Question
March 16, 1995
Premerger Notification Office
Bureau of Competition
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 303
Washington, D.C. 20580
Re: Exemption for REIT-Controlled Entities
Dear Mr. Sharpe:
This letter memorializes our telephone conversation and the advice you gave on March 9, 1995.
Our conversation concerned whether the acquisition of a shopping center by a general partnership of which the ultimate parent entity is a real estate investment trust (REIT) is reportable under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the Act). I explained that I represent the owner of a shopping center who is considering selling that shopping center to a general partnership controlled by a REIT. I indicated that the size of the Buyer and Seller and the transaction would normally trigger the premerger notification requirements of the Act. I asked whether the transaction would qualify for the exemption under section 7A(c)(1) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 18a(c)(1) as a transfer of realty in the ordinary course of business.
In our telephone conversation, you advised me that it has been the policy of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (*NOTE* PMN Office) for the past several years that an acquisition of a shopping center by a REIT or an entity, such as a partnership, controlled by a REIT is exempt from the Acts premerger notification requirements under section 7A(c)(1) of the Act (acquisitions of goods or realty transferred in the ordinary course of business). I understand that the staff of the Premerger Notification Office has given this advice to other law firms over the past several years, and that this advice reflects the FTCs (*NOTE* PMN Office) current policy on the acquisition of shopping centers by REITs or entities controlled by REITs. Thus, based on this current policy, I have concluded that my client would not be required to file a premerger notification should it sell its shopping center to a general partnership, the ultimate parent of which is a REIT.
If the foregoing does not correctly summarize your advice (or the advice you would give based on the facts set forth in this letter), please call me at your earliest convenience at the telephone number shown above.
Sincerely,
(Redacted)
cc: (redacted)