Realty Income Acquires Realty Capital Trust For $2.95B

Realty Income Corporation (Realty Income), the Monthly Dividend Company, O and American Realty Capital Trust ARCT, announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement under which Realty Income will acquire all of the outstanding shares of American Realty Capital Trust (ARCT) in a transaction valued at approximately $2.95 billion. The board of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the agreement. Following a shareholder vote by both companies, the transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2012 or early in the first quarter of 2013. Upon completion, it is anticipated that Realty Income will be the 18th largest REIT in the US, based on total pro forma equity market capitalization, and twice as large as the next largest net lease REIT. The acquisition will be financed by Realty Income directly issuing $1.9 billion of its common stock to American Realty Capital Trust shareholders, the assumption of approximately $526 million of debt, and the immediate repayment of approximately $574 million of outstanding debt and transaction expenses. Under the terms of the agreement, American Realty Capital Trust shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 0.2874 Realty Income shares for each share of American Realty Capital Trust common stock that they own. Based on Realty Income's closing stock price of $42.48 on September 5, 2012, this consideration would be equivalent to $12.21 per share. Upon closing of the transaction, American Realty Capital Trust shareholders are expected to own approximately 25.6% of Realty Income's shares.