased by our affiliated property manager, Fund Realty Advisors, pursuant to a property management and leasing agreement. Our agreement with Fund Realty Advisors has a one-year term, which may be renewed for an unlimited number of successive one-year terms upon the mutual consent of the parties. Each such renewal shall be for a term of no more than one year. It is the duty of our Board of Directors to evaluate the performance

66


Table of Contents

of the property manager annually before renewing the agreement. We may also terminate the agreement in the event of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of Fund Realty Advisors. We expect Fund Realty Advisors to also serve as property manager for properties owned by affiliated real estate programs, some of which may be in competition with our properties. Management fees to be paid to our property manager are based on a percentage of the rental income received by the managed properties. For a more detailed discussion of the anticipated fees to be paid for property management services, see the “Management — Affiliated Companies” section of this prospectus.
Lack of Separate Representation
      Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP acts, and may in the future act, as counsel to us, Cole Advisors II, Cole Capital Corporation and their affiliates in connection with this offering or otherwise. There is a possibility that in the future the interests of the various parties may become adverse, and under the Code of Professional Responsibility of the legal profession, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP may be precluded from representing any one or all of such parties. In the event that a dispute were to arise between us, Cole Advisors II, Cole Capital Corporation or any of their affiliates, separate counsel for such matters will be retained as and when appropriate.
Joint Ventures with Affiliates of Cole Advisors II
      We expect to enter into joint ventures with other Cole-sponsored programs (as well as other parties) for the acquisition, development or improvement of properties. See “Investment Objectives and Policies — Acquisition and Investment Policies — Joint Venture Investments.” Cole Advisors II and its affiliates may have conflicts of interest in determining that Cole-sponsored program should enter into any particular joint venture agreement. The co-venturer may have economic or business interests or goals which are or which may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. In addition, should any such joint venture be consummated, Cole Advisors II may face a conflict in structuring the terms of the relationship between our interests and the interest of the co-venturer and in managing the joint venture. Since Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will control both us and any affiliated co-venturer, agreements and transactions between the co-venturers with respect to any such joint venture will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiation of the type normally conducted between unrelated co-venturers.
Receipt of Fees and Other Compensation by Cole Advisors II and Its Affiliates
      A transaction involving the purchase and sale of properties may result in the receipt of commissions, fees and other compensation by Cole Advisors II and its affiliates, including acquisition and advisory fees, the dealer manager fee, property management and leasing fees, real estate brokerage commissions and participation in nonliquidating net sale proceeds. However, the fees and compensation payable to Cole Advisors II and its affiliates relating to the sale of properties will only payable after the return to the stockholders of their capital contributions plus cumulative returns on such capital. Subject to oversight by our board of directors, Cole Advisors II will have considerable discretion with respect to all decisions relating to the terms and timing of all transactions. Therefore, Cole Advisors II may have conflicts of interest concerning certain actions taken on our behalf, particularly due to the fact that such fees will generally be payable to Cole Advisors II and its affiliates regardless of the quality of the properties acquired or the services provided to us. See the “Management Compensation” section of this prospectus.
Certain Conflict Resolution Procedures
      Every transaction that we enter into with Cole Advisors II or its affiliates will be subject to an inherent conflict of interest. Our board of directors may encounter conflicts of interest in enforcing our rights against any affiliate in the event of a default by or disagreement with an affiliate or in invoking powers, rights or options pursuant to any agreement between us and Cole Advisors II or any of its affiliates.
      In order to reduce or eliminate certain potential conflicts of interest, our charter contains a number of restrictions relating to (1) transactions we enter into with Cole Advisors II and its affiliates, (2) certain

67


Table of Contents

future offerings, and (3) allocation of investment opportunities among affiliated entities. These restrictions include, among others, the following:
  •  We will not purchase or lease properties in which Cole Advisors II, any of our directors or any of their respective affiliates has an interest without a determination by a majority of the directors, including a majority of the independent directors, not otherwise interested in such transaction that such transaction is fair and reasonable to us and at a price to us no greater than the cost of the property to the seller or lessor unless there is substantial justification for any amount that exceeds such cost and such excess amount is determined to be reasonable. In no event will we acquire any such property at an amount in excess of its appraised value. We will not sell or lease properties to Cole Advisors II, any of our directors or any of their respective affiliates unless a majority of the directors, including a majority of the independent directors not otherwise interested in the transaction, determines that the transaction is fair and reasonable to us.
 
  •  We will not make any loans to Cole Advisors II, any of our directors or any of their respective affiliates, except that we may make or invest in mortgage loans involving Cole Advisors II, our directors or their respective affiliates, provided that an appraisal of the underlying property is obtained from an independent appraiser and the transaction is approved as fair and reasonable to us and on terms no less favorable to us than those available from third parties. In addition, Cole Advisors II, any of our directors and any of their respective affiliates will not make loans to us or to joint ventures in which we are a joint venture partner unless approved by a majority of the directors, including a majority of the independent directors not otherwise interested in the transaction as fair, competitive and commercially reasonable, and no less favorable to us than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties.
 
  •  Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will be entitled to reimbursement, at cost, for actual expenses incurred by them on behalf of us or joint ventures in which we are a joint venture partner; provided, however, Cole Advisors II must reimburse us for the amount, if any, by which our total operating expenses, including the advisor asset management fee, paid during the previous fiscal year exceeded the greater of: (i) 2.0% of our average invested assets for that fiscal year, or (ii) 25.0% of our net income, before any additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves and before any gain from the sale of our assets, for that fiscal year.
 
  •  In the event that an investment opportunity becomes available that is suitable, under all of the factors considered by Cole Advisors II, for both us and one or more other entities affiliated with Cole Advisors II, and for which more than one of such entities has sufficient uninvested funds, then the entity that has had the longest period of time elapse since it was offered an investment opportunity will first be offered such investment opportunity. It will be the duty of our board of directors, including the independent directors, to insure that this method is applied fairly to us. In determining whether or not an investment opportunity is suitable for more than one program, Cole Advisors II, subject to approval by our board of directors, shall examine, among others, the following factors:
  •  the anticipated cash flow of the property to be acquired and the cash requirements of each program;
 
  •  the effect of the acquisition both on diversification of each program’s investments by type of property, geographic area and tenant concentration;
 
  •  the policy of each program relating to leverage of properties;
 
  •  the income tax effects of the purchase to each program;
 
  •  the size of the investment; and
 
  •  the amount of funds available to each program and the length of time such funds have been available for investment.
  •  If a subsequent development, such as a delay in the closing of a property or a delay in the construction of a property, causes any such investment, in the opinion of Cole Advisors II, to be

68


Table of Contents

  more appropriate for a program other than the program that committed to make the investment, Cole Advisors II may determine that another program affiliated with Cole Advisors II or its affiliates will make the investment. Our board of directors has a duty to ensure that the method used by Cole Advisors II for the allocation of the acquisition of properties by two or more affiliated programs seeking to acquire similar types of properties is applied fairly to us.
 
  •  We will not accept goods or services from Cole Advisors II or its affiliates or enter into any other transaction with Cole Advisors II or its affiliates unless a majority of our directors, including a majority of the independent directors, not otherwise interested in the transaction approve such transaction as fair and reasonable to us and on terms and conditions not less favorable to us than those available from unaffiliated third parties.
      The following chart shows the ownership structure of the various Cole entities that are affiliated with Cole Advisors II.
(CHART)
 
(1)  Christopher H. Cole, our chairman, chief executive officer and president, owns 99% of the membership interests, and Cole Holdings Corporation owns 1% of the membership interests, of Cole Capital Partners.
 
(2)  The investors will own registered shares of common stock in Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc.
 
(3)  Cole Holdings Corporation currently owns 20,000 shares of our common stock. The amount shown is prior to this offering. After the offering, Cole Holdings Corporation will own between 7.4% of our common stock, assuming a minimum offering, and 0.04% of our common stock, assuming a maximum offering, including the sale of 5,000,000 shares under our distribution reinvestment plan.

69


Table of Contents

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
General
      We intend to invest in commercial real estate properties. Our primary investment objectives are:
  •  to provide current income for you through the payment of cash distributions; and
 
  •  to preserve and return your capital contributions.
      We also seek capital gain from our investments. You may be able to obtain a return on all or a portion of your capital contribution in connection with the sale of your shares if we list our shares on an exchange. We cannot assure you that we will attain any of these objectives. See “Risk Factors.”
      We will seek to list our shares of common stock for trading on a national securities exchange or for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market only if a majority of our independent directors believe listing would be in the best interest of our stockholders. We do not intend to list our shares at this time. We do not anticipate that there will be any market for our common stock until our shares are listed or quoted. In making the decision to apply for listing of our shares or provide other forms of liquidity, such as selling our properties and other assets either on a portfolio basis or individually or engaging in a business combination transaction, our board of directors will evaluate whether listing the shares, liquidating or another transaction would result in greater value for our stockholders. It cannot be determined at this time the circumstances, if any, under which the board of directors would determine to list the shares. If we do not list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange or include them for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market by the tenth anniversary of the termination or completion of this offering, our charter requires that we either:
  •  seek stockholder approval of an extension or amendment of this listing deadline; or
 
  •  seek stockholder approval to adopt a plan of liquidation of the corporation.
      If we sought and did not obtain stockholder approval of an extension or amendment to the listing deadline, we would then be required to seek stockholder approval of our plan of liquidation. If we sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of our plan of liquidation, our charter would not require us to list or liquidate, and we would continue to operate as before. In such event, there will be no public market for shares of our common stock and you may be required to hold the shares indefinitely. If we sought and obtained stockholder approval of our plan of liquidation, we would begin an orderly sale of our properties and distribute our net proceeds to our investors.
      Our board of directors may revise our investment policies, which we describe in more detail below, without the concurrence of our stockholders. Our independent directors will review our investment policies, which we discuss in detail below, at least annually to determine that our policies are in the best interest of our stockholders.
Acquisition and Investment Policies
Types of Investments
      We intend to invest primarily in high quality, income-generating retail properties, net leased to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants. Our investments may be direct investments in such properties or in other entities that own or invest in, directly or indirectly, interests in such properties. We will seek to acquire a portfolio of real estate that is diversified by geographical location and by type and size of property. We anticipate that our properties will consist of real estate primarily improved for use as retail establishments, principally freestanding, single-tenant retail properties.
      Many of our properties will be leased to tenants in the chain or franchise retail industry, including but not limited to convenience stores, drug stores and restaurant properties. Our advisor intends to monitor industry trends and invest in properties that serve to provide the most favorable return balanced with risk. Our management will target primarily retail businesses with established track records. Because this

70


Table of Contents

industry is highly property dependent, our advisor believes it offers highly competitive sale-leaseback investment opportunities.
      We believe that our focus on the acquisition of freestanding, retail properties net leased to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants presents lower investment risks and greater stability than other sectors of today’s commercial real estate market. Unlike funds that invest in a limited number of multi-tenant properties, we plan to acquire a diversified portfolio with a large number of single-tenant properties. As a result, lower than expected results of operations from one or a few investments will not necessarily preclude our ability to realize our investment objectives of cash flow and preservation of capital from our overall portfolio. Our management believes that freestanding retail properties, as opposed to investments in shopping centers, malls or other large retail complexes as a whole, offer a distinct investment advantage since these properties generally offer superior locations that are less dependent on the financial stability of adjoining tenants. In addition, since we intend to acquire properties that are geographically diverse, we expect to minimize the potential adverse impact of economic downturns in local markets. Our management believes that a portfolio consisting primarily of freestanding, single-tenant retail properties, net leased to creditworthy tenants diversified geographically and by brand and number of tenants will enhance our liquidity opportunities for investors by making the sale of individual properties, multiple properties or our investment portfolio as a whole attractive to institutional investors and by making a possible listing of our shares attractive to the public investment community.
      To the extent feasible, we will seek to achieve a well-balanced portfolio diversified by geographic location, age of the property and lease maturity. We will pursue properties whose tenants represent a variety of industries so as to avoid concentration in any one industry. We expect these industries to include all types of retail establishments, convenience stores, drug stores and restaurant properties. We expect that tenants of our properties will also be diversified between national, regional and local brands. We will generally target properties with lease terms in excess of ten years. We may acquire properties with shorter terms if the property is in an attractive location, if the property is difficult to replace, or if the property has other significant favorable attributes. We expect that these investments will provide long-term value by virtue of their size, location, quality and condition and lease characteristics. We currently expect all of our acquisitions will be in the United States.
      Many retail companies today are entering into sale-leaseback arrangements as a strategy for applying more capital that would otherwise be applied to their real estate holdings to their core operating businesses. We believe that our investment strategy will enable us to take advantage of the increased emphasis on retailers’ core business operations in today’s competitive corporate environment as retailers attempt to divest from real estate assets.
      There is no limitation in the number, size or type of properties that we may acquire or on the percentage of net proceeds of this offering that may be invested in a single property. The number and mix of properties will depend upon real estate market conditions and other circumstances existing at the time of acquisition of properties and the amount of proceeds raised in this offering. For a further description, see the section titled “- Other Possible Investments” below.
      We intend to incur debt to acquire properties where our board determines that incurring such debt is in our best interest. In addition, from time to time, we may acquire some properties without financing and later incur mortgage debt secured by selected or all of such properties if favorable financing terms are available. We will use the proceeds from such loans to acquire additional properties. See “- Borrowing Policies” under this section for a more detailed explanation of our borrowing intentions and limitations.
Investment Grade and Other Creditworthy Tenants
      In evaluating potential property acquisitions consistent with our investment objectives, we will apply credit underwriting criteria to the tenants of existing properties and when re-leasing properties in our portfolio. Tenants of our properties will typically be large national or super-regional retail chains that are creditworthy entities having significant net worth and operating income. Generally these tenants must be

71


Table of Contents

experienced multi-unit operators with a proven track record in order to meet the credit tests applied by our advisor.
      A tenant will be considered “investment grade” when the tenant has a debt rating by Moody’s of Baa3 or better or a credit rating by Standard & Poor’s of BBB- or better, or its payments are guaranteed by a company with such rating.
      Moody’s ratings are opinions of future relative creditworthiness based on an evaluation of franchise value, financial statement analysis and management quality. The rating given to a debt obligation describes the level of risk associated with receiving full and timely payment of principal and interest on that specific debt obligation and how that risk compares with that of all other debt obligations. The rating, therefore, measures the ability of a company to generate cash in the future.
      A Moody’s debt rating of Baa3, which is the lowest investment grade rating given by Moody’s, is assigned to companies with adequate financial security. However, certain protective elements may be lacking or may be unreliable over any given period of time. A Moody’s debt rating of Aaa, which is the highest investment grade rating given by Moody’s, is assigned to companies with exceptional financial security. Thus, investment grade tenants will be judged by Moody’s to have at least adequate financial security, and will in some cases have exceptional financial security.
      Standard & Poor’s assigns a credit rating to both companies as a whole and to each issuance or class of a company’s debt. A Standard & Poor’s credit rating of BBB-, which is the lowest investment grade rating given by Standard & Poor’s, is assigned to companies that exhibit adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the company to meet its financial commitments. A Standard & Poor’s credit rating of AAA+, which is the highest investment grade rating given by Standard & Poor’s, is assigned to companies or issuances with extremely strong capacities to meet their financial commitments. Thus, investment grade tenants will be judged by Standard & Poor’s to have at least adequate protection parameters, and will in some cases have extremely strong financial positions.
      Other creditworthy tenants are tenants with financial profiles that our advisor believes meet our investment objectives. In making such determination, our advisor will look to factors that may include the financial condition of the tenant and/or guarantor, the operating history of the property with such tenant, the tenant’s market share and track record within its industry segment, the general health and outlook of the tenant’s industry segment, and the lease length and terms at the time of the acquisition.
Description of Leases
      We typically purchase properties with existing leases, and when spaces become vacant or existing leases expire we anticipate entering into “net” leases. “Net” leases means leases that typically require that tenants pay all or a majority of the operating expenses, including real estate taxes, special assessments and sales and use taxes, utilities, insurance and building repairs related to the property, in addition to the lease payments. There are various forms of net leases, typically classified as triple net, double net and bondable. Triple net and bondable leases typically require the tenant to pay typically all costs associated with a property in addition to the base rent and percentage rent, if any. Double net leases typically have the landlord responsible for the roof and structure of the building while the tenant is responsible for all remaining expenses associated with the real estate. Since each lease is an individually negotiated contract between two or more parties, each contract will have different obligations of both the landlord and tenant. Many large national tenants have standard lease forms that generally do not vary from property to property, and we will have limited ability to revise the terms of leases to those tenants. At this time, the various obligations of the landlord and tenant under the leases to be associated with our properties have not been determined.
      We anticipate that the leases will have terms in excess of ten years. We may acquire properties under which the lease term has partially run. We may acquire properties with shorter terms if the property is in an attractive location, if the property is difficult to replace, or if the property has other significant favorable

72


Table of Contents

real estate attributes. Under the leases, tenants will pay a predetermined annual base rent. Some of the leases also will contain provisions that increase the amount of base rent payable at points during the lease term and/or percentage rent that can be calculated by a number of factors. Under net leases, the tenants generally will be required to pay the real estate taxes, insurance, utilities and common area maintenance charges associated with the properties. In addition, we will generally require that each tenant pay the cost of the liability insurance covering the property or provide such coverage. The third party liability coverage will insure, among others, our company, our operating partnership, and any entity formed by us to hold the property. Each tenant will also obtain, at its own expense, property insurance naming the above parties as the insured party for fire and other casualty losses in an amount that will generally be equal to the full replacement value of such property. Our tenants will be required to obtain our advisor’s approval of all such insurance.
      In general, leases may not be assigned or subleased without our prior written consent. The original tenant generally will remain fully liable under the lease unless we release that tenant.
Other Possible Investments
      Although we expect that most of our property acquisitions will be of the type described above, we may make other investments. For example, we are not limited to investments in single-tenant retail properties or properties leased to investment grade tenants. We may invest in other commercial properties, such as shopping centers, business and industrial parks, manufacturing facilities, office buildings and warehouse and distribution facilities, or in other entities that make such investments or own such properties, in order to reduce overall portfolio risks or enhance overall portfolio returns if our advisor determines that it would be advantageous to do so. Further, to the extent that our advisor determines it is in our best interest, due to the state of the real estate market, in order to diversify our investment portfolio or otherwise, we will make or invest in mortgage loans secured by the same types of commercial properties that we intend to acquire. It is the policy of our board of directors to limit our investments in properties other than freestanding, single-tenant retail properties to 20% of our investment portfolio.
      Our criteria for investing in mortgage loans will be substantially the same as those involved in our investment in properties.
      We do not intend to make loans to other persons (other than mortgage loans), to underwrite securities of other issuers or to engage in the purchase and sale of any types of investments other than interests in real estate.
Investment Decisions
      Cole Advisors II will have substantial discretion with respect to the selection of specific investments and the purchase and sale of our properties, subject to the approval of our board of directors. In pursuing our investment objectives and making investment decisions for us, Cole Advisors II will evaluate the proposed terms of the purchase against all aspects of the transaction, including the condition and financial performance of the property, the terms of existing leases and the creditworthiness of the tenant, terms of the lease and property and location characteristics. Because the factors considered, including the specific weight we place on each factor, will vary for each potential investment, we do not, and are not able to, assign a specific weight or level of importance to any particular factor.
      In addition to procuring and reviewing an independent valuation estimate and property condition report, our advisor will also consider the following:
  •  unit level store performance
  •  property location, visibility and access
  •  age of the property, physical condition and curb appeal
  •  neighboring property uses
  •  local market conditions including vacancy rates
  •  area demographics, including trade area population and average household income

73


Table of Contents

  •  neighborhood growth patterns and economic conditions
  •  presence of demand generators
      Our advisor will consider whether properties leased and/or guaranteed by companies that maintain an investment grade rating by either Standard and Poor’s or Moody’s Investor Services. Our advisor will also consider non-rated and non-investment grade rated tenants that we consider creditworthy, as described in “Investment Grade and Other Creditworthy Tenants” above.
      Our advisor will carefully review the terms of each existing lease by considering various factors, including:
  •  rent escalations;
  •  remaining lease term
  •  renewal option terms
  •  tenant purchase options
  •  termination options
  •  scope of the landlord’s maintenance, repair and replacement requirements
  •  projected net cash flow yield
  •  projected internal rates of return
Conditions to Closing Our Acquisitions
      Generally, we will condition our obligation to close the purchase of any investment on the delivery and verification of certain documents from the seller or developer, including, where appropriate:
  •  plans and specifications
  •  surveys
  •  evidence of marketable title, subject to such liens and encumbrances as are acceptable to Cole Advisors II
  •  financial statements covering recent operations of properties having operating histories
  •  title and liability insurance policies
  •  tenant estoppel certificates
      We generally will not purchase any property unless and until we also obtain what is generally referred to as a “Phase I” environmental site assessment and are generally satisfied with the environmental status of the property. However, we may purchase a property without obtaining such assessment if our advisor determines it is not warranted. A Phase I environmental site assessment basically consists of a visual survey of the building and the property in an attempt to identify areas of potential environmental concerns, visually observing neighboring properties to asses surface conditions or activities that may have an adverse environmental impact on the property, and contacting local governmental agency personnel who perform a regulatory agency file search in an attempt to determine any known environmental concerns in the immediate identity of the property. A Phase I environmental site assessment does not generally include any sampling or testing of soil, ground water or building materials from the property and may not reveal all environmental hazards on a property.
      We may enter into arrangements with the seller or developer of a suitable property being developed or constructed. In such cases, we will be obligated to purchase the property at the completion of construction, provided that the construction conforms to definitive plans, specifications, and costs approved by us in advance. We would receive a certificate of an architect, engineer or other appropriate party, stating that the property complies with all plans and specifications. If renovation or remodeling is required prior to the purchase of a property, we expect to pay a negotiated maximum amount upon completion. We do not currently intend to construct or develop properties or to render any services in connection with such development or construction.
      In determining whether to purchase a particular property, we may, in accordance with customary practices, obtain an option on such property. The amount paid for an option, if any, is normally

74


Table of Contents

surrendered if the property is not purchased and is normally credited against the purchase price if the property is purchased.
Ownership Structure
      Our investment in real estate generally will take the form of holding fee title or a long-term leasehold estate. We will acquire such interests either directly through our operating partnership, or indirectly through limited liability companies or through investments in joint ventures, partnerships, co-tenancies or other co-ownership arrangements with the developers of the properties, affiliates of Cole Advisors II or other persons. See “Our Operating Partnership Agreement” and “— Joint Venture Investments” sections below. In addition, we may purchase properties and lease them back to the sellers of such properties. While we will use our best efforts to structure any such sale-leaseback transaction so that the lease will be characterized as a “true lease” and that we will be treated as the owner of the property for federal income tax purposes, we cannot assure you that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge this characterization. In the event that any sale-leaseback transaction is re-characterized as a financing transaction for federal income tax purposes, deductions for depreciation and cost recovery relating to such property would be disallowed. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Sale-Leaseback Transactions.”
Joint Venture Investments
      We may enter into joint ventures, partnerships, co-tenancies and other co-ownership arrangements for the acquisition, development or improvement of properties with affiliates of our advisor, including other real estate programs sponsored by affiliates of our advisor. We may also enter into such arrangements with real estate developers, owners and other unaffiliated third parties. In determining whether to invest in a particular arrangement of this type, Cole Advisors II will evaluate the real property that such joint venture or other entity owns or is being formed to own under the same criteria described above in “— Investment Decisions” for the selection of our real estate property investments.
      Our policy is to invest in joint ventures only when we will have a right of first refusal to purchase the co-venturer’s interest in the joint venture if the co-venturer elects to sell such interest. In the event that the co-venturer elects to sell property held in any such joint venture, however, we may not have sufficient funds to exercise our right of first refusal to buy the other co-venturer’s interest in the property held by the joint venture. In the event that any joint venture with an affiliated entity holds interests in more than one property, the interest in each such property may be specially allocated based upon the respective proportion of funds invested by each co-venturer in each such property.
      Cole Advisors II may have conflicts of interest in determining which Cole-sponsored program should enter into any particular joint venture agreement. The co-venturer may have economic or business interests or goals that are or may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. In addition, Cole Advisors II may face a conflict in structuring the terms of the relationship between our interests and the interest of the affiliated co-venturer and in managing the joint venture. Since Cole Advisors II and its affiliates will control both the affiliated co-venturer and, to a certain extent, us, agreements and transactions between the co-venturers with respect to any such joint venture will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiation of the type normally conducted between unrelated co-venturers, which may result in the co-venturer receiving benefits greater than the benefits that we receive. In addition, we may have liabilities that exceed the percentage of our investment in the joint venture.
      We may enter into joint ventures with other Cole real estate programs only if a majority of our directors not otherwise interested in the transaction and a majority of our independent directors approve the transaction as being fair and reasonable to us. In addition, the investment by each joint venture partner must be substantially on the same terms and conditions as those received by other joint venturers.
Borrowing Policies
      Our advisor believes that utilizing borrowing is consistent with our investment objective of maximizing the return to investors. By operating on a leveraged basis, we will have more funds available for investment

75


Table of Contents

in properties. This will allow us to make more investments than would otherwise be possible, resulting in a more diversified portfolio. Our use of leverage increases the risk of default on the mortgage payments and a resulting foreclosure of a particular property, as described in the “Risk Factors — General Risks Related to Investments in Real Estate” section of this prospectus. The number of properties that we can acquire will be affected by the amount of funds available to us. Accordingly, borrowing funds will allow us to increase our diversification. There is no limitation on the amount we may borrow against any single improved property. However, under our charter, we are required to limit our borrowings to 60% of the greater of cost (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves) or fair market value of our gross assets, unless excess borrowing is approved by a majority of the independent directors and will be disclosed to our stockholders in our next quarterly report, along with a justification for such excess borrowing. We expect that during the period of this offering we will request that our independent directors approve borrowings in excess of this limitation since we will then be in the process of raising our equity capital to acquire our portfolio. However, we anticipate that our overall leverage following our offering stage will be within our charter limit. To the extent that we do not obtain mortgage loans on our properties, our ability to acquire additional properties will be restricted.
      Our advisor will use its best efforts to obtain financing on the most favorable terms available to us. All of our financing arrangements must be approved by a majority of our board members including a majority of our independent directors. Lenders may have recourse to assets not securing the repayment of the indebtedness. Our advisor may refinance properties during the term of a loan only in limited circumstances, such as when a decline in interest rates makes it beneficial to prepay an existing mortgage, when an existing mortgage matures or if an attractive investment becomes available and the proceeds from the refinancing can be used to purchase such investment. The benefits of the refinancing may include increased cash flow resulting from reduced debt service requirements, an increase in dividend distributions from proceeds of the refinancing, if any, and an increase in property ownership is some refinancing proceeds are reinvested in real estate.
      Our ability to increase our diversification through borrowing may be adversely impacted if banks and other lending institutions reduce the amount of funds available for loans secured by real estate. When interest rates on mortgage loans are high or financing is otherwise unavailable on a timely basis, we may purchase certain properties for cash with the intention of obtaining a mortgage loan for a portion of the purchase price at a later time. To the extent that we do not obtain mortgage loans on our properties, our ability to acquire additional properties will be restricted.
      We may not borrow money from any of our directors or from our advisor or its affiliates unless such loan is approved by a majority of the directors not otherwise interested in the transaction (including a majority of the independent directors) as fair, competitive and commercially reasonable and no less favorable to us than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties.
Making Loans and Investments in Mortgages
      Our criteria for investing in mortgage loans will be substantially the same as those involved in our investment in properties. We are not limited as to the amount of gross offering proceeds that we may apply to mortgage loan investments.
      We will not make loans to other entities or other persons unless secured by mortgages. We will not make or invest in mortgage loans on any one property if the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans outstanding on the property, including our borrowings, would exceed an amount equal to 85.0% of the appraised value of the property as determined by an independent third party appraiser, unless we find substantial justification due to the presence of other underwriting criteria. We may find such justification in connection with the purchase of mortgage loans in cases in which we believe there is a high probability of our foreclosure upon the property in order to acquire the underlying assets and in which the cost of the mortgage loan investment does not exceed the fair market value of the underlying property. We will not invest in or make mortgage loans unless an appraisal is obtained concerning the underlying property, except for those loans insured or guaranteed by a government or government agency. In cases in which a

76


Table of Contents

majority of our independent directors so determine and in the event the transaction is with our advisor, any of our directors or their respective affiliates, the appraisal will be obtained from a certified independent appraiser to support its determination of fair market value.
      We may invest in first, second and third mortgage loans, wraparound mortgage loans, construction mortgage loans on real property, and loans on leasehold interest mortgages. However, we will not make or invest in any mortgage loans that are subordinate to any mortgage or equity interest of our advisor or any of its or our, affiliates. We also may invest in participations in mortgage loans. Second and wraparound mortgage loans are secured by second or wraparound deeds of trust on real property that is already subject to prior mortgage indebtedness. A wraparound loan is one or more junior mortgage loans having a principal amount equal to the outstanding balance under the existing mortgage loan, plus the amount actually to be advanced under the wraparound mortgage loan. Under a wraparound loan, we would generally make principal and interest payments on behalf of the borrower to the holders of the prior mortgage loans. Third mortgage loans are secured by third deeds of trust on real property that is already subject to prior first and second mortgage indebtedness. Construction loans are loans made for either original development or renovation of property. Construction loans in which we would generally consider an investment would be secured by first deeds of trust on real property for terms of six months to two years. Loans on leasehold interests are secured by an assignment of the borrower’s leasehold interest in the particular real property. These loans are generally for terms of from six months to 15 years. The leasehold interest loans are either amortized over a period that is shorter than the lease term or have a maturity date prior to the date the lease terminates. These loans would generally permit us to cure any default under the lease. Mortgage participation investments are investments in partial interests of mortgages of the type described above that are made and administered by third-party mortgage lenders. Generally, we will not invest in any mortgage loans, including those described above, on any one property if the aggregate amount of mortgage loans outstanding on the property, including our loans, would exceed an amount equal to 85% of the appraised value of the property.
      In evaluating prospective mortgage loan investments, our advisor will consider factors such as the following:
  •  ratio of the investment amount to the underlying property’s value
  •  property’s potential for capital appreciation
  •  expected levels of rental and occupancy rates
  •  current and projected cash flow of the property
  •  potential for rent increases
  •  degree of liquidity of the investment
  •  property’s income-producing capacity
  •  quality, experience and creditworthiness of the borrower
  •  general economic conditions in the area where the property is located
      In addition, we will seek to obtain a customary lender’s title insurance policy or commitment as to the priority of the mortgage or condition of the title. Because the factors considered, including the specific weight we place on each factor, will vary for each prospective mortgage loan investment, we do not, and are not able to, assign a specific weight or level of importance to any particular factor.
      We may originate loans from mortgage brokers or personal solicitations of suitable borrowers, or may purchase existing loans that were originated by other lenders. We may purchase existing mortgage loans from affiliates, and we may make or invest in mortgage loans in which the borrower is an affiliate. See “Conflicts of Interest.” Our advisor will evaluate all potential mortgage loan investments to determine if the security for the loan and the loan-to-value ratio meets our investment criteria and objectives. An officer, director, agent or employee of our advisor will inspect the property during the loan approval process. We do not expect to make or invest in mortgage loans with a maturity of more than ten years from the date of our investment, and we anticipate that most loans will have a term of five years. Most loans that we will consider for investment would provide for monthly payments of interest and some may also provide for principal amortization, although many loans of the nature that we will consider provide for

77


Table of Contents

payments of interest only and a payment of principal in full at the end of the loan term. We will not originate loans with negative amortization provisions.
      We do not have any policies directing the portion of our assets that may be invested in construction loans, loans secured by leasehold interests and second, third and wraparound mortgage loans. However, we recognize that these types of loans are riskier than first deeds of trust or first priority mortgages on income-producing, fee-simple properties, and we expect to minimize the amount of these types of loans in our portfolio, to the extent that that we make or invest in mortgage loans. Our advisor will evaluate the fact that these types of loans are riskier in determining the rate of interest on the loans. We do not have any policy that limits the amount that we may invest in any single mortgage loan or the amount we may invest in mortgage loans to any one borrower.
      Our mortgage loan investments may be subject to regulation by federal, state and local authorities and subject to various laws and judicial and administrative decisions imposing various requirements and restrictions, including among other things, regulating credit granting activities, establishing maximum interest rates and finance charges, requiring disclosures to customers, governing secured transactions and setting collection, repossession and claims handling procedures and other trade practices. In addition, certain states have enacted legislation requiring the licensing of mortgage bankers or other lenders and these requirements may affect our ability to effectuate our proposed investments in mortgage loans. Commencement of operations in these or other jurisdictions may be dependent upon a finding of our financial responsibility, character and fitness. We may determine not to make mortgage loans in any jurisdiction in which the regulatory authority determines that we have not complied in all material respects with applicable requirements.
Acquisition of Properties from Affiliates
      We may acquire properties or interests in properties from or in co-ownership arrangements with affiliated entities, including properties acquired from affiliates engaged in construction and development of commercial real properties. We will not acquire any property from an affiliate unless a majority of our directors not otherwise interested in the transaction and a majority of our independent directors determine that the transaction is fair and reasonable to us. The purchase price that we will pay for any property we acquire from our affiliates, including property developed by an affiliate as well as property held by an affiliate that has already been developed, will not exceed the current appraised value of the property. In addition, the price of the property we acquire from an affiliate may not exceed the cost of the property to our affiliate, unless a majority of our directors and a majority of our independent directors determine that substantial justification for the excess exists and the excess is reasonable.
      In the case of properties we acquire from an affiliate that have not been constructed at the time of contracting, our affiliate will generally be required to obtain an independent “as built” appraisal for the property prior to our contracting for the property, in which case the purchase price we will pay under the purchase contract will not exceed the anticipated fair market value of the developed property as determined by the appraisal. Our contract with any affiliate engaged in development of properties for sale to us will require it to deliver to us at closing title to the property, as well as an assignment of leases.
      In the case of properties to be developed by any of our affiliates and sold to us, if any of our affiliates develop properties, we anticipate that our development company affiliate will:
  •  acquire a parcel of land;
  •  enter into contracts for the construction and development of a commercial building thereon;
  •  enter into an agreement with one or more tenants to lease all or a majority of the property upon its completion;
  •  secure an earnest money deposit from us, which may be used for acquisition and development expenses;
  •  secure a financing commitment from a commercial bank or other institutional lender to finance the remaining acquisition and development expenses;

78


Table of Contents

  •  complete the development and allow the tenant or tenants to take possession of the property; and
  •  provide for the acquisition of the property by us.
      We will be required to pay a substantial sum to our development company affiliate at the time of entering into the contract as a refundable earnest money deposit to be credited against the purchase price at closing, which will be applied to the cost of acquiring the land and initial development costs. We expect that the earnest money deposit will represent approximately 20.0% to 30.0% of the purchase price of the developed property set forth in the purchase contract.
      We may enter into a contract to acquire property from an affiliate engaged in property development even if we have not yet raised sufficient proceeds to enable us to pay the full amount of the purchase price at closing. We may also elect to close a purchase before the development of the property has been completed, in which case we would obtain an assignment of the construction and development contracts from our affiliate and would complete the construction either directly or through a joint venture with an affiliate. Any contract between us, directly or indirectly through a joint venture with an affiliate, and an affiliated development company for the purchase of property to be developed will provide that we will be obligated to purchase the property only if:
  •  the affiliated development company completes the improvements, which generally will include the completion of the development, in accordance with the specifications of the contract;
  •  one or more approved tenants takes possession of the building under a lease satisfactory to our advisor; and
  •  we have sufficient proceeds available for investment at closing to pay the balance of the purchase price remaining after payment of the earnest money deposit.
      Our advisor will not cause us to enter into a contract to acquire property from an affiliated development company if it does not reasonably anticipate that funds will be available to purchase the property at the time of closing. If we enter into a contract to acquire property from an affiliated development company and, at the time for closing, are unable to purchase the property because we do not have sufficient proceeds available for investment, we will not be required to close the purchase of the property and will be entitled to a refund of our earnest money deposit from the affiliated development company. Because the affiliated development company may be an entity without substantial assets or operations, our board of directors may require that the affiliated development company’s obligation to refund our earnest money deposit be guaranteed by another entity, such as Fund Realty Advisors, our affiliated property manager, which provides property management and leasing services to various Cole programs, including us, for substantial monthly fees. As of the time Fund Realty Advisors or any other guarantor may be required to perform under any guaranty, we cannot assure you that such guarantor will have sufficient assets to refund all of our earnest money deposit in a lump sum payment. In such a case, we would be required to accept installment payments over time payable out of the revenues of the guarantor’s operations. We cannot assure you that we would be able to collect the entire amount of our earnest money deposit under such circumstances. See “Risk Factors — General Risks Related to Investments in Real Estate.”
Tenant-in-Common Program
      Persons selling real estate held for investment often seek to reinvest the proceeds of that sale in another real estate investment in an effort to obtain favorable tax treatment under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. Cole Capital Partners, an affiliate of our advisor, has developed a Tenant-in-Common Program to facilitate these transactions, referred to as like-kind exchanges. For each Tenant-in-Common Program, Cole Capital Partners or another Cole affiliate will create a single member limited liability company (each of which we refer to as a Cole Exchange Entity). A Cole Exchange Entity will acquire all or part of a real estate property to be owned in co-tenancy arrangements with persons wishing to engage in like-kind exchanges (Tenant-in-Common Participants). Generally, a Cole Exchange Entity will acquire the subject property and prepare and, through a registered broker-dealer, market a private placement memorandum for the sale of co-tenancy interests in that property. In many instances, affiliates

79


Table of Contents

of our advisor will sell or contribute a property to a Cole Exchange Entity for the purpose of selling off the property. Properties acquired in connection with the Tenant-in-Common Program, if any, initially may be partially or entirely financed with debt. When a Section 1031 Tenant-in-Common Participant wishes to acquire a co-tenancy interest, the Cole Exchange Entity will deed an undivided co-tenancy interest in the subject property to a newly formed single-member limited liability company that is owned by the Tenant-in-Common Participant. Typically, multiple investors will acquire co-tenancy interests in a single property. In a substantial majority of these transactions, the underlying property serves as collateral for the mortgage loan used to finance the purchase of the property. To the extent the loan is not repaid in full as part of the Tenant-in-Common Program, the loan remains outstanding after the sale of the co-tenancy interests to the Tenant-in-Common Participants. Each co-tenant is a borrower under the loan financing documents. However, these loans generally are non-recourse against the Tenant-in-Common Participants and are secured by the real property. However, the Tenant-in-Common Participants are required to indemnify and become liable to the lender for customer/carve-outs under the loan financing documents, including but not limited to fraud or intentional misrepresentation by a co-tenant or a guarantor of the loan, physical waste of the property, misapplication or misappropriation of insurance proceeds and failure to pay taxes.
      Although we do not presently intend to participate in a Tenant-in-Common Program, we may do so if our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, determines that our participation is in the best interest of our stockholders. In the event that our board of directors determines that it is in our best interest to participate in the Tenant-in-Common Program, we may co-invest in the property with the Cole Exchange Entity by purchasing an interest in the property directly from the original seller or purchasing a tenant-in-common interest from the Cole Exchange Entity. In that event, as an owner of tenant-in-common interests in properties, we will be subject to the risks that ownership of co-tenancy interests with unrelated third parties entails. Furthermore, to the extent we guarantee any loans associated with the properties that are subject to the Tenant-in-Common Programs, we, as well as the co-tenants, will become liable for the lender’s customary carve-outs under the applicable mortgage loan financing documents, including but not limited to fraud or intentional misrepresentation by a co-tenant or a guarantor of the loan, physical waste of the property, misapplication or misappropriation of insurance proceeds, and failure to pay taxes.
      We may co-invest with or purchase tenant-in-common interests from a Cole Exchange Entity only if a majority of our directors not otherwise interested in the transaction and a majority of our independent directors approves of the transaction as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable to us. We anticipate that in the event we purchase a tenant-in-common interest from a Cole Exchange Entity, generally we will purchase the interest at the Cole Exchange Entity’s cost (before offering expenses and fees). However, if the price to us is in excess of the cost of the asset paid by our affiliate, a majority of our directors not otherwise interested in the transaction and a majority of our independent directors must determine that substantial justification for such excess exists and that such excess is reasonable. In no event shall the cost of such asset to us exceed the greater of the Cole Exchange Entity’s cost or the current appraised value for the property interest performed by an independent appraiser.
      Although the Cole Exchange Entity will charge fees and expenses to Tenant-in-Common Participants and/or will sell the tenant-in-common interests at a price above the price it paid for the property, we will not pay any fees or expenses to the Cole Exchange Entity. We will, however, pay our advisor the acquisition and advisory fees and reimburse the advisor for its expenses as described under “Management Compensation” to the same extent as with other types of property acquisitions.
      All purchasers of co-tenancy interests, including our operating partnership if it purchases co-tenancy interests, will be required to execute a tenants-in-common agreement with the other purchasers of co-tenancy interests in that particular property. They will also be required to execute an asset management agreement with Equity Fund Advisors, our affiliate, which would provide for the payment of asset management and leasing fees to Equity Fund Advisors. If we purchase co-tenancy interests, we will be subject to various risks associated with co-tenancy arrangements which are not otherwise present in real

80


Table of Contents

estate investments, such as the risk that the interests of the non-affiliated Tenant-in-Common Participants will become adverse to our interests.
      In any Tenant-in-Common Program, Cole Capital Partners, the Cole Exchange Entity, or the other Tenant-in-Common Participants may have economic or business interests or goals that are or may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. For instance, Cole Capital Partners will receive substantial fees in connection with its sponsoring of a Tenant-in-Common Program (although we will be required to pay such fees) and our participation in such a transaction likely would facilitate its consummation of the transactions. For these reasons, our advisor may face a conflict in structuring the terms of the relationship between our interests and the interest of Cole Capital Partners or the Cole Exchange Entity. As a result, agreements and transactions between the parties with respect to the property will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiation of the type normally conducted between unrelated parties.
Disposition Policies
      We intend to hold each property we acquire for an extended period, generally eight to ten years. However, circumstances might arise that could result in the early sale of some properties. We may sell a property before the end of the expected holding period if we believe the sale of the property would be in the best interests of our stockholders.
      The determination of whether a particular property should be sold or otherwise disposed of will be made after consideration of relevant factors, including prevailing economic conditions and current tenant creditworthiness, with a view to achieving maximum capital appreciation. We cannot assure you that this objective will be realized. The selling price of a property that is net leased will be determined in large part by the amount of rent payable under the lease. If a tenant has a repurchase option at a formula price, we may be limited in realizing any appreciation. In connection with our sales of properties we may lend the purchaser all or a portion of the purchase price. In these instances, our taxable income may exceed the cash received in the sale. The terms of payment will be affected by custom in the area in which the property being sold is located and the then-prevailing economic conditions.
Investment Limitations
      Our charter places numerous limitations on us with respect to the manner in which we may invest our funds or issue securities. These limitations cannot be changed unless our charter is amended, which requires approval of our stockholders. Unless our charter is amended, we will not:
  •  borrow in excess of 60% of the greater of the aggregate cost (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves) or fair market value of all assets owned by us, unless approved by a majority of our independent directors and disclosed to our stockholders in our next quarterly report, along with a justification for such excess borrowing;
 
  •  make investments in unimproved property or mortgage loans on unimproved property in excess of 10.0% of our total assets;
 
  •  make investments in non-freestanding, non-single tenant property in excess of 20.0% of our total assets;
 
  •  make or invest in mortgage loans unless an appraisal is obtained concerning the underlying property, except for those mortgage loans insured or guaranteed by a government or government agency;
 
  •  make or invest in mortgage loans, including construction loans, on any one property if the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans on such property would exceed an amount equal to 85.0% of the appraised value of such property unless substantial justification exists for exceeding such limit because of the presence of other underwriting criteria;
 
  •  make an investment in a property or mortgage loan if the related acquisition fees and acquisition expenses are unreasonable or exceed 6.0% of the purchase price of the property or, in the case of a

81


Table of Contents

  mortgage loan, 6.0% of the funds advanced; provided that the investment may be made if a majority of our independent directors determines that the transaction is commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to us;
 
  •  invest in equity securities unless a majority of our independent directors approves such investment as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable;
 
  •  invest in real estate contracts of sale, otherwise known as land sale contracts, unless the contract is in recordable form and is appropriately recorded in the chain of title;
 
  •  invest in commodities or commodity futures contracts, except for futures contracts when used solely for the purpose of hedging in connection with our ordinary business of investing in real estate assets and mortgages;
 
  •  issue equity securities on a deferred payment basis or other similar arrangement;
 
  •  issue debt securities in the absence of adequate cash flow to cover debt service;
 
  •  issue equity securities that are assessable after we have received the consideration for which our board of directors authorized their issuance; or
 
  •  issue equity securities redeemable solely at the option of the holder, which restriction has no effect on our share redemption program or the ability of our operating partnership to issue redeemable partnership interests.
      In addition, our charter includes many other investment limitations in connection with conflict-of-interest transactions, which limitations are described above under “Conflicts of Interest.” Our charter also includes restrictions on roll-up transactions, which are described under “Description of Shares” below.
Change in Investment Objectives and Limitations
      Our charter requires that our independent directors review our investment policies at least annually to determine that the policies we follow are in the best interest of our stockholders. Each determination and the basis therefor shall be set forth in the minutes of the meetings of our board of directors. The methods of implementing our investment policies also may vary as new investment techniques are developed. The methods of implementing our investment objectives and policies, except as otherwise provided in the organizational documents, may be altered by a majority of our directors, including a majority of the independent directors, without the approval of our stockholders.
Real Property Investments
      As of the date of this prospectus, we have not acquired or contracted to acquire any specific real properties or mortgage loans. Cole Advisors II, our advisor, is continually evaluating various potential property investments and engaging in discussions and negotiations with sellers, developers and potential tenants regarding the purchase and development of properties for us and other Cole-sponsored programs. At such time while this offering is pending, if we believe that a reasonable probability exists that we will acquire a specific property, this prospectus will be supplemented to disclose the negotiations and pending acquisition of such property. We expect that this will normally occur upon the signing of a purchase agreement for the acquisition of a specific property, but may occur before or after such signing or upon the satisfaction or expiration of major contingencies in any such purchase agreement, depending on the particular circumstances surrounding each potential investment. A supplement to this prospectus will describe any improvements proposed to be constructed thereon and other information that we consider appropriate for an understanding of the transaction. Further data will be made available after any pending acquisition is consummated, also by means of a supplement to this prospectus, if appropriate. YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE DISCLOSURE OF ANY PROPOSED ACQUISITION CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS AN ASSURANCE THAT WE WILL ULTIMATELY CONSUMMATE SUCH ACQUISITION OR THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED CON-

82


Table of Contents

CERNING THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION WILL NOT CHANGE BETWEEN THE DATE OF THE SUPPLEMENT AND ANY ACTUAL PURCHASE.
      We intend to obtain adequate insurance coverage for all properties in which we invest.
Other Policies
      Subject to applicable law, our board of directors has the authority, without further stockholder approval, to issue additional authorized common stock and/or preferred stock or otherwise raise capital in any manner and on the terms and for the consideration it deems appropriate, including in exchange for property and/or as consideration for acquisitions. Existing stockholders will have no preemptive right to additional shares issued in any future offering or other issuance of our capital stock, and any offering or issuance may cause a dilution of your investment. In addition, preferred shares could have distribution, voting, liquidation and other rights and preferences that are senior to those of our common shares. See “Description of Shares.” We may in the future issue common stock or preferred stock in connection with acquisitions, including issuing common stock or preferred stock in exchange for property. We also may issue units of partnership interest in our operating partnership in connection with acquisitions of property or other assets or entities.

83


Table of Contents

PLAN OF OPERATION
      Certain statements contained in this “Plan of Operation” and elsewhere in this prospectus constitute “forward-looking statements.” Such statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies and prospects, as well as information about our business and industry. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but our current intent, belief or expectations of our business and industry. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by our use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “would,” “could,” “should” and variations of these words and similar expressions. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control.
      These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those discussed above under “Risk Factors,” which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement we make. We do not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should read the following discussion along with our financial statements and the related notes included in this prospectus.
General
      As of the date of this prospectus, we have not commenced operations. After the minimum subscription of 250,000 shares is achieved, subscription proceeds will be released to us (except for subscriptions from Pennsylvania investors — see “Plan of Distribution — Special Notice to Pennsylvania Investors”) and applied to investments in properties and other assets and the payment or reimbursement of selling commissions and other organization and offering expenses. See “Estimated Use of Proceeds.” We will experience a relative increase in liquidity as additional subscriptions for shares are received and a relative decrease in liquidity as net offering proceeds are expended in connection with the acquisition, development and operation of properties.
      We have not entered into any arrangements to acquire any specific properties with the net proceeds from this offering. The number of properties we may acquire will depend upon the number of shares sold and the resulting amount of the net proceeds available for investment in properties.
      Our advisor also may, but will not be required to, establish reserves from gross offering proceeds, out of cash flow generated by operating properties or out of non-liquidating net sale proceeds from the sale of our properties. Working capital reserves are typically utilized for non-operating expenses such as tenant improvements, leasing commissions and major capital expenditures. Alternatively, a lender may require its own formula for escrow of working capital reserves.
      The net proceeds of this offering will provide funds to enable us to purchase properties. We may acquire properties free and clear of permanent mortgage indebtedness by paying the entire purchase price of each property in cash or for equity securities, or a combination thereof, or we may selectively encumber all or certain properties, if favorable financing terms are available, following acquisition. The proceeds from such loans will be used to acquire additional properties or increase cash flow. In addition, we intend to borrow funds to purchase properties. In the event that this offering is not fully sold, our ability to diversify our investments may be diminished.
      We intend to make an election under Section 856(c) of the Internal Revenue Code to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, beginning with the taxable year ended December 31, 2005. If we qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on income that we distribute to our stockholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates and will not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for four years following the year in which our qualification is denied. Such an event could materially and adversely affect our net income. However, we believe that we are organized and operate in a manner that will enable us to qualify

84


Table of Contents

for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes during the year ended December 31, 2005, and we intend to continue to operate so as to remain qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.
      We will monitor the various qualification tests that we must meet to maintain our status as a REIT. Ownership of our shares will be monitored to ensure that no more than 50.0% in value of our outstanding shares is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals at any time after the first taxable year for which we make an election to be taxed as a REIT. We will also determine, on a quarterly basis, that the gross income, asset and distribution tests as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Requirements for Qualification” are met.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
      We expect to meet our short-term operating liquidity requirements initially through advances from our advisor or its affiliates, from time to time, as we need to fund our operating expenses incurred before we have raised the minimum offering of 250,000 shares. After we break escrow, we expect we will meet our short-term operating liquidity requirements from the proceeds of this offering and that any advances from our advisor will be repaid, without interest, as funds are available after meeting our current liquidity requirements, subject to the limitations on reimbursement set forth in the “Management Compensation” section of this prospectus. We do not expect our operating costs to be significant until we make our initial investments. As of March 31, 2005, we have not received any advances from our advisor. We expect that any advances will be made under a revolving advance arrangement, which will not be written, with our advisor. We expect that this arrangement will allow for repayments to be made as funds are available from the offering proceeds or from operating cash flows, but no later than two years from the date of the advance. The terms of the arrangement will be finalized upon the initial advance, if any. The offering and organizational costs associated with this offering will initially be paid by our advisor, which may be reimbursed for such costs up to 1.5% of the capital raised by us in this offering. As of March 31, 2005, our advisor has paid approximately $595,000 of such costs. After we make our initial investments from the proceeds of this offering, we expect our short-term operating liquidity requirements to be met through net cash provided by property operations. Operating cash flows are expected to increase as properties are added to our portfolio.
      On a long-term basis, our principal demands for funds will be for property acquisitions, either directly or through investment interests, for the payment of operating expenses and distributions, and for the payment of interest on our outstanding indebtedness and other investments. Generally, cash needs for items other than property acquisitions will be met from operations and property acquisitions from funding by public offerings of our shares. However, there may be a delay between the sale of our shares and our purchase of properties that could result in a delay in the benefits to our stockholders, if any, of returns generated from our investment operations. Our advisor will evaluate potential additional property acquisitions and engage in negotiations with sellers on our behalf. Investors should be aware that after a purchase contract is executed that contains specific terms, the property will not be purchased until the successful completion of due diligence, which includes review of the title insurance commitment, an appraisal and an environmental analysis. In some instances, the proposed acquisition will require the negotiation of final binding agreements, which may include financing documents. During this period, we may decide to temporarily invest any unused proceeds from the offering in certain investments that could yield lower returns than the properties. These lower returns may affect our ability to make distributions.
      Our board of directors will determine the amount and timing of distributions to our stockholders and will base such determination on a number of factors, including funds available for payment of distributions, financial condition, capital expenditure requirements and annual distribution requirements needed to maintain our status as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code.
      Potential future sources of capital include proceeds from this offering, proceeds from secured or unsecured financings from banks or other lenders, proceeds from the sale of properties and undistributed funds from operations. If necessary, we may use financings or other sources of capital in the event of unforeseen significant capital expenditures. Currently, we do not have a credit facility or other third party

85


Table of Contents

source of liquidity. To the extent we do not secure a credit facility or other third party source of liquidity, we will be dependent upon the proceeds of this offering and income from operations in order to meet our long term liquidity requirements and to fund our distributions.
Results of Operations
      As of the initial date of this prospectus, no significant operations had commenced because we were in our development stage. No operations will commence until we have sold 250,000 shares of our common stock in this offering. Our management is not aware of any material trends or uncertainties, other than national economic conditions affecting real estate generally (such as lower capitalization rates, which lead to lower rents), that may reasonably be expected to have a material impact, favorable or unfavorable, on revenues or income from the acquisition and operations of real properties and mortgage loans, other than those referred to in this prospectus.
Inflation
      The real estate market has not been affected significantly by inflation in the past several years due to the relatively low inflation rate. However, in the event inflation does become a factor, our leases typically do not include provisions that would protect us from the impact of inflation.
Critical Accounting Policies
      As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the only asset we held was cash and cash equivalents of $200,000. The valuation of this amount does not require estimates or judgment by management.

86


Table of Contents

PRIOR PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Prior Investment Programs
      The information presented in this section represents the historical experience of certain real estate programs managed over the last ten years by Cole Capital Advisors, Cole Capital Partners and other affiliates of our advisor, including certain officers and directors of our advisor. Investors should not assume that they will experience returns, if any, comparable to those experienced by investors in such prior real estate programs.
      During the period from January 1, 1995 to March 31, 2005, affiliates of our advisor have sponsored 48 privately offered prior programs including 24 limited partnerships, a real estate investment trust (Cole REIT I), four debt offerings and nineteen tenant-in-common programs. As of March 31, 2005, such prior programs have raised approximately $287.2 million from 5,400 investors. Each of the 24 limited partnerships, the real estate investment trust, three of the debt offerings and the 19 tenant-in-common programs have investment objectives and policies similar to that of this program. See Tables I and II of the Prior Performance Tables for more detailed information about the experience of our affiliates in raising and investing funds for offerings initiated over the last four years and compensation paid to the sponsors of these programs.
      We intend to conduct this offering in conjunction with future offerings by one or more public and private real estate entities sponsored by Cole Capital Advisors, Cole Capital Partners and their affiliates. To the extent that such entities have the same or similar objectives as ours or involve similar or nearby properties, such entities may be in competition with the properties acquired by us. See the “Conflicts of Interest” section of this prospectus for additional information.
      The information in this section and in the Prior Performance Tables attached to this prospectus as Appendix A provides relevant summary information concerning real estate programs sponsored by our affiliates. The Prior Performance Tables set forth information as of the dates indicated regarding certain of these prior programs as to (1) experience in raising and investing funds (Table I); (2) compensation to the sponsor and its affiliates (Table II); (3) annual operating results of prior real estate programs (Table III); (4) results of completed programs (Table IV); and (5) results of sales or disposals of properties (Table V). Additionally, Table VI, which is contained in Part II of the registration statement for this offering and which is not part of the prospectus, contains certain additional information relating to properties acquired by the prior real estate programs. We will furnish copies of such table to any prospective investor upon request and without charge. The purpose of this prior performance information is to enable you to evaluate accurately the experience of our advisor and its affiliates in sponsoring like programs. The following discussion is intended to summarize briefly the objectives and performance of the prior real estate programs and to disclose any material adverse business developments sustained by them.
Summary Information
      During the period from January 1, 1995 to March 31, 2005, affiliates of our advisor have been general partners in 24 limited partnerships with similar objectives to our program, involving the sale of limited partnership interests to 3,400 investors, raising approximately $138.0 million of capital. The foregoing partnerships have purchased in the aggregate 47 properties for an approximate acquisition cost of $254.6 million, of which 51.1% is attributable to 20 shopping centers, 46.0% is attributable to 23 single-tenant commercial properties, 0.8% is attributable to one office building, 1.1% is attributable to one data center and 1.0% is attributable to two unimproved or partially-improved land parcels intended for high-rise/data center development. 21 of the properties are located in the Phoenix metropolitan area, one is located in northern Arizona and 25 are located in the following states: three in Tennessee; three in Oklahoma; two in California; two in Florida; two in Ohio; and one each in Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington. The properties have been purchased on terms varying from all cash to market rate financing. To date, 21 of the properties have been sold.

87


Table of Contents

      Of the above, three real estate investment programs that acquired retail shopping centers, one real estate investment program that developed a data center and two limited partnerships that acquired single-tenant commercial properties, have been sponsored since March 31, 2002. Cole Capital Partners, through wholly owned subsidiaries, serves as the general partner of Cole Credit Property Fund Limited Partnership (CCPF) and Cole Credit Property Fund II Limited Partnership (CCPF II). As of March 31, 2005, CCPF had raised $25.0 million and acquired 14 properties or an interest therein in 12 states across the U.S. for an aggregate acquisition cost of approximately $55.8 million. All of such properties are single-tenant commercial properties that were net leased to investment grade tenants, which are companies that have a debt rating by Moody’s of Baa3 or better or a credit rating by Standard & Poor’s of BBB- or better, or are guaranteed by a company with such rating, as of the date of acquisition. Subsequent to the acquisition by CCPF, the tenants at two properties representing less than 7.5% of the fund’s invested equity have been downgraded below investment grade, one of which has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As of March 31, 2005, CCPF II had raised approximately $24.5 million and had acquired ten properties or an interest therein (including one property co-owned with CCPF) in seven states for an aggregate acquisition cost of approximately $61.3 million.
      In addition to the partnerships described above, as of March 31, 2005, Cole Collateralized Senior Notes, LLC (CCSN), a subsidiary of Cole Capital Advisors had issued approximately $28.0 million in Series A Notes, and had acquired 25 restaurants and 15 single-tenant retail properties located in 18 states for an aggregate acquisition cost of approximately $123.7 million. As of March 31, 2005, CCSN had sold 24 properties, of which three were sold as part of Cole Capital Partners’ tenant-in-common program and three were sold to Cole REIT I.
      In addition to the partnerships described above, as of March 31, 2005, Cole Collateralized Senior Notes II, LLC (CCSN II), a subsidiary of Cole Capital Advisors had issued approximately $28.7 million in Series B Notes and had acquired 23 single-tenant retail properties in 13 states for an aggregate acquisition cost of approximately $138.0 million. As of March 31, 2005, CCSN II had sold ten properties, of which seven were sold as part of Cole Capital Partners’ tenant-in-common program and three were sold to Cole REIT I.
      In addition to the partnerships described above, as of March 31, 2005, Cole Collateralized Senior Notes III, LLC (CCSN III), a subsidiary of Cole Capital Advisors, had issued approximately $6.6 million in Series C Notes and had not acquired any properties.
      In addition, as of March 31, 2005, Cole REIT I, had raised approximately $46.1 million, and had acquired 13 single-tenant retail properties in ten states for an aggregate acquisition cost of approximately $79.8 million.
      In addition, the Cole Exchange Entities, offer properties to Code Section 1031 exchange investors in the form of the sale of tenant-in-common ownership interests in such properties. As of March 31, 2005, aggregate ownership interests of $39.8 million had been sold in 16 private offerings of properties located in 12 states. In addition, as of March 31, 2005, three other Tenant-in-Common Programs were ongoing with an aggregate offering amount of approximately $17.4 million for which no amounts had been raised as of such date. See the Prior Performance Tables attached to this memorandum as Appendix A for additional information regarding the foregoing programs.
      The following table shows a breakdown of the aggregate amount of the acquisition and development costs of the properties purchased by the prior real estate programs of our affiliates as of March 31, 2005:
                         
Type of Property   New   Used   Construction
             
Retail
    1.0 %     99.0 %      
Office buildings
          100 %      
Land
          100 %      
Data Center
                100 %

88


Table of Contents

      These programs have sold 49 of the total of 118 properties, or 41.5% of such properties. The original purchase price of the properties that were sold was $166.4 million, and the aggregate sales price of such properties was $213.3 million. See Tables III, IV and V of the Prior Performance Tables for more detailed information as to the operating results of such programs whose offerings closed in the last five years, results of such programs that have completed their operations over the last five years and the sales or other disposals of properties with investment objectives similar to ours over the last three years.
      An entity affiliated with the officers of Cole Partnerships, Inc. has raised $5 million in a debt offering for general corporate purposes, including investments in joint ventures with affiliates, which has been repaid.
      The prior programs sponsored by our affiliates have occasionally been adversely affected by the cyclical nature of the real estate market. They have experienced, and may in the future experience, decreases in net income when economic conditions decline. For example, one of these programs, Cole Santa Fe Investors, LP owns an approximately 262,000 square foot shopping center property. One of the tenants of the property, which leases approximately 50,000 square feet (approximately 19% of the leasable space), has filed for bankruptcy and discontinued making rent payments. Distributions to investors in that program have been suspended indefinitely beginning with the quarter ended December 31, 2003. In addition, Cole Southwest Opportunity Fund, LP completed development of a Phoenix, Arizona facility in August 2001 through a joint venture and was unable to lease the facility as a result of the severe downturn in the telecommunications industry. On April 6, 2005, the Phoenix facility was sold for $16.3 million. Vacant land parcels in Las Vegas, Nevada, formerly owned by a wholly owned subsidiary of Cole Southwest Opportunity Fund, LP were previously sold. As a result of these sale transactions, the sponsor estimates that investors will receive approximately 81% of their original investment upon liquidation of the limited partnership. A continued vacancy in the property owned by Santa Fe Investors, LP could adversely affect the ultimate performance of this prior program. See “Prior Performance Tables — Table III.”

89


Table of Contents

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
General
      The following is a summary of material federal income tax considerations associated with an investment in shares of our common stock. This summary does not address all possible tax considerations that may be material to an investor and does not constitute tax advice. Moreover, this summary does not deal with all tax aspects that might be relevant to you, as a prospective stockholder, in light of your personal circumstances, nor does it deal with particular types of stockholders that are subject to special treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, such as insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations or financial institutions or broker-dealers.
      The Internal Revenue Code provisions governing the federal income tax treatment of REITs are highly technical and complex, and this summary is qualified in its entirety by the express language of applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions, treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (Treasury Regulations) and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof.
      We urge you, as a prospective investor, to consult your own tax advisor regarding the specific tax consequences to you of a purchase of shares, ownership and sale of the shares and of our election to be taxed as a REIT. These consequences include the federal, state, local, foreign and other tax consequences of such purchase, ownership, sale and election.
Opinion of Counsel
      Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP has acted as our counsel, has reviewed this summary and is of the opinion that it fairly summarizes the federal income tax considerations addressed that are material to our stockholders. It is also the opinion of our counsel that we will qualify to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code for our taxable year ended December 31, 2005, provided that we have operated and will continue to operate in accordance with various assumptions and the factual representations we made to counsel concerning our business, properties and operations. We must emphasize that all opinions issued by Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP are based on various assumptions and are conditioned upon the assumptions and representations we made concerning certain factual matters related to our business and properties. Moreover, our qualification for taxation as a REIT depends on our ability to meet the various qualification tests imposed under the Internal Revenue Code discussed below, the results of which will not be reviewed by Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the actual results of our operations for any one taxable year will satisfy these requirements. See “Risk Factors — Federal Income Tax Risks.” The statements made in this section of the prospectus and in the opinion of Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP are based upon existing law and Treasury Regulations, as currently applicable, currently published administrative positions of the Internal Revenue Service and judicial decisions, all of which are subject to change, either prospectively or retroactively. We cannot assure you that any changes will not modify the conclusions expressed in counsel’s opinion. Moreover, an opinion of counsel is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service, and we cannot assure you that the Internal Revenue Service will not successfully challenge our status as a REIT.
Taxation of the Company
      We plan to make an election to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code, effective for our taxable year ending December 31, 2005. We believe that, commencing with such taxable year, we will be organized and will operate in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. We intend to continue to operate in such a manner, but no assurance can be given that we will operate in a manner so as to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT. Pursuant to our charter, our board of directors has the authority to make any tax elections on our behalf that, in their sole judgment, are in our best interest. This authority includes the ability to elect not to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes or, after qualifying as a REIT to revoke or otherwise terminate our status as a REIT. Our board of directors has the authority under our charter to make these

90


Table of Contents

elections without the necessity of obtaining the approval of our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors has the authority to waive any restrictions and limitations contained in our charter that are intended to preserve our status as a REIT during any period in which our board of directors has determined not to pursue or preserve our status as a REIT.
      Although we currently intend to operate so as to be taxed as a REIT, changes in the law could affect that decision. For example, in 2003, Congress passed major federal tax legislation that illustrates the changes in tax law that could affect that decision. One of the changes reduced the tax rate on recipients of distributions paid by corporations to individuals to a maximum of 15.0%. REIT distributions generally do not qualify for this reduced rate. The tax changes did not, however, reduce the corporate tax rates. Therefore, the maximum corporate tax rate of 35.0% has not been affected. Even with the reduction of the rate of tax on distributions received by individuals, the combined maximum corporate and individual federal income tax rate is 44.75% and with the effect of state income taxes, the combined tax rate can exceed 50.0%. If we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income taxes on that portion of our ordinary income or capital gain that we distribute currently to our stockholders. Thus, REIT status generally continues to result in substantially reduced tax rates when compared to the taxation of corporations.
      Although REITs continue to receive substantially better tax treatment than entities taxed as corporations, it is possible that future legislation would cause a REIT to be a less advantageous tax status for companies that invest in real estate, and it could become more advantageous for such companies to elect to be taxed for federal income tax purposes as a corporation. As a result, our charter provides our board of directors with the ability, under certain circumstances, to elect not to qualify us as a REIT or, after we have qualified as a REIT, to revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election and cause us to be taxed as a corporation, without the vote of our stockholders. Our board of directors has fiduciary duties to us and to all investors and could only cause such changes in our tax treatment if it determines in good faith that such changes are in the best interest of our stockholders.
      If we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income taxes on that portion of our ordinary income or capital gain that we distribute currently to our stockholders, because the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code generally allow a REIT to deduct distributions paid to its stockholders. This substantially eliminates the federal “double taxation” on earnings (taxation at both the corporate level and stockholder level) that usually results from an investment in a corporation.
      Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, however, we will be subject to federal income taxation as follows:
  •  we will be taxed at regular corporate rates on our undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains;
 
  •  under some circumstances, we will be subject to alternative minimum tax;
 
  •  if we have net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” that is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate on that income;
 
  •  if we have net income from prohibited transactions (which are, in general, sales or other dispositions of property other than foreclosure property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business), our income will be subject to a 100.0% tax;
 
  •  if we fail to satisfy either of the 75.0% or 95.0% gross income tests (discussed below) but have nonetheless maintained our qualification as a REIT because applicable conditions have been met, we will be subject to a 100.0% tax on an amount equal to the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75.0% or 95.0% test multiplied by a fraction calculated to reflect our profitability;
 
  •  if we fail to distribute during each year at least the sum of (i) 85.0% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, (ii) 95.0% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year and (iii) any

91


Table of Contents

  undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a 4.0% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amounts actually distributed; and
 
  •  if we acquire any asset from a C corporation (i.e., a corporation generally subject to corporate-level tax) in a carryover-basis transaction and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of the asset during the ten-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired the asset, then a portion of the gains may be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate, pursuant to guidelines issued by the Internal Revenue Service.
Requirements for Qualification as a REIT
      In order for us to qualify, and continue to qualify, as a REIT, we must meet, and we must continue to meet, the requirements discussed below relating to our organization, sources of income, nature of assets, distributions of income to our stockholders and recordkeeping.
Organizational Requirements
      In order to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, we must:
  •  be a domestic corporation;
 
  •  elect to be taxed as a REIT and satisfy relevant filing and other administrative requirements;
 
  •  be managed by one or more trustees or directors;
 
  •  have transferable shares;
 
  •  not be a financial institution or an insurance company;
 
  •  use a calendar year for federal income tax purposes;
 
  •  have at least 100 stockholders for at least 335 days of each taxable year of twelve months; and
 
  •  not be closely held.
      As a Maryland corporation, we satisfy the first requirement, and we intend to file an election to be taxed as a REIT with the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, we are managed by a board of directors, we have transferable shares and we do not intend to operate as a financial institution or insurance company. We utilize the calendar year for federal income tax purposes. We would be treated as closely held only if five or fewer individuals or certain tax-exempt entities own, directly or indirectly, more than 50.0% (by value) of our shares at any time during the last half of our taxable year. For purposes of the closely held test, the Internal Revenue Code generally permits a look-through for pension funds and certain other tax-exempt entities to the beneficiaries of the entity to determine if the REIT is closely held. We do not currently meet the requirement of having more than 100 stockholders, and we are closely held. However, these requirements do not apply until after the first taxable year for which an election is made to be taxed as a REIT. We anticipate issuing sufficient shares with sufficient diversity of ownership pursuant to this offering to allow us to satisfy these requirements after our 2004 taxable year. In addition, our charter provides for restrictions regarding transfer of shares that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy these share ownership requirements. Such transfer restrictions are described in “Description of Shares — Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.” These provisions permit us to refuse to recognize certain transfers of shares that would tend to violate these REIT provisions. We can offer no assurance that our refusal to recognize a transfer will be effective. However, based on the foregoing, we should currently satisfy the organizational requirements, including the share ownership requirements, required for qualifying as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. Notwithstanding compliance with the share ownership requirements outlined above, tax-exempt stockholders may be required to treat all or a portion of their distributions from us as unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) if tax-exempt stockholders, in the aggregate, exceed certain ownership thresholds set forth in the Internal Revenue Code. See “— Treatment of Tax-Exempt Stockholders” below.

92


Table of Contents

Ownership of Interests in Partnerships and Qualified REIT Subsidiaries
      In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership, Treasury Regulations provide that the REIT is deemed to own its proportionate share, based on its interest in partnership capital, of the assets of the partnership and is deemed to have earned its allocable share of partnership income. Also, if a REIT owns a qualified REIT subsidiary, which is defined as a corporation wholly owned by a REIT that does not elect to be taxed as a taxable REIT subsidiary under the Internal Revenue Code, the REIT will be deemed to own all of the subsidiary’s assets and liabilities and it will be deemed to be entitled to treat the income of that subsidiary as its own. In addition, the character of the assets and gross income of the partnership or qualified REIT subsidiary shall retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of satisfying the gross income tests and asset tests set forth in the Internal Revenue Code.
Operational Requirements — Gross Income Tests
      To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must, on an annual basis, satisfy the following gross income requirements:
  •  At least 75.0% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property. Gross income includes “rents from real property” and, in some circumstances, interest, but excludes gross income from dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. Such dispositions are referred to as “prohibited transactions.” This is known as the 75.0% Income Test.
 
  •  At least 95.0% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, for each taxable year must be derived from the real property investments described above and from distributions, interest and gains from the sale or disposition of stock or securities or from any combination of the foregoing. This is known as the 95.0% Income Test.
      The rents we receive, or that we are deemed to receive, qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT only if the following conditions are met:
  •  the amount of rent received from a tenant generally must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person; however, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “rents from real property” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of gross receipts or sales;
 
  •  rents received from a tenant will not qualify as “rents from real property” if an owner of 10.0% or more of the REIT directly or constructively owns 10.0% or more of the tenant or a subtenant of the tenant (in which case only rent attributable to the subtenant is disqualified);
 
  •  if rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property is greater than 15.0% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to the personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property”; and
 
  •  the REIT must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to tenants, other than through an “independent contractor” who is adequately compensated and from whom the REIT does not derive any income. However, a REIT may provide services with respect to its properties, and the income derived therefrom will qualify as “rents from real property,” if the services are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space only and are not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant.” Even if the services with respect to a property are impermissible tenant services, the income derived therefrom will qualify as “rents from real property” if such income does not exceed 1.0% of all amounts received or accrued with respect to that property.
      We will be paid interest on the mortgage loans that we make or acquire. All interest qualifies under the 95.0% gross income test. If a mortgage loan is secured exclusively by real property, all of such interest will also qualify for the 75.0% income test. If both real property and other property secure the mortgage

93


Table of Contents

loan, all of the interest on such mortgage loan will also qualify for the 75.0% gross income test if the amount of the loan did not exceed the fair market value of the real property at the time of the loan commitment.
      If we acquire ownership of property by reason of the default of a borrower on a loan or possession of property by reason of a tenant default, if the property qualifies and we elect to treat it as foreclosure property, the income from the property will qualify under the 75.0% Income Test and the 95.0% Income Test notwithstanding its failure to satisfy these requirements for three years, or if extended for good cause, up to a total of six years. In that event, we must satisfy a number of complex rules, one of which is a requirement that we operate the property through an independent contractor. We will be subject to tax on that portion of our net income from foreclosure property that does not otherwise qualify under the 75.0% Income Test.
      Prior to the making of investments in properties, we may satisfy the 75.0% Income Test and the 95.0% Income Test by investing in liquid assets such as government securities or certificates of deposit, but earnings from those types of assets are qualifying income under the 75.0% Income Test only for one year from the receipt of proceeds. Accordingly, to the extent that offering proceeds have not been invested in properties prior to the expiration of this one-year period, in order to satisfy the 75.0% Income Test, we may invest the offering proceeds in less liquid investments such as mortgage-backed securities, maturing mortgage loans purchased from mortgage lenders or shares in other REITs. We expect to receive proceeds from the offering in a series of closings and to trace those proceeds for purposes of determining the one-year period for “new capital investments.” No rulings or regulations have been issued under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code governing “new capital investments,” however, so there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with this method of calculation.
      Except for amounts received with respect to certain investments of cash reserves, we anticipate that substantially all of our gross income will be derived from sources that will allow us to satisfy the income tests described above. We can give no assurance in this regard, however. Notwithstanding our failure to satisfy one or both of the 75.0% Income and the 95.0% Income Tests for any taxable year, we may still qualify as a REIT for that year if we are eligible for relief under specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if:
  •  our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect;
 
  •  we attach a schedule of our income sources to our federal income tax return; and
 
  •  any incorrect information on the schedule is not due to fraud with intent to evade tax.
      It is not possible, however, to state whether, in all circumstances, we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. For example, if we fail to satisfy the gross income tests because nonqualifying income that we intentionally earn exceeds the limits on this income, the Internal Revenue Service could conclude that our failure to satisfy the tests was not due to reasonable cause. As discussed above in “— Taxation of the Company,” even if these relief provisions apply, a tax would be imposed with respect to the excess net income.
Operational Requirements — Asset Tests
      At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we also must satisfy the following three tests relating to the nature and diversification of our assets:
  •  First, at least 75.0% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets, cash, cash items and government securities. The term “real estate assets” includes real property, mortgages on real property, shares in other qualified REITs and a proportionate share of any real estate assets owned by a partnership in which we are a partner or of any qualified REIT subsidiary of ours.
 
  •  Second, no more than 25.0% of our total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75.0% asset class.

94


Table of Contents

  •  Third, of the investments included in the 25.0% asset class, the value of any one issuer’s securities that we own may not exceed 5.0% of the value of our total assets. Additionally, we may not own more than 10.0% of any one issuer’s outstanding voting securities.
      The 5.0% test must generally be met for any quarter in which we acquire securities. Further, if we meet the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our REIT status for a failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter if such failure occurs solely because of changes in asset values. If our failure to satisfy the asset tests results from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, we can cure the failure by disposing of a sufficient amount of nonqualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We maintain, and will continue to maintain, adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests and will take other action within 30 days after the close of any quarter as may be required to cure any noncompliance.
Operational Requirements — Annual Distribution Requirement
      In order to be taxed as a REIT, we are required to make distributions, other than capital gain distributions, to our stockholders each year in the amount of at least 90.0% of our REIT taxable income, which is computed without regard to the distributions paid deduction and our capital gain and subject to certain other potential adjustments.
      While we must generally make distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, we may also pay distributions in the following taxable year if (1) they are declared before we timely file our federal income tax return for the taxable year in question, and if (2) they are made on or before the first regular distribution payment date after the declaration.
      Even if we satisfy the foregoing distribution requirement and, accordingly, continue to qualify as a REIT for tax purposes, we will still be subject to tax on the excess of our net capital gain and our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, over the amount of distributions made to stockholders.
      In addition, if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of:
  •  85.0% of our ordinary income for that year;
 
  •  95.0% of our capital gain net income other than the capital gain net income that we elect to retain and pay tax on for that year; and
 
  •  any undistributed taxable income from prior periods,
we will be subject to a 4.0% excise tax on the excess of the amount of such required distributions over amounts actually distributed during such year.
      We intend to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy this requirement; however, it is possible that we may experience timing differences between (1) the actual receipt of income and payment of deductible expenses, and (2) the inclusion of that income. It is also possible that we may be allocated a share of net capital gain attributable to the sale of depreciated property that exceeds our allocable share of cash attributable to that sale.
      In such circumstances, we may have less cash than is necessary to meet our annual distribution requirement or to avoid income or excise taxation on certain undistributed income. We may find it necessary in such circumstances to arrange for financing or raise funds through the issuance of additional shares in order to meet our distribution requirements, or we may pay taxable stock distributions to meet the distribution requirement.
      If we fail to satisfy the distribution requirement for any taxable year by reason of a later adjustment to our taxable income made by the Internal Revenue Service, we may be able to pay “deficiency distributions” in a later year and include such distributions in our deductions for distributions paid for the earlier year. In such event, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency distributions, but we would be required in such circumstances to pay interest to the Internal Revenue Service based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency distributions for the earlier year.

95


Table of Contents

      As noted above, we may also elect to retain, rather than distribute, our net long-term capital gains. The effect of such an election would be as follows:
  •  we would be required to pay the tax on these gains;
 
  •  our stockholders, while required to include their proportionate share of the undistributed long-term capital gains in income, would receive a credit or refund for their share of the tax paid by us; and
 
  •  the basis of a stockholder’s shares would be increased by the difference between the designated amount included in the stockholder’s long-term capital gains and the tax deemed paid with respect to such shares.
      In computing our REIT taxable income, we will use the accrual method of accounting and depreciate depreciable property under the alternative depreciation system. We are required to file an annual federal income tax return, which, like other corporate returns, is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. Because the tax law requires us to make many judgments regarding the proper treatment of a transaction or an item of income or deduction, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service will challenge positions we take in computing our REIT taxable income and our distributions. Issues could arise, for example, with respect to the allocation of the purchase price of properties between depreciable or amortizable assets and non-depreciable or non-amortizable assets such as land and the current deductibility of fees paid to Cole Advisors or its affiliates. Were the Internal Revenue Service successfully to challenge our characterization of a transaction or determination of our REIT taxable income, we could be found to have failed to satisfy a requirement for qualification as a REIT. If, as a result of a challenge, we are determined to have failed to satisfy the distribution requirements for a taxable year, we would be disqualified as a REIT unless we were permitted to pay a deficiency distribution to our stockholders and pay interest thereon to the Internal Revenue Service, as provided by the Internal Revenue Code. A deficiency distribution cannot be used to satisfy the distribution requirement, however, if the failure to meet the requirement is not due to a later adjustment to our income by the Internal Revenue Service.
Operational Requirements — Recordkeeping
      In order to continue to qualify as a REIT, we must maintain records as specified in applicable Treasury Regulations. Further, we must request, on an annual basis, information designed to disclose the ownership of our outstanding shares. We intend to comply with such requirements.
Failure to Qualify as a REIT
      If we fail to qualify as a REIT for any reason in a taxable year and applicable relief provisions do not apply, we will be subject to tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We will not be able to deduct distributions paid to our stockholders in any year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT. We also will be disqualified for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions. See “Risk Factors — Federal Income Tax Risks.”
Sale-Leaseback Transactions
      Some of our investments may be in the form of sale-leaseback transactions. In most instances, depending on the economic terms of the transaction, we will be treated for federal income tax purposes as either the owner of the property or the holder of a debt secured by the property. We do not expect to request an opinion of counsel concerning the status of any leases of properties as true leases for federal income tax purposes.
      The Internal Revenue Service may take the position that a specific sale-leaseback transaction that we treat as a true lease is not a true lease for federal income tax purposes but is, instead, a financing arrangement or loan. We may also structure some sale-leaseback transactions as loans. In this event, for purposes of the asset tests and the 75.0% Income Test, each such loan likely would be viewed as secured by real property to the extent of the fair market value of the underlying property. We expect that, for this

96


Table of Contents

purpose, the fair market value of the underlying property would be determined without taking into account our lease. If a sale-leaseback transaction were so recharacterized, we might fail to satisfy the asset tests or the income tests and, consequently, lose our REIT status effective with the year of recharacterization. Alternatively, the amount of our REIT taxable income could be recalculated, which might also cause us to fail to meet the distribution requirement for a taxable year.
Taxation of U.S. Stockholders
Definition
      In this section, the phrase “U.S. stockholder” means a holder of shares that for federal income tax purposes:
  •  is a citizen or resident of the United States;
 
  •  is a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof;
 
  •  is an estate or trust, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
 
  •  a trust, if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
      For any taxable year for which we qualify for taxation as a REIT, amounts distributed to taxable U.S. stockholders will be taxed as described below.
Distributions Generally
      Distributions to U.S. stockholders, other than capital gain distributions discussed below, will constitute distributions up to the amount of our current or accumulated earnings and profits and will be taxable to the stockholders as ordinary income. Individuals receiving “qualified dividends,” distributions from domestic and certain qualifying foreign subchapter C corporations, may be entitled to the new lower rates on distributions (at rates applicable to long-term capital gains, currently at a maximum rate of 15%) provided certain holding period requirements are met. However, individuals receiving distributions from us, a REIT, will generally not be eligible for the new lower rates on distributions except with respect to the portion of any distribution which (a) represents distributions being passed through to us from a corporation in which we own shares (but only if such distributions would be eligible for the new lower rates on distributions if paid by the corporation to its individual stockholders), (b) is equal to our REIT taxable income (taking into account the distributions paid deduction available to us) less any taxes paid by us on these items during our previous taxable year, or (c) are attributable to built-in gains realized and recognized by us from disposition of properties acquired by us in non-recognition transaction, less any taxes paid by us on these items during our previous taxable year. These distributions are not eligible for the distributions received deduction generally available to corporations. To the extent that we make a distribution in excess of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital, reducing the tax basis in each U.S. stockholder’s shares, and the amount of each distribution in excess of a U.S. stockholder’s tax basis in its shares will be taxable as gain realized from the sale of its shares. Distributions that we declare in October, November or December of any year payable to a stockholder of record on a specified date in any of these months will be treated as both paid by us and received by the stockholder on December 31 of the year, provided that we actually pay the distribution during January of the following calendar year. U.S. stockholders may not include any of our losses on their own federal income tax returns.
      We will be treated as having sufficient earnings and profits to treat as a distribution any distribution by us up to the amount required to be distributed in order to avoid imposition of the 4.0% excise tax discussed above. Moreover, any “deficiency dividend” will be treated as an ordinary or capital gain

97


Table of Contents

distribution, as the case may be, regardless of our earnings and profits. As a result, stockholders may be required to treat as taxable some distributions that would otherwise result in a tax-free return of capital.
Capital Gain Distributions
      Distributions to U.S. stockholders that we properly designate as capital gain distributions will be treated as long-term capital gains, to the extent they do not exceed our actual net capital gain, for the taxable year without regard to the period for which the U.S. stockholder has held his or her shares.
Passive Activity Loss and Investment Interest Limitations
      Our distributions and any gain you realize from a disposition of shares will not be treated as passive activity income, and stockholders may not be able to utilize any of their “passive losses” to offset this income on their personal tax returns. Our distributions (to the extent they do not constitute a return of capital) will generally be treated as investment income for purposes of the limitations on the deduction of investment interest. Net capital gain from a disposition of shares and capital gain distributions generally will be included in investment income for purposes of the investment interest deduction limitations only if, and to the extent, you so elect, in which case any such capital gains will be taxed as ordinary income.
Certain Dispositions of the Shares
      In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares by a U.S. stockholder who is not a dealer in securities, including any disposition pursuant to our proposed share redemption program, will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and as short-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for twelve months or less. If, however, a U.S. stockholder has received any capital gains distributions with respect to his shares, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less, to the extent of the capital gains distributions received with respect to his shares, will be treated as long-term capital loss. Also, the Internal Revenue Service is authorized to issue Treasury Regulations that would subject a portion of the capital gain a U.S. stockholder recognizes from selling his shares or from a capital gain distribution to a tax at a 25.0% rate, to the extent the capital gain is attributable to depreciation previously deducted.
Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding for U.S. Stockholders
      Under some circumstances, U.S. stockholders may be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 30.0% on payments made with respect to, or cash proceeds of a sale or exchange of, our shares. Backup withholding will apply only if the stockholder:
  •  fails to furnish his or her taxpayer identification number, which, for an individual, would be his or her Social Security Number;
 
  •  furnishes an incorrect tax identification number;
 
  •  is notified by the Internal Revenue Service that he or she has failed properly to report payments of interest and distributions or is otherwise subject to backup withholding; or
 
  •  under some circumstances, fails to certify, under penalties of perjury, that he or she has furnished a correct tax identification number and that (a) he or she has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that he or she is subject to backup withholding for failure to report interest and distribution payments or (b) he or she has been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that he or she is no longer subject to backup withholding.
      Backup withholding will not apply with respect to payments made to some stockholders, such as corporations and tax-exempt organizations. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the amount of any backup withholding with respect to a payment to a U.S. stockholder will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the U.S. stockholder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

98


Table of Contents

U.S. stockholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their qualifications for exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining an exemption.
Treatment of Tax-Exempt Stockholders
      Tax-exempt entities such as employee pension benefit trusts, individual retirement accounts and charitable remainder trusts generally are exempt from federal income taxation. Such entities are subject to taxation, however, on any UBTI, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. Our payment of distributions to a tax-exempt employee pension benefit trust or other domestic tax-exempt stockholder generally will not constitute UBTI to such stockholder unless such stockholder has borrowed to acquire or carry its shares.
      In the event that we were deemed to be “predominately held” by qualified employee pension benefit trusts that each hold more than 10.0% (in value) of our shares, such trusts would be required to treat a certain percentage of the distributions paid to them as UBTI. We would be deemed to be “predominately held” by such trusts if either (i) one employee pension benefit trust owns more than 25.0% in value of our shares, or (ii) any group of such trusts, each owning more than 10.0% in value of our shares, holds in the aggregate more than 50.0% in value of our shares. If either of these ownership thresholds were ever exceeded, any qualified employee pension benefit trust holding more than 10.0% in value of our shares would be subject to tax on that portion of our distributions made to it which is equal to the percentage of our income that would be UBTI if we were a qualified trust, rather than a REIT. We will attempt to monitor the concentration of ownership of employee pension benefit trusts in our shares, and we do not expect our shares to be deemed to be “predominately held” by qualified employee pension benefit trusts, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, to the extent required to trigger the treatment of our income as to such trusts.
      For social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts and qualified group legal services plans exempt from federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) and (c)(20) of the Internal Revenue Code, respectively, income from an investment in our shares will constitute UBTI unless the stockholder in question is able to deduct amounts “set aside” or placed in reserve for certain purposes so as to offset the UBTI generated. Any such organization that is a prospective stockholder should consult its own tax advisor concerning these “set aside” and reserve requirements.
Special Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Stockholders
      The rules governing U.S. income taxation of non-resident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and foreign trusts and estates (non-U.S. stockholders) are complex. The following discussion is intended only as a summary of these rules. Non-U.S. stockholders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the impact of federal, state and local income tax laws on an investment in our shares, including any reporting requirements.
Income Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business
      In general, non-U.S. stockholders will be subject to regular U.S. federal income taxation with respect to their investment in our shares if the income derived therefrom is “effectively connected” with the non-U.S. stockholder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States. A corporate non-U.S. stockholder that receives income that is (or is treated as) effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business also may be subject to a branch profits tax under Section 884 of the Internal Revenue Code, which is payable in addition to the regular U.S. federal corporate income tax.
      The following discussion will apply to non-U.S. stockholders whose income derived from ownership of our shares is deemed to be not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business.

99


Table of Contents

Distributions Not Attributable to Gain from the Sale or Exchange of a United States Real Property Interest
      A distribution to a non-U.S. stockholder that is not attributable to gain realized by us from the sale or exchange of a “United States real property interest” within the meaning of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, as amended (FIRPTA), and that we do not designate as a capital gain distribution will be treated as an ordinary income distribution to the extent that it is made out of current or accumulated earnings and profits. Generally, any ordinary income distribution will be subject to a U.S. federal income tax equal to 30.0% of the gross amount of the distribution unless this tax is reduced by the provisions of an applicable tax treaty. Any such distribution in excess of our earnings and profits will be treated first as a return of capital that will reduce each non-U.S. stockholder’s basis in its shares (but not below zero) and then as gain from the disposition of those shares, the tax treatment of which is described under the rules discussed below with respect to dispositions of shares.
Distributions Attributable to Gain from the Sale or Exchange of a United States Real Property Interest
      Distributions to a non-U.S. stockholder that are attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of a United States real property interest will be taxed to a non-U.S. stockholder under Internal Revenue Code provisions enacted by FIRPTA. Under FIRPTA, such distributions are taxed to a non-U.S. stockholder as if the distributions were gains “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business. Accordingly, a non-U.S. stockholder will be taxed at the normal capital gain rates applicable to a U.S. stockholder (subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of non-resident alien individuals). Distributions subject to FIRPTA also may be subject to a 30.0% branch profits tax when made to a corporate non-U.S. stockholder that is not entitled to a treaty exemption.
Withholding Obligations With Respect to Distributions to Non-U.S. Stockholders
      Although tax treaties may reduce our withholding obligations, based on current law, we will generally be required to withhold from distributions to non-U.S. stockholders, and remit to the Internal Revenue Service:
  •  35.0% of designated capital gain distributions or, if greater, 35.0% of the amount of any distributions that could be designated as capital gain distributions; and
 
  •  30.0% of ordinary income distributions (i.e., distributions paid out of our earnings and profits).
      In addition, if we designate prior distributions as capital gain distributions, subsequent distributions, up to the amount of the prior distributions, will be treated as capital gain distributions for purposes of withholding. A distribution in excess of our earnings and profits will be subject to 30.0% withholding if at the time of the distribution it cannot be determined whether the distribution will be in an amount in excess of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. If the amount of tax we withhold with respect to a distribution to a non-U.S. stockholder exceeds the stockholder’s U.S. tax liability with respect to that distribution, the non-U.S. stockholder may file a claim with the Internal Revenue Service for a refund of the excess.
Sale of Our Shares by a Non-U.S. Stockholder
      A sale of our shares by a non-U.S. stockholder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless our shares constitute a United States real property interest. Our shares will not constitute a United States real property interest if we are a “domestically controlled REIT.” A “domestically controlled REIT” is a REIT that at all times during a specified testing period has less than 50.0% in value of its shares held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. stockholders. We currently anticipate that we will be a domestically controlled REIT. Therefore, sales of our shares should not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. However, we do expect to sell our shares to non-U.S. stockholders and we cannot assure you that we will continue to be a domestically controlled REIT. If we were not a domestically controlled REIT, whether a non-U.S. stockholder’s sale of our shares would be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a

100


Table of Contents

sale of a United States real property interest would depend on whether our shares were “regularly traded” on an established securities market and on the size of the selling stockholder’s interest in us. Our shares currently are not “regularly traded” on an established securities market.
      If the gain on the sale of shares were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, a non-U.S. stockholder would be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to the gain, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of non-resident alien individuals. In addition, distributions that are treated as gain from the disposition of shares and are subject to tax under FIRPTA also may be subject to a 30.0% branch profits tax when made to a corporate non-U.S. stockholder that is not entitled to a treaty exemption. Under FIRPTA, the purchaser of our shares may be required to withhold 10.0% of the purchase price and remit this amount to the Internal Revenue Service.
      Even if not subject to FIRPTA, capital gains will be taxable to a non-U.S. stockholder if the non-U.S. stockholder is a non-resident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and some other conditions apply, in which case the non-resident alien individual will be subject to a 30.0% tax on his or her U.S. source capital gains.
      Recently promulgated Treasury Regulations may alter the procedures for claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty. Our non-U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisors concerning the effect, if any, of these Treasury Regulations on an investment in our shares.
Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding for Non-U.S. Stockholders
      Additional issues may arise for information reporting and backup withholding for non-U.S. stockholders. Non-U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisors with regard to U.S. information reporting and backup withholding requirements under the Internal Revenue Code.
Statement of Stock Ownership
      We are required to demand annual written statements from the record holders of designated percentages of our shares disclosing the actual owners of the shares. Any record stockholder who, upon our request, does not provide us with required information concerning actual ownership of the shares is required to include specified information relating to his or her shares in his or her federal income tax return. We also must maintain, within the Internal Revenue District in which we are required to file, our federal income tax return, permanent records showing the information we have received about the actual ownership of shares and a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with our demand.
State and Local Taxation
      We and any operating subsidiaries that we may form may be subject to state and local tax in states and localities in which they or we do business or own property. The tax treatment of us, Cole OP II, any operating subsidiaries we may form and the holders of our shares in local jurisdictions may differ from the federal income tax treatment described above.
Tax Aspects of Our Operating Partnership
      The following discussion summarizes certain federal income tax considerations applicable to our investment in Cole OP II, our operating partnership. The discussion does not cover state or local tax laws or any federal tax laws other than income tax laws.
Classification as a Partnership
      We will be entitled to include in our income a distributive share of Cole OP II’s income and to deduct our distributive share of Cole OP II’s losses only if Cole OP II is classified for federal income tax purposes as a partnership, rather than as an association taxable as a corporation. Under applicable Treasury Regulations known as Check-the-Box-Regulations, an unincorporated entity with at least two members

101


Table of Contents

may elect to be classified either as an association taxable as a corporation or as a partnership. If such an entity fails to make an election, it generally will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Cole OP II intends to be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and will not elect to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation under the Check-the-Box-Regulations.
      Even though Cole OP II will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, it may be taxed as a corporation if it is deemed to be a “publicly traded partnership.” A publicly traded partnership is a partnership whose interests are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market, or the substantial equivalent thereof. However, even if the foregoing requirements are met, a publicly traded partnership will not be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes if at least 90.0% of such partnership’s gross income for a taxable year consists of “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. Qualifying income generally includes any income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 95.0% Income Test applicable to REITs (90.0% Passive-Type Income Exception). See “— Requirements for Qualification as a REIT — Operational Requirements — Gross Income Tests” above.
      Under applicable Treasury Regulations known as the PTP Regulations, limited safe harbors from the definition of a publicly traded partnership are provided. Pursuant to one of those safe harbors (the Private Placement Exclusion), interests in a partnership will not be treated as readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof if (i) all interests in the partnership were issued in a transaction (or transactions) that was not required to be registered under the Securities Act, and (ii) the partnership does not have more than 100 partners at any time during the partnership’s taxable year. In determining the number of partners in a partnership, a person owning an interest in a flow-through entity, such as a partnership, grantor trust or S corporation, that owns an interest in the partnership is treated as a partner in such partnership only if (a) substantially all of the value of the owner’s interest in the flow-through is attributable to the flow-through entity’s interest, direct or indirect, in the partnership and (b) a principal purpose of the use of the flow-through entity is to permit the partnership to satisfy the 100 partner limitation. Cole OP II qualifies for the Private Placement Exclusion. Moreover, even if Cole OP II were considered a publicly traded partnership under the PTP Regulations because it is deemed to have more than 100 partners, we believe Cole OP II should not be treated as a corporation because it is eligible for the 90.0% Passive-Type Income Exception described above.
      We have not requested, and do not intend to request, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that Cole OP II will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP is of the opinion, however, that based on certain factual assumptions and representations, Cole OP II will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a partnership and not as an association taxable as a corporation, or as a publicly traded partnership. Unlike a tax ruling, however, an opinion of counsel is not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service, and we can offer no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge the status of Cole OP II as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. If such challenge were sustained by a court, Cole OP II would be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, as described below. In addition, the opinion of Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP is based on existing law, which is to a great extent the result of administrative and judicial interpretation. No assurance can be given that administrative or judicial changes would not modify the conclusions expressed in the opinion.
      If for any reason Cole OP II were taxable as a corporation, rather than a partnership, for federal income tax purposes, we would not be able to qualify as a REIT. See “— Requirements for Qualification as a REIT — Operational Requirements — Gross Income Tests” and “— Operational Requirements — Asset Tests” above. In addition, any change in Cole OP II’s status for tax purposes might be treated as a taxable event, in which case we might incur a tax liability without any related cash distribution. Further, items of income and deduction of Cole OP II would not pass through to its partners, and its partners would be treated as stockholders for tax purposes. Consequently, Cole OP II would be required to pay income tax at corporate tax rates on its net income, and distributions to its partners would not be deductible in computing Cole OP II’s taxable income.

102


Table of Contents

Income Taxation of the Operating Partnership and Its Partners
Partners, Not a Partnership, Subject to Tax
      A partnership is not a taxable entity for federal income tax purposes. As a partner in Cole OP II, we will be required to take into account our allocable share of Cole OP II’s income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for any taxable year of Cole OP II ending within or with our taxable year, without regard to whether we have received or will receive any distribution from Cole OP II.
Partnership Allocations
      Although a partnership agreement generally determines the allocation of income and losses among partners, such allocations will be disregarded for tax purposes under Section 704(b) of the Internal Revenue Code if they do not comply with the provisions of Section 704(b) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. If an allocation is not recognized for federal income tax purposes, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partner’s interests in the partnership, which will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item. Cole OP II’s allocations of taxable income and loss are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
Tax Allocations With Respect to Contributed Properties
      Pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, income, gain, loss and deductions attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership must be allocated for federal income tax purposes in a manner such that the contributor 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 such 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. Under applicable Treasury Regulations, partnerships are required to use a “reasonable method” for allocating items subject to Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, and several reasonable allocation methods are described therein.
      Under the partnership agreement for Cole OP II, depreciation or amortization deductions of Cole OP II generally will be allocated among the partners in accordance with their respective interests in Cole OP II, except to the extent that Cole OP II is required under Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code to use a method for allocating depreciation deductions attributable to its properties that results in us receiving a disproportionately large share of such deductions. We may possibly (1) be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes with respect to contributed properties than would be allocated to us if each such property were to have a tax basis equal to its fair market value at the time of contribution, and (2) be allocated taxable gain in the event of a sale of such contributed properties in excess of the economic profit allocated to us as a result of such sale. These allocations may cause us to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds received by us, which might adversely affect our ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements, although we do not anticipate that this event will occur. The foregoing principles also will affect the calculation of our earnings and profits for purposes of determining which portion of our distributions is taxable as a distribution. The allocations described in this paragraph may result in a higher portion of our distributions being taxed as a distribution if we acquire properties in exchange for units of the Cole OP II than would have occurred had we purchased such properties for cash.
Basis in Operating Partnership Interest
      The adjusted tax basis of our partnership interest in Cole OP II generally is equal to (1) the amount of cash and the basis of any other property contributed to Cole OP II by us, (2) increased by (a) our allocable share of Cole OP II’s income and (b) our allocable share of indebtedness of Cole OP II, and

103


Table of Contents

(3) reduced, but not below zero, by (a) our allocable share of Cole OP II’s loss and (b) the amount of cash distributed to us, including constructive cash distributions resulting from a reduction in our share of indebtedness of Cole OP II.
      If the allocation of our distributive share of Cole OP II’s loss would reduce the adjusted tax basis of our partnership interest in Cole OP II below zero, the recognition of such loss will be deferred until such time as the recognition of such loss would not reduce our adjusted tax basis below zero. If a distribution from Cole OP II or a reduction in our share of Cole OP II’s liabilities (which is treated as a constructive distribution for tax purposes) would reduce our adjusted tax basis below zero, any such distribution, including a constructive distribution, would constitute taxable income to us. The gain realized by us upon the receipt of any such distribution or constructive distribution would normally be characterized as capital gain, and if our partnership interest in Cole OP II has been held for longer than the long-term capital gain holding period (currently one year), the distribution would constitute long-term capital gain.
Depreciation Deductions Available to the Operating Partnership
      Cole OP II will use a portion of contributions made by us from offering proceeds to acquire interests in properties. To the extent that Cole OP II acquires properties for cash, Cole OP II’s initial basis in such properties for federal income tax purposes generally will be equal to the purchase price paid by Cole OP II. Cole OP II plans to depreciate each such depreciable property for federal income tax purposes under the alternative depreciation system of depreciation. Under this system, Cole OP II generally will depreciate such buildings and improvements over a 40-year recovery period using a straight-line method and a mid-month convention and will depreciate furnishings and equipment over a twelve-year recovery period. To the extent that Cole OP II acquires properties in exchange for units of Cole OP II, Cole OP II’s initial basis in each such property for federal income tax purposes should be the same as the transferor’s basis in that property on the date of acquisition by Cole OP II. Although the law is not entirely clear, Cole OP II generally intends to depreciate such depreciable property for federal income tax purposes over the same remaining useful lives and under the same methods used by the transferors.
Sale of the Operating Partnership’s Property
      Generally, any gain realized by Cole OP II on the sale of property held for more than one year will be long-term capital gain, except for any portion of such gain that is treated as depreciation or cost recovery recapture. Any gain recognized by Cole OP II upon the disposition of a property acquired by Cole OP II for cash will be allocated among the partners in accordance with their respective percentage interests in Cole OP II.
      Our share of any gain realized by Cole OP II on the sale of any property held by Cole OP II as inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of Cole OP II’s trade or business will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100.0% penalty tax. Such prohibited transaction income also may have an adverse effect upon our ability to satisfy the income tests for maintaining our REIT status. See “— Requirements for Qualification as a REIT — Operational Requirements — Gross Income Tests” above. We, however, do not currently intend to acquire or hold or allow Cole OP II to acquire or hold any property that represents inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of our or Cole OP II’s trade or business.
Tenant-In-Common Program
      Each of the properties (Tenant-in-Common Program Properties) that are the subject of the Tenant-in-Common Program will initially be purchased by a single member limited liability company or similar entity, referred to in this prospectus as a Cole Exchange Entity. Each Cole Exchange Entity will initially be owned by our affiliate, Cole Capital Partners or its affiliate. Cole Capital Partners will then market co-tenancy interests in these properties to those persons who wish to re-invest proceeds arising from dispositions of real estate assets owned by the Tenant-in-Common Participants. The Tenant-in-Common Participants will be able to defer the recognition of taxable gain arising from the sale of their

104


Table of Contents

real estate assets by investing proceeds into the co-tenancy interests that qualify for purposes of Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code as replacement real estate assets. We anticipate that the Cole Exchange Entity will obtain a legal opinion in connection with each Tenant-in-Common Program to the effect that the program will qualify as a like-kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. However, no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service will not take a position contrary to such an opinion.
      As Cole Capital Partners successfully markets co-tenancy interests in the properties, these will be sold to the Tenant-in-Common Participants. Cole Capital Partners will recognize gain or loss arising from such sales measured by the difference between the sum of its cost basis and costs of closing and the price at which it sells such interests to the Tenant-in-Common Participants. Cole Capital Partners will be responsible for reporting such income to the extent of any net gains and will be liable for any resulting tax. This will have no impact on our tax liability.
      If Cole OP II purchases interests in the Tenant-in-Common Program Properties, the tax treatment will be the same as it would with respect to other acquisitions of real property. Cole OP II will become the owner of an interest in real estate, it will have a basis in the real estate equal to its cost, and its holding period for such real estate will begin on the day of the acquisition. Upon subsequent sale of such interest, it will recognize gain or loss in the same fashion it would with any other real estate investments. Any fees that a Cole Exchange Entity pays to Cole OP II for participating in a Tenant-in-Common Program will be taxable as ordinary income to Cole OP II.

105


Table of Contents

INVESTMENT BY TAX-EXEMPT ENTITIES AND ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
General
      The following is a summary of some non-tax considerations associated with an investment in our shares by tax-qualified pension, stock bonus or profit-sharing plans, employee benefit plans described in Section 3(3) of ERISA, annuities described in Section 403(a) or (b) of the Internal Revenue Code, an individual retirement account or annuity described in Sections 408 or 408A of the Internal Revenue Code, an Archer MSA described in Section 220(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, a health savings account described in Section 223(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a Coverdell education savings account described in Section 530 of the Internal Revenue Code, which are referred to as Plans and IRAs, as applicable. This summary is based on provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, including amendments thereto through the date of this prospectus, and relevant regulations and opinions issued by the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service through the date of this prospectus. We cannot assure you that adverse tax decisions or legislative, regulatory or administrative changes that would significantly modify the statements expressed herein will not occur. Any such changes may or may not apply to transactions entered into prior to the date of their enactment.
      Our management has attempted to structure us in such a manner that we will be an attractive investment vehicle for Plans and IRAs. However, in considering an investment in our shares, those involved with making such an investment decision should consider applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA. While each of the ERISA and Internal Revenue Code issues discussed below may not apply to all Plans and IRAs, individuals involved with making investment decisions with respect to Plans and IRAs should carefully review the rules and exceptions described below, and determine their applicability to their situation.
      In general, individuals making investment decisions with respect to Plans and IRAs should, at a minimum, consider:
  •  whether the investment is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing such Plan or IRA;
 
  •  whether the investment satisfies the prudence and diversification and other fiduciary requirements of ERISA, if applicable;
 
  •  whether the investment will result in UBTI to the Plan or IRA, see “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Treatment of Tax-Exempt Stockholders”;
 
  •  whether there is sufficient liquidity for the Plan or IRA, considering the minimum distribution requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the liquidity needs of such Plan or IRA, after taking this investment into account;
 
  •  the need to value the assets of the Plan or IRA annually; and
 
  •  whether the investment would constitute or give rise to a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code, if applicable.
      Additionally, individuals making investment decisions with respect to Plans and IRAs must remember that ERISA requires that the assets of an employee benefit plan must generally be held in trust, and that the trustee, or a duly authorized named fiduciary or investment manager, must have authority and discretion to manage and control the assets of an employee benefit plan.
Minimum Distribution Requirements — Plan Liquidity
      Potential Plan or IRA investors who intend to purchase our shares should consider the limited liquidity of an investment in our shares as it relates to the minimum distribution requirements under the Internal Revenue Code, if applicable. If the shares are held in an IRA or Plan and, before we sell our properties, mandatory distributions are required to be made to the participant or beneficiary of such IRA

106


Table of Contents

or Plan, pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, then this would require that a distribution of the shares be made in kind to such participant or beneficiary, which may not be permissible under the terms and provisions of such IRA or Plan. Even if permissible, a distribution of shares in kind must be included in the taxable income of the recipient for the year in which the shares are received at the then current fair market value of the shares, even though there would be no corresponding cash distribution with which to pay the income tax liability arising because of the distribution of shares. See “Risk Factors — Federal Income Tax Risks.” The fair market value of any such distribution-in-kind can be only an estimated value per share because no public market for our shares exists or is likely to develop. See “Annual Valuation Requirement” below. Further, there can be no assurance that such estimated value could actually be realized by a stockholder because estimates do not necessarily indicate the price at which our shares could be sold. Also, for distributions subject to mandatory income tax withholding under Section 3405 or other tax withholding provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the trustee of a Plan may have an obligation, even in situations involving in-kind distributions of shares, to liquidate a portion of the in-kind shares distributed in order to satisfy such withholding obligations, although there might be no market for such shares. There may also be similar state and/or local tax withholding or other tax obligations that should be considered.
Annual Valuation Requirement
      Fiduciaries of Plans are required to determine the fair market value of the assets of such Plans on at least an annual basis. If the fair market value of any particular asset is not readily available, the fiduciary is required to make a good faith determination of that asset’s value. Also, a trustee or custodian of an IRA must provide an IRA participant and the Internal Revenue Service with a statement of the value of the IRA each year. However, currently, neither the Internal Revenue Service nor the Department of Labor has promulgated regulations specifying how “fair market value” should be determined.
      Unless and until our shares are listed on a national securities exchange or are included for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market, it is not expected that a public market for our shares will develop. To assist fiduciaries of Plans subject to the annual reporting requirements of ERISA and IRA trustees or custodians to prepare reports relating to an investment in our shares, we intend to provide reports of our quarterly and annual determinations of the current value of our net assets per outstanding share to those fiduciaries (including IRA trustees and custodians) who identify themselves to us and request the reports. Until two years after any subsequent offering of our shares, we intend to use the offering price of shares in our most recent offering as the per share net asset value (unless we have made a special distribution to stockholders of net sales proceeds from the sale of one or more properties prior to the date of determination of net asset value, in which case we will use the offering price less the per share amount of the special distribution). Beginning two years after the last offering of our shares, our board of directors will determine the value of the properties and our other assets based on such information as our board determines appropriate, which may include independent valuations of our properties or of our enterprise as a whole.
      We anticipate that we will provide annual reports of our determination of value (1) to IRA trustees and custodians not later than January 15 of each year, and (2) to other Plan fiduciaries within 75 days after the end of each calendar year. Each determination may be based upon valuation information available as of October 31 of the preceding year, updated, however, for any material changes occurring between October 31 and December 31.
      There can be no assurance, however, with respect to any estimate of value that we prepare, that:
  •  the estimated value per share would actually be realized by our stockholders upon liquidation, because these estimates do not necessarily indicate the price at which properties can be sold;
 
  •  our stockholders would be able to realize estimated net asset values if they were to attempt to sell their shares, because no public market for our shares exists or is likely to develop; or

107


Table of Contents

  •  that the value, or method used to establish value, would comply with ERISA or Internal Revenue Code requirements described above.
Fiduciary Obligations — Prohibited Transactions
      Any person identified as a “fiduciary” with respect to a Plan incurs duties and obligations under ERISA as discussed herein. For purposes of ERISA, any person who exercises any authority or control with respect to the management or disposition of the assets of a Plan is considered to be a fiduciary of such Plan. Further, many transactions between Plans or IRAs and “parties-in-interest” or “disqualified persons” are prohibited by ERISA and/or the Internal Revenue Code. ERISA also requires generally that the assets of Plans be held in trust and that the trustee, or a duly authorized investment manager, have exclusive authority and discretion to manage and control the assets of the Plan.
      In the event that our properties and other assets were deemed to be assets of a Plan or IRA, referred to herein as “Plan Assets,” our directors would, and employees of our affiliates might be deemed fiduciaries of any Plans or IRAs investing as stockholders. If this were to occur, certain contemplated transactions between us and our directors and employees of our affiliates could be deemed to be “prohibited transactions.” Additionally, ERISA’s fiduciary standards applicable to investments by Plans would extend to our directors and possibly employees of our affiliates as Plan fiduciaries with respect to investments made by us, and the requirement that Plan Assets be held in trust could be deemed to be violated.
Plan Assets — Definition
      Neither ERISA nor the Internal Revenue Code contains a definition of Plan Assets. A Department of Labor regulation, referred to in this discussion as the Plan Asset Regulation, provides guidelines as to whether, and under what circumstances, the underlying assets of an entity will be deemed to constitute Plan Assets. Under the Plan Asset Regulation, the assets of an entity in which a Plan or IRA makes an equity investment will generally be deemed to be assets of such Plan or IRA unless the entity satisfies one of the exceptions to this general rule. Generally, the exceptions require that the investment in the entity be one of the following:
  •  in securities issued by an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act;
 
  •  in “publicly offered securities,” defined generally as interests that are “freely transferable,” “widely held” and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission;
 
  •  in an “operating company,” which includes “venture capital operating companies” and “real estate operating companies;” or
 
  •  in which equity participation by “benefit plan investors” is not significant.
Plan Assets — Registered Investment Company Exception
      The shares we are offering will not be issued by a registered investment company. Therefore we do not anticipate that we will qualify for the exception for investments issued by a registered investment company.
Publicly Offered Securities Exemption
      As noted above, if a Plan acquires “publicly offered securities,” the assets of the issuer of the securities will not be deemed to be Plan Assets under the Plan Asset Regulation. The definition of publicly offered securities requires that such securities be “widely held,” “freely transferable” and satisfy registration requirements under federal securities laws.
      Under the Plan Asset Regulation, a class of securities will meet the registration requirements under federal securities laws if they are (i) part of a class of securities registered under section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, or (ii) part of an offering of securities to the public pursuant to an effective

108


Table of Contents

registration statement under the Securities Act and the class of securities of which such security is a part is registered under the Exchange Act within 120 days (or such later time as may be allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission) after the end of the fiscal year of the issuer during which the offering of such securities to the public occurred. We anticipate that we will meet the registration requirements under the Plan Asset Regulation. Also under the Plan Asset Regulation, a class of securities will be “widely held” if it is held by 100 or more persons independent of the issuer. We anticipate that this requirement will be easily met. Although our shares are intended to satisfy the registration requirements under this definition, and we expect that our securities will be “widely-held”, the “freely transferable” requirement must also be satisfied in order for us to qualify for the “publicly offered securities” exception.
      The Plan Asset Regulation provides that “whether a security is “freely transferable’ is a factual question to be determined on the basis of all relevant facts and circumstances.” Our shares are subject to certain restrictions on transferability typically found in REITs, and are intended to ensure that we continue to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT. The Plan Asset Regulation provides, however, that where the minimum investment in a public offering of securities is $10,000 or less, the presence of a restriction on transferability intended to prohibit transfers that would result in a termination or reclassification of the entity for state or federal tax purposes will not ordinarily affect a determination that such securities are “freely transferable.” The minimum investment in our shares is less than $10,000. Thus, the restrictions imposed in order to maintain our status as a REIT should not prevent the shares from being deemed “freely transferable.” Therefore, we anticipate that we will meet the “publicly offered securities” exception, although there are no assurances that we will qualify for this exception.
Plan Assets — Operating Company Exception
      If we are deemed not to qualify for the “publicly offered securities” exemption, the Plan Asset Regulation also provides an exception with respect to securities issued by an “operating company,” which includes “venture capital operating companies” and “real estate operating companies.” To constitute a venture capital operating company, 50.0% of more of the assets of the entity must be invested in “venture capital investments.” A venture capital investment is an investment in an operating company (other than a venture capital operating company) as to which the entity has or obtains direct management rights. To constitute a real estate operating company, 50.0% or more of the assets of an entity must be invested in real estate which is managed or developed and with respect to which such entity has the right to substantially participate directly in the management or development activities.
      While the Plan Asset Regulation and relevant opinions issued by the Department of Labor regarding real estate operating companies are not entirely clear as to whether an investment in real estate must be “direct”, it is common practice to insure that an investment is made either (i) “directly” into real estate, (ii) through wholly owned subsidiaries, or (iii) through entities in which all but a de minimis interest is separately held by an affiliate solely to comply with the minimum safe harbor requirements established by the Internal Revenue Service for classification as a partnership for federal tax purposes. We have structured ourselves, and our operating partnership, in this manner in order to enable us to meet the real estate operating company exception. To the extent interests in our operating partnership are obtained by third-party investors, it is possible that the real estate operating company exception will cease to apply to us. However, in such an event we believe that we are structured in a manner which would allow us to meet the venture capital operating company exception because our investment in our operating partnership, an entity investing directly in real estate over which we maintain substantially all of the control over the management and development activities, would constitute a venture capital investment.
      Notwithstanding the foregoing, 50.0% of our, or our operating partnership’s investment, as the case may be, must be in real estate over which we maintain the right to substantially participate in the management and development activities. An example in the Plan Asset Regulation indicates that if 50.0% or more of an entity’s properties are subject to long-term leases under which substantially all management and maintenance activities with respect to the properties are the responsibility of the lessee, such that the entity merely assumes the risk of ownership of income-producing real property, then the entity may not be

109


Table of Contents

eligible for the “real estate operating company” exception. By contrast, a second example in the Plan Asset Regulation indicates that if 50.0% or more of an entity’s investments are in shopping centers in which individual stores are leased for relatively short periods to various merchants, as opposed to long-term leases where substantially all management and maintenance activities are the responsibility of the lessee, then the entity will likely qualify as a real estate operating company. The second example further provides that the entity may retain contractors, including affiliates, to conduct the management of the properties so long as the entity has the responsibility to supervise and the authority to terminate the contractors. We intend to use contractors over which we have the right to supervise and the authority to terminate. Due to the uncertainty of the application of the standards set forth in the Plan Asset Regulation, there can be no assurance as to our ability to structure our operations, or the operations of our operating partnership, as the case may be, to qualify for the “real estate operating company” exception.
Plan Assets — Not Significant Investment Exception
      The Plan Asset Regulation provides that equity participation in an entity by benefit plan investors is “significant” if at any time 25.0% or more of the value of any class of equity interests is held by benefit plan investors. In the event we determine that we fail to meet the “publicly offered securities” exception, as a result of a failure to sell an adequate number of shares or otherwise, and we cannot ultimately establish that we are an operating company, we intend to restrict ownership of each class of equity interests held by benefit plan investors to an aggregate value of less than 25.0% and thus qualify for the exception for investments in which equity participation by benefit plan investors is not significant.
Consequences of Holding Plan Assets
      In the event that our underlying assets were treated by the Department of Labor as Plan Assets, our management would be treated as fiduciaries with respect to each Plan or IRA stockholder, and an investment in our shares might expose the fiduciaries of the Plan or IRA to co-fiduciary liability under ERISA for any breach by our management of the fiduciary duties mandated under ERISA. Further, if our assets are deemed to be Plan Assets, an investment by a Plan or IRA in our shares might be deemed to result in an impermissible commingling of Plan Assets with other property.
      If our management or affiliates were treated as fiduciaries with respect to Plan or IRA stockholders, the prohibited transaction restrictions of ERISA would apply to any transaction involving our assets. These restrictions could, for example, require that we avoid transactions with entities that are affiliated with our affiliates or us or restructure our activities in order to obtain an administrative exemption from the prohibited transaction restrictions. Alternatively, we might have to provide Plan or IRA stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us or we might dissolve or terminate.
Prohibited Transactions
      Generally, both ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code prohibit Plans and IRAs from engaging in certain transactions involving Plan Assets with specified parties, such as sales or exchanges or leasing of property, loans or other extensions of credit, furnishing goods or services, or transfers to, or use of, Plan Assets. The specified parties are referred to as “parties-in-interest” under ERISA and as “disqualified persons” under the Internal Revenue Code. These definitions generally include both parties owning threshold percentage interests in an investment entity and “persons providing services” to the Plan or IRA, as well as employer sponsors of the Plan or IRA, fiduciaries and other individuals or entities affiliated with the foregoing.
      A person generally is a fiduciary with respect to a Plan or IRA for these purposes if, among other things, the person has discretionary authority or control with respect to Plan Assets or provides investment advice for a fee with respect to Plan Assets. Under Department of Labor regulations, a person will be deemed to be providing investment advice if that person renders advice as to the advisability of investing in our shares, and that person regularly provides investment advice to the Plan or IRA pursuant to a mutual agreement or understanding that such advice will serve as the primary basis for investment

110


Table of Contents

decisions, and that the advice will be individualized for the Plan or IRA based on its particular needs. Thus, if we are deemed to hold Plan Assets, our management could be characterized as fiduciaries with respect to such assets, and each would be deemed to be a party-in-interest under ERISA and a disqualified person under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to investing Plans and IRAs. Whether or not we are deemed to hold Plan Assets, if we or our affiliates are affiliated with a Plan or IRA investor, we might be a disqualified person or party-in-interest with respect to such Plan or IRA investor, resulting in a prohibited transaction merely upon investment by such Plan or IRA in our shares.
Prohibited Transactions — Consequences
      ERISA forbids Plans from engaging in prohibited transactions. Fiduciaries of a Plan that allow a prohibited transaction to occur will breach their fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA, and may be liable for any damage sustained by the Plan, as well as civil (and criminal, if the violation was willful) penalties. If it is determined by the Department of Labor or the Internal Revenue Service that a prohibited transaction has occurred, any disqualified person or party-in-interest involved with the prohibited transaction would be required to reverse or unwind the transaction and, for a Plan, compensate the Plan for any loss resulting therefrom. Additionally, the Internal Revenue Code requires that a disqualified person involved with a prohibited transaction must pay an excise tax equal to a percentage of the “amount involved” in the transaction for each year in which the transaction remains uncorrected. The percentage is generally 15.0%, but is increased to 100.0% if the prohibited transaction is not corrected promptly. For IRAs, if an IRA engages in a prohibited transaction, the tax-exempt status of the IRA may be lost.

111


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
      We were formed under the laws of the state of Maryland. The rights of our stockholders are governed by Maryland law as well as our charter and bylaws. The following summary of the terms of our common stock is only a summary, and you should refer to the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws for a full description. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information contained in our charter and bylaws. Copies of our charter and bylaws are available upon request.
      Our charter authorizes us to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of stock, of which 90,000,000 shares are designated as common stock at $0.01 par value per share and 10,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock at $0.01 par value per share. As of the date of this prospectus, 20,000 shares of our common stock are issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding. Our board of directors may amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of our authorized shares or the number of shares of any class or series that we have authority to issue without any action by our stockholders.
      Our charter also contains a provision permitting our board of directors, including at least a majority of the independent directors who do not have an interest in the transaction and without any action by our stockholders, to classify or reclassify any unissued common stock or preferred stock into one or more classes or series by setting or changing the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of any new class or series of stock, subject to certain restrictions, including the express terms of any class or series of stock outstanding at the time. We believe that the power to classify or reclassify unissued shares of stock and thereafter issue the classified or reclassified shares provides us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise.
      Our charter and bylaws contain certain provisions that could make it more difficult to acquire control of our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise. These provisions are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of our company to negotiate first with our board of directors. We believe that these provisions increase the likelihood that proposals initially will be on more attractive terms than would be the case in their absence and facilitate negotiations that may result in improvement of the terms of an initial offer that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to an Investment in Cole REIT II.”
Common Stock
      Subject to any preferential rights of any other class or series of stock and to the provisions of our charter regarding the restriction on the transfer of common stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to such distributions as may be authorized from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds and declared by us and, upon our liquidation, are entitled to receive all assets available for distribution to our stockholders. Upon issuance for full payment in accordance with the terms of this offering, all common stock issued in the offering will be fully paid and non-assessable. Holders of common stock will not have preemptive rights, which means that they will not have an automatic option to purchase any new shares that we issue, or preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal rights. Shares of our common stock have equal distribution, liquidation and other rights.
Preferred Stock
      Our charter authorizes our board of directors to designate and issue one or more classes or series of preferred stock without stockholder approval and to fix the voting rights, liquidation preferences, distribution rates, conversion rights, redemption rights and terms, including sinking fund provisions, and certain other rights and preferences with respect to such preferred stock. Because our board of directors has the power to establish the preferences and rights of each class or series of preferred stock, it may

112


Table of Contents

afford the holders of any series or class of preferred stock preferences, powers, and rights senior to the rights of holders of common stock. If we ever created and issued preferred stock with a distribution preference over common stock, payment of any distribution preferences of outstanding preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of distributions on the common stock. Further, holders of preferred stock are normally entitled to receive a preference payment in the event we liquidate, dissolve, or wind up before any payment is made to the common stockholders, likely reducing the amount common stockholders would otherwise receive upon such an occurrence. In addition, under certain circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock may delay, prevent, render more difficult or tend to discourage the following:
  •  a merger, offer, or proxy contest;
 
  •  the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our securities; or
 
  •  the removal of incumbent management.
      Also, our board of directors, without stockholder approval, may issue preferred stock with voting and conversion rights that could adversely affect the holders of common stock.
      We currently have no preferred stock issued or outstanding. Our board of directors has no present plans to issue shares of preferred stock, but it may do so at any time in the future without stockholder approval.
Meetings and Special Voting Requirements
      Subject to our charter restrictions on transfer of our stock, each holder of common stock is entitled at each meeting of stockholders to one vote per share owned by such stockholder on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. There is no cumulative voting in the election of our board of directors, which means that the holders of a majority of shares of our outstanding common stock can elect all of the directors then standing for election and the holders of the remaining shares of common stock will not be able to elect any directors.
      Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot 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 approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter. However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter provides for approval of these matters by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast.
      However, under the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter, the following events do not require stockholder approval:
  •  stock exchanges in which we are the successor;
 
  •  mergers with or into a 90.0% or more owned subsidiary, provided that the charter of the successor is not amended and that the contract rights of any stock issued in the merger are identical to those of the stock that was exchanged;
 
  •  mergers in which we do not:
  reclassify or change the terms of any of shares that are outstanding immediately before the effective time of the merger;
 
  amend our charter; and
 
  result in the issuance of more than 20.0% of the number of shares of any class or series of shares outstanding immediately before the merger; and
  •  transfers of less than substantially all of our assets.

113


Table of Contents

Also, because our operating assets are held by our subsidiaries, these subsidiaries may be able to merge or sell all or substantially all of their assets without the approval of our stockholders.
      An annual meeting of our stockholders will be held each year, at least 30 days after delivery of our annual report to our stockholders. Special meetings of stockholders may be called only upon the request of a majority of our directors, a majority of the independent directors, the president, the chief executive officer or upon the written request of stockholders holding at least ten percent of our outstanding shares. Upon receipt of a written request of stockholders holding at least ten percent of our outstanding shares stating the purpose of the special meeting, our secretary will provide all of our stockholders written notice of the meeting and the purpose of such meeting. The meeting must be held not less than 15 nor more than 60 days after the distribution of the notice of meeting. The presence of holders of a majority of our outstanding shares, either in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum.
      Our stockholders are entitled to receive a copy of our stockholder list upon request. The list provided by us will include each stockholder’s name, address and telephone number, if available, and the number of shares owned by each stockholder and will be sent within ten days of the receipt by us of the request. A stockholder requesting a list will be required to pay reasonable costs of postage and duplication. Stockholders and their representatives shall also be given access to our corporate records at reasonable times. We have the right to request that a requesting stockholder represent to us that the list and records will not be used to pursue commercial interests.
      If we do not list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange or on The Nasdaq National Market by the tenth anniversary of the completion or termination of this offering, our charter requires that we either (i) seek stockholder approval of an extension or amendment of this listing deadline, or (ii) seek stockholder approval of the liquidation of the corporation. If we sought and did not obtain stockholder approval of an extension or amendment to the listing deadline, we would then be required to seek stockholder approval of our liquidation. If we sought and failed to obtain stockholder approval of our liquidation, our charter would not require us to list or liquidate and we could continue to operate as before. In such event, there will be no public market for shares of our common stock and you may be required to hold the shares indefinitely. If we sought and obtained stockholder approval of our liquidation, we would begin an orderly sale of our properties and distribute our net proceeds to you. In the event that the listing of our stock on a national securities exchange or on The Nasdaq National Market occurs on or before the tenth anniversary of the commencement of this public offering, the corporation shall continue perpetually unless dissolved pursuant to any applicable provision of the Maryland General Corporation Law.
Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer
      In order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, we must meet the following criteria regarding our stockholders’ ownership of our shares:
  •  five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code to include certain tax exempt organizations and trusts) may not own, directly or indirectly, more than 50.0% in value of our outstanding shares during the last half of a taxable year; and
 
  •  100 or more persons must beneficially own our shares during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year.
      See “Federal Income Tax Considerations” for further discussion of this topic. We may prohibit certain acquisitions and transfers of shares so as to ensure our initial and continued qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. However, there can be no assurance that this prohibition will be effective. Because we believe it is essential for us to qualify as a REIT, and, once qualified, to continue to qualify, our charter provides (subject to certain exceptions) that no stockholder may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, more than 9.8% in value of our outstanding shares of stock or more than 9.8% of the number or value (in either case as determined in good faith by our board of directors) of any class or series of our outstanding shares of common stock. The 9.8% ownership limit must be measured in terms of the more restrictive of value or number of shares.

114


Table of Contents

Our board of directors, in its sole discretion, may waive this ownership limit if evidence satisfactory to our directors is presented that such ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize our status as a REIT. Also, these restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if our directors determine that it is no longer in our best interests to continue to qualify as a REIT.
      Additionally, our charter further prohibits the transfer or issuance of our stock if such transfer or issuance:
  •  with respect to transfers only, results in our common stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons;
 
  •  results in our being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code;
 
  •  results in our owning, directly or indirectly, more than 9.8% of the ownership interests in any tenant or subtenant; or
 
  •  otherwise results in our disqualification as a REIT.
      Any attempted transfer of our stock which, if effective, would result in our stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons will be null and void. In the event of any attempted transfer of our stock which, if effective, would result in (i) violation of the ownership limit discussed above, (ii) in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, (iii) our owning (directly or indirectly) more than 9.8% of the ownership interests in any tenant or subtenant or (iv) our otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT, then the number of shares causing the violation (rounded to the nearest whole share) will be automatically transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries, and the proposed transferee will not acquire any rights in the shares. To avoid confusion, these shares so transferred to a beneficial trust will be referred to in this prospectus as “Excess Securities.” Excess Securities will remain issued and outstanding shares and will be entitled to the same rights and privileges as all other shares of the same class or series. The trustee of the beneficial trust, as holder of the Excess Securities, will be entitled to receive all distributions authorized by the board of directors on such securities for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. Our charter further entitles the trustee of the beneficial trust to vote all Excess Securities.
      The trustee of the beneficial trust may select a transferee to whom the Excess Securities may be sold as long as such sale does not violate the 9.8% ownership limit or the other restrictions on transfer. Upon sale of the Excess Securities, the intended transferee (the transferee of the Excess Securities whose ownership would violate the 9.8% ownership limit or the other restrictions on transfer) will receive from the trustee of the beneficial trust the lesser of such sale proceeds, or the price per share the intended transferee paid for the Excess Securities (or, in the case of a gift or devise to the intended transferee, the price per share equal to the market value per share on the date of the transfer to the intended transferee). The trustee of the beneficial trust will distribute to the charitable beneficiary any amount the trustee receives in excess of the amount to be paid to the intended transferee.
      In addition, we have the right to purchase any Excess Securities at the lesser of (i) the price per share paid in the transfer that created the Excess Securities, or (ii) the current market price, until the Excess Securities are sold by the trustee of the beneficial trust. An intended transferee must pay, upon demand, to the trustee of the beneficial trust (for the benefit of the beneficial trust) the amount of any distribution we pay to an intended transferee on Excess Securities prior to our discovery that such Excess Securities have been transferred in violation of the provisions of the charter. If any legal decision, statute, rule, or regulation deems or declares the transfer restrictions included in our charter to be void or invalid, then we may, at our option, deem the intended transferee of any Excess Securities to have acted as an agent on our behalf in acquiring such Excess Securities and to hold such Excess Securities on our behalf.
      Any person who (i) acquires or attempts to acquire shares in violation of the foregoing ownership restriction, transfers or receives shares subject to such limitations, or would have owned shares that resulted in a transfer to a charitable trust, or (ii) proposes or attempts any of the transactions in clause (i), is required to give us 15 days’ written notice prior to such transaction. In both cases, such

115


Table of Contents

persons must provide to us such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such transfer on our status as a REIT. The foregoing restrictions will continue to apply until our board of directors determines it is no longer in our best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT.
      The ownership restriction does not apply to the underwriter in a public offering of shares or to a person or persons so exempted from the ownership limit by our board of directors based upon appropriate assurances that our qualification as a REIT is not jeopardized. Any person who owns 5.0% or more of the outstanding shares during any taxable year will be asked to deliver a statement or affidavit setting forth the number of shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly.
Distribution Policy
      When we have sufficient cash flow available to pay distributions, we intend to pay regular distributions to our stockholders. As of the date of this prospectus, we have no real estate investments. We currently have not identified any probable real estate investments. We will not make real estate investments until we identify investment opportunities and raise sufficient capital pursuant to this offering to do so. We cannot predict when we will begin to generate sufficient cash flow from these investments to pay distributions as a result of such investments; however, we expect that these will begin no later than the third quarter after the commencement of this offering. Because all of our operations will be performed indirectly through Cole OP II, our operating partnership, our ability to pay distributions depends on Cole OP II’s ability to pay distributions to its partners, including to us. In the event we do not have enough cash from operations to fund the distribution, we may borrow, issue additional securities or sell assets in order to fund the distributions or make the distributions out of net proceeds from this offering.
      Distributions will be paid to our stockholders as of the record date selected by our board of directors. We expect to declare and pay distributions at least quarterly. Once we have sufficient cash flow, we may pay distributions monthly or more frequently. We expect to regularly pay distributions unless our results of operations, our general financial condition, general economic conditions, or other factors inhibit us from doing so. Distributions will be authorized at the discretion of our board of directors, which will be directed, in substantial part, by its obligation to cause us to comply with the REIT requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The funds we receive from operations that are available for distribution may be affected by a number of factors, including the following:
  •  the amount of time required for us to invest the funds received in the offering;
 
  •  our operating and interest expenses;
 
  •  the ability of tenants to meet their obligations under the leases associated with our properties;
 
  •  the amount of distributions or dividends received by us from our indirect real estate investments;
 
  •  our ability to keep our properties occupied;
 
  •  our ability to maintain or increase rental rates when renewing or replacing current leases;
 
  •  capital expenditures and reserves for such expenditures;
 
  •  the issuance of additional shares; and
 
  •  financings and refinancings.
      We must distribute to our stockholders at least 90.0% of our taxable income each year in order to meet the requirements for being treated as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. This requirement is described in greater detail in the “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Requirements For Qualification as a REIT — Operational Requirements — Annual Distribution Requirements” section of this prospectus. Our directors may authorize distributions in excess of this percentage as they deem appropriate. Because we may receive income from interest or rents at various times during our fiscal year, distributions may not reflect our income earned in that particular distribution period, but may be made in anticipation of cash flow that we expect to receive during a later period and may be made in advance of actual receipt of funds

116


Table of Contents

in an attempt to make distributions relatively uniform. To allow for such differences in timing between the receipt of income and the payment of expenses, and the effect of required debt payments, among other things, could require us to borrow funds from third parties on a short-term basis, issue new securities, or sell assets to meet the distribution requirements that are necessary to achieve the tax benefits associated with qualifying as a REIT. These methods of obtaining funding could affect future distributions by increasing operating costs and decreasing available cash. In addition, such distributions may constitute a return of capital. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Requirements for Qualification as a REIT.”
Stockholder Liability
      The Maryland General Corporation Law provides that our stockholders:
  •  are not liable personally or individually in any manner whatsoever for any debt, act, omission or obligation incurred by us or our board of directors; and
 
  •  are under no obligation to us or our creditors with respect to their shares other than the obligation to pay to us the full amount of the consideration for which their shares were issued.
Business Combinations
      Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:
  •  any person who beneficially owns ten percent or more of the voting power of the corporation’s shares; or
 
  •  an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of ten percent or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the corporation.
      A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which he otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.
      After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
  •  80.0% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and
 
  •  two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.
      These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.
      The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Pursuant to the statute, our board of directors has exempted any business combination with Cole Advisors II or any affiliate of Cole Advisors II. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the super-majority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations between us and Cole Advisors II or any

117


Table of Contents

affiliate of Cole Advisors II. As a result, Cole Advisors II or any affiliate of Cole Advisors II may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interest of our stockholders, without compliance with the super-majority vote requirements and the other provisions of the statute.
      The business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.
Control Share Acquisitions
      With some exceptions, Maryland law provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of stockholders holding two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding “control shares”:
  •  owned by the acquiring person;
 
  •  owned by our officers; and
 
  •  owned by our employees who are also directors.
      “Control shares” mean voting shares which, if aggregated with all other voting shares owned by an acquiring person or shares for which the acquiring person can exercise or direct the exercise of voting power, would entitle the acquiring person to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:
  •  one-tenth or more but less than one-third;
 
  •  one-third or more but less than a majority; or
 
  •  a majority or more of all voting power.
      Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition occurs when, subject to some exceptions, a person directly or indirectly acquires ownership or the power to direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy) of issued and outstanding control shares. A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of some specific conditions, including an undertaking to pay expenses, may compel our board of directors to call a special meeting of our stockholders to be held within 50 days of a demand to consider the voting rights of the control shares. If no request for a meeting is made, we may present the question at any stockholders’ meeting.
      If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then, subject to some conditions and limitations, we may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have been previously approved) for fair value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of such shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of such appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition. The control share acquisition statute does not apply to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation, or share exchange if we are a party to the transaction or to acquisitions approved or exempted by our charter or bylaws.
      As permitted by Maryland General Corporation Law, our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions of our common stock by Cole Advisors II or any affiliate of Cole Advisors II.

118


Table of Contents

Subtitle 8
      Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to any or all of five provisions:
  •  a classified board,
 
  •  a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director,
 
  •  a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors,
 
  •  a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred, and
 
  •  a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.
      Pursuant to Subtitle 8, we have elected to provide that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already vest in the board the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships.
Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business
      Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election to the board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only (i) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (ii) by the board of directors or (iii) by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the bylaws. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the board of directors at a special meeting may be made only (i) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (ii) by the board of directors, or (iii) provided that the board of directors has determined that directors will be elected at the meeting, by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the bylaws.
Share Redemption Program
      Our board of directors has adopted a share redemption program that enables our stockholders to sell their shares to us in limited circumstances. Our share redemption program permits you to sell your shares back to us after you have held them for at least one year, subject to the significant conditions and limitations described below.
      Our common stock is currently not listed on a national securities exchange, or included for quotation on a national securities market, and we will not seek to list our stock until such time as our independent directors believe that the listing of our stock would be in the best interest of our stockholders. In order to provide stockholders with the benefit of interim liquidity, stockholders who have held their shares for at least one year may present all or a portion consisting of at least 25%, of the holder’s shares to us for redemption at any time in accordance with the procedures outlined below. At that time, we may, subject to the conditions and limitations described below, redeem the shares presented for redemption for cash to the extent that we have sufficient funds available to us to fund such redemption. We will not pay to our board of directors, advisor or its affiliates any fees to complete any transactions under our share redemption program.
      During the term of this offering, the redemption price per share will depend on the length of time you have held such shares as follows: after one year from the purchase date — 92.5% of the amount you paid

119


Table of Contents

for each share; after two years from the purchase date — 95.0% of the amount you paid for each share, after three years from the purchase date — 97.5% of the amount you paid for each share; and after four years from the purchase date — 100.0% of the amount you paid for each share (in each case, as adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations, splits, recapitalizations and the like with respect to our common stock). At any time we are engaged in an offering of shares, the per share price for shares purchased under our redemption plan will always be equal to or lower than the applicable per share offering price. Thereafter the per share redemption price will be based on the then-current net asset value of the shares (as adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations, splits, recapitalizations and the like with respect to our common stock). Our board of directors will announce any redemption price adjustment and the time period of its effectiveness as a part of its regular communications with our stockholders. At any time the redemption price is determined by any method other than the net asset value of the shares, if we have sold property and have made one or more special distributions to our stockholders of all or a portion of the net proceeds from such sales, the per share redemption price will be reduced by the net sale proceeds per share distributed to investors prior to the redemption date as a result of the sale of such property in the special distribution. Our board of directors will, in its sole discretion, determine which distributions, if any, constitute a special distribution. While our board of directors does not have specific criteria for determining a special distribution, we expect that a special distribution will only occur upon the sale of a property and the subsequent distribution of the net sale proceeds. Upon receipt of a request for redemption, we will conduct a Uniform Commercial Code search to ensure that no liens are held against the shares. We will charge an administrative fee of $250 to the stockholder for the search and other costs, which will be deducted from the proceeds of the redemption or, if a lien exists, will be charged to the stockholder. Subject to our waiver of the one-year holding period requirement, shares required to be redeemed in connection with the death of a stockholder may be repurchased without the one-year activity period requirement, at a purchase price equal to the price actually paid for the shares.
      During any calendar year, we will not redeem in excess of 3.0% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year. The cash available for redemption will be limited to the proceeds from the sale of shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan.
      We will redeem our shares on the last business day of the month following the end of each quarter. Requests for redemption would have to be received on or prior to the end of the quarter in order for us to repurchase the shares as of the end of the next month. You may withdraw your request to have your shares redeemed at any time prior to the last day of the applicable quarter.
      If we could not purchase all shares presented for redemption in any quarter, based upon insufficient cash available and the limit on the number of shares we may redeem during any calendar year, we would attempt to honor redemption requests on a pro rata basis. We would treat the unsatisfied portion of the redemption request as a request for redemption the following quarter. At such time, you may then (1) withdraw your request for redemption at any time prior to the last day of the new quarter or (2) ask that we honor your request at such time, if, any, when sufficient funds become available. Such pending requests will generally be honored on a pro rata basis. We will determine whether we have sufficient funds available as soon as practicable after the end of each quarter, but in any event prior to the applicable payment date.
      Our board of directors may choose to amend, suspend or terminate our share redemption program upon 30 days notice at any time. Additionally we will be required to discontinue sales of shares under the distribution reinvestment plan on the earlier of June 27, 2007, which is two years from the effective date of this offering, unless the offering is extended, or the date we sell 5,000,000 shares under the plan, unless we file a new registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable states. Because the redemption of shares will be funded with the net proceeds we receive from the sale of shares under the distribution reinvestment plan, the discontinuance or termination of the distribution reinvestment plan will adversely affect our ability to redeem shares under the share redemption program. We would notify you of such developments (i) in the annual or quarterly reports mentioned above or (ii) by means of a separate mailing to you, accompanied by disclosure in a current or periodic report under the Exchange

120


Table of Contents

Act. During this offering, we would also include this information in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement, as then required under federal securities laws.
      Our share redemption program is only intended to provide interim liquidity for stockholders until a liquidity event occurs, such as the listing of the shares on a national securities exchange, inclusion of the shares for on a national market system, or our merger with a listed company. The share redemption program will be terminated if the shares become listed on a national securities exchange or included for quotation on a national market system. We cannot guarantee that a liquidity event will occur.
      The shares we redeem under our share redemption program will be cancelled and return to the status of unauthorized but unissued shares. We do not intend to resell such shares to the public unless they are first registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act and under appropriate state securities laws or otherwise sold in compliance with such laws.
Restrictions on Roll-up Transactions
      A Roll-up Transaction is a transaction involving the acquisition, merger, conversion or consolidation, directly or indirectly, of us and the issuance of securities of an entity (Roll-up Entity) that is created or would survive after the successful completion of a Roll-up Transaction. This term does not include:
  •  a transaction involving our securities that have been listed on a national securities exchange or included for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market for at least 12 months; or
 
  •  a transaction involving our conversion to trust, or association form if, as a consequence of the transaction, there will be no significant adverse change in stockholder voting rights, the term of our existence, compensation to Cole Advisors II or our investment objectives.
      In connection with any Roll-up Transaction involving the issuance of securities of a Roll-up Entity, an appraisal of all of our assets shall be obtained from a competent independent appraiser. The assets shall be appraised on a consistent basis, and the appraisal will be based on the evaluation of all relevant information and will indicate the value of the assets as of a date immediately prior to the announcement of the proposed Roll-up Transaction. The appraisal shall assume an orderly liquidation of assets over a 12-month period. The terms of the engagement of the independent appraiser shall clearly state that the engagement is for the benefit of us and our stockholders. A summary of the appraisal, indicating all material assumptions underlying the appraisal, shall be included in a report to stockholders in connection with any proposed Roll-up Transaction.
      In connection with a proposed Roll-up Transaction, the sponsor of the Roll-up Transaction must offer to stockholders who vote “no” on the proposal the choice of:
        (1) accepting the securities of the Roll-up Entity offered in the proposed Roll-up Transaction; or
 
        (2) one of the following:
        (a) remaining as holders of our common stock and preserving their interests therein on the same terms and conditions as existed previously, or
 
        (b) receiving cash in an amount equal to the stockholder’s pro rata share of the appraised value of our net assets.
      We are prohibited from participating in any Roll-up Transaction:
  •  that would result in the stockholders having voting rights in a Roll-up Entity that are less than those provided in our charter and described elsewhere in this prospectus, including rights with respect to the election and removal of directors, annual reports, annual and special meetings, amendment of our charter, and our dissolution;

121


Table of Contents

  •  that includes provisions that would materially impede or frustrate the accumulation of shares by any purchaser of the securities of the Roll-up Entity, except to the minimum extent necessary to preserve the tax status of the Roll-up Entity, or which would limit the ability of an investor to exercise the voting rights of its securities of the Roll-up Entity on the basis of the number of shares held by that investor;
 
  •  in which our investor’s rights to access of records of the Roll-up Entity will be less than those provided in the section of this prospectus entitled “— Meetings and Special Voting Requirements” above; or
 
  •  in which any of the costs of the Roll-up Transaction would be borne by us if the Roll-up Transaction is not approved by the stockholders.

122


Table of Contents

SUMMARY OF DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN
      The following is a summary of our distribution reinvestment plan. A complete copy of our form of distribution reinvestment plan is included in this prospectus as Appendix C.
Investment of Distributions
      We have adopted a distribution reinvestment plan pursuant to which, our stockholders and, subject to certain conditions set forth in our distribution reinvestment plan, any stockholder or partner of any other publicly offered limited partnership, real estate investment trust or other real estate program sponsored by our advisor or its affiliates, may participate in our distribution reinvestment plan and elect to purchase shares of our common stock with our distributions or distributions from such other programs. We are offering 5,000,000 shares for sale pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. We intend to offer shares at the higher of 91.5% of the estimated value of a share of our common stock, as estimated by our board of directors or $9.15 per share. We have the discretion to extend the offering period for the shares being offered pursuant to this prospectus under our distribution reinvestment plan beyond the termination of this offering until we have sold 5,000,000 shares through the reinvestment of distributions. We may also offer shares pursuant to a new registration statement.
      No dealer manager fees or sales commissions will be paid with respect to shares purchased pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan, therefore, we will retain all of the proceeds from the reinvestment of distributions. Accordingly, substantially all the economic benefits resulting from distribution reinvestment purchases by stockholders from the elimination of the dealer manager fee and selling commissions will inure to the benefit of the participant through the reduced purchase price.
      Pursuant to the terms of our distribution reinvestment plan the reinvestment agent, which currently is us, will act on behalf of participants to reinvest the cash distributions they receive from us. Stockholders participating in the distribution reinvestment plan may purchase fractional shares. If sufficient shares are not available for issuance under our distribution reinvestment plan, the reinvestment agent will remit excess cash distributions to the participants. Participants purchasing shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan will have the same rights as stockholders with respect to shares purchased under the plan and will be treated in the same manner as if such shares were issued pursuant to our offering.
      After the termination of the offering of our shares registered for sale pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan under the this prospectus and any subsequent offering, we may determine to allow participants to reinvest cash distributions from us in shares issued by another Cole-sponsored program only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
  •  prior to the time of such reinvestment, the participant has received the final prospectus and any supplements thereto offering interests in the subsequent Cole-sponsored program and such prospectus allows investments pursuant to a distribution reinvestment plan;
 
  •  a registration statement covering the interests in the subsequent Cole-sponsored program has been declared effective under the Securities Act;
 
  •  the offer and sale of such interests are qualified for sale under applicable state securities laws;
 
  •  the participant executes the subscription agreement included with the prospectus for the subsequent Cole-sponsored program; and
 
  •  the participant qualifies under applicable investor suitability standards as contained in the prospectus for the subsequent Cole-sponsored program.
      Stockholders who invest in subsequent Cole-sponsored programs pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan will become investors in such subsequent Cole-sponsored program and, as such, will receive the same reports as other investors in the subsequent Cole-sponsored program.

123


Table of Contents

Election to Participate or Terminate Participation
      A stockholder may become a participant in our distribution reinvestment plan by making a written election to participate on his or her subscription agreement at the time he or she subscribes for shares. Any stockholder who has not previously elected to participate in the distribution reinvestment plan may so elect at any time by delivering to the reinvestment agent a completed enrollment form or other written authorization required by the reinvestment agent. Participation in our distribution reinvestment plan will commence with the next distribution payable after receipt of the participant’s notice, provided it is received at least ten days prior to the last day of the fiscal quarter, month or other period to which the distribution relates.
      Some brokers may determine not to offer their clients the opportunity to participate in our distribution reinvestment plan. Any prospective investor who wishes to participate in our distribution reinvestment plan should consult with his or her broker as to the broker’s position regarding participation in the distribution reinvestment plan.
      We reserve the right to prohibit qualified retirement plans from participating in our distribution reinvestment plan if such participation would cause our underlying assets to constitute “plan assets” of qualified retirement plans. See “Investment by Tax-Exempt Entities and ERISA Considerations.”
      Each stockholder electing to participate in our distribution reinvestment plan agrees that, if at any time he or she fails to meet the applicable investor suitability standards or cannot make the other investor representations or warranties set forth in the then current prospectus or subscription agreement relating to such investment, he or she will promptly notify the reinvestment agent in writing of that fact.
      Subscribers should note that affirmative action in the form of written notice to the reinvestment agent must be taken to withdraw from participation in our distribution reinvestment plan. A withdrawal from participation in our distribution reinvestment plan will be effective with respect to distributions for a quarterly or monthly distribution period, as applicable, only if written notice of termination is received at least ten days prior to the end of such distribution period. In addition, a transfer of shares prior to the date our shares are listed for trading on a national securities exchange or included for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market, which we have no intent to do at this time and which may never occur will terminate participation in the distribution reinvestment plan with respect to such transferred shares as of the first day of the distribution period in which the transfer is effective, unless the transferee demonstrates to the reinvestment agent that the transferee meets the requirements for participation in the plan and affirmatively elects to participate in the plan by providing to the reinvestment agent an executed enrollment form or other written authorization required by the reinvestment agent.
      Offers and sales of shares pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan must be registered in every state in which such offers and sales are made. Generally, such registrations are for a period of one year. Thus, we may have to stop selling shares pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan in any states in which our registration is not renewed or extended.
Reports to Participants
      Within 90 days after the end of each calendar year, the reinvestment agent will mail to each participant a statement of account describing, as to such participant, the distributions received, the number of shares purchased, the purchase price for such shares and the total shares purchased on behalf of the participant during the prior year pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan.
Excluded Distributions
      Our board of directors may designate that certain cash or other distributions attributable to net sales proceeds will be excluded from distributions that may be reinvested in shares under our distribution reinvestment plan (Excluded Distributions). Accordingly, in the event that proceeds attributable to the potential sale transaction described above are distributed to stockholders as an Excluded Distribution, such amounts may not be reinvested in our shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. The

124


Table of Contents

determination of whether all or part of a distribution will be deemed to be an Excluded Distribution is separate and unrelated to our requirement to distribute 90% of our taxable REIT income. In its initial determination of whether to make a distribution and the amount of the distribution, our board of directors will consider, among other factors, our cash position and our distribution requirements as a REIT. Once our board of directors determines to make the distribution, it will then consider whether all or part of the distribution will be deemed to be an Excluded Distribution. In most instances, we expect that our board of directors would not deem any of the distribution to be an Excluded Distribution. In that event, the amount distributed to participants in our distribution reinvestment plan will be reinvested in additional shares of our common stock. If all or a portion of the distribution is deemed to be an Excluded Distribution, the distribution will be made to all stockholders, however, the excluded portion will not be reinvested. As a result, we would not be able to use any of the Excluded Distribution to assist in meeting future distributions and the stockholders would not be able to use the distribution to purchase additional shares of our common stock through our distribution reinvestment plan. We currently do not have any planned Excluded Distributions, which will only be made, if at all, in addition to, not in lieu of, regular distributions.
Federal Income Tax Considerations
      Taxable participants will incur tax liability for partnership income allocated to them even though they have elected not to receive their distributions in cash but rather to have their distributions reinvested under our distributions reinvestment plan. See “Risk Factors — Federal Income Tax Risks.” Tax information regarding each participant’s participation in the plan will be provided to each participant at least annually.
Amendment and Termination
      We reserve the right to amend any aspect of our distribution reinvestment plan with ten days’ notice to participants. The reinvestment agent also reserves the right to terminate a participant’s individual participation in the plan, and we reserve the right to terminate our distribution reinvestment plan itself in our sole discretion at any time, by sending ten days’ prior written notice of termination to the terminated participant or, upon termination of the plan, to all participants.

125


Table of Contents

OUR OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
General
      Cole OP II was formed in September, 2004 to acquire, own and operate properties on our behalf. It will be an Umbrella Partnership Real Estate Investment Trust, or UPREIT, which structure is utilized generally to provide for the acquisition of real property from owners who desire to defer taxable gain that would otherwise be recognized by them upon the disposition of their property. These owners may also desire to achieve diversity in their investment and other benefits afforded to owners of stock in a REIT. For purposes of satisfying the asset and income tests for qualification as a REIT for tax purposes, the REIT’s proportionate share of the assets and income of an UPREIT, such as Cole OP II, will be deemed to be assets and income of the REIT.
      A property owner may contribute property to an UPREIT in exchange for limited partnership units on a tax-free basis. In addition, Cole OP II is structured to make distributions with respect to limited partnership units that will be equivalent to the distributions made to holders of our common stock. Finally, a limited partner in Cole OP II may later exchange his or her limited partnership units in Cole OP II for shares of our common stock in a taxable transaction.
      The partnership agreement for Cole OP II contains provisions that would allow, under certain circumstances, other entities, including other Cole-sponsored programs, to merge into or cause the exchange or conversion of their interests for interests of Cole OP II. In the event of such a merger, exchange or conversion, Cole OP II would issue additional limited partnership interests, which would be entitled to the same exchange rights as other limited partnership interests of Cole OP II. As a result, any such merger, exchange or conversion ultimately could result in the issuance of a substantial number of shares of our common stock, thereby diluting the percentage ownership interest of other stockholders.
      We intend to hold substantially all of our assets through Cole OP II. We are the sole general partner of Cole OP II, and our advisor, Cole Advisors II, is the only limited partner of Cole OP II. As the sole general partner of Cole OP II, we have the exclusive power to manage and conduct the business of Cole OP II.
      The following is a summary of certain provisions of the partnership agreement of Cole OP II. This summary is not complete and is qualified by the specific language in the partnership agreement. You should refer to the partnership agreement, itself, which we have filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, for more detail.
Capital Contributions
      As we accept subscriptions for shares, we will transfer substantially all of the net proceeds of the offering to Cole OP II as a capital contribution. However, we will be deemed to have made capital contributions in the amount of the gross offering proceeds received from investors. Cole OP II will be deemed to have simultaneously paid the selling commissions and other costs associated with the offering. If Cole OP II requires additional funds at any time in excess of capital contributions made by our advisor and us (which are minimal in amount), or from borrowings, we may borrow funds from a financial institution or other lender and lend such funds to Cole OP II on the same terms and conditions as are applicable to our borrowing of such funds. In addition, we are authorized to cause Cole OP II to issue partnership interests for less than fair market value if we conclude in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of Cole OP II and us.
Operations
      The partnership agreement requires that Cole OP II be operated in a manner that will enable us to (1) satisfy the requirements for being classified as a REIT for tax purposes, (2) avoid any federal income or excise tax liability, and (3) ensure that Cole OP II will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code, which classification could result

126


Table of Contents

in Cole OP II being taxed as a corporation, rather than as a partnership. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Tax Aspects of Our Operating Partnership — Classification as a Partnership.”
The partnership agreement provides that Cole OP II will distribute cash flow from operations as follows:
  •  first, to us until we have received aggregate distributions with respect to the current fiscal year equal to the minimum amount necessary for us to distribute to our stockholders to enable us to maintain our status as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to such fiscal year;
 
  •  next, to the limited partners until our limited partners have received aggregate distributions equal to the amount that would have been distributed to them with respect to all prior fiscal years had all Cole OP II income for all such prior fiscal years been allocated to us, each limited partner held a number of our common shares equal to the number of Cole OP II units that it holds and the REIT had distributed all such amounts to our stockholders (including the limited partners);
 
  •  next, to us and to the limited partners until each partner has received aggregate distributions with respect to the current fiscal year and all fiscal years had all Cole OP II income for the current fiscal year and all such prior fiscal years been allocated to us, our income with respect to the current fiscal year and each such prior fiscal year equaled the minimum amount necessary to maintain our status as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, each limited partner held a number of common shares equal to the number of Cole OP II units that we hold and we had distributed all such amounts to its stockholders (including the limited partners); and
 
  •  finally, to us and the limited partners in accordance with the partners’ percentage interests in Cole OP II.
      Similarly, the partnership agreement of Cole OP II provides that taxable income is allocated to the limited partners of Cole OP II in accordance with their relative percentage interests such that a holder of one unit of limited partnership interest in Cole OP II will be allocated taxable income for each taxable year in an amount equal to the amount of taxable income to be recognized by a holder of one of our shares, subject to compliance with the provisions of Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and corresponding Treasury Regulations. Losses, if any, generally will be allocated among the partners in accordance with their respective percentage interests in Cole OP II.
      Upon the liquidation of Cole OP II, after payment of debts and obligations, any remaining assets of Cole OP II will be distributed to partners with positive capital accounts in accordance with their respective positive capital account balances. If we were to have a negative balance in our capital account following a liquidation, we would be obligated to contribute cash to Cole OP II equal to such negative balance for distribution to other partners, if any, having positive balances in such capital accounts.
      In addition to the administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred by Cole OP II in acquiring and operating real properties, Cole OP II will pay all of our administrative costs and expenses, and such expenses will be treated as expenses of Cole OP II. Such expenses will include:
  •  all expenses relating to the formation and continuity of our existence;
 
  •  all expenses relating to the public offering and registration of securities by us;
 
  •  all expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any periodic reports by us under federal, state or local laws or regulations;
 
  •  all expenses associated with compliance by us with applicable laws, rules and regulations;
 
  •  all costs and expenses relating to any issuance or redemption of partnership interests or shares of our common stock; and
 
  •  all our other operating or administrative costs incurred in the ordinary course of our business on behalf of Cole OP II.

127


Table of Contents

All claims between the partners of Cole OP II arising out of the partnership agreement are subject to binding arbitration.
Exchange Rights
      The limited partners of Cole OP II, including Cole Advisors II, have the right to cause their limited partnership units to be redeemed by Cole OP II or purchased by us for cash. In either event, the cash amount to be paid will be equal to the cash value of the number of our shares that would be issuable if the limited partnership units were exchanged for our shares on a one-for-one basis. Alternatively, we may elect to purchase the limited partnership units by issuing one share of our common stock for each limited partnership unit exchanged. As of March 31, 2005, there are 9,009 partnership units outstanding. These exchange rights may not be exercised, however, if and to the extent that the delivery of shares upon exercise would (1) result in any person owning shares in excess of our ownership limits, (2) result in shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons, (3) cause us to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, (4) cause us to own 10.0% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (5) cause the acquisition of shares by a redeemed limited partner to be “integrated” with any other distribution of our shares for purposes of complying with the Securities Act.
      Subject to the foregoing, limited partners of Cole OP II may exercise their exchange rights at any time after one year following the date of issuance of their limited partnership units. However, a limited partner may not deliver more than two exchange notices each calendar year and may not exercise an exchange right for less than 1,000 limited partnership units, unless such limited partner holds less than 1,000 units, in which case, it must exercise his exchange right for all of his units. We do not expect to issue any of the shares of common stock offered hereby to limited partners of Cole OP II in exchange for their limited partnership units. Rather, in the event a limited partner of Cole OP II exercises its exchange rights, and we elect to purchase the limited partnership units with shares of our common stock, we expect to issue unregistered shares of common stock, or subsequently registered shares of common stock, in connection with such transaction.
Amendments to the Partnership Agreement
      Our consent, as the general partner of Cole OP II, is required for any amendment to the partnership agreement. We, as the general partner of Cole OP II, and without the consent of any limited partner, may amend the partnership agreement in any manner, provided, however, that the consent of limited partners holding more than 50% of the interests of the limited partners is required for the following:
  •  any amendment affecting the conversion factor or the exchange right in a manner adverse to the limited partners;
 
  •  any amendment that would adversely affect the rights of the limited partners to receive the distributions payable to them pursuant to the partnership agreement (other than the issuance of additional limited partnership interests);
 
  •  any amendment that would alter the allocations of Cole OP II’s profit and loss to the limited partners (other than the issuance of additional limited partnership interests);
 
  •  any amendment that would impose on the limited partners any obligation to make additional capital contributions to Cole OP II; and
 
  •  any amendment pursuant to a plan of merger, plan of exchange or plan of conversion, unless the partnership agreement of the surviving limited partnership does not materially differ from the partnership agreement of Cole OP II immediately before the transaction.

128


Table of Contents

Termination of the Partnership
      Cole OP II will have perpetual duration, unless it is dissolved earlier upon the first to occur of the following:
  •  we declare for bankruptcy or withdraw from the partnership, provided, however, that the remaining partners may decide to continue the business;
 
  •  ninety days after the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the partnership;
 
  •  the exchange of all limited partnership interests (other than such interests we, or are affiliates, hold); or
 
  •  we elect, as the general partner, to dissolve the partnership.
Transferability of Interests
      We may not (1) voluntarily withdraw as the general partner of Cole OP II, (2) engage in any merger, consolidation or other business combination, or (3) transfer our general partnership interest in Cole OP II (except to a wholly owned subsidiary), unless the transaction in which such withdrawal, business combination or transfer occurs results in the limited partners receiving or having the right to receive an amount of cash, securities or other property equal in value to the amount they would have received if they had exercised their exchange rights immediately prior to such transaction or unless, in the case of a merger or other business combination, the successor entity contributes substantially all of its assets to Cole OP II in return for an interest in Cole OP II and agrees to assume all obligations of the general partner of Cole OP II. We may also enter into a business combination or transfer our general partnership interest upon the receipt of the consent of a majority-in-interest of the limited partners of Cole OP II, other than Cole Advisors II and other affiliates of Christopher H. Cole. With certain exceptions, a limited partner may not transfer its interests in Cole OP II, in whole or in part, without our written consent as general partner.

129


Table of Contents

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Offering
      We are offering a maximum of 50,000,000 shares of our common stock to the public through Cole Capital Corporation, our dealer manager, a registered broker-dealer affiliated with our advisor. Of this amount, we are offering 45,000,000 shares in our primary offering at a price of $10.00 per share, except as provided below. The shares are being offered on a “best efforts” basis, which means generally that the dealer manager will be required to use only its best efforts to sell the shares and it has no firm commitment or obligation to purchase any of the shares. We are also offering 5,000,000 shares for sale pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. The purchase price for shares sold under our distribution reinvestment plan will be equal to the higher of 91.5% of the estimated value of a share of common stock, as estimated by our board of directors and $9.15 per share. The reduced purchase price for shares purchased pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan reflects that there will be no fees, commissions or expenses paid with respect to these shares. The offering of shares of our common stock will terminate on or before June 27, 2007, which is two years after the effective date of this offering, unless the offering is extended. At the discretion of our board of directors, we may elect to extend the termination date of our offering of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan until we have sold 5,000,000 shares through the reinvestment of distributions, in which case participants in the plan will be notified. This offering must be registered in every state in which we offer or sell shares. Generally, such registrations are for a period of one year. Thus, we may have to stop selling shares in any state in which our registration is not renewed or otherwise extended annually. We reserve the right to terminate this offering at any time prior to the stated termination date.
Cole Capital Corporation
      Cole Capital Corporation, our dealer manager, was organized in 1992 for the purpose of participating in and facilitating the distribution of securities in programs sponsored by Cole Capital Partners, its affiliates and its predecessors. For additional information about Cole Capital Corporation, including information relating to Cole Capital Corporation’s affiliation with us, please refer to the section of this prospectus captioned “Management — Affiliated Companies — Dealer Manager.”
Compensation We Will Pay for the Sale of Our Shares
      Except as provided below, we will pay our dealer manager selling commissions of 7.0% of the gross offering proceeds. We also will pay the dealer manager a fee in the amount of 1.5% of the gross offering proceeds as compensation for acting as the dealer manager and for expenses incurred in connection with marketing and due diligence expense reimbursement. No sales commissions or dealer manager fees will be paid with respect to shares purchased pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan. We will not pay referral or similar fees to any accountants, attorneys or other persons in connection with the distribution of the shares. See the “Summary of Distribution Reinvestment Plan — Investment of Distributions” section of this prospectus.
      We expect our dealer manager to utilize two distribution channels to sell our shares, which have different selling commissions, and consequently, a different purchase price for the shares. In the event of the sale of shares in our primary offering by other broker-dealers that are members of the NASD, the purchase price will be $10.00 per share, reflecting the 7.0% commission payable to our dealer manager, which it may reallow to such participating broker-dealers. In the event of the sale of shares in our primary offering to an investment advisory representative, the purchase price for such shares will be $9.30 per share, reflecting the fact that our dealer manager will waive the 7.0% selling commission on such shares. We will not pay selling commissions or a dealer manager fee in connection with the sale of shares under our distribution reinvestment plan. The dealer manager may reallow to each of the participating broker dealers a portion of its dealer manager fee earned on the proceeds raised by the participating broker-dealer. This reallowance would be in the form of a non-accountable marketing allowance and due diligence expense reimbursement. The amount of the reallowance will be determined by the dealer manager based

130


Table of Contents

upon factors including the participating broker-dealer’s level of marketing support, level of due diligence review and success of its sales efforts, each as compared to those of the other participating broker-dealers.
      The table below sets forth the nature and amount of compensation we will pay to our dealer manager and the participating broker-dealers in this offering. The amounts shown assume that all shares are sold in our primary offering through participating broker-dealers, which is the distribution channel with the highest possible selling commissions and dealer manager fees.
                         
    Per Share   Total Minimum   Total Maximum
             
Primary Offering
                       
Price to Public
  $ 10.00     $ 2,500,000     $ 450,000,000  
Selling Commissions
    0.70       175,000       31,500,000  
Dealer Manager fees
    0.15       37,500       6,750,000  
                   
Proceeds to Cole REIT II
  $ 9.15     $ 2,287,500     $ 411,750,000  
                   
 
Reinvestment Plan
                       
Price to Public
  $ 9.15           $ 45,750,000  
Distribution Selling Commissions
                 
Dealer Manager Fees
                 
                   
Proceeds to Cole REIT II
  $ 9.15           $ 45,750,000  
                   
      We may sell shares in our primary offering to retirement plans of broker-dealers participating in the offering, to broker-dealers in their individual capacities, to IRAs and qualified plans of their registered representatives or to any one of their registered representatives in their individual capacities at a discount. The purchase price for such shares shall be $9.30 per share (unless a higher price is required pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code), reflecting the fact that selling commissions in the amount of $0.70 per share will not be payable in connection with such sales. The net proceeds to us from such sales will not be affected by such sales of shares at a discount.
      We or our affiliates also may provide non-cash incentive items for registered representatives of our dealer manager and the participating broker-dealers, which in no event shall exceed an aggregate of $100 per annum per participating salesperson. The value of such items will be considered underwriting compensation in connection with this offering.
      The total amount of underwriting compensation, including commissions and reimbursement of expenses paid in connection with the offering will not exceed 10% of the gross proceeds of this offering, plus an additional 0.5% of gross proceeds for reimbursement of bona fide due diligence expenses. Underwriting compensation includes selling commissions, dealer manager fees (including due diligence and other expense reimbursements), wholesaling compensation and expense reimbursement relating to sales seminars and sales incentives.
      We have agreed to indemnify the participating broker-dealers, including our dealer manager and selected registered investment advisors, against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission takes the position that indemnification against liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and is unenforceable.
Shares Purchased by Affiliates
      Our executive officers and directors, as well as officers and employees of Cole Advisors II and their family members (including spouses, parents, grandparents, children and siblings) or other affiliates, may purchase shares offered in this offering at a discount. The purchase price for such shares shall be $9.15 per share (unless a higher price is required pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code), reflecting the fact that selling commissions in the amount of $0.70 per share and a dealer manager fee in the amount of $0.15 per share will not be payable in connection with such sales. The net offering proceeds

131


Table of Contents

we receive will not be affected by such sales of shares at a discount. Our executive officers, directors and other affiliates will be expected to hold their shares purchased as stockholders for investment and not with a view towards resale. In addition, shares purchased by Cole Advisors II or its affiliates will not be entitled to vote on any matter presented to the stockholders for a vote. Any shares of our common stock purchased by an affiliate will not count toward the minimum offering of 250,000 shares. With the exception of the 20,000 shares initially sold to Cole Holdings Corporation in connection with our organization, no director, officer, advisor or any affiliate may own more than 9.8% in value or number of our outstanding common stock.
Volume Discounts
      Volume discounts based on reduced sales commissions are available for “purchasers” of certain minimum numbers of shares, as defined below, volume discounts resulting in reductions in selling commissions payable with respect to such sales are available. In such event, any such reduction will be credited to the investor by reducing the purchase price per share. The following table illustrates the various discount levels available;
                                         
            Purchase Price Per        
    Sales       Incremental Share   Dealer    
Dollar Volume   Commission       in Volume   Manager Fees   Net Proceeds
Shares Purchased   Percent   Per Share   Discount Range   Per Share   Per Share
                     
$250,000 or less
    7.0 %   $ 0.70     $ 10.00     $ 0.15     $ 9.15  
$250,001-$500,000
    6.0 %     0.60     $ 9.90       0.15       9.15  
$500,001-$1,000,000
    5.0 %     0.50     $ 9.80       0.15       9.15  
$1,000,001-$2,000,000
    4.0 %     0.40     $ 9.70       0.15       9.15  
$2,000,001-$5,000,000
    3.0 %     0.30     $ 9.60       0.15       9.15  
$5,000,001-$10,000,000
    2.0 %     0.20     $ 9.50       0.15       9.15  
Over $10,000,001
    1.0 %     0.10     $ 9.40       0.15       9.15  
      For example, if an investor purchases 60,000 shares, the investor would pay (1) $250,000 for the first 25,000 shares, (2) $247,500 for the next 25,000 shares ($9.90 per share), and (3) $98,000 for the next 10,000 shares ($9.80 per share), for a total purchase price of $595,500 (approximately $9.925 per share) rather than $600,000 for the shares. After the payment of sales commissions of $37,500 (approximately $0.625 per share) and payment of the dealer manager fee, we would receive net proceeds of $549,000 ($9.15 per share). The net proceeds to us will not be affected by volume discounts. All investors will be deemed to have contributed the same amount per share to us for purposes of declaring and paying distributions. Therefore, an investor who has received a volume discount will realize a better return on his or her investment in our shares than investors who do not qualify for a discount.
      Subscriptions may be combined for the purpose of determining the volume discounts in the case of subscriptions made by any “purchaser,” as that term is defined below, provided all such shares are purchased through the same broker-dealer. The volume discount is prorated among the separate subscribers considered to be a single “purchaser.” Any request to combine more than one subscription must be made in writing, submitted simultaneously with the subscription for shares, and must set forth the basis for such request. Any request for volume discounts will be subject to our verification that all of the combined subscriptions were made by a single “purchaser.”
      For the purposes of such volume discounts, the term “purchaser” includes:
  •  an individual, his or her spouse and their children under the age of 21 who purchase the shares for his, her or their own account;
 
  •  a corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust fund or any organized group of persons, whether incorporated or not;
 
  •  an employees’ trust, pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
 
  •  all commingled trust funds maintained by a given bank.

132


Table of Contents

      In addition, investors may request in writing to aggregate subscriptions as part of a combined order for purposes of determining the number of shares purchased, provided that any aggregate group of subscriptions must be received from the same broker-dealer, including our dealer manager.
      In order to encourage purchases of 1,000,000 or more shares, a potential purchaser who proposes to purchase at least 1,000,000 shares may agree with Cole Advisors II and Cole Capital Corporation to have the dealer manager fee with respect to the sale of such shares reduced to as little as 1.0%, and, with the agreement of the participating broker, to have the selling commission payable with respect to the sale of such shares reduced to as little as 0.5%. The aggregate fees payable with respect to the sale of such shares would be reduced by $0.70 per share, resulting in a purchase price of $9.30 per share, rather than $10.00 per share.
      Because all investors will be deemed to have contributed the same amount per share to us for purposes of declaring and paying distributions, investors who pay a reduced or no commission will receive a higher return on their investment than investors who do not qualify for such discount.
Subscription Process
      To purchase shares in this offering, you must complete and sign a subscription agreement, like the one contained in this prospectus as Appendix B. You should pay for your shares by delivering a check for the full purchase price of the shares, payable to “Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Escrow Agent for Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc.” You should exercise care to ensure that the subscription agreement is filled out correctly and completely. By executing the subscription agreement, you will attest that you meet the suitability standards described in this prospectus and agree to be bound by all of the terms of the subscription agreement.
      Subscriptions will be effective only upon our acceptance, and we reserve the right to reject any subscription in whole or in part. We may not accept a subscription for shares until at least five business days after the date you receive this prospectus. Subject to compliance with Rule 15c2-4 of the Exchange Act, our dealer manager and/or the broker-dealers participating in the offering will promptly submit a subscriber’s check to the escrow agent on the business day following receipt of the subscriber’s subscription documents and check. In certain circumstances where the suitability review procedures are more lengthy than customary, a subscriber’s check will be promptly deposited with the escrow agent in compliance with Exchange Act Rule 15c2-4. The proceeds from your subscription will be deposited in a segregated escrow account with our escrow agent, and will be held in trust for your benefit, pending release to us.
      After we have received subscriptions for at least 250,000 shares of our common stock, we will accept or reject subscriptions within 35 days after we receive them. If your subscription agreement is rejected, your funds, without interest, or reductions for offering expenses, commissions or fees will be returned to you within ten business days after the date of such rejection. If your subscription is accepted, we will send you a confirmation of your purchase after you have been admitted as an investor. After we have sold at least 250,000 shares of our common stock, we expect to admit new investors at least monthly and we may admit new investors more frequently. The escrow agent will not release your funds to us until we admit you as a stockholder.
Minimum Offering
      Subscription proceeds will be placed in escrow until such time as subscriptions aggregating at least the minimum offering of 250,000 shares of our common stock have been received and accepted by us. Any shares purchased by our advisor or its affiliates will not be counted in calculating the minimum offering. Funds in escrow will be invested in short-term investments, which may include obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the U.S. government or bank money-market accounts or certificates of deposit of national or state banks that have deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (including certificates of deposit of any bank acting as a depository or custodian for any such funds) that can be readily sold, with appropriate safety of principal. Subscribers may not withdraw funds from the escrow account.

133


Table of Contents

      If subscriptions for at least the minimum offering have not been received and accepted by June 27, 2006, which is one year after the effective date of this offering, our escrow agent will promptly so notify us, this offering will be terminated and your funds and subscription agreement will be returned to you within ten days after the date of such termination. Interest will accrue on funds in the escrow account as applicable to the short-term investments in which such funds are invested. During any period in which subscription proceeds are held in escrow for more than 35 days, interest earned thereon will be allocated among subscribers on the basis of the respective amounts of their subscriptions and the number of days that such amounts were on deposit. Such interest will be paid to subscribers upon the termination of the escrow period, subject to withholding for taxes pursuant to applicable Treasury Regulations. We will bear all expenses of the escrow and, as such, any interest to be paid to any subscriber will not be reduced for such expense.
Special Notice to Pennsylvania Investors
      Subscription proceeds received from residents of Pennsylvania will be placed in a separate interest-bearing escrow account with the escrow agent until subscriptions for shares aggregating at least $25,000,000, have been received and accepted by us. If we have not raised a minimum of $25,000,000 in gross offering proceeds (including sales made to residents of other jurisdictions) by the end of each 120-day escrow period (with the initial 120-day escrow period commencing upon the effectiveness of this offering), we will notify Pennsylvania investors in writing by certified mail within ten calendar days after the end of each 120-day escrow period that they have a right to have their investment returned to them. If a Pennsylvania investor requests the return of his or her subscription funds within ten calendar days after receipt of the notification, we must return those funds, together with any interest earned on the funds for the time those funds remain in escrow subsequent to the initial 120-day escrow period, to the investor within ten calendar days after receipt of the investor’s request.
Investments by IRAs and Qualified Plans
      Sterling Trust Company has agreed to act as an IRA custodian for purchasers of our common stock who desire to establish an IRA, SEP or certain other tax-deferred accounts or transfer or rollover existing accounts. Sterling Trust Company has agreed to provide this service to our stockholders with annual maintenance fees charged at a discounted rate. Further information as to custodial services is available through your broker or may be requested from us.
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
      Investors who meet the applicable suitability standards and minimum purchase requirements described in the “Suitability Standards” section of this prospectus may purchase shares of common stock. If you want to purchase shares, you must proceed as follows:
        (1) Read the entire prospectus and the current supplement(s), if any, accompanying this prospectus.
 
        (2) Complete the execution copy of the subscription agreement. A specimen copy of the subscription agreement, including instructions for completing it, is included in this prospectus as Appendix B.
 
        (3) Deliver a check to Cole Capital Corporation for the full purchase price of the shares being subscribed for, payable to “Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Escrow Agent for Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc.” along with the completed subscription agreement. Certain dealers who have “net capital,” as defined in the applicable federal securities regulations, of $250,000 or more may instruct their customers to make their checks payable directly to the dealer. In such case, the dealer will issue a check made payable to the escrow agent for the purchase price of your subscription. The name of the dealer appears on the subscription agreement.

134


Table of Contents

        (4) By executing the subscription agreement and paying the full purchase price for the shares subscribed for, you will attest that you meet the suitability standards as provided in the “Suitability Standards” section of this prospectus and as stated in the subscription agreement and agree to be bound by the terms of the subscription agreement.
      An approved trustee must process through us and forward us subscriptions made through IRAs, Keogh plans, 401(k) plans and other tax-deferred plans. If you want to purchase shares through an IRA, SEP or other tax-deferred account, Sterling Trust Company has agreed to serve as IRA custodian for such purpose. Sterling Trust Company has agreed to provide this service to our stockholders with annual maintenance fees charged at a discounted rate.
SUPPLEMENTAL SALES MATERIAL
      In addition to this prospectus, we may utilize certain sales material in connection with the offering of the shares, although only when accompanied by or preceded by the delivery of this prospectus. The sales materials may include information relating to this offering, the past performance of Cole Advisors II, our advisor, and its affiliates, property brochures and articles and publications concerning real estate. In certain jurisdictions, some or all of our sales material may not be permitted and will not be used in those jurisdictions.
      The offering of shares is made only by means of this prospectus. Although the information contained in our supplemental sales material will not conflict with any of the information contained in this prospectus, the supplemental materials do not purport to be complete, and should not be considered a part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
LEGAL MATTERS
      Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland, will pass upon the legality of the common stock and Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, Atlanta, Georgia, will pass upon legal matters in connection with our status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP will rely on the opinion of Venable LLP as to all matters of Maryland law. Neither Venable LLP nor Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP purport to represent our stockholders or potential investors, who should consult their own counsel. Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP also provides legal services to Cole Advisors II, our advisor, as well as affiliates of Cole Advisors II, and may continue to do so in the future.
EXPERTS
      The financial statements as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and for the three month period ended March 31, 2005 and the period September 29, 2004 (date of inception) to December 31, 2004, included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein, and have been included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
      We have filed a registration statement on Form S-11 with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with our initial public offering. We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

135


Table of Contents

      You may request and obtain a copy of these filings, at no cost to you, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
  Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc.
  Attn: Investor Relations
  2555 East Camelback Road
  Suite 400
  Phoenix, Arizona 85016
  (866) 341-2653
      One of our affiliates maintains an Internet site at http://www.colecapital.com, at which there is additional information about us. The contents of that site are not incorporated by reference in, or otherwise a part of, this prospectus.
      This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits related thereto as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, reference to which is hereby made.
      You can read our registration statement and the exhibits thereto and our future Securities and Exchange Commission filings over the Internet at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission at its Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the Securities and Exchange Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 or e-mail at publicinfo@sec.gov for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.

136


Table of Contents

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
         
    Page
     
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
    F-2  
Consolidated Balance Sheets
    F-3  
Consolidated Statements of Stockholder’s Equity
    F-4  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    F-5  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
    F-6  

F-1


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of
Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc.
Phoenix, Arizona
      We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc. (a development stage company) and its subsidiary (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of stockholder’s equity for the period September 29, 2004 (date of inception) to March 31, 2005, and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and for the period September 29, 2004 (date of inception) to December 31, 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
      We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
      In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc. (a development stage company) and its subsidiary, as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and the results of their cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and for the period September 29, 2004 (date of inception) to December 31, 2004, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Phoenix, Arizona
June 1, 2005

F-2


Table of Contents

COLE CREDIT PROPERTY TRUST II, INC.
(A Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
                     
    March 31, 2005   December 31, 2004
         
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 200,000     $ 200,000  
             
   
Total Assets
  $ 200,000     $ 200,000  
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
Stockholder’s equity:
               
 
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
  $     $  
 
Common stock, $.01 par value; 90,000,000 shares authorized, 20,000 shares issued and outstanding
    200       200  
 
Capital in excess of par value
    199,800       199,800  
             
   
Total Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity
  $ 200,000     $ 200,000  
             
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-3


Table of Contents

COLE CREDIT PROPERTY TRUST II, INC.
(A Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005
and for the Period September 29, 2004 (Date of Inception) to December 31, 2004
                                 
    Common Stock        
        Capital in   Total
    Number of       Excess of   Stockholder’s