UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

Commission File Number 1-12846

 

 

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

4545 Airport Way
Denver, CO 80239
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(303) 567-5000

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes þ No o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant:  (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website; if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter periods that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes o No þ

 

Based on the closing price of the registrant’s shares on June 30, 2009, the aggregate market value of the voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $3,563,239,800.

 

At February 19, 2010, there were outstanding approximately 474,204,900 common shares of beneficial interest of the registrant.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the 2010 annual meeting of its shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this report.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Certain statements contained in this discussion or elsewhere in this report may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Words and phrases such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “designed to achieve”, variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to rent and occupancy growth, development activity and changes in sales or contribution volume or profitability of developed properties, economic and market conditions in the geographic areas where we operate and the availability of capital in existing or new property funds — are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that may affect outcomes and results are beyond our ability to control. For further discussion of these factors see “Item 1A Risk Factors” in this annual report on Form 10-K. All references to “we”, “us” and “our” refer to ProLogis and our consolidated subsidiaries.

 

ProLogis is a leading global provider of industrial distribution facilities. We are a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and have elected to be taxed as such under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Our world headquarters is located in Denver, Colorado. Our European headquarters is located in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg with our European customer service headquarters located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Our primary office in Asia is located in Tokyo, Japan.

 

Our Internet website address is www.prologis.com. All reports required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) are available or may be accessed free of charge through the Investor Relations section of our Internet website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Our Internet website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not intended to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our common shares trade under the ticker symbol “PLD” on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).

 

We were formed in 1991, primarily as a long-term owner of industrial distribution space operating in the United States. Over time, our business strategy evolved to include the development of properties for contribution to property funds in which we maintain an ownership interest and the management of those property funds and the properties they own. Originally, we sought to differentiate ourselves from our competition by focusing on our corporate customers’ distribution space requirements on a national, regional and local basis and providing customers with consistent levels of service throughout the United States. However, as our customers’ needs expanded to markets outside the United States, so did our portfolio and our management team. Today, we are an international real estate company with operations in North America, Europe and Asia. Our business strategy is to integrate international scope and expertise with a strong local presence in our markets, thereby becoming an attractive choice for our targeted customer base, the largest global users of distribution space, while achieving long-term sustainable growth in cash flow.

 

Industrial distribution facilities are a crucial link in the modern supply chain, and they serve three primary purposes for supply-chain participants: (i) support accurate and seamless flow of goods to their appointed destinations; (ii) function as processing centers for goods; and (iii) enable companies to store enough inventory to meet surges in demand and to cushion themselves from the impact of a break in the supply chain.

At December 31, 2009, our total portfolio of properties owned, managed, and under development includes direct-owned properties and properties owned by property funds and joint ventures that we manage. These properties are located in North America, Europe and Asia and are broken down as follows:

 

 

 

 

In late 2008, we modified our business strategy to adjust to the global financial market and economic disruptions. This new strategy entailed limiting our development activities to conserve capital and focus on strengthening our balance sheet.

 

Narrowing our focus allowed us to work on specific goals we set forth for 2009, which were to:

 

 

In 2009, we generated liquidity through the issuance of nearly $1.5 billion of common equity as well as nearly $2.9 billion of asset dispositions and property fund contributions, including $1.3 billion from the sale of certain Asian operations. These transactions allowed us to reduce our debt by $2.7 billion from December 31, 2008. In addition, we renegotiated and extended our global line of credit, simplified the debt covenants related to our senior notes and extended the maturities of our debt. See further discussion in “Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

We reduced our gross G&A by 26.5% in 2009 from 2008, through various cost savings initiatives, including a reduction in workforce (“RIF”) program. We executed leasing in our development portfolio in 2009, increasing the leased percentage to 64.3% at December 31, 2009 from 41.4% at the beginning of the year.

Now that we have achieved our goals for 2009, we believe we are in a better liquidity position and can focus on our longer-term strategy of conservative growth through the ownership, management and development of industrial properties with a concentrated focus on customer service. Included in our objectives for 2010 and beyond are to:

 

 

We plan to accomplish these objectives by generating proceeds through selective sales of real estate properties (primarily located in the U.S.) and land parcels, and limited contribution of development properties to the property funds. We will use the proceeds to fund our development activities, which will allow us to respond to new build-to-suit (pre-leased) opportunities to better serve our customers and to transition our non-income producing land into income producing properties. We will continue to focus on leasing the development portfolio (representing 53.5 million square feet at December 31, 2009 that was 64.3% leased).

 

The following discussion of our business segments should be read in conjunction with “Item 1A Risk Factors”, our property information presented in “Item 2 Properties”, “Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our segment footnote - Note 20 to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.

 

Our current business strategy includes two operating segments: (i) direct owned and (ii) investment management. Our direct owned segment represents the direct long-term ownership of industrial and retail properties. Our investment management segment represents the long-term investment management of property funds, other unconsolidated investees and the properties they own.

 

Operating Segments - Direct Owned

 

Our direct owned segment represents the long-term ownership of industrial and retail properties. Our investment strategy focuses primarily on the ownership and leasing of these properties in key distribution markets. We divide our operating properties into two categories, properties that we developed (“completed development properties”) and all other operating properties (“core properties”). Prior to December 31, 2008, the completed development properties were referred to as our CDFS properties.

 

Also included in this segment are industrial properties that are currently under development, land available for development and land subject to ground leases.

Investments

 

At December 31, 2009, the following properties are in the direct owned segment and located in North America, Europe and Asia (square feet and investment in thousands):

 

 

Results of Operations

 

We earn rent from our customers, including reimbursement of certain operating costs, under long-term operating leases (with an average lease term of five to six years at December 31, 2009). The revenue in this segment decreased in 2009 principally due to the contributions of properties (generally completed and fully leased development properties) to the unconsolidated property funds and decreases in rental rates on turnovers, offset partially by new leasing activity in our completed development properties. However, rental revenues generated by the lease-up of newly developed properties have not been adequate to offset the loss of rental revenues from fully leased property contributions. We expect our total revenues from this segment to increase slightly in 2010 through increases in occupied square feet predominantly in our development portfolio, offset partially with decreases from contributions of properties we made in 2009 or may make in 2010. We anticipate the increases in occupied square feet to come from leases that were signed in 2009, but have not commenced occupancy, and future leasing activity in 2010.

 

Market Presence

 

At December 31, 2009, our 1,188 industrial operating properties in this segment aggregating 191.6 million square feet were located in 39 markets in 3 countries in North America (1 market in Canada, 6 markets in Mexico and 32 markets in the United States), 28 markets in 12 countries in Europe (Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) and 6 markets in 2 countries in Asia (Japan and South Korea). Our largest markets for this segment in North America (based on our investment in the properties) are Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, New Jersey and San Francisco — South Bay. Our largest investments in Europe are in Poland and the United Kingdom and our largest investment in Asia is in Japan. Our 5 properties under development at December 31, 2009 aggregated 2.9 million square feet and were located in 1 market in North America, 3 markets in Europe and 1 market in Asia. At December 31, 2009, we owned 10,360 acres of land with an investment of $2.6 billion and located in North America (6,275 acres, $1.1 billion investment), Europe (3,959 acres, $1.2 billion investment) and Asia (126 acres, $0.3 billion investment). The retail properties and land subject to ground leases are all located in the United States. See further detail in “Item 2 Properties”.

 

Competition

 

The existence of competitively priced distribution space available in any market could have a material impact on our ability to rent space and on the rents that we can charge. To the extent we wish to acquire land for future development of properties in our direct owned segment, we may compete with local, regional, and national developers. We also face competition from other investment managers in attracting capital for our property funds to be utilized to acquire properties from us or third parties.

We believe we have competitive advantages due to (i) our ability to quickly respond to customer’s needs for high-quality distribution space in key global distribution markets; (ii) our established relationships with key customers serviced by our local personnel; (iii) our ability to leverage our organizational structure to provide a single point of contact for our global customers; (iv) our property management and leasing expertise; (v) our relationships and proven track record with current and prospective investors in the property funds; (vi) our global experience in the development and management of industrial properties; (vii) the strategic locations of our land positions; and (viii) our personnel who are experienced in the land acquisition and entitlement process.

 

Property Management

 

Our business strategy includes a customer service focus that enables us to provide responsive, professional and effective property management services at the local level. To enhance our management services, we have developed and implemented proprietary operating and training systems to achieve consistent levels of performance and professionalism and to enable our property management team to give the proper level of attention to our customers. We manage substantially all of our operating properties.

 

Customers

 

We have developed a customer base that is diverse in terms of industry concentration and represents a broad spectrum of international, national, regional and local distribution space users. At December 31, 2009, in our direct owned segment, we had 2,468 customers occupying 155.2 million square feet of industrial and retail space. Our largest customer and 25 largest customers accounted for 2.3% and 21.4%, respectively, of our annualized collected base rents at December 31, 2009.

 

Employees

 

We employ 1,135 persons in our entire business. Our employees work in 3 countries in North America (725 persons), in 13 countries in Europe (310 persons) and in 2 countries in Asia (100 persons). Of the total, we have assigned 645 employees to our direct owned segment and 40 employees to our investment management segment. We have 450 employees who work in corporate positions who are not assigned to a segment who may assist with segment activities. We believe our relationships with our employees are good. Our employees are not organized under collective bargaining agreements, although some of our employees in Europe are represented by statutory Works Councils and benefit from applicable labor agreements.

 

Future Plans

 

Our current business plan allows for the selective development of industrial properties (generally pre-leased) to: (i) address the specific expansion needs of customers; (ii) enhance our market presence in a specific country, market or submarket; (iii) take advantage of opportunities where we believe we have the ability to achieve favorable returns; (iv) monetize our existing land positions through pre-committed development of industrial properties to primarily hold for long-term investment; and (v) improve the geographic diversification of our portfolio. In addition, we expect to complete the development of the properties we have under development, focus on leasing the properties in our development portfolio and complete the properties under development in joint ventures in which we have an ownership interest.

 

In 2010, we intend to fund our investment activities in the direct owned segment by generating proceeds through selective sales of completed real estate properties and land parcels. Additionally, depending on market conditions and the capital available from our fund partners, we may contribute core properties and/or completed development properties to the property funds.

 

Operating Segments — Investment Management

 

The investment management segment represents the investment management of unconsolidated property funds and certain joint ventures and the properties they own. We utilize our investment management expertise to

manage the property funds and joint ventures and we utilize our leasing and property management expertise to manage the properties owned by these entities.

 

Our property fund strategy:

 

 

Investments

 

As of December 31, 2009, we had investments in and advances to 15 property funds totaling $1.9 billion with ownership interests ranging from 20% to 50%. These investments are in North America — 12 aggregating $1,010.2 million; Europe — 2 aggregating $845.0 million; and Asia — 1 with $21.4 million. These property funds own, on a combined basis, 1,287 distribution properties aggregating 274.2 million square feet with a total entity investment (not our proportionate share) in operating properties of $19.5 billion. Also included in this segment are certain industrial joint ventures, which we manage and that own 92 operating properties with 10.0 million square feet all located in North America.

 

Results of Operations

 

We recognize our proportionate share of the earnings or losses from our investments in unconsolidated property funds and certain joint ventures that are accounted for under the equity method. In addition, we recognize fees and incentives earned for services performed on behalf of these and other entities. We provide services to these entities, which may include property management, asset management, leasing, acquisition, financing and development services. We may also earn incentives from our property funds depending on the return provided to the fund partners over a specified period.

 

We report the costs associated with our investment management segment as a separate line item Investment Management Expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. These costs include the direct expenses associated with the asset management of the property funds provided by 40 individuals (as of December 31, 2009 and as discussed below) who are assigned to our investment management segment. In addition, in order to achieve efficiencies and economies of scale, all of our property management functions are provided by a team of professionals who are assigned to our direct owned segment. These individuals perform the property-level management of the properties we own and the properties we manage that are owned by the unconsolidated investees. We allocate the costs of our property management function to the properties we own (reported in Rental Expenses) and the properties owned by the unconsolidated investees (included in Investment Management Expenses), by using the square feet owned at the beginning of the period by the respective portfolios. For 2009, we allocated approximately 55% of our total property management costs to the investment management segment.

 

Market Presence

 

At December 31, 2009, the property funds on a combined basis owned 1,287 properties aggregating 274.2 million square feet located in 45 markets in 3 countries in North America (Canada, Mexico and the United States), 35 markets in 12 countries in Europe (Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) and 2 markets in 1 country in Asia (South Korea). The industrial joint ventures included in this segment are located in the United States and operate 92 industrial properties with 10.0 million square feet that we manage, including one joint venture that is not accounted for on the equity method. See further detail in “Item 2 Unconsolidated Investees”.

Competition

 

As the manager of the property funds, we compete with other fund managers for institutional capital. As the manager of the properties owned by the property funds, we compete with other industrial properties located in close proximity to the properties owned by the property funds. The amount of rentable distribution space available and its current occupancy in any market could have a material effect on the ability to rent space and on the rents that can be charged by the fund properties. We believe we have competitive advantages as discussed above in “Operating Segments — Direct Owned”.

 

Property Management

 

We manage the properties owned by unconsolidated investees utilizing our leasing and property management experience from the employees who are in our direct owned segment. Our business strategy includes a customer service focus that enables us to provide responsive, professional and effective property management services at the local level. To enhance our management services, we have developed and implemented proprietary operating and training systems to achieve consistent levels of performance and professionalism and to enable our property management team to give the proper level of attention to our customers.

 

Customers

 

As in our direct owned segment, we have developed a customer base in the property funds and joint ventures that is diverse in terms of industry concentration and represents a broad spectrum of international, national, regional and local distribution space users. At December 31, 2009, our unconsolidated investees, on a combined basis, had 2,153 customers occupying 254.9 million square feet of distribution space. The largest customer, and 25 largest customers of our unconsolidated investees, on a combined basis, accounted for 4.0% and 27.3%, respectively, of the total combined annualized collected base rents at December 31, 2009. In addition, in this segment we consider our fund partners to also be our customers. As of December 31, 2009 in our private property funds, we partnered with 42 investors, several of which invest in multiple funds.

 

Employees

 

The property funds generally have no employees of their own. We have assigned 40 employees directly to the asset management of the property funds in our investment management segment. As discussed above, we have employees in our direct owned segment that are responsible for the property management functions we provide for the properties owned by the property funds, as well as the properties we own. We have 450 employees who work in corporate positions and are not assigned to a segment who also assist with these activities as well.

 

Future Plans

 

We expect to continue to increase our investments in property funds. We expect to achieve these increases through the existing property funds’ acquisition of properties from us, or from third parties, depending on market factors and available capacity, or through the creation of new property funds. We expect the fee income we earn from the property funds and our proportionate share of net earnings of the property funds will increase as the size and value of the portfolios owned by the property funds grows and as more equity is deployed in the funds. We will continue to explore our options related to both new and existing property funds.

 

Our executive team is led by our Chief Executive Officer, Walter C. Rakowich, who also serves as a member of our Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and an Executive Committee of eleven people, as follows:

 

Executive Committee

 

Walter C. Rakowich* — 52 — Chief Executive Officer of ProLogis since November 2008. Mr. Rakowich was ProLogis’ President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2005 to November 2008 and ProLogis’ Chief

Financial Officer from December 1998 to September 2005. Mr. Rakowich has been with ProLogis in various capacities since July 1994. Prior to joining ProLogis, Mr. Rakowich was a consultant to ProLogis in the area of due diligence and acquisitions, and he was a principal with Trammell Crow Company, a diversified commercial real estate company in North America. Mr. Rakowich served on the Board from August 2004 to May 2008 and was reappointed to the Board in November 2008.

 

Gary E. Anderson — 44 — Head of Global Investment Management since March 2009, where he is responsible for managing ProLogis’ property funds as well as raising additional private capital for our investment management business. Mr. Anderson also serves on the board of directors of ProLogis European Properties (“PEPR”), one of our unconsolidated investees that is publicly traded on the Euronext stock exchange in Amsterdam. Mr. Anderson was President of Europe and the Middle East, as well as Chairman of ProLogis’ European Operating Committee from November 2006 to March 2009. Mr. Anderson was the Managing Director responsible for investments and development in ProLogis’ Central and Mexico Regions from May 2003 to November 2006 and has been with ProLogis in various capacities since August 1994. Prior to joining ProLogis, Mr. Anderson was in the management development program of Security Capital Group, a real estate holding company.

 

Ted R. Antenucci* — 45 — President and Chief Investment Officer since May 2007. Mr. Antenucci also serves on the board of directors of PEPR, one of our unconsolidated investees that is publicly traded on the Euronext stock exchange in Amsterdam. Mr. Antenucci was ProLogis’ President of Global Development from September 2005 to May 2007. From September 2001 to September 2005, Mr. Antenucci was president of Catellus Commercial Development Corporation, an industrial and retail real estate company that was merged with ProLogis in September 2005. Mr. Antenucci was with affiliates of Catellus Commercial Development Corporation in various capacities from April 1999 to September 2001.

 

Philip N. Dunne — 41 — President — Europe since July 2009, where he is responsible for all aspects of ProLogis’ business performance in Continental Europe and the United Kingdom, including investments and development. He is also Chairman of ProLogis’ European Management Executive Committee. Prior to this, Mr. Dunne was Chief Operating Officer, Europe and the Middle East. Prior to joining ProLogis on December 1, 2008, Mr. Dunne was the Chief Operating Officer — EMEA at Jones Lang LaSalle, a global financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate services and investment management.

 

Larry H. Harmsen — 47 — President — United States and Canada since February 2009, where he is responsible for all aspects of business performance for ProLogis’ U.S. and Canada operations. He has been responsible for capital deployment in North America since July 2005. Previous to this and since 2003, Mr. Harmsen had been responsible for capital deployment in North America’s Pacific Region. Prior to this and since 1995, Mr. Harmsen oversaw ProLogis’ Southern California market. Prior to joining ProLogis, Mr. Harmsen was a vice president and general partner of Lincoln Property Company for 10 years.

 

John P. Morland — 51 — Managing Director — Global Human Resources since October 2006, where he is responsible for strategic human resources initiatives to align ProLogis’ human capital strategy with overall business activities. Prior to joining ProLogis, Mr. Morland was the Global Head of Compensation at Barclays Global Investors at its San Francisco headquarters from April 2000 to March 2005.

 

Edward S. Nekritz* — 44 — General Counsel of ProLogis since December 1998, Secretary of ProLogis since March 1999 and Head of Global Strategic Risk Management since March 2009. Mr. Nekritz oversees the provision of all legal services and strategic risk management for ProLogis. Mr. Nekritz is also responsible for ProLogis Investment Services Group, which handles all aspects of contract negotiations, real estate and corporate due diligence and closings on acquisitions, dispositions and financings. Mr. Nekritz has been with ProLogis in various capacities since September 1995. Prior to joining ProLogis, Mr. Nekritz was an attorney with Mayer, Brown & Platt (now Mayer Brown LLP).

 

John R. “Jack” Rizzo — 60 — Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of Global Construction for ProLogis since 2009, where he is responsible for implementing our global sustainability initiatives and for maintaining our leadership position in business excellence, environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility.

Mr. Rizzo is also responsible for all new industrial development projects worldwide. Mr. Rizzo has been with ProLogis since 1999. Prior to joining ProLogis, Mr. Rizzo was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Perini Management Services, Inc., an affiliate of Perini Corporation, a global construction management and general contracting firm, and was responsible for international construction operations.

 

Charles E. Sullivan — 52 — Head of Global Operations since February 2009 where he has overall responsibility for global operations, including property management, leasing, information technology and marketing. Mr. Sullivan was Managing Director of ProLogis with overall responsibility for operations in North America from October 2006 to February 2009 and has been with ProLogis in various capacities since October 1994. Prior to joining ProLogis, Mr. Sullivan was an industrial broker with Cushman & Wakefield of Florida, a real estate brokerage and services company.

 

William E. Sullivan* — 55 — Chief Financial Officer since April 2007. Prior to joining ProLogis, Mr. Sullivan was the founder and president of Greenwood Advisors, Inc., a financial consulting and advisory firm focused on providing strategic planning and implementation services to small and mid-cap companies since 2005. From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Sullivan was chairman and chief executive officer of SiteStuff, an online procurement company serving the real estate industry and he continued as their chairman through June 2007.

 

Mike Yamada — 56 — President-Japan since February 2009 where he is responsible for all aspects of business performance for ProLogis’ Japan operations. Mr. Yamada was Japan Co-President from March 2006 to February 2009, where he was responsible for development and leasing activities in Japan and a Managing Director with ProLogis from December 2004 to March 2006 with similar responsibilities in Japan. He has been with ProLogis in various capacities since April 2002. Prior to joining ProLogis, Mr. Yamada was a senior officer of Fujita Corporation, a construction company in Japan.

 

* These individuals are our Executive Officers under Item 401 of Regulation S-K.

 

In addition to the leadership and oversight provided by our executive committee, in the United States, a regional director leads each of our four regions (Midwest, East, West and Southwest), and is responsible for both operations and capital deployment. In Europe, each of the four regions (Northern Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Southern Europe and the United Kingdom) are led by either one or two individuals responsible for operations and capital deployment. Japan, Mexico and South Korea each have one individual who is responsible for operations and capital deployment.

 

We maintain a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct applicable to our Board and all of our officers and employees, including the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer and the principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct is available on our website, www.prologis.com. In addition to being accessible through our website, copies of our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct can be obtained, free of charge, upon written request to Investor Relations, 4545 Airport Way, Denver, Colorado 80239. Any amendments to or waivers of our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that apply to the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, or the principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions, and that relate to any matter enumerated in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K, will be disclosed on our website.

 

Capital Management, Customer Service and Capital Deployment

 

We have a team of professionals dedicated to managing and leasing all the properties in our portfolio, which includes both direct-owned properties and those owned by the property funds that we manage. Our marketing team comprises a network of regional directors, market officers and property managers who are directly responsible for understanding and meeting the needs of existing and prospective customers in their respective markets.

 

Our marketing team works closely with our Global Solutions Group to identify and accommodate customers with multiple market requirements. The Global Solutions Group’s primary focus is to position us as the preferred provider of distribution space to large users of industrial distribution space. The professionals in our

Global Solutions Group also seek to build long-term relationships with our existing customers by addressing their international distribution and logistics needs. The Global Solutions Group provides our customers with outsourcing options for network optimization tools, strategic site selection assistance, business location services, material handling equipment and design consulting services. The integration of our local market expertise with our global platform enables us to better serve customers throughout all of our markets.

 

Our network of regional directors and market officers also leads our capital deployment efforts. They are responsible for deploying our capital resources in an efficient and productive manner that will best serve our long-term objective of increasing shareholder value. They evaluate acquisition, disposition and development opportunities in light of market conditions in their respective markets and regions, and they work closely with the Global Development Group to, among other things, create master-planned distribution parks utilizing the extensive experience of the Global Development Group. The Global Development Group incorporates the latest technology with respect to building design and systems and has developed standards and procedures to which we strictly adhere in the development of all properties to ensure that properties we develop are of a consistent quality.

 

We strive to build in accordance with the accepted green building rating system in all of our regions of operation. Beginning in 2008, all of our new developments in the United States comply with the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED^®). In the United Kingdom, since 2008, we have been committed to developing any new properties to achieve at least a “Very Good” rating in accordance with the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). In Japan, many of our facilities comply with the Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE). Where rating systems do not exist, we implement best practices learned from developing sustainable buildings across our global portfolio. In total, counting all three rating systems, ProLogis has 55 buildings with 23.8 million square feet (2.2 million square meters) of development registered or certified as green buildings.

 

We are exposed to various environmental risks that may result in unanticipated losses that could affect our operating results and financial condition. Either the previous owners or we subjected a majority of the properties we have acquired, including land, to environmental reviews. While some of these assessments have led to further investigation and sampling, none of the environmental assessments has revealed an environmental liability that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. See Note 19 to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 and “Item 1A Risk Factors”.

 

We carry insurance coverage on our properties. We determine the type of coverage and the policy specifications and limits based on what we deem to be the risks associated with our ownership of properties and our business operations in specific markets. Such coverages include property damage and rental loss insurance resulting from such perils as fire, additional perils as covered under an extended coverage policy, named windstorm, flood, earthquake and terrorism; commercial general liability insurance; and environmental insurance. Insurance is maintained through a combination of commercial insurance, self insurance and through a wholly-owned captive insurance entity. We believe that our insurance coverage contains policy specifications and insured limits that are customary for similar properties, business activities and markets and we believe our properties are adequately insured. However, an uninsured loss could result in loss of capital investment and anticipated profits.

 

Our operations and structure involve various risks that could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, distributable cash flow and the value of our common shares. These risks include, among others:

 

General

 

The current market disruptions may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

 

The global financial markets have been undergoing pervasive and fundamental disruptions since the third quarter of 2008. The continuation or intensification of such volatility may lead to additional adverse impacts on the general availability of credit to businesses and could lead to a further weakening of the U.S. and global economies. To the extent that turmoil in the financial markets continues and/or intensifies, it has the potential to materially affect the value of our properties and our investments in our unconsolidated investees, the availability or the terms of financing that we and our unconsolidated investees have or may anticipate utilizing, our ability and that of our unconsolidated investees to make principal and interest payments on, or refinance, any outstanding debt when due and/or may impact the ability of our customers to enter into new leasing transactions or satisfy rental payments under existing leases.

 

The market volatility has made the valuation of our properties and those of our unconsolidated investees more difficult. There may be significant uncertainty in the valuation, or in the stability of the value, of our properties and those of our unconsolidated investees, that could result in a substantial decrease in the value of our properties and those of our unconsolidated investees.

 

As a result, we may not be able to recover the current carrying amount of our properties, our investments in and advances to our unconsolidated investees and/or goodwill, which may require us to recognize an impairment charge in earnings in addition to the charges we recognized in 2009 and 2008. Additionally, certain of the fees we generate from our unconsolidated investees are dependent upon the value of the properties held by the investees or the level of contributions we make to the investees. Therefore, property value decreases have impacted and may continue to impact certain fees paid to us by our unconsolidated investees.

 

The pervasive and fundamental disruptions that the global financial markets have been experiencing has led to extensive and unprecedented governmental intervention. It is impossible to predict what, if any, additional interim or permanent governmental restrictions and/or increased regulation may be imposed on the financial markets and/or the effect of such restrictions and regulations on us and our results of operations.

 

General Real Estate Risks

 

General economic conditions and other events or occurrences that affect areas in which our properties are geographically concentrated, may impact financial results.

 

We are exposed to the general economic conditions, the local, regional, national and international economic conditions and other events and occurrences that affect the markets in which we own properties. Our operating performance is further impacted by the economic conditions of the specific markets in which we have concentrations of properties. Approximately 24.3% of our direct owned operating properties (based on our investment before depreciation) are located in California. Properties in California may be more susceptible to certain types of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, brush fires, flooding and mudslides, than properties located in other markets and a major natural disaster in California could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. We also have significant holdings (defined as more than 3.0% of our total investment before depreciation in direct owned operating properties), in certain markets located in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, New Jersey and Japan. Our operating performance could be adversely affected if conditions become less favorable in any of the markets in which we have a concentration of properties. Conditions such as an oversupply of distribution space or a reduction in demand for distribution space, among other factors, may impact operating conditions. Any material oversupply of distribution space or material reduction in

demand for distribution space could adversely affect our results of operations, distributable cash flow and the value of our securities. In addition, the property funds and joint ventures in which we have an ownership interest have concentrations of properties in the same markets mentioned above, as well as Pennsylvania, Reno, France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom and are subject to the economic conditions in those markets.

 

Real property investments are subject to risks that could adversely affect our business.

 

Real property investments are subject to varying degrees of risk. While we seek to minimize these risks through geographic diversification of our portfolio, market research and our property management capabilities, these risks cannot be eliminated. Some of the factors that may affect real estate values include:

 

 

Our investments are concentrated in the industrial distribution sector and our business would be adversely affected by an economic downturn in that sector or an unanticipated change in the supply chain dynamics.

 

Our investments in real estate assets are primarily concentrated in the industrial distribution sector. This concentration may expose us to the risk of economic downturns in this sector to a greater extent than if our business activities were more diversified.

 

Our real estate development strategies may not be successful.

 

We have developed a significant number of industrial properties since our inception. In late 2008, we scaled back our development activities in response to current economic conditions and, in 2009, we have resumed development activity in a selective manner through build-to-suit transactions on our land, including opportunities to use development capital or take out commitments from one of our partners or customers.

 

As of December 31, 2009, we had 163 completed development properties that were 62.2% leased (19.1 million square feet of unleased space) and we had 5 industrial properties under development that were 100.0% leased. As of December 31, 2009, we had approximately $307.8 million of costs remaining to be spent related to our development portfolio to complete the development and lease the space in these properties.

 

Additionally as of December 31, 2009, we had 10,360 acres of land with a current investment of $2.6 billion for potential future development of industrial properties or other commercial real estate projects or for sale to third parties. Within our land positions, we have concentrations in many of the same markets as our operating properties. Approximately 16.8% of our land (based on the current investment balance) is in the United Kingdom. During 2009, we recorded impairment charges of $137.0 million, due to the decrease in current estimated fair value of the land and increased probability that we will dispose of certain land parcels rather than develop as previously planned. We will look to monetize the land in the future through sale to third parties, development of industrial properties to hold for long-term investment or sale to an unconsolidated investee for development, depending on market conditions, our liquidity needs and other factors.

We will be subject to risks associated with such development, leasing and disposition activities, all of which may adversely affect our results of operations and available cash flow, including, but not limited to:

 

 

Our business strategy to provide liquidity to reduce debt by contributing properties to property funds or disposing of properties to third parties may not be successful.

 

Our ability to contribute or sell properties on advantageous terms is affected by competition from other owners of properties that are trying to dispose of their properties; current market conditions, including the capitalization rates applicable to our properties; and other factors beyond our control. The property funds or third parties who might acquire our properties may need to have access to debt and equity capital, in the private and public markets, in order to acquire properties from us. Should the property funds or third parties have limited or no access to capital on favorable terms, then contributions and dispositions could be delayed resulting in adverse effects on our liquidity, results of operations, distributable cash flow, debt covenant ratios, and the value of our securities.

 

We may acquire properties, which involves risks that could adversely affect our operating results and the value of our securities.

 

We may acquire industrial properties in our direct owned segment. The acquisition of properties involves risks, including the risk that the acquired property will not perform as anticipated and that any actual costs for rehabilitation, repositioning, renovation and improvements identified in the pre-acquisition due diligence process will exceed estimates. There is, and it is expected there will continue to be, significant competition for properties that meet our investment criteria as well as risks associated with obtaining financing for acquisition activities.

 

Our operating results and distributable cash flow will depend on the continued generation of lease revenues from customers.

 

Our operating results and distributable cash flow would be adversely affected if a significant number of our customers were unable to meet their lease obligations. We are also subject to the risk that, upon the expiration of leases for space located in our properties, leases may not be renewed by existing customers, the space may not be re-leased to new customers or the terms of renewal or re-leasing (including the cost of required

renovations or concessions to customers) may be less favorable to us than current lease terms. In the event of default by a significant number of customers, we may experience delays and incur substantial costs in enforcing our rights as landlord. A customer may experience a downturn in its business, which may cause the loss of the customer or may weaken its financial condition, resulting in the customer’s failure to make rental payments when due or requiring a restructuring that might reduce cash flow from the lease. In addition, a customer may seek the protection of bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws, which could result in the rejection and termination of such customer’s lease and thereby cause a reduction in our available cash flow.

 

Our ability to renew leases or re-lease space on favorable terms as leases expire significantly affects our business.

 

Our results of operations, distributable cash flow and the value of our securities would be adversely affected if we were unable to lease, on economically favorable terms, a significant amount of space in our operating properties. We have 28.4 million square feet of industrial and retail space (out of a total of 155.2 million occupied square feet representing 15.3% of total annual base rents) with leases that expire in 2010, including 4.4 million square feet of leases that are on a month-to-month basis. In addition, our unconsolidated investees have a combined 37.4 million square feet of industrial space (out of a total 254.9 million occupied square feet representing 13.0% of total annual base rent) with leases that expire in 2010, including 5.5 million square feet of leases that are on a month-to-month basis. The number of industrial and retail properties in a market or submarket could adversely affect both our ability to re-lease the space and the rental rates that can be obtained in new leases.

 

Real estate investments are not as liquid as other types of assets, which may reduce economic returns to investors.

 

Real estate investments are not as liquid as other types of investments and this lack of liquidity may limit our ability to react promptly to changes in economic or other conditions. In addition, significant expenditures associated with real estate investments, such as mortgage payments, real estate taxes and maintenance costs, are generally not reduced when circumstances cause a reduction in income from the investments. Like other companies qualifying as REITs under the Code, we are only able to hold property for sale in the ordinary course of business through taxable REIT subsidiaries in order to avoid punitive taxation on the gain from the sale of such property. While we are planning to dispose of certain properties that have been held for investment in order to generate liquidity, if we do not satisfy certain safe harbors or if we believe there is too much risk of incurring the punitive tax on the gain from the sale, we may not pursue such sales.

 

Our insurance coverage does not include all potential losses.

 

We and our unconsolidated investees currently carry insurance coverage including property damage and rental loss insurance resulting from such perils as fire, additional perils as covered under an extended coverage policy, named windstorm, flood, earthquake and terrorism; commercial general liability insurance; and environmental insurance, as appropriate for the markets where each of our properties and business operations are located. The insurance coverage contains policy specifications and insured limits customarily carried for similar properties, business activities and markets. We believe our properties and the properties of our unconsolidated investees, including the property funds, are adequately insured. However, there are certain losses, including losses from floods, earthquakes, acts of war, acts of terrorism or riots, that are not generally insured against or that are not generally fully insured against because it is not deemed economically feasible or prudent to do so. If an uninsured loss or a loss in excess of insured limits occurs with respect to one or more of our properties, we could experience a significant loss of capital invested and potential revenues in these properties and could potentially remain obligated under any recourse debt associated with the property.

 

We are exposed to various environmental risks that may result in unanticipated losses that could affect our operating results and financial condition.

 

Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner, developer or operator of real estate may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic

substances. The costs of removal or remediation of such substances could be substantial. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release or presence of such hazardous substances.

 

A majority of the properties we acquire are subjected to environmental reviews either by us or by the predecessor owners. In addition, we may incur environmental remediation costs associated with certain land parcels we acquire in connection with the development of the land. In connection with the merger in 2005 with Catellus Development Corporation (“Catellus”), we acquired certain properties in urban and industrial areas that may have been leased to, or previously owned by, commercial and industrial companies that discharged hazardous materials. We established a liability at the time of acquisition to cover such costs. We adjust the liabilities, as appropriate, when additional information becomes available. We purchase various environmental insurance policies to mitigate our exposure to environmental liabilities. We are not aware of any environmental liability that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

We cannot give any assurance that other such conditions do not exist or may not arise in the future. The presence of such substances on our real estate properties could adversely affect our ability to lease or sell such properties or to borrow using such properties as collateral and may have an adverse effect on our distributable cash flow.

 

We are exposed to the potential impacts of future climate change and climate-change related risks

 

We consider that we are exposed to potential physical risks from possible future changes in climate. Our distribution facilities may be exposed to rare catastrophic weather events, such as severe storms and/or floods. If the frequency of extreme weather events increases due to climate change, our exposure to these events could increase.

 

We do not currently consider our company to be exposed to regulatory risks related to climate change, as our operations do not emit a significant amount of greenhouse gases. However, we may be adversely impacted as a real estate developer in the future by stricter energy efficiency standards for buildings.

 

Risks Related to Financing and Capital

 

Our operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected if we are unable to make required payments on our debt or are unable to refinance our debt.

 

We are subject to risks normally associated with debt financing, including the risk that our cash flow will be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest. There can be no assurance that we will be able to refinance any maturing indebtedness, that such refinancing would be on terms as favorable as the terms of the maturing indebtedness, or we will be able to otherwise obtain funds by selling assets or raising equity to make required payments on maturing indebtedness. If we are unable to refinance our indebtedness at maturity or meet our payment obligations, the amount of our distributable cash flow and our financial condition would be adversely affected and, if the maturing debt is secured, the lender may foreclose on the property securing such indebtedness. Our credit facilities and certain other debt bears interest at variable rates. Increases in interest rates would increase our interest expense under these agreements. In addition, our unconsolidated investees have short-term debt that was used to acquire properties from us or third parties and other maturing indebtedness. If these investees are unable to refinance their indebtedness or meet their payment obligations, it may impact our distributable cash flow and our financial condition and/or we may be required to recognize impairment charges to our investments similar to those we recognized in 2009.

 

Covenants in our credit agreements could limit our flexibility and breaches of these covenants could adversely affect our financial condition.

 

The terms of our various credit agreements, including our credit facilities, the indenture under which our senior notes are issued and other note agreements, require us to comply with a number of customary financial

covenants, such as maintaining debt service coverage, leverage ratios, fixed charge ratios and other operating covenants including maintaining insurance coverage. In addition, our credit facility contains various covenants and certain borrowing limitations based on the value of our unencumbered property pool (as defined in the agreement). These covenants may limit our flexibility in our operations, and breaches of these covenants could result in defaults under the instruments governing the applicable indebtedness. If we default under our covenant provisions and are unable to cure the default, refinance our indebtedness or meet our payment obligations, the amount of our distributable cash flow and our financial condition would be adversely affected.

 

Federal Income Tax Risks

 

Failure to qualify as a REIT could adversely affect our cash flows.

 

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1993. In addition, we have a consolidated subsidiary that has elected to be taxed as a REIT and certain unconsolidated investees that are REITs and are subject to all the risks pertaining to the REIT structure, discussed herein. To maintain REIT status, we must meet a number of highly technical requirements on a continuing basis. Those requirements seek to ensure, among other things, that the gross income and investments of a REIT are largely real estate related, that a REIT distributes substantially all of its ordinary taxable income to shareholders on a current basis and that the REIT’s equity ownership is not overly concentrated. Due to the complex nature of these rules, the available guidance concerning interpretation of the rules, the importance of ongoing factual determinations and the possibility of adverse changes in the law, administrative interpretations of the law and changes in our business, no assurance can be given that we, or our REIT subsidiaries, will qualify as a REIT for any particular period.

 

If we fail to qualify as a REIT, we will be taxed as a regular corporation, and distributions to shareholders will not be deductible in computing our taxable income. The resulting corporate income tax liabilities could materially reduce our cash flow and funds available for dividends and/or reinvestment. Moreover, we might not be able to elect to be treated as a REIT for the four taxable years after the year during which we ceased to qualify as a REIT. In addition, if we later requalified as a REIT, we might be required to pay a full corporate-level tax on any unrealized gains in our assets as of the date of requalification, or upon subsequent disposition, and to make distributions to our shareholders equal to any earnings accumulated during the period of non-REIT status.

 

REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our financial condition.

 

To maintain qualification as a REIT under the Code, generally a REIT must annually distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and net capital gains. This requirement limits our ability to accumulate capital and, therefore, we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet the distribution requirements. Difficulties in meeting the distribution requirements might arise due to competing demands for our funds or to timing differences between tax reporting and cash receipts and disbursements, because income may have to be reported before cash is received or because expenses may have to be paid before a deduction is allowed. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) may make a determination in connection with the settlement of an audit by the IRS that increases taxable income or disallows or limits deductions taken thereby increasing the distribution we are required to make. In those situations, we might be required to borrow funds or sell properties on adverse terms in order to meet the distribution requirements and interest and penalties could apply, which could adversely affect our financial condition. If we fail to make a required distribution, we would cease to qualify as a REIT.

 

Prohibited transaction income could result from certain property transfers.

 

We contribute properties to property funds and sell properties to third parties from the REIT and from taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS”). Under the Code, a disposition of a property from other than a TRS could be deemed a prohibited transaction. In such case, a 100% penalty tax on the resulting gain could be assessed. The determination that a transaction constitutes a prohibited transaction is based on the facts and circumstances

surrounding each transaction. The IRS could contend that certain contributions or sales of properties by us are prohibited transactions. While we do not believe the IRS would prevail in such a dispute, if the IRS successfully argued the matter, the 100% penalty tax could be assessed against the gains from these transactions, which may be significant.

 

Additionally, any gain from a prohibited transaction may adversely affect our ability to satisfy the income tests for qualification as a REIT.

 

Liabilities recorded for pre-existing tax audits may not be sufficient.

 

We are subject to a pending audit by the IRS for the 2003 through 2005 income tax returns of Catellus, including certain of its subsidiaries and partnerships. We have recorded an accrual for the liabilities that may arise from these audits. See Note 15 to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. The finalization of the remaining audits may result in an adjustment in which the actual liabilities or settlement costs, including interest and potential penalties, if any, may prove to be more than the liability we have recorded.

 

Uncertainties relating to Catellus’ estimate of its “earnings and profits” attributable to C-corporation taxable years may have an adverse effect on our distributable cash flow.

 

In order to qualify as a REIT, a REIT cannot have at the end of any REIT taxable year any undistributed earnings and profits that are attributable to a C-corporation taxable year. A REIT has until the close of its first full taxable year as a REIT in which it has non-REIT earnings and profits to distribute these accumulated earnings and profits. Because Catellus’ first full taxable year as a REIT was 2004, Catellus was required to distribute these earnings and profits prior to the end of 2004. Failure to meet this requirement would result in Catellus’ disqualification as a REIT. Catellus distributed its accumulated non-REIT earnings and profits in December 2003, well in advance of the 2004 year-end deadline, and believed that this distribution was sufficient to distribute all of its non-REIT earnings and profits. However, the determination of non-REIT earnings and profits is complicated and depends upon facts with respect to which Catellus may have less than complete information or the application of the law governing earnings and profits, which is subject to differing interpretations, or both. Consequently, there are substantial uncertainties relating to the estimate of Catellus’ non-REIT earnings and profits, and we cannot be assured that the earnings and profits distribution requirement has been met. These uncertainties include the possibility that the IRS could upon audit, as discussed above, increase the taxable income of Catellus, which would increase the non-REIT earnings and profits of Catellus. There can be no assurances that we have satisfied the requirement that Catellus distribute all of its non-REIT earnings and profits by the close of its first taxable year as a REIT, and therefore, this may have an adverse effect on our distributable cash flow.

 

There are potential deferred and contingent tax liabilities that could affect our operating results or financial condition.

 

Palmtree Acquisition Corporation, our subsidiary that was the surviving corporation in the merger with Catellus in 2005, is subject to a federal corporate level tax at the highest regular corporate rate (currently 35%) and potential state taxes on any gain recognized within ten years of Catellus’ conversion to a REIT from a disposition of any assets that Catellus held at the effective time of its election to be a REIT, but only to the extent of the built-in-gain based on the fair market value of those assets on the effective date of the REIT election (which was January 1, 2004). Gain from a sale of an asset occurring more than 10 years after the REIT conversion will not be subject to this corporate-level tax. We do not currently expect to dispose of any asset of the surviving corporation in the merger if such disposition would result in the imposition of a material tax liability unless we can affect a tax-deferred exchange of the property. However, certain assets are subject to third party purchase options that may require us to sell such assets, and those assets may carry deferred tax liabilities that would be triggered on such sales. We have recorded deferred tax liabilities related to these built-in-gains. There can be no assurances that our plans in this regard will not change and, if such plans do change or if a purchase option is exercised, that we will be successful in structuring a tax-deferred exchange.

Other Risks

 

We are dependent on key personnel.

 

Our executive and other senior officers have a significant role in our success. Our ability to retain our management group or to attract suitable replacements should any members of the management group leave is dependent on the competitive nature of the employment market. The loss of services from key members of the management group or a limitation in their availability could adversely affect our financial condition and cash flow. Further, such a loss could be negatively perceived in the capital markets.

 

Share prices may be affected by market interest rates.

 

Our current quarterly distribution is $0.15 per common share. The annual distribution rate on common shares as a percentage of our market price may influence the trading price of such common shares. An increase in market interest rates may lead investors to demand a higher annual distribution rate than we have set, which could adversely affect the value of our common shares.

 

As a global company, we are subject to social, political and economic risks of doing business in foreign countries.

 

We conduct a significant portion of our business and employ a substantial number of people outside of the United States. During 2009, we generated approximately 34% of our revenue from operations outside the United States, primarily due to proceeds from the sale of our investments in the Japan funds. Circumstances and developments related to international operations that could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations include, but are not limited to, the following factors:

 

 

Although we have committed substantial resources to expand our global development platform, if we are unable to successfully manage the risks associated with our global business or to adequately manage operational fluctuations, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.

 

In addition, our international operations and, specifically, the ability of our non-U.S. subsidiaries to dividend or otherwise transfer cash among our subsidiaries, including transfers of cash to pay interest and principal on our debt, may be affected by currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations and potentially adverse tax consequences, among other things.

The depreciation in the value of the foreign currency in countries where we have a significant investment may adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

 

We have pursued, and intend to continue to pursue, growth opportunities in international markets where the U.S. dollar is not the national currency. At December 31, 2009, approximately 42% of our total assets are invested in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the euro, Japanese yen and British pound sterling. As a result, we are subject to foreign currency risk due to potential fluctuations in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. A significant change in the value of the foreign currency of one or more countries where we have a significant investment may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. Although we attempt to mitigate adverse effects by borrowing under debt agreements denominated in foreign currencies and, on occasion and when deemed appropriate, using derivative contracts, there can be no assurance that those attempts to mitigate foreign currency risk will be successful.

 

We are subject to governmental regulations and actions that affect operating results and financial condition.

 

Many laws, including tax laws, and governmental regulations apply to us, our unconsolidated investees and our properties. Changes in these laws and governmental regulations, or their interpretation by agencies or the courts, could occur, which might affect our ability to conduct business.

 

None.

 

We have directly invested in real estate assets that are primarily generic industrial properties. In Japan, our industrial properties are generally multi-level centers, which is common in Japan due to the high cost and limited availability of land. Our properties are typically used for storage, packaging, assembly, distribution, and light manufacturing of consumer and industrial products. Based on the square footage of our operating properties in the direct owned segment at December 31, 2009, our properties are 99.5% industrial properties; including 92.1% used for bulk distribution, 6.5% used for light manufacturing and assembly, and 0.9% used for other purposes, primarily service centers, while the remaining 0.5% of our properties are retail.

 

At December 31, 2009, we owned 1,215 operating properties in our direct owned segment; including 1,188 industrial properties located in North America, Europe, and Asia and 27 retail properties in North America. In North America, our properties are located in 32 markets in 19 states in the United States and the District of Columbia, 6 markets in Mexico and 1 market in Canada. Our properties are located in 28 markets in 12 countries in Europe and 6 markets in 2 countries in Asia.

 

For this presentation, we define our markets based on the concentration of properties in a specific area. A market, as defined by us, can be a metropolitan area, a city, a subsection of a metropolitan area, a subsection of a city or a region of a state or country.

 

The information in the following tables is as of December 31, 2009 for the operating properties, properties under development and land we own, including 84 buildings owned by entities we consolidate but of which we own less than 100%. All of these assets are included in our direct owned segment. This includes our development portfolio of operating properties we developed or are currently developing. No individual property or group of properties operating as a single business unit amounted to 10% or more of our consolidated total assets at December 31, 2009. No individual property or group of properties operating as a single business unit generated income equal to 10% or more of our consolidated gross revenues for the year

ended December 31, 2009. These tables do not include properties that are owned by property funds or other unconsolidated investees, which are discussed under “— Unconsolidated Investees”.

 

 

 

The following is a summary of our direct-owned investments in real estate assets at December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2009, our investments in and advances to unconsolidated investees totaled $2.2 billion. The property funds totaled $1.9 billion and the industrial and retail joint ventures totaled $134.0 million at December 31, 2009 and are all included in our investment management segment. The remaining unconsolidated investees totaled $141.1 million at December 31, 2009 and are not included in either of our reportable segments.

 

Investment Management Segment

 

At December 31, 2009, our ownership interests range from 20% to 50% in 15 property funds and several other entities that are presented under the equity method. We act as manager of each of these entities. We also have an ownership interest in a joint venture that we manage and do not account for under the equity method. These entities primarily own or are developing industrial properties.

 

The information provided in the table below (dollars and square footage in thousands) is only for our unconsolidated entities included in this segment with operating industrial properties and represents the total entity, not just our proportionate share. See “Item 1 Business” and Note 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.