Title of Securities to be Registered				Amount to be Registered				Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share				Proposed Maximum Offering Price				Amount of Registration Fee (1)
Common Stock, $.10 par value					5,906,674			$	16.93			$	99,999,991			$	3,930

 

				Per Share				Total
Public offering price				$	16.93			$	99,999,991
Placement Agent Fee				$	0.13			$	750,000
Proceeds to us, before expenses				$	16.80			$	99,249,991

 

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You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any “free writing prospectus” we authorize to be delivered to you. We have not, and the placement agent has not, authorized anyone to provide additional information or information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any such “free writing prospectus.” Neither the delivery of this prospectus supplement nor the sale of shares of common stock means that information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any such “free writing prospectus” is correct after their respective dates. These documents do not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy these shares of common stock in any circumstances under which the offer or solicitation is unlawful.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement				Page
Prospectus supplement summary					1
Risk factors					4
Cautionary language regarding forward-looking statements					16
Use of proceeds					17
Capitalization					18
Plan of Distribution					19
Legal matters					19
Experts					19
Incorporation of certain information by reference					20
Where you can find more information					20

 

Prospectus Dated        April 10, 2008				Page
About this Prospectus					1
Where You Can find More Information					1
Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements					3
Our Company					4
Risk Factors					4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges					5
Use of Proceeds					5
Description of Securities					5
Capital Stock					6
Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations					18
Plan of Distribution					28
Validity of the Securities					30
Experts					30

 

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In this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, the terms “Omega,” “we,” “company,” “us,” and “our” refer to Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

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Prospectus supplement summary

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. You should read carefully this entire prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, including the “Risk factors,” the financial data and related notes, and the reports incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before making an investment decision. This summary is not complete and does not contain all the information that you should consider before making an investment decision.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

We were incorporated in the State of Maryland on March 31, 1992. We are a self-administered real estate investment trust, or REIT, investing in income-producing healthcare facilities, principally long-term care facilities located in the United States. We provide lease or mortgage financing to qualified operators of skilled nursing facilities, or SNFs, and, to a lesser extent, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation and acute care facilities. We have historically financed investments through borrowings under our revolving credit facilities, private placements or public offerings of debt or equity securities, the assumption of secured indebtedness, or a combination of these methods.

Our portfolio of investments at March 31, 2008, consisted of 235 healthcare facilities, located in 28 states and operated by 26 third-party operators. Our gross investment in these facilities totaled approximately $1.3 billion at March 31, 2008, with 98% of our real estate investments related to long-term healthcare facilities. This portfolio is made up of (i) 223 long-term healthcare facilities, (ii) fixed rate mortgages on nine long-term healthcare facilities and (iii) two rehabilitation hospitals and one long-term healthcare facility that are currently held for sale. At March 31, 2008, we also held other investments of approximately $16 million, consisting primarily of secured loans to third-party operators of our facilities.

Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports are accessible free of charge on our website at www.omegahealthcare.com.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

On April 16, 2008, our Board of Directors declared a common stock dividend of $0.30 per share to be paid May 15, 2008 to common stockholders of record on April 30, 2008. Since shares purchased in this offering will be delivered after the record date for the May 15, 2008 dividend, you will not receive the May 15, 2008 dividend on shares purchases in this offering.

On April 16, 2008, our Board of Directors declared the regular quarterly dividends for our 8.375% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock to stockholders of record on April 30, 2008. The stockholders of record of the Series D Preferred Stock on April 30, 2008 will be paid dividends in the amount of $0.52344 per preferred share on May 15, 2008. The liquidation preference for our Series D Preferred Stock is $25.00 per share.

On April 18, 2008, we completed approximately $123 million of combined new investments with affiliates of CommuniCare Heath Services (“CommuniCare”), an existing operator. Effective April 18, 2008, we purchased from several unrelated third parties seven (7) SNFs, one (1) assisted living facility and one (1) rehabilitation hospital, all located in Ohio, totaling 709 beds for a total investment of $48 million. The facilities were added into our master lease with CommuniCare, increasing annualized cash rent under the master lease by approximately $4.7 million, subject to annual escalators. The term of the CommuniCare master lease was extended to April 30, 2018, with two ten-year renewal options.

Also on April 18, 2008, and simultaneous with the amendment and extension of the master lease with CommuniCare, we entered into a first mortgage loan with CommuniCare in the amount of $74.9 million. This mortgage loan matures on April 30, 2018 and carries an interest rate of 11% per year. CommuniCare used the proceeds of the mortgage loan to acquire seven (7) SNFs located in Maryland, totaling 965 beds from several unrelated third parties. The mortgage loan is secured by a lien on the seven (7) facilities. At the closing, $4.9 million of loan proceeds were escrowed pending CommuniCare’s acquisition of an additional 90 bed SNF, also located in Maryland. We anticipate that CommuniCare will acquire this facility within eight months upon the satisfaction

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of certain contingencies, including the granting of a lien on such facility to secure the mortgage loan. If the additional facility is not acquired, CommuniCare will be obligated to re-pay the $4.9 million of escrowed loan proceeds.

We used approximately $123 million of borrowings under our $255 million revolving senior secured credit facility, as amended (“Credit Facility”) to fund this investment.

CORPORATE INFORMATION

Our principal executive offices are located at 9690 Deereco Road, Suite 100, Timonium, Maryland 21093, and our telephone number is (410) 427-1700. Additional information regarding our company is set forth in documents on file with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. See “Incorporation of certain information by reference” and “Where you can find more information.”

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THE OFFERING

Common stock we are offering				5,906,674 shares.
Common stock outstanding immediately after this offering				75,112,139 shares
New York Stock Exchange symbol				OHI
Use of proceeds				We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $98,749,991 after deducting the placement agent fee and estimated expenses of the offering payable by us. We intend to use all of the net proceeds of this offering to repay indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facility. See “Use of Proceeds.”
Risk factors				This investment involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement for a discussion of certain factors you should consider before deciding to invest in our common stock.

 

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Risk factors

You should carefully consider the following risk factors, in addition to the other information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before purchasing shares of our common stock. Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. If any of the events described in the following risk factors occur, our business, operating results and financial condition could be seriously harmed. In addition, the trading price of our common stock could decline due to the occurrence of any of such events, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

RISKS RELATED TO THE OPERATORS OF OUR FACILITIES

Our financial position could be weakened and our ability to fulfill our obligations under our indebtedness could be limited if any of our major operators were unable to meet their obligations to us or failed to renew or extend their relationship with us as their lease terms expire, or if we were unable to lease or re-lease our facilities or make mortgage loans on economically favorable terms. These adverse developments could arise due to a number of factors, including those listed below.

The bankruptcy, insolvency or financial deterioration of our operators could delay our ability to collect unpaid rents or require us to find new operators for rejected facilities.

We are exposed to the risk that our operators may not be able to meet their obligations, which may result in their bankruptcy or insolvency. Although our leases and loans provide us the right to terminate an investment, evict an operator, demand immediate repayment and other remedies, title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532, as amended and supplemented, or the Bankruptcy Code, affords certain protections to a party that has filed for bankruptcy that would probably render certain of these remedies unenforceable, or, at the very least, delay our ability to pursue such remedies. In addition, an operator in bankruptcy may be able to restrict our ability to collect unpaid rent or mortgage payments during the bankruptcy case.

Furthermore, the receipt of liquidation proceeds or the replacement of an operator that has defaulted on its lease or loan could be delayed by the approval process of any federal, state or local agency necessary for the transfer of the property or the replacement of the operator licensed to manage the facility. In addition, some significant expenditures associated with real estate investment, such as real estate taxes and maintenance costs, are generally not reduced when circumstances cause a reduction in income from the investment. In order to protect our investments, we may take possession of a property or even become licensed as an operator, which might expose us to successor liability under government programs (or otherwise) or require us to indemnify subsequent operators to whom we might transfer the operating rights and licenses. Third-party payors may also suspend payments to us following foreclosure until we receive the required licenses to operate the facilities. Should such events occur, our income and cash flow from operations would be adversely affected.

A debtor may have the right to assume or reject a lease with us under bankruptcy law and his or her decision could delay or limit our ability to collect rents thereunder.

If one or more of our lessees files bankruptcy relief, the Bankruptcy Code provides that a debtor has the option to assume or reject the unexpired lease within a certain period of time. However, our lease arrangements with operators that operate more than one of our facilities are generally made pursuant to a single master lease covering all of that operator’s facilities leased from us, and consequently, it is possible that in bankruptcy the debtor-lessee may be required to assume or reject the master lease as a whole, rather than making the decision on a facility by facility basis, thereby preventing the debtor-lessee from assuming only the better performing facilities and terminating the leasing arrangement with respect to the poorer performing facilities. The Bankruptcy Code generally requires that a debtor must assume or reject a contract in its entirety. Thus, a debtor cannot choose to keep the beneficial provisions of a contract while rejecting the burdensome ones; the contract must be assumed or rejected as a whole. However, where under applicable law a contract (even though it is contained in a single document) is determined to be divisible or severable into different agreements, or similarly where a collection of documents are determined to constitute separate agreements instead of a single, integrated contract, then in those circumstances a debtor/trustee may be allowed to assume some of the divisible or separate agreements while rejecting the others.

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Whether a master lease agreement would be determined to be a single contract or a divisible agreement, and hence whether a bankruptcy court would require a master lease agreement to be assumed or rejected as a whole, would depend on a number of factors some of which may include, but may not necessarily be limited to, the following:

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applicable state law;

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the parties’ intent;

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whether the master lease agreement and related documents were executed contemporaneously;

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the nature and purpose of the relevant documents;

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whether the obligations in various documents are independent;

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whether the leases are coterminous;

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whether a single check is paid for all properties;

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whether rent is apportioned among the leases;

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whether termination of one lease constitutes termination of all;

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whether the leases may be separately assigned or sublet;

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whether separate consideration exists for each lease; and

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whether there are cross-default provisions.

The Bankruptcy Code provides that a debtor has the power and the option to assume, assume and assign to a third party, or reject the unexpired lease. In the event that the unexpired lease is assumed on behalf of the debtor-lessee, obligations under the lease generally would be entitled to administrative priority over other unsecured pre-bankruptcy claims. If the debtor chooses to assume the lease (or assume and assign the lease), then the debtor is required to cure all monetary defaults, or provide adequate assurance that it will promptly cure such defaults. However, the debtor-lessee may not have to cure historical non-monetary defaults under the lease to the extent that they have not resulted in an actual pecuniary loss, but the debtor-lessee must cure non-monetary defaults under the lease from the time of assumption going forward. A debtor must generally pay all rent payments coming due under the lease after the bankruptcy filing but before the assumption or rejection of the lease. The Bankruptcy Code provides that the debtor-lessee must make the decision regarding assumption, assignment or rejection within a certain period of time. For cases filed on or after October 17, 2005, the time period to make the decision is 120 days, subject to extension “for cause.” A bankruptcy court may only extend this period beyond 90 days if the lessor consents in writing.

If a tenant rejects a lease under the Bankruptcy Code, it is deemed to be a pre-petition breach of the lease, and the lessor’s claim arising therefrom may be limited to any unpaid rent already due plus an amount equal to the rent reserved under the lease, without acceleration, for the greater of one year, or 15%, not to exceed three years, of the remaining term of such lease, following the earlier of the petition date and repossession or surrender of the leased property. If the debtor rejects the lease, we would be entitled to have the facility returned to us. In that event, if we were unable to re-lease the facility to a new operator on favorable terms or only after a significant delay, we could lose some or all of the associated revenue from that facility for an extended period of time, which could also result in impairment of the facility.

With respect to our mortgage loans, the imposition of an automatic stay under bankruptcy law could negatively impact our ability to foreclose or seek other remedies against a mortgagor.

Generally, with respect to our mortgage loans, the imposition of an automatic stay under the Bankruptcy Code precludes us from exercising foreclosure or other remedies against the debtor without first obtaining stay relief from the bankruptcy court. Pre-petition creditors generally do not have rights to the cash flows from the properties underlying the mortgages unless their security interest in the property includes such cash flows. Mortgagees may, however, receive periodic payments from the debtor/mortgagors. Such payments are referred to as adequate protection payments. The timing of adequate protection payments and whether the mortgagees are entitled to such payments depends on negotiating an acceptable settlement with the mortgagor (subject to approval of the bankruptcy court) or on the order of the bankruptcy court in the event a negotiated settlement cannot be achieved.

A mortgagee also is treated differently from a landlord in several respects. The mortgagee’s loan may be divided into a secured claim for the portion of the mortgage debt that does not exceed the value of the property securing the debt and a general unsecured claim for the portion of the mortgage debt that exceeds the value of the property. A secured creditor such as our company is entitled to the recovery of interest and reasonable fees, costs and charges provided for under the agreement under which such claim arose only if, and to the extent that, the value of the

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collateral exceeds the amount owed. If the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the debt, interest as well as reasonable fees, costs, and charges are not necessarily required to be paid during the progress of the bankruptcy case, but they will accrue until confirmation of a plan of reorganization/liquidation and are generally paid at confirmation or such other time as the court orders unless the debtor voluntarily makes a payment. If the value of the collateral held by a secured creditor is less than the secured debt (including such creditor’s secured debt and the secured debt of any creditor with a more senior security interest in the collateral), interest on the loan for the time period between the filing of the case and confirmation may be disallowed. Finally, while a lease generally would either be assumed, assumed and assigned, or rejected with all of its benefits and burdens intact, the terms of a mortgage, including the rate of interest and the timing of principal payments, may be modified under certain circumstances if the debtor is able to effect a “cram down” under the Bankruptcy Code. Before such a “cram down” is allowed, the Bankruptcy Court must conclude that the treatment of the secured creditor’s claim is “fair and equitable.”

If an operator files bankruptcy, our leases with the debtor could be re-characterized as a financing agreement, which could negatively impact our rights under the lease.

Another risk regarding our leases is that in an operator’s bankruptcy the leases could be re-characterized as a financing agreement. In making such a determination, a bankruptcy court may consider certain factors, which may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

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whether rent is calculated to provide a return on investment rather than to compensate the lessor for loss, use and possession of the property;

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whether the property is purchased specifically for the lessee’s use or whether the lessee selected, inspected, contracted for, and received the property;

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whether the transaction is structured solely to obtain tax advantages;

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whether the lessee is entitled to obtain ownership of the property at the expiration of the lease, and whether any option purchase price is unrelated to the value of the land; and

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whether the lessee assumed many of the obligations associated with outright ownership of the property, including responsibility for maintenance, repair, property taxes and insurance.

If an operator defaults under one of our mortgage loans, we may have to foreclose on the mortgage or protect our interest by acquiring title to the property and thereafter making substantial improvements or repairs in order to maximize the facility’s investment potential. Operators may contest enforcement of foreclosure or other remedies, seek bankruptcy protection against our exercise of enforcement or other remedies and/or bring claims for lender liability in response to actions to enforce mortgage obligations. If an operator seeks bankruptcy protection, the automatic stay provisions of the Bankruptcy Code would preclude us from enforcing foreclosure or other remedies against the operator unless relief is first obtained from the court having jurisdiction over the bankruptcy case. High “loan to value” ratios or declines in the value of the facility may prevent us from realizing an amount equal to our mortgage loan upon foreclosure.

Operators that fail to comply with the requirements of governmental reimbursement programs such as Medicare or Medicaid, licensing and certification requirements, fraud and abuse regulations or new legislative developments may be unable to meet their obligations to us.

Our operators are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations that are subject to frequent and substantial changes (sometimes applied retroactively) resulting from legislation, adoption of rules and regulations, and administrative and judicial interpretations of existing law. The ultimate timing or effect of these changes cannot be predicted. These changes may have a dramatic effect on our operators’ costs of doing business and the amount of reimbursement by both government and other third-party payors. The failure of any of our operators to comply with these laws, requirements and regulations could adversely affect their ability to meet their obligations to us. In particular:

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Medicare and Medicaid. A significant portion of our SNF operators’ revenue is derived from governmentally-funded reimbursement programs, primarily Medicare and Medicaid, and failure to maintain certification and accreditation in these programs would result in a loss of funding from such programs. Loss of certification or accreditation could cause the revenues of our operators to decline, potentially jeopardizing their ability to meet their obligations to us. In that event, our revenues from those facilities could be reduced, which could in turn

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cause the value of our affected properties to decline. State licensing and Medicare and Medicaid laws also require operators of nursing homes and assisted living facilities to comply with extensive standards governing operations. Federal and state agencies administering those laws regularly inspect such facilities and investigate complaints. Our operators and their managers receive notices of potential sanctions and remedies from time to time, and such sanctions have been imposed from time to time on facilities operated by them. If they are unable to cure deficiencies which have been identified or which are identified in the future, such sanctions may be imposed and if imposed may adversely affect our operators’ revenues, potentially jeopardizing their ability to meet their obligations to us.

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Licensing and Certification. Our operators and facilities are subject to regulatory and licensing requirements of federal, state and local authorities and are periodically audited by them to confirm compliance. Failure to obtain licensure or loss or suspension of licensure would prevent a facility from operating or result in a suspension of reimbursement payments until all licensure issues have been resolved and the necessary licenses obtained or reinstated. Our SNFs require governmental approval, in the form of a certificate of need that generally varies by state and is subject to change, prior to the addition or construction of new beds, the addition of services or certain capital expenditures. Some of our facilities may be unable to satisfy current and future certificate of need requirements and may for this reason be unable to continue operating in the future. In such event, our revenues from those facilities could be reduced or eliminated for an extended period of time or permanently.

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Fraud and Abuse Laws and Regulations. There are various extremely complex and largely uninterpreted federal and state laws governing a wide array of referrals, relationships and arrangements and prohibiting fraud by healthcare providers, including criminal provisions that prohibit filing false claims or making false statements to receive payment or certification under Medicare and Medicaid, or failing to refund overpayments or improper payments. Governments are devoting increasing attention and resources to anti-fraud initiatives against healthcare providers. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the Balanced Budget Act expanded the penalties for healthcare fraud, including broader provisions for the exclusion of providers from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Furthermore, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in cooperation with other federal and state agencies continues to focus on the activities of SNFs in certain states in which we have properties. In addition, the federal False Claims Act allows a private individual with knowledge of fraud to bring a claim on behalf of the federal government and earn a percentage of the federal government’s recovery. Because of these incentives, these so-called “whistleblower” suits have become more frequent. The violation of any of these laws or regulations by an operator may result in the imposition of fines or other penalties that could jeopardize that operator’s ability to make lease or mortgage payments to us or to continue operating its facility.

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Other Laws. Other laws that impact how our operators conduct their operations include federal and state laws designed to protect the confidentiality and security of patient health information, state and local licensure laws, laws protecting consumers against deceptive practices, and laws generally affecting our operators management of property and equipment and how our operators generally conduct their operations, such as fire, health and safety laws; and federal and state laws affecting assisted living facilities mandating quality of services and care, and quality of food service; resident rights (including abuse and neglect laws) and health standards set by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. We can not predict the effect additional costs to comply with these laws may have on the revenues of our operators, and thus their ability to meet their obligations to us.

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Legislative and Regulatory Developments. Each year, legislative proposals are introduced or proposed in Congress and in some state legislatures that would affect major changes in the healthcare system, either nationally or at the state level. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, or Medicare Modernization Act, which is one example of such legislation, was enacted in late 2003. The Medicare reimbursement changes for the long term care industry under this Act are limited to a temporary increase in the per diem amount paid to SNFs for residents who have AIDS. The significant expansion of other benefits for Medicare beneficiaries under this Act, such as the expanded prescription drug benefit, could result in financial pressures on the Medicare program that might result in future legislative and regulatory changes with impacts for our operators. Other proposals under consideration include efforts by individual states to control costs by decreasing state Medicaid reimbursements, efforts to improve quality of care and reduce medical errors throughout the health care industry and cost-containment initiatives by public and private payors. We cannot

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accurately predict whether any proposals will be adopted or, if adopted, what effect, if any, these proposals would have on operators and, thus, our business.

Regulatory proposals and rules are released on an ongoing basis that may have major impacts on the healthcare system generally and the skilled nursing and long-term care industries in particular.

Our operators depend on reimbursement from governmental and other third-party payors and reimbursement rates from such payors may be reduced.

Changes in the reimbursement rate or methods of payment from third-party payors, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs, or the implementation of other measures to reduce reimbursements for services provided by our operators have in the past, and could in the future, result in a substantial reduction in our operators’ revenues and operating margins. Additionally, net revenue realizable under third-party payor agreements can change after examination and retroactive adjustment by payors during the claims settlement processes or as a result of post-payment audits. Payors may disallow requests for reimbursement based on determinations that certain costs are not reimbursable or reasonable or because additional documentation is necessary or because certain services were not covered or were not medically necessary. There also continue to be new legislative and regulatory proposals that could impose further limitations on government and private payments to healthcare providers. In some cases, states have enacted or are considering enacting measures designed to reduce their Medicaid expenditures and to make changes to private healthcare insurance. We cannot assure you that adequate reimbursement levels will continue to be available for the services provided by our operators, which are currently being reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid or private third-party payors. Further limits on the scope of services reimbursed and on reimbursement rates could have a material adverse effect on our operators’ liquidity, financial condition and results of operations, which could cause the revenues of our operators to decline and potentially jeopardize their ability to meet their obligations to us.

Our operators may be subject to significant legal actions that could subject them to increased operating costs and substantial uninsured liabilities, which may affect their ability to pay their lease and mortgage payments to us.

As is typical in the healthcare industry, our operators are often subject to claims that their services have resulted in resident injury or other adverse effects. The insurance coverage maintained by our operators may not cover all claims made against them nor continue to be available at a reasonable cost, if at all. In some states, insurance coverage for the risk of punitive damages arising from professional liability and general liability claims and/or litigation may not, in certain cases, be available to operators due to state law prohibitions or limitations of availability. As a result, our operators operating in these states may be liable for punitive damage awards that are either not covered or are in excess of their insurance policy limits. We also believe that there has been, and will continue to be, an increase in governmental investigations of long-term care providers, particularly in the area of Medicare/Medicaid false claims, as well as an increase in enforcement actions resulting from these investigations. Insurance is not available to cover such losses. Any adverse determination in a legal proceeding or governmental investigation, whether currently asserted or arising in the future, could have a material adverse effect on an operator’s financial condition. If an operator is unable to obtain or maintain insurance coverage, if judgments are obtained in excess of the insurance coverage, if an operator is required to pay uninsured punitive damages, or if an operator is subject to an uninsurable government enforcement action, the operator could be exposed to substantial additional liabilities.

Increased competition as well as increased operating costs have resulted in lower revenues for some of our operators and may affect the ability of our tenants to meet their payment obligations to us.

The healthcare industry is highly competitive, and we expect that it may become more competitive in the future. Our operators are competing with numerous other companies providing similar healthcare services or alternatives such as home health agencies, life care at home, community-based service programs, retirement communities and convalescent centers. We cannot be certain that the operators of all of our facilities will be able to achieve occupancy and rate levels that will enable them to meet all of their obligations to us. Our operators may encounter increased competition in the future that could limit their ability to attract residents or expand their businesses and therefore affect their ability to pay their lease or mortgage payments.

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The market for qualified nurses, healthcare professionals and other key personnel is highly competitive and our operators may experience difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified personnel. Increases in labor costs due to higher wages and greater benefits required to attract and retain qualified healthcare personnel incurred by our operators could affect their ability to pay their lease or mortgage payments. This situation could be particularly acute in certain states that have enacted legislation establishing minimum staffing requirements.

RISKS RELATED TO US AND OUR OPERATIONS

In addition to the operator related risks discussed above, there are a number of risks directly associated with us and our operations.

We rely on external sources of capital to fund future capital needs, and if we encounter difficulty in obtaining such capital, we may not be able to make future investments necessary to grow our business or meet maturing commitments.

In order to qualify as a REIT under the Code, we are required, among other things, to distribute each year to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income. Because of this distribution requirement, we may not be able to fund, from cash retained from operations, all future capital needs, including capital needs to make investments and to satisfy or refinance maturing commitments. As a result, we rely on external sources of capital, including debt and equity financing. If we are unable to obtain needed capital at all or only on unfavorable terms from these sources, we might not be able to make the investments needed to grow our business, or to meet our obligations and commitments as they mature, which could negatively affect the ratings of our debt and even, in extreme circumstances, affect our ability to continue operations. Our access to capital depends upon a number of factors over which we have little or no control, including general market conditions and the market’s perception of our growth potential and our current and potential future earnings and cash distributions and the market price of the shares of our capital stock. Generally speaking, difficult capital market conditions in our industry during the past several years and our need to stabilize our portfolio have limited our access to capital. While we currently have sufficient cash flow from operations to fund our obligations and commitments, we may not be in position to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities for growth in the event that we are unable to access the capital markets on a timely basis or we are only able to obtain financing on unfavorable terms.

Our ability to raise capital through sales of equity is dependent, in part, on the market price of our common stock, and our failure to meet market expectations with respect to our business could negatively impact the market price of our common stock and limit our ability to sell equity.

As with other publicly-traded companies, the availability of equity capital will depend, in part, on the market price of our common stock which, in turn, will depend upon various market conditions and other factors that may change from time to time including:

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the extent of investor interest;

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the general reputation of REITs and the attractiveness of their equity securities in comparison to other equity securities, including securities issued by other real estate-based companies;

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our financial performance and that of our operators;

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the contents of analyst reports about us and the REIT industry;

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general stock and bond market conditions, including changes in interest rates on fixed income securities, which may lead prospective purchasers of our common stock to demand a higher annual yield from future distributions;

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our failure to maintain or increase our dividend, which is dependent, to a large part, on growth of funds from operations which in turn depends upon increased revenues from additional investments and rental increases; and

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other factors such as governmental regulatory action and changes in REIT tax laws.

The market value of the equity securities of a REIT is generally based upon the market’s perception of the REIT’s growth potential and its current and potential future earnings and cash distributions. Our failure to meet the market’s expectation with regard to future earnings and cash distributions would likely adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

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We are subject to risks associated with debt financing, which could negatively impact our business, limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders and to repay maturing debt.

Financing for future investments and our maturing commitments may be provided by borrowings under our Credit Facility, private or public offerings of debt, the assumption of secured indebtedness, mortgage financing on a portion of our owned portfolio or through joint ventures. We are subject to risks normally associated with debt financing, including the risks that our cash flow will be insufficient to make timely payments of interest, that we will be unable to refinance existing indebtedness and that the terms of refinancing will not be as favorable as the terms of existing indebtedness. If we are unable to refinance or extend principal payments due at maturity or pay them with proceeds from other capital transactions, our cash flow may not be sufficient in all years to pay distributions to our stockholders and to repay all maturing debt. Furthermore, if prevailing interest rates, changes in our debt ratings or other factors at the time of refinancing result in higher interest rates upon refinancing, the interest expense relating to that refinanced indebtedness would increase, which could reduce our profitability and the amount of dividends we are able to pay. Moreover, additional debt financing increases the amount of our leverage.

Certain of our operators account for a significant percentage of our real estate investment and revenues.

At March 31, 2008, approximately 28% of our real estate investments were operated by two public companies: Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. (“Sun”) (17%) and Advocat Inc. (“Advocat”) (11%). Our largest private company operators (by investment) were CommuniCare Health Services (“CommuniCare”) (15%), Signature Holding II, LLC (11%), Haven Healthcare (9%), Guardian LTC Management, Inc. (7%), Nexion Health Inc. (6%) and Essex Healthcare Corporation (6%). No other operator represents more than 5% of our investments. The three states in which we had our highest concentration of investments were Ohio (22%), Florida (13%) and Pennsylvania (8%) at March 31, 2008.

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2008, our revenues from operations totaled $40.9 million, of which approximately $8.1 million were from Sun (20%), $5.3 million from CommuniCare (13%) and $5.1 million from Advocat (12%). No other operator generated more than 10% of our revenues from operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008.

The failure or inability of any of these operators to pay their obligations to us could materially reduce our revenues and net income, which could in turn reduce the amount of dividends we pay and cause our stock price to decline.

Unforeseen costs associated with the acquisition of new properties could reduce our profitability.

Our business strategy contemplates future acquisitions that may not prove to be successful. For example, we might encounter unanticipated difficulties and expenditures relating to any acquired properties, including contingent liabilities, or newly acquired properties might require significant management attention that would otherwise be devoted to our ongoing business. If we agree to provide funding to enable healthcare operators to build, expand or renovate facilities on our properties and the project is not completed, we could be forced to become involved in the development to ensure completion or we could lose the property. These costs may negatively affect our results of operations.

Our assets may be subject to impairment charges.

We periodically, but not less than annually, evaluate our real estate investments and other assets for impairment indicators. The judgment regarding the existence of impairment indicators is based on factors such as market conditions, operator performance and legal structure. If we determine that a significant impairment has occurred, we would be required to make an adjustment to the net carrying value of the asset, which could have a material adverse affect on our results of operations and funds from operations in the period in which the write-off occurs. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2008, we recognized an impairment loss associated with one facility for approximately $1.5 million.

We may not be able to sell certain closed facilities for their book value.

From time to time, we close facilities and actively market such facilities for sale. To the extent we are unable to sell these properties for our book value; we may be required to take a non-cash impairment charge or loss on the sale, either of which would reduce our net income.

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Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition.

We have substantial indebtedness and we may increase our indebtedness in the future.

As of March 31, 2008, we had total debt of approximately $569 million, of which $82 million consisted of borrowings under our Credit Facility, $310 million (excluding premium on issuance) of which consisted of our 7% senior notes due 2014, $175 million (excluding premium on issuance) of which consisted of our 7% senior notes due 2016 and approximately $2 million of other long-term borrowings. Our level of indebtedness could have important consequences to our stockholders. For example, it could:

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limit our ability to satisfy our obligations with respect to holders of our capital stock;

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increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

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limit our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate requirements, or to carry out other aspects of our business plan;

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require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of such cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate requirements, or to carry out other aspects of our business plan;

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require us to pledge as collateral substantially all of our assets;

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require us to maintain certain debt coverage and financial ratios at specified levels, thereby reducing our financial flexibility;

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limit our ability to make material acquisitions or take advantage of business opportunities that may arise;

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expose us to fluctuations in interest rates, to the extent our borrowings bear variable rates of interests;

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limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and industry; and

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place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt.

Our real estate investments are relatively illiquid.

Real estate investments are relatively illiquid and, therefore, tend to limit our ability to vary our portfolio promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions. All of our properties are “special purpose” properties that could not be readily converted to general residential, retail or office use. Healthcare facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid must meet extensive program requirements, including physical plant and operational requirements, which are revised from time to time. Such requirements may include a duty to admit Medicare and Medicaid patients, limiting the ability of the facility to increase its private pay census beyond certain limits. Medicare and Medicaid facilities are regularly inspected to determine compliance, and may be excluded from the programs — in some cases without a prior hearing — for failure to meet program requirements. Transfers of operations of nursing homes and other healthcare-related facilities are subject to regulatory approvals not required for transfers of other types of commercial operations and other types of real estate. Thus, if the operation of any of our properties becomes unprofitable due to competition, age of improvements or other factors such that our lessee or mortgagor becomes unable to meet its obligations on the lease or mortgage loan, the liquidation value of the property may be substantially less, particularly relative to the amount owing on any related mortgage loan, than would be the case if the property were readily adaptable to other uses. The receipt of liquidation proceeds or the replacement of an operator that has defaulted on its lease or loan could be delayed by the approval process of any federal, state or local agency necessary for the transfer of the property or the replacement of the operator with a new operator licensed to manage the facility. In addition, certain significant expenditures associated with real estate investment, such as real estate taxes and maintenance costs, are generally not reduced when circumstances cause a reduction in income from the investment. Should such events occur, our income and cash flows from operations would be adversely affected.

As an owner or lender with respect to real property, we may be exposed to possible environmental liabilities.

Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner of real property or a secured lender, such as us, may be liable in certain circumstances for the costs of investigation, removal or remediation of, or related releases of, certain hazardous or toxic substances at, under or disposed of

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in connection with such property, as well as certain other potential costs relating to hazardous or toxic substances, including government fines and damages for injuries to persons and adjacent property. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner knew of, or was responsible for, the presence or disposal of such substances and liability may be imposed on the owner in connection with the activities of an operator of the property. The cost of any required investigation, remediation, removal, fines or personal or property damages and the owner’s liability therefore could exceed the value of the property and/or the assets of the owner. In addition, the presence of such substances, or the failure to properly dispose of or remediate such substances, may adversely affect our operators’ ability to attract additional residents, the owner’s ability to sell or rent such property or to borrow using such property as collateral which, in turn, would reduce the owner’s revenues.

Although our leases and mortgage loans require the lessee and the mortgagor to indemnify us for certain environmental liabilities, the scope of such obligations may be limited. For instance, most of our leases do not require the lessee to indemnify us for environmental liabilities arising before the lessee took possession of the premises. Further, we cannot assure you that any such mortgagor or lessee would be able to fulfill its indemnification obligations.

The industry in which we operate is highly competitive. This competition may prevent us from raising prices at the same pace as our costs increase.

We compete for additional healthcare facility investments with other healthcare investors, including other REITs. The operators of the facilities compete with other regional or local nursing care facilities for the support of the medical community, including physicians and acute care hospitals, as well as the general public. Some significant competitive factors for the placing of patients in skilled and intermediate care nursing facilities include quality of care, reputation, physical appearance of the facilities, services offered, family preferences, physician services and price. If our cost of capital should increase relative to the cost of capital of our competitors, the spread that we realize on our investments may decline if competitive pressures limit or prevent us from charging higher lease or mortgage rates.

We are named as defendants in litigation arising out of professional liability and general liability claims relating to our previously owned and operated facilities that, if decided against us, could adversely affect our financial condition.

We and several of our wholly-owned subsidiaries have been named as defendants in professional liability and general liability claims related to our owned and operated facilities. Other third-party managers responsible for the day-to-day operations of these facilities have also been named as defendants in these claims. In these suits, patients of certain previously owned and operated facilities have alleged significant damages, including punitive damages, against the defendants. The lawsuits are in various stages of discovery and we are unable to predict the likely outcome at this time. We continue to vigorously defend these claims and pursue all rights we may have against the managers of the facilities, under the terms of the management agreements. We have insured these matters, subject to self-insured retentions of various amounts. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in our defense of these matters or in asserting our claims against various managers of the subject facilities or that the amount of any settlement or judgment will be substantially covered by insurance or that any punitive damages will be covered by insurance.

We are subject to significant anti-takeover provisions.

Our articles of incorporation and bylaws contain various procedural and other requirements which could make it difficult for stockholders to effect certain corporate actions. Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes and the members of our Board of Directors are elected for terms that are staggered. Our Board of Directors also has the authority to issue additional shares of preferred stock and to fix the preferences, rights and limitations of the preferred stock without stockholder approval. These provisions could discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of us, which could adversely affect the market price of our securities.

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We may change our investment strategies and policies and capital structure.

Our Board of Directors, without the approval of our stockholders, may alter our investment strategies and policies if it determines in the future that a change is in our stockholders’ best interests. The methods of implementing our investment strategies and policies may vary as new investments and financing techniques are developed.

If we fail to maintain our REIT status, we will be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates.

We were organized to qualify for taxation as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code. We believe that we have been organized and operated in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code and intend to continue to operate in a manner that will maintain our qualification as a REIT. We entered into a closing agreement with the IRS in December 2007 resolving certain issues in a manner that did not, and will not in the future, adversely affect our qualification for taxation as a REIT as discussed under the heading “Taxation — Resolution of Related Party Tenant Issue” in Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2007, incorporated by reference herein. See “Incorporation of certain information by reference.” Qualification as a REIT involves the satisfaction of numerous requirements, some on an annual and some on a quarterly basis, established under highly technical and complex provisions of the Code for which there are only limited judicial and administrative interpretations and involve the determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely within our control. We cannot assure you that we will at all times satisfy these rules and tests.

If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, as a result of a determination that we failed to meet the annual distribution requirement or otherwise, we would be subject to federal income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates with respect to each such taxable year for which the statute of limitations remains open. Moreover, unless entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, we also would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification is lost. This treatment would significantly reduce our net earnings and cash flow because of our additional tax liability for the years involved, which could significantly impact our financial condition.

We generally must distribute annually at least 90% of our taxable income to our stockholders to maintain our REIT status. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain or do distribute at least 90%, but less than 100% of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be subject to tax thereon at regular ordinary and capital gain corporate tax rates.

Even if we remain qualified as a REIT, we may face other tax liabilities that reduce our cash flow.

Even if we remain qualified for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to certain federal, state and local taxes on our income and assets, including taxes on any undistributed income, tax on income from some activities conducted as a result of a foreclosure, and state or local income, property and transfer taxes. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for the payment of our debt obligations. In addition, we may derive income through TRS, which will then be subject to corporate level income tax at regular rates.

Complying with REIT requirements may affect our profitability.

To qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we must continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the nature and diversification of our assets, the sources of our income and the amounts we distribute to our stockholders. Thus we may be required to liquidate otherwise attractive investments from our portfolio in order to satisfy the asset and income tests or to qualify under certain statutory relief provisions. We may also be required to make distributions to stockholders at disadvantageous times or when we do not have funds readily available for distribution (e.g., if we have assets which generate mismatches between taxable income and available cash). Then, having to comply with the distribution requirement could cause us to: (i) sell assets in adverse market conditions, (ii) borrow on unfavorable terms or (iii) distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions, capital expenditures or repayment of debt. As a result, satisfying the REIT requirements could have an adverse effect on our business results and profitability.

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We depend upon our key employees and may be unable to attract or retain sufficient numbers of qualified personnel.

Our future performance depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our executive management team and other key employees. Accordingly, our future success depends on our ability to attract, hire, train and retain highly skilled management and other qualified personnel. Competition for qualified employees is intense, and we compete for qualified employees with companies that may have greater financial resources than we have. Our employment agreements with our executive officers provide that their employment may be terminated by either party at any time. Consequently, we may not be successful in attracting, hiring, training and retaining the people we need, which would seriously impede our ability to implement our business strategy.

In the event we are unable to satisfy regulatory requirements relating to internal controls, or if these internal controls over financial reporting are not effective, our business could suffer.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires companies to do a comprehensive evaluation of their internal controls. As a result, each year we evaluate our internal controls over financial reporting so that our management can certify as to the effectiveness of our internal controls and our auditor can publicly attest to this certification. Our efforts to comply with Section 404 and related regulations regarding our management’s required assessment of internal control over financial reporting and our independent auditors’ attestation of that assessment has required, and continues to require, the commitment of significant financial and managerial resources. If for any period our management is unable to ascertain the effectiveness of our internal controls or if our auditors cannot attest to management’s certification, we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny and a loss of public confidence, which could have an adverse effect on our business.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR STOCK

The market value of our stock could be substantially affected by various factors.

The share price of our stock will depend on many factors, which may change from time to time, including:

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the market for similar securities issued by REITs;

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changes in estimates by analysts;

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our ability to meet analysts’ estimates;

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general economic and financial market conditions; and

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our financial condition, performance and prospects.

Our issuance of additional capital stock, warrants or debt securities, whether or not convertible, may reduce the market price for our shares.

We cannot predict the effect, if any, that the future sale of our capital stock, warrants or debt securities, or the availability of our securities for future sale, will have on the market price of our shares, including our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock or preferred shares, warrants or debt securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock in the public market or the perception that such sales might occur could reduce the market price of our stock and the terms upon which we may obtain additional equity financing in the future.

In addition, we may issue additional capital stock in the future to raise capital or as a result of the following:

Þ

The issuance and exercise of options to purchase our common stock. We have in the past and may in the future issue additional options or other securities convertible into or exercisable for our common stock under remuneration plans. We may also issue options or convertible securities to our employees in lieu of cash bonuses or to our directors in lieu of director’s fees.

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The issuance of shares pursuant to our dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan.

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The issuance of debt securities exchangeable for our common stock.

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The exercise of warrants we may issue in the future.

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Þ

Lenders sometimes ask for warrants or other rights to acquire shares in connection with providing financing. We cannot assure you that our lenders will not request such rights.

There are no assurances of our ability to pay dividends in the future.

In 2001, our Board of Directors suspended dividends on our common stock and all series of preferred stock in an effort to generate cash to address then impending debt maturities. In 2003, we paid all accrued but unpaid dividends on all series of preferred stock and reinstated dividends on our common stock and all series of preferred stock. However, our ability to pay dividends may be adversely affected if any of the risks described above were to occur. Our payment of dividends is subject to compliance with restrictions contained in our Credit Facility, the indenture relating to our outstanding 7% senior notes due 2014, the indenture relating to our outstanding 7% senior notes due 2016 and our preferred stock. All dividends will be paid at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our earnings, our financial condition, maintenance of our REIT status and such other factors as our Board may deem relevant from time to time. There are no assurances of our ability to pay dividends in the future. In addition, our dividends in the past have included, and may in the future include, a return of capital.

Holders of our outstanding preferred stock have liquidation and other rights that are senior to the rights of the holders of our common stock.

Our Board of Directors has the authority to designate and issue preferred stock that may have dividend, liquidation and other rights that are senior to those of our common stock. As of the date of this filing, 4,739,500 shares of our 8.375% Series D cumulative redeemable preferred stock were issued and outstanding. The aggregate liquidation preference with respect to this outstanding preferred stock is approximately $118.5 million, and annual dividends on our outstanding preferred stock are approximately $9.9 million. Holders of our preferred stock are generally entitled to cumulative dividends before any dividends may be declared or set aside on our common stock. Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, before any payment is made to holders of our common stock, holders of our preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidation preference of $25 per share with respect to the Series D preferred stock, plus any accrued and unpaid distributions. This will reduce the remaining amount of our assets, if any, available to distribute to holders of our common stock. In addition, holders of our preferred stock have the right to elect two additional directors to our Board of Directors if six quarterly preferred dividends are in arrears.

Legislative or regulatory action could adversely affect purchasers of our stock.

In recent years, numerous legislative, judicial and administrative changes have been made in the provisions of the federal income tax laws applicable to investments similar to an investment in our stock. Changes are likely to continue to occur in the future, and we cannot assure you that any of these changes will not adversely affect our stockholder’s stock. Any of these changes could have an adverse effect on an investment in our stock or on market value or resale potential. Stockholders are urged to consult with their own tax advisor with respect to the impact that recent legislation may have on their investment and the status of legislative, regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect.

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Cautionary language regarding forward-looking statements

This prospectus includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this prospectus may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements relate to our expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, performance and underlying assumptions and other statements other than statements of historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology including, but not limited to, terms such as “may,” “will,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “should” or comparable terms or the negative thereof. These statements are based on information available on the date of this filing and only speak as to the date hereof and no obligation to update such forward-looking statements should be assumed. Our actual results may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of a variety of factors, including, among other things:

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those items discussed under “Risk Factors” in Item 1 to our annual report on Form 10-K and as supplemented from time-to-time in Part II, Item 1A to our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q;

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uncertainties relating to the business operations of the operators of our assets, including those relating to reimbursement by third party payors, regulatory matters and occupancy levels;

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the ability of any operators in bankruptcy to reject unexpired lease obligations, modify the terms of our mortgages, and impede our ability to collect unpaid rent or interest during the process of a bankruptcy proceeding and retain security deposits for the debtors’ obligations;

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our ability to sell closed assets on a timely basis and on terms that allow us to realize the carrying value of these assets;

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our ability to negotiate appropriate modifications to the terms of our Credit Facility;

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the availability and cost of capital;

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competition in the financing of healthcare facilities;

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regulatory and other changes in the healthcare sector;

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the effect of economic and market conditions generally and, particularly, in the healthcare industry;

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changes in interest rates;

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the amount and yield of any additional investments;

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changes in tax laws and regulations affecting real estate investment trusts; and

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changes in our credit ratings and the ratings of our debt and preferred securities.

Any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth or referred to above, as well as the risk factors contained in this prospectus. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to update such statements or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus to reflect future events or developments.

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Use of proceeds

Our net proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock, after deducting the placement agent fee and other expenses of this offering payable by us, are estimated to be approximately $98,749,991 million. We intend to use all of the net proceeds from the offering to repay indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facility, which had a blended interest rate of 4.0% on outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2008 and matures on March 31, 2010. We generally use the funds from our Credit Facility for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of healthcare-related properties and the funding of mortgage loans secured by healthcare-related properties.

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Capitalization

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of March 31, 2008:

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On an actual basis;

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On a pro forma basis to reflect $123 million of additional borrowings under our Credit Facility to fund the acquisition of seven SNFs, one assisted living facility and one rehabilitation hospital all in Ohio and to invest in a mortgage secured by eight SNFs in Maryland for affiliates of CommuniCare that closed on April 18, 2008.

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On a pro forma as adjusted basis to give effect to our sale of common stock in this offering at an offering price of $16.93 per share and the application of the approximately $98.7 million of net proceeds (after deducting placement fees and other expenses of this offering) to repay borrowings under our Credit Facility.

This table is only a summary and should be read together with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our historical consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, which are incorporated by reference herein. See “Incorporation of certain information by reference.” Amounts are in thousands, except per share data.

				March 31, 2008
				Actual				Pro Forma				Pro Forma As Adjusted
Cash				$	1,516			$	1,516				1,516
Debt
Revolving senior secured credit facility(a)				$	82,000			$	204,963			$	106,213
7.00% Notes due 2014					310,000				310,000				310,000
Premium on 7% Notes due 2014					950				950				950
7.00% Notes due 2016					175,000				175,000				175,000
Discount on 7% Notes due 2014					(1,240	)			(1,240	)			(1,240	)
Other long-term borrowings					1,995				1,995				1,995
Total Debt					568,705				691,668				592,918
Stockholders’ Equity
Issued and Outstanding — 4,739,500 shares Series D with an aggregate liquidation preference of $118,487,500 as of March 31, 2008					118,488				118,488				118,488
Common Stock $.10 par value:
Authorized — 100,000,000 shares
Issued and Outstanding — 68,996,852 as of March 31, 2008. Additional 5,906,674 shares issued at $16.93.					6,900				6,900				7,491
Additional paid in Capital					834,403				834,403				932,562
Cumulative net earnings					379,374				379,374				379,374
Cumulative dividends paid					(706,609	)			(706,609	)			(706,609	)
Cumulative dividends — redemption					(43,067	)			(43,067	)			(43,067	)
Unamortized restricted stock award					—				—				—
Accumulated other comprehensive income					—				—				—
Total Stockholders’ Equity					589,489				589,489				688,239
Total Capitalization				$	1,158,194			$	1,281,157			$	1,281,157

 

(a)

On an actual basis and as of March 31, 2008, we had $82 million outstanding under our $255 million revolving senior secured credit facility and $2.1 million utilized for the issuance of letters of credit.

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The table above excludes:

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27,664 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2008 at a weighted average exercise price of $ 14.46 per share;

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2,686,001 shares of our common stock available for issuance under our dividend reinvestment and common stock purchase plan as of March 31, 2008; and

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2,328,990 shares of our common stock available for future grant under our 2000 Stock Incentive Plan and our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.

Plan of Distribution

We have agreed to engage Cohen & Steers Capital Advisors, LLC, as a placement agent for this offering. In acting as such placement agent, Cohen & Steers Capital Advisors, LLC is not purchasing and re-selling the securities as principal, and accordingly this offering is not made on an underwritten basis. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cohen & Steers Capital Advisors, LLC may be deemed to be a statutory underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with its placement agent activities in this offering. Cohen & Steers Capital Advisors, LLC is an affiliate of Cohen & Steers Capital Management Inc., which is an investment adviser to certain entities that own certain of our shares of preferred stock and common stock.

Cohen & Steers Capital Advisors, LLC has no commitment to purchase any of our common stock and will act only as an agent in obtaining indications of interest in our common stock from selected institutional investors. We agreed to pay the placement agent a fee of .75% of gross proceeds and to pay certain of its expenses.

We have agreed to indemnify the placement agent and each of its respective partners, directors, officers, associates, affiliates, subsidiaries, employees, consultants, attorneys and agents, and each person, if any, controlling the placement agent and any of its affiliates, against liabilities resulting from this offering and to contribute to payments the placement agent may be required to make for these liabilities.

In the ordinary course of business, Cohen & Steers Capital Advisors, LLC has engaged and may in the future engage in financial advisory, investment banking and other transactions with us for which customary compensation has been, and will be paid.

Subject to the terms and conditions of purchase agreements dated May 1, 2008, certain investors, including an affiliate of Cohen & Steers Capital Advisors, LLC, have agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell, 5,906,674 shares of our common stock at a negotiated purchase price of $16.93 per share. The purchase agreements provide that the obligations of the purchasers to purchase these shares included in this offering are subject to customary closing conditions. In negotiating the offering price per share of our common stock, we considered the dilution to our stockholders that will result from this offering.

Weeden & Co., LP is acting as settlement agent in connection with the sale of our common stock under the purchase agreements and will receive a fee of $118,133.45. After paying this fee, the fee to the placement agent and other estimated expenses, we anticipate receiving approximately $98,749,991 in net proceeds from this offering.

Legal matters

The validity of the common stock being offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been passed upon for us by Powell Goldstein LLP, Atlanta, Georgia.

Experts

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements and schedules included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Our financial statements and schedules are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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Incorporation of certain information by reference

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the SEC into this prospectus supplement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document we have filed separately with the SEC. The information that we incorporate by reference is considered a part of this prospectus supplement, except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC (File No. 001-11316) as well as any filings we will make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of this offering, other than information in these documents that is not deemed to be filed with the SEC:

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007;

•

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008;

•

the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed on August 4, 2002, and any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description; and

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed April 3, 2008 and April 23, 2008.

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This report contains information furnished to the SEC under Items 2.02 and/or 7.01 of Form 8-K which, pursuant to General Instruction B(2) of Form 8-K, is not deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act and we are not subject to the liabilities imposed by that section. We are not incorporating and will not incorporate by reference into this prospectus past or future information or reports furnished or that will be furnished under Items 2.02 and/or 7.01 of Form 8-K.

These documents contain important information about our financial condition. You may obtain copies of any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement from us, from the SEC or from the SEC’s website as described below. Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding exhibits thereto, unless we have specifically incorporated by reference such exhibits in this prospectus supplement. Any person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement is delivered, may obtain documents incorporated by reference in, but not delivered with, this prospectus supplement by requesting them from us in writing or by telephone at Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., Attention: Chief Financial Officer, 9690 Deereco Road, Suite 100, Timonium, Maryland 21093, telephone number (410) 427-1700. You may also access our SEC filings free of charge on our website at www.omegahealthcare.com, under the tab entitled “SEC Filings.”

Where you can find more information

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, as well as on our website at http://www.omegahealthcare.com. You may inspect information that we file with The New York Stock Exchange at the offices of The New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference herein and our web address is included as an inactive textual reference only.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3, referred to in this prospectus supplement as the registration statement, to register the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement is a part of the registration statement. This prospectus supplement does not include all of the information contained in the registration statement. For further information about us and the securities offered in this prospectus supplement, you should review the registration statement. You can inspect or obtain a copy of the registration statement as described in the preceding paragraph.

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PROSPECTUS

 

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Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Warrants
Units

Omega from time to time may offer to sell debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, and warrants, as well as units that include any of these securities or securities of other entities. The debt securities, preferred stock, and warrants may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or other securities of the Company or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities. The common stock of the Company is listed on the NYSE and trades under the ticker symbol OHI.

The debt securities warrants, the preferred stock warrants and the common stock warrants are collectively referred to herein as the securities warrants. The debt securities, the preferred stock, the common stock and the securities warrants are collectively referred to herein as the securities. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus prepared in connection with each offering. You should read this prospectus and the prospectus supplements carefully before you invest in the securities.

The Company may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

See “Risk Factors” on page 4 for a discussion of matters that you should consider before investing in these securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is April 10, 2008

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

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We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus nor any applicable prospectus supplement constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS					1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION					1
CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS					3
OUR COMPANY					4
RISK FACTORS					4
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES					5
USE OF PROCEEDS					5
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES					5
CAPITAL STOCK					6
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS					18
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION					28
VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES					30
EXPERTS					30

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to an indeterminate dollar amount. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

As allowed by SEC rules, this prospectus omits various information you can find in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules. Statements contained in this prospectus about the provisions or contents of any contract, agreement or any other document referred to are not necessarily complete. For each of these contracts, agreements or documents filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, we refer you to the actual exhibit for a more complete description of the matters involved. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents. For further information about us or the securities offered under this prospectus, you should refer to that registration statement, which you can obtain from the SEC as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Unless the context requires otherwise, the words “we,” “company,” “us” and “our” refer to Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, as well as on our website at http://www.omegahealthcare.com. You may inspect information that we file with The New York Stock Exchange at the offices of The New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference herein and our web address is included as an inactive textual reference only.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to the other information we have filed with the SEC. The information that we incorporate by reference is considered a part of this prospectus and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the following documents (File No. 1-11316) we filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, other than information in these documents that is not deemed to be filed with the SEC:

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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007; and Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006;

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the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed on August 4, 2002, and any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description; and

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our current report on Form 8-K filed April 3, 2008.

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*

This report contains information furnished to the SEC under Items 2.02 and/or 7.01 of Form 8-K which, pursuant to General Instruction B(2) of Form 8-K, is not deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act and we are not subject to the liabilities imposed by that section. We are not incorporating and will not incorporate by reference into this prospectus past or future information or reports furnished or that will be furnished under Items 2.02 and/or 7.01 of Form 8-K.

All documents we file later with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subsequent to the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than information in the documents that is not deemed to be filed with the SEC. A statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in any subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statements so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

We will provide without charge to each person to whom this prospectus is delivered, on the request of any person, a copy of any or all the documents incorporated herein by reference, other than exhibits to the documents, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the documents that this prospectus incorporates. Requests for copies in writing or by telephone should be directed to:

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.
9690 Deereco Road
Suite 100
Timonium, Maryland 21093
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
(410) 427-1700

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CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this prospectus may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements relate to our expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, performance and underlying assumptions and other statements other than statements of historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology including, but not limited to, terms such as “may,” “will,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “should” or comparable terms or the negative thereof. These statements are based on information available on the date of this filing and only speak as to the date hereof and no obligation to update such forward-looking statements should be assumed. Our actual results may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of a variety of factors, including, among other things:

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those items discussed under “Risk Factors” in Item 1 to our annual report on Form 10-K and as supplemented from time-to-time in Part II, Item 1A to our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q;

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uncertainties relating to the business operations of the operators of our assets, including those relating to reimbursement by third party payors, regulatory matters and occupancy levels;

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the ability of any operators in bankruptcy to reject unexpired lease obligations, modify the terms of our mortgages, and impede our ability to collect unpaid rent or interest during the process of a bankruptcy proceeding and retain security deposits for the debtors’ obligations;

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our ability to sell closed assets on a timely basis and on terms that allow us to realize the carrying value of these assets;

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our ability to negotiate appropriate modifications to the terms of our credit facility;

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the availability and cost of capital;

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competition in the financing of healthcare facilities;

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regulatory and other changes in the healthcare sector;

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the effect of economic and market conditions generally and, particularly, in the healthcare industry;

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changes in interest rates;

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the amount and yield of any additional investments;

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changes in tax laws and regulations affecting real estate investment trusts; and

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changes in the ratings of our debt and preferred securities.

Any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth or referred to above, as well as the risk factors contained in this prospectus. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to update such statements or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus to reflect future events or developments.

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OUR COMPANY

We are a self-administered real estate investment trust (“REIT”), investing in income-producing healthcare facilities, principally long-term care facilities located in the United States. We provide lease or mortgage financing to qualified operators of skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”) and, to a lesser extent, assisted living facilities (“ALFs”), rehabilitation and acute care facilities. We have historically financed investments through borrowings under our revolving credit facilities, private placements or public offerings of debt or equity securities, the assumption of secured indebtedness, or a combination of these methods.

Our portfolio of investments, as of December 31, 2007, consisted of 236 healthcare facilities, located in 27 states and operated by 28 third-party operators. This portfolio was made up of:

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222 long-term healthcare facilities and two rehabilitation hospitals owned and leased to third parties;

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fixed rate mortgages on 9 long-term healthcare facilities; and

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3 long term care facilities as held-for-sale.

As of December 31, 2007, our gross investments in these facilities, net of impairments and before reserve for uncollectible loans, totaled approximately $1.3 billion. In addition, we also held miscellaneous investments of approximately $14 million at December 31, 2007, consisting primarily of secured loans to third-party operators of our facilities.

We were incorporated in the State of Maryland on March 31, 1992.

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the following factors as well as other information contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risks described in our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2007, and subsequently filed documents, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any risks that may be described in other filings we make with the SEC.

If our stock price is volatile, purchasers of our common stock could incur substantial losses.

Although our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, such listing does not provide any assurance that an active public market for the common stock will be sustained. No predictions can be made as to the effect, if any, that future market sales of common stock or the availability of common stock for sale will have on the prevailing market price of the common stock. In addition, the stock market in recent years has experienced price and volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies. These fluctuations, as well as general economic and market conditions, may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

If there are sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the future, the price of our common stock could decline.

All of our outstanding shares of common stock are available for immediate sale unless held by our affiliates. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect prevailing market prices of the common stock.

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The table below sets forth, for the periods indicated, our ratios of earnings to fixed charges and our ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends. We have calculated the ratio of earnings to fixed charges by adding net income (loss) from continuing operations to fixed charges and dividing that sum by such fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs. The ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was calculated in the same manner as the ratio of earnings to fixed charges except that accrued preferred stock dividends were included for each of the periods shown.

				Year Ended December 31,
				2003				2004				2005				2006				2007
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges					2.2	x			1.3	x			2.1	x			2.2	x			2.5	x
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends					1.2	x			*				1.6	x			1.8	x			2.1	x

 

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Our earnings were insufficient to cover combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends by $2.393 million in the year ended December 31, 2004.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of the securities as set for in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

We may refer in this prospectus to one or more of the following categories of our securities:

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shares of our common stock, par value $0.10 per share (“common stock”);

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shares of our preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, in one or more series (the “preferred stock”);

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debt securities, in one or more series (“debt securities”);

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common stock warrants (the “common stock warrants”);

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preferred stock warrants (the “preferred stock warrants”);

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debt securities warrants (the “debt securities warrants”); and

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any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units.

The terms of any specific offering of securities, including the terms of any units offered, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

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CAPITAL STOCK

As of March 31, 2008, our authorized capital stock consisted of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, of which 4,739,500 shares were designated as Series D preferred stock. As of March 31, 2008, we had 68,996,852 shares of our common stock and 4,739,500 shares of our Series D preferred stock issued and outstanding.

Our common stock and Series D preferred stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. We intend to apply to list for trading on the New York Stock Exchange any additional shares of our common stock that are issued and sold hereunder. We may also apply to list on the New York Stock Exchange any debt securities, any additional series of preferred stock, and any securities warrants that are offered and sold hereunder, as described in the prospectus supplement relating to any such securities.

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement relating thereto, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is the transfer agent and registrar of the common stock and preferred stock.

Common Stock

All shares of our common stock participate equally in dividends payable to stockholders of our common stock when and as declared by our board of directors and in net assets available for distribution to stockholders of our common stock on liquidation or dissolution, have one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. All issued and outstanding shares of our common stock are, and our common stock offered hereby will be upon issuance, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of our common stock do not have preference, conversion, exchange or preemptive rights. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “OHI.”

Preferred Stock

The terms of any series of the preferred stock offered by any prospectus supplement will be as described in such prospectus supplement. The following description of the terms of the preferred stock, except as modified in a prospectus supplement, sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the preferred stock. The description of certain provisions of the preferred stock set forth below and in any prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the company’s articles of incorporation, as amended, and the board of directors’ resolution or articles supplementary relating to each series of the preferred stock which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part at or prior to the time of the issuance of such series of the preferred stock.

General

Under the articles of incorporation, the board of directors of the company is authorized without further stockholder action to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock of the company, up to the amount of shares of preferred stock authorized under the articles of incorporation but not issued or reserved for issuance thereunder, in one or more series, with such designations, preferences, powers and relative participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, including, but not limited to, dividend rights, dividend rate or rates, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption price or prices, and liquidation preferences as shall be stated in the resolution providing for the issue of a series of such stock, adopted, at any time or from time to time, by the board of directors of the company.

The preferred stock shall have the dividend, liquidation, redemption and voting rights set forth below unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock. Reference is

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made to the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of the preferred stock offered thereby for specific terms, including:

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the designation and stated value per share of such preferred stock and the number of shares offered;

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the amount of liquidation preference per share;

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the initial public offering price at which such preferred stock will be issued;

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the dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which dividends shall be payable and the dates from which dividends shall commence to cumulate, if any;

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any redemption or sinking fund provisions;

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any conversion rights; and

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any additional voting, dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions.

The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable and will have no preemptive rights. Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock, each series of the preferred stock will rank on a parity as to dividends and distributions of assets with each other series of the preferred stock. The rights of the holders of each series of the preferred stock will be subordinate to those of the company’s general creditors.

Dividend Rights

Holders of the preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the board of directors of the company, out of funds of the company legally available therefor, cash dividends on such dates and at such rates as will be set forth in, or as are determined by, the method described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of the preferred stock. Such rate may be fixed or variable or both. Each such dividend will be payable to the holders of record as they appear on the stock books of the company on such record dates, fixed by the board of directors of the company, as specified in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of preferred stock.

Dividends on any series of preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the board of directors of the company fails to declare a dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any series of preferred stock for which dividends are noncumulative, then the holders of such series of preferred stock will have no right to receive a dividend in respect of the dividend period ending on such dividend payment date, and the company shall have no obligation to pay the dividend accrued for such period, whether or not dividends on such series are declared payable on any future dividend payment dates. Dividends on the shares of each series of preferred stock for which dividends are cumulative will accrue from the date on which the company initially issues shares of such series.

So long as the shares of any series of the preferred stock shall be outstanding, unless

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full dividends (including if such preferred stock is cumulative, dividends for prior dividend periods) shall have been paid or declared and set apart for payment on all outstanding shares of the preferred stock of such series and all other classes and series of preferred stock of the company (other than “junior stock” as defined below), and

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the company is not in default or in arrears with respect to the mandatory or optional redemption or mandatory repurchase or other mandatory retirement of, or with respect to any sinking or other analogous fund for, any shares of preferred stock of such series or any shares of any other preferred stock of the company of any class or series (other than junior stock),

the company may not declare any dividends on any shares of common stock of the company or any other stock of the company ranking as to dividends or distributions of assets junior to such series of preferred stock (the common stock and any such other stock being herein referred to as “junior stock”), or make any payment on account of,

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or set apart money for, the purchase, redemption or other retirement of, or for a sinking or other analogous fund for, any shares of junior stock or make any distribution in respect thereof, whether in cash or property or in obligations or stock of the company, other than junior stock which is neither convertible into, nor exchangeable or exercisable for, any securities of the company other than junior stock.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company, voluntary or involuntary, the holders of each series of the preferred stock will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the company available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to the holders of common stock or any other shares of stock of the company ranking junior as to such distribution to such series of preferred stock, the amount set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of the preferred stock. If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company, the amounts payable with respect to the preferred stock of any series and any other shares of preferred stock of the company (including any other series of the preferred stock) ranking as to any such distribution on a parity with such series of the preferred stock are not paid in full, the holders of the preferred stock of such series and of such other shares of preferred stock of the company will share ratably in any such distribution of assets of the company in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled. After payment to the holders of the preferred stock of each series of the full preferential amounts of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, the holders of each such series of the preferred stock will be entitled to no further participation in any distribution of assets by the company.

If liquidating distributions shall have been made in full to all holders of shares of preferred stock, the remaining assets of the company shall be distributed among the holders of junior stock, according to their respective rights and preferences and in each case according to their respective number of shares. For such purposes, the consolidation or merger of the company with or into any other corporation, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the property or business of the company, shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company.

Redemption

A series of the preferred stock may be redeemable, in whole or from time to time in part, at the option of the company, and may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise, in each case upon terms, at the time and at the redemption prices set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. Shares of the preferred stock redeemed by the company will be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock of the company.

In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding shares of a series of the preferred stock are to be redeemed, whether by mandatory or optional redemption, the number of shares to be redeemed will be determined by lot or pro rata (subject to rounding to avoid fractional shares) as may be determined by the company or by any other method as may be determined by the company in its sole discretion to be equitable. From and after the redemption date (unless default shall be made by the company in providing for the payment of the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any), dividends shall cease to accumulate on the shares of the preferred stock called for redemption and all rights of the holders thereof (except the right to receive the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any) shall cease.

So long as any dividends on shares of any series of the preferred stock or any other series of preferred stock of the company ranking on a parity as to dividends and distribution of assets with such series of the preferred stock are in arrears, no shares of any such series of the preferred stock or such other series of preferred stock of the company will be redeemed (whether by mandatory or optional redemption) unless all such shares are simultaneously redeemed, and the company will not purchase or otherwise acquire any such shares; provided, however, that the foregoing will not prevent the purchase or acquisition of such shares pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all such shares outstanding.

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Conversion Rights

The terms and conditions, if any, upon which shares of any series of preferred stock are convertible into common stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto. Such terms will include the number of shares of common stock into which the preferred stock is convertible, the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holders of preferred stock or the company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion.

Voting Rights

Except as indicated below or in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock, or except as required by applicable law, the holders of the preferred stock will not be entitled to vote for any purpose.

So long as any shares of the preferred stock of a series remain outstanding, the consent or the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast with respect to the then outstanding shares of such series of the preferred stock together with any “parity preferred” (as defined below), voting as one class, either expressed in writing or at a meeting called for that purpose, will be necessary (i) to permit, effect or validate the authorization, or any increase in the authorized amount, of any class or series of shares of the company ranking prior to the preferred stock of such series as to dividends, and (ii) to repeal, amend or otherwise change any of the provisions applicable to the preferred stock of such series in any manner which adversely affects the powers, preferences, voting power or other rights or privileges of such series of the preferred stock. In case any series of the preferred stock would be so affected by any such action referred to in clause (ii) above in a different manner than one or more series of the parity preferred then outstanding, the holders of shares of the preferred stock of such series, together with any series of the parity preferred which will be similarly affected, will be entitled to vote as a class, and the company will not take such action without the consent or affirmative vote, as above provided, of at least 80% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast with respect to each such series of the preferred stock and the parity preferred, then outstanding, in lieu of the consent or affirmative vote hereinabove otherwise required.

With respect to any matter as to which the preferred stock of any series is entitled to vote, holders of the preferred stock of such series and any other series of preferred stock of the company ranking on a parity with such series of the preferred stock as to dividends and distributions of assets and which by its terms provides for similar voting rights (the “parity preferred”) will be entitled to cast the number of votes set forth in the prospectus supplement with respect to that series of preferred stock. As a result of the provisions described in the preceding paragraph requiring the holders of shares of a series of the preferred stock to vote together as a class with the holders of shares of one or more series of parity preferred, it is possible that the holders of such shares of parity preferred could approve action that would adversely affect such series of preferred stock, including the creation of a class of capital stock ranking prior to such series of preferred stock as to dividends, voting or distributions of assets.

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of the preferred stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

Redemption and Business Combination Provisions

If our board of directors is, at any time and in good faith, of the opinion that actual or constructive ownership of at least 9.9% or more of the value of our outstanding capital stock has or may become concentrated in the hands of one owner, our board of directors will have the power:

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by means deemed equitable by it, to call for the purchase from any of our stockholders a number of voting shares sufficient, in the opinion of our board of directors, to maintain or bring the actual or constructive ownership of such owner to a level of no more than 9.9% of the value of our outstanding capital stock; and

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to refuse to transfer or issue voting shares of our capital stock to any person whose acquisition of such voting shares would, in the opinion of our board of directors, result in the actual or constructive ownership by that person of more than 9.9% of the value of our outstanding capital stock.

Subject to the rights of the preferred stock described below, the purchase price for any voting shares of our capital stock so redeemed will be equal to the fair market value of the shares reflected in the closing sales prices for the shares, if then listed on a national securities exchange, or the average of the closing sales prices for the shares if then listed on more than one national securities exchange, or if the shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange, the latest bid quotation for the shares if then traded over-the-counter, on the last business day immediately preceding the day on which we send notices of such acquisitions, or, if no such closing sales prices or quotations are available, then the purchase price shall be equal to the net asset value of such stock as determined by our board of directors in accordance with the provisions of applicable law. The purchase price for shares of Series D preferred stock will be equal to the fair market value of the shares reflected in the closing sales price for the shares, if then listed on a national securities exchange, or if the shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange, the purchase price will be equal to the liquidation preference of such shares of Series D preferred stock. From and after the date fixed for purchase by our board of directors, the holder of any shares so called for purchase will cease to be entitled to distributions, voting rights and other benefits with respect to such shares, except the right to payment of the purchase price for the shares. Further, any transfer of shares, options, warrants, or other securities convertible into voting shares that would create a beneficial owner of more than 9.9% of the value of our outstanding capital stock will be deemed void ab initio and the intended transferee will be deemed never to have had an interest therein.

Our articles of incorporation require that, except in certain circumstances, business combinations between us and a beneficial holder of 10% or more of our outstanding voting stock, a related person, be approved by the affirmative vote of at least 80% of our outstanding voting shares.

A “business combination” is defined in the articles of incorporation as:

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any merger or consolidation of our company with or into a related person;

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any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition, including without limitation a mortgage or any other security device, of all or any “substantial part,” as defined below, of our assets including, without limitation, any voting securities of a subsidiary to a related person;

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any merger or consolidation of a related person with or into our company;

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any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or any substantial part of the assets of a related person to our company;

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the issuance of any securities (other than by way of pro rata distribution to all stockholders) of our company to a related person; and

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any agreement, contract or other arrangement providing for any of the transactions described in the definition of business combination.

The term “substantial part” is defined as more than 10% of the book value of our total assets as of the end of our most recent fiscal year ending prior to the time the determination is being made.

The 80% voting requirement described above will not be applicable if (i) our board of directors has unanimously approved in advance the acquisition of our stock that caused a related person to become a related person, or (ii) the business combination is solely between us and a wholly owned subsidiary.

Under the terms of our articles of incorporation, as amended, our board of directors is classified into three classes. Each class of directors serves for a term of three years, with one class being elected each year.

The foregoing provisions of the articles of incorporation and certain other matters may not be amended without the affirmative vote of at least 80% of our outstanding voting shares.

The foregoing provisions may have the effect of discouraging unilateral tender offers or other takeover proposals which certain stockholders might deem in their interests or in which they might receive a substantial

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premium. Our board of directors’ authority to issue and establish the terms of currently authorized preferred stock, without stockholder approval, may also have the effect of discouraging takeover attempts. The provisions could also have the effect of insulating current management against the possibility of removal and could, by possibly reducing temporary fluctuations in market price caused by accumulation of shares, deprive stockholders of opportunities to sell at a temporarily higher market price. However, our board of directors believes that inclusion of the business combination provisions in the articles of incorporation may help assure fair treatment of stockholders and preserve our assets.

The foregoing summary of certain provisions of the articles of incorporation does not purport to be complete or to give effect to provisions of statutory or common law. The foregoing summary is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of applicable law and the articles of incorporation, a copy of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Termination of Stockholder Rights Plan

On May 12, 1999, our board of directors authorized the adoption of a stockholder rights plan and declared a dividend distribution of one right for each common share outstanding on May 24, 1999. We terminated the stockholder rights plan on April 3, 2008, and the associated rights expired on that date. The plan was neither adopted nor terminated in response to any specific attempt to acquire control of our company.

Debt Securities

The terms of any debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement will be as described in such prospectus supplement, and as provided herein to the extent not modified in the prospectus supplement. Debt securities may be issued from time to time in series under an Indenture (the “Indenture”) to be entered into between the company and a trustee to be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (the “Trustee”). As used under this caption, unless the context otherwise requires, offered debt securities shall mean the debt securities offered by this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement. The statements under this caption are brief summaries of certain provisions contained in the Indenture, do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Indenture, including the definition therein of certain terms, a copy of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. Further terms of the offered debt securities will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.

General

The Indenture provides for the issuance of debt securities in series, and does not limit the principal amount of debt securities which may be issued thereunder.

Reference is made to the prospectus supplement for the following terms of the offered debt securities:

•

the specific title of the offered debt securities;

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the aggregate principal amount of the offered debt securities;

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the percentage of the principal amount at which the offered debt securities will be issued;

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the date on which the offered debt securities will mature;

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the rate or rates per annum or the method for determining such rate or rates, if any, at which the offered debt securities will bear interest;

•

the times at which any such interest will be payable;

•

any provisions relating to optional or mandatory redemption of the offered debt securities at the option of the company or pursuant to sinking fund or analogous provisions;

•

the denominations in which the offered debt securities are authorized to be issued if other than $100,000;

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•

any provisions relating to the conversion or exchange of the offered debt securities into common stock or into debt securities of another series;

•

the portion of the principal amount, if less than the principal amount, payable on acceleration;

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the place or places at which the company will make payments of principal (and premiums, if any) and interest, if any, and the method of payment;

•

whether the offered debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in global form;

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any additional covenants and events of default and the remedies with respect thereto not currently set forth in the Indenture;

•

the identity of the Trustee for the debt securities, and if not the Trustee, the identity of each paying agent and the debt securities Registrar;

•

the currency or currencies other than United States Dollars in which any series of debt securities will be issued; and

•

any other specific terms of the offered debt securities.

One or more series of the debt securities may be issued as discounted debt securities (bearing no interest or bearing interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates) to be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. Tax and other special considerations applicable to any such discounted debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

Status of Debt Securities

The status and ranking of the debt securities will be as set forth in the prospectus supplement. Except as otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be unsecured obligations of the company ranking on a parity with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

Conversion Rights

The terms, if any, on which debt securities of a series may be exchanged for or converted into shares of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities of another series will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. To protect the company’s status as a REIT, a beneficial holder may not convert any debt security, and such debt security shall not be convertible by any holder, if as a result of such conversion any person would then be deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 9.9% or more of the company’s shares of common stock.

Absence of Restrictive Covenants

Except as noted below under “Dividends, Distributions and Acquisitions of Capital Stock,” the company is not restricted by the Indenture from paying dividends or from incurring, assuming or becoming liable for any type of debt or other obligations or from creating liens on its property for any purpose. The Indenture does not require the maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. Except as may be set forth in the prospectus supplement, there are no provisions of the Indenture which afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the company.

Optional Redemption

The debt securities will be subject to redemption, in whole or from time to time in part, at any time for certain reasons intended to protect the company’s status as a REIT, at the option of the company in the manner specified in the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount, premium, if any, plus interest accrued to the date of redemption. The Indenture does not contain any provision requiring the company to repurchase the debt securities at the option of the holders thereof in the event of a leveraged buyout, recapitalization or similar restructuring of the company.

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Dividends, Distributions and Acquisitions of Capital Stock

The Indenture provides that the company will not (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on its capital stock or to holders of its capital stock (other than dividends or distributions payable in its capital stock or other than as the company determines is necessary to maintain its status as a REIT), or (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any of its capital stock, or any warrants, rights or options or other securities to purchase or acquire any shares of its capital stock (other than the debt securities) or permit any subsidiary to do so, if at the time of such action an event of default (as defined in the Indenture) has occurred and is continuing or would exist immediately after giving effect to such action.

Events of Default

An event of default with respect to debt securities of any series is defined in the Indenture as being:

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failure to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due;

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failure to pay any interest on any debt security of that series when due, continued for 30 days;

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failure to deposit any sinking fund payment when due, in respect of any debt security of that series;

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failure to perform any other covenant of the company in the Indenture (other than a covenant included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities other than that series), continued for 60 days after written notice as provided in the Indenture;

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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, conservatorship, receivership or reorganization; and

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any other event of default provided with respect to the debt securities of that series.

If an event of default with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities of that series are original issue discount debt securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the outstanding debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. At any time after the declaration of acceleration with respect to the debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration has been obtained, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration.

The Indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the Trustee during default to act with the required standard of care, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless such holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee and subject to certain limitations, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series.

The company is required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement as to the performance by the company of certain of its obligations under the Indenture and as to any default in such performance.

Modifications and Waiver

Modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made by the company and the Trustee without the consent of any holders to, among other things,

•

evidence the succession of another corporation to the company;

•

add to the covenants of the company or surrender any right or power conferred upon the company;

•

establish the form or terms of debt securities, including any subordination provisions;

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•

cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision which may be defective or inconsistent or make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series in any material respect;

•

to add to, delete, or revise conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amounts, terms or purpose of debt securities, as set forth in the Indenture; or

•

evidence and provide for a successor Trustee.

Modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made by the company and the Trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by such modification or amendment; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

•

change the stated maturity date of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest, if any, on any debt security;

•

reduce the principal amount of, or premium or interest if any, on any debt security;

•

reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount debt security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

•

change the currency of payment of the principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on any debt security;

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impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any debt security;

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modify the conversion provisions, if any, of any debt security in a manner adverse to the holder of that debt security; or

•

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt security of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of that Indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of that Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt security of each series may, on behalf of all holders of the debt securities of that series, waive, insofar as that series is concerned, compliance by the company with certain restrictive provisions of the Indenture. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series may, on behalf of all holders of the debt securities of that series, waive any past default under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series, except a default in the payment of principal or premium or interest, if any, or a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under the terms of the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the series affected.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

The Indenture provides that the company, without the consent of the holders of any of the debt securities, may consolidate or merge with or into or transfer its assets substantially as an entirety to, any entity organized under the laws of the United States or any state, provided that the successor entity assumes the company’s obligations under the Indenture, that after giving effect to the transaction no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing, and that certain other conditions are met.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in global form (the “Global Securities”). Except as set forth in a prospectus supplement, the terms and provisions with respect to any Global Securities will be as set forth in this section captioned “Global Securities.” The Global Securities will be deposited with a depositary (the “Depositary”), or with a nominee for a Depositary, identified in the prospectus supplement. In such case, one

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or more Global Securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive form, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such Depositary or a nominee of such successor.

The specific material terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a Global Security will be described in the prospectus supplement. The company anticipates that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by such Global Security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with such Depositary (“participants”). The accounts to be credited shall be designated by any underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of such debt securities. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary for such Global Security (with respect to interests of participants) or by participants or persons that hold through participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). So long as the Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the Indenture; provided, however, that for the purposes of obtaining any consents or directions required to be given by the holders of the debt securities, the company, the Trustee and its agents will treat a person as the holder of such principal amount of debt securities as specified in a written statement of the Depositary. Except as set forth herein or otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by such Global Security registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of such debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the registered owners or holders thereof under the Indenture, but the beneficial owners and holders only.

Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities represented by a Global Security registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to such Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of such Global Security. None of the company, the Trustee or any Paying Agent for such debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

The company expects that the Depositary for any debt securities represented by a Global Security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Global Security as shown on the records of such Depositary. The company also expects that payments by participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street names” and will be the responsibility of such participants.

If the Depositary for any debt securities represented by a Global Security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the company within 90 days, the company will issue such debt securities in definitive form in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities and, in such event, will issue debt securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for all of the Global Security or securities representing such debt securities.

The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in debt securities represented by Global Securities.

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Securities Warrants

The terms of any securities warrants offered by any prospectus supplement will be as described in such prospectus supplement, and as provided herein to the extent not modified in the prospectus supplement. The company may issue securities warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. securities warrants may be issued independently or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from such common stock, preferred stock, or debt securities. Each series of securities warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement (a “Securities Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into between the company and a bank or trust company, as securities warrant agent, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of offered securities warrants. The securities warrant agent will act solely as an agent of the company in connection with the securities warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of securities warrants. The following summaries of certain provisions of the Securities Warrant Agreement and securities warrants do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Securities Warrant Agreement and the securities warrants relating to each series of securities warrants which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part at or prior to the time of the issuance of such series of securities warrants.

In the case of securities warrants for the purchase of common stock or preferred stock, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of such securities warrants, including the following where applicable:

•

the offering price;

•

the aggregate number of shares purchasable upon exercise of such securities warrants, the exercise price, and in the case of securities warrants for preferred stock the designation, aggregate number and terms of the series of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of such securities warrants;

•

the designation and terms of any series of preferred stock with which such securities warrants are being offered and the number of such securities warrants being offered with such preferred stock;

•

the date, if any, on and after which such securities warrants and the related series of preferred stock or common stock will be transferable separately;

•

the date on which the right to exercise such securities warrants shall commence and the Expiration Date;

•

any special United States Federal income tax consequences; and

•

any other terms of such securities warrants.

If securities warrants for the purchase of debt securities are offered, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of such securities warrants, including the following where applicable:

•

the offering price;

•

the denominations and terms of the series of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of such securities warrants;

•

the designation and terms of any series of debt securities, with which such securities warrants are being offered with each such debt securities;

•

the date, if any, on and after which such securities warrants and the related series of debt securities will be transferable separately;

•

the principal amount of the series of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of each such securities warrant and the price at which such principal amount of debt securities of such series may be purchased upon such exercise;

•

the date on which the right shall expire (the “Expiration Date”);

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•

whether the securities warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;

•

any special United States Federal income tax consequences;

•

the terms, if any, on which the company may accelerate the date by which the securities warrants must be exercised; and

•

any other terms of such securities warrants.

Securities warrant certificates may be exchanged for new securities warrant certificates of different denominations, may (if in registered form) be presented for registration of transfer, and may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the securities warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of any securities warrant to purchase debt securities, holders of such securities warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive payments of principal or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such debt securities or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture. Prior to the exercise of any securities warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, holders of such securities warrants will not have any rights of holders of such common stock or preferred stock, including the right to receive payments of dividends, if any, on such common stock or preferred stock, or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

Exercise of Securities Warrants

Each securities warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase a number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or such principal amount of debt securities, as the case may be, at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to the offered securities warrants. After the close of business on the Expiration Date (or such later date to which such Expiration Date may be extended by the company), unexercised securities warrants will become void.

Securities warrants may be exercised by delivering to the securities warrant agent payment as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement of the amount required to purchase the common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, as the case may be, purchasable upon such exercise together with certain information set forth on the reverse side of the securities warrant certificate. securities warrants will be deemed to have been exercised upon receipt of payment of the exercise price, subject to the receipt within five (5) business days, of the securities warrant certificate evidencing such securities warrants. Upon receipt of such payment and the securities warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the securities warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the company will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, as the case may be, purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the securities warrants represented by such securities warrant certificate are exercised, a new securities warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of securities warrants.

Amendments and Supplements to Securities Warrant Agreement

The Securities Warrant Agreements may be amended or supplemented without the consent of the holders of the securities warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the securities warrants and that do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the securities warrants.

Common Stock Warrant Adjustments

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the exercise price of, and the number of shares of common stock covered by a common stock warrant are subject to adjustment in certain events, including:

•

payment of a dividend on the common stock payable in capital stock and stock splits, combinations or reclassifications of the common stock;

•

issuance to all holders of common stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase shares of common stock at less than their current market price (as defined in the Securities Warrant Agreement for such series of common stock warrants); and

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•

certain distributions of evidences of indebtedness or assets (including cash dividends or distributions paid out of consolidated earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in common stock) or of subscription rights and warrants (excluding those referred to above).

No adjustment in the exercise price of, and the number of shares of common stock covered by a common stock warrant will be made for regular quarterly or other periods of recurring cash dividends or distributions or for cash dividends or distributions to the extent paid from consolidated earnings or retained earnings. No adjustment will be required unless such adjustment would require a change of at least 1% in the exercise price then in effect. Except as stated above, the exercise price of, and the number of shares of common stock covered by, a common stock warrant will not be adjusted for the issuance of common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, or carrying the right or option to purchase or otherwise acquire the foregoing in exchange for cash, other property or services.

In the event of any (i) consolidation or merger of the company with or into any entity (other than a consolidation or a merger that does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of outstanding shares of common stock), (ii) sale, transfer, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the company, or (iii) reclassification, capital reorganization or change of the common stock (other than solely a change in par value or from par value to no par value), then any holder of a common stock warrant will be entitled, on or after the occurrence of any such event, to receive on exercise of such common stock warrant the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities, cash or other property (or any combination thereof) that the holder would have received had such holder exercised such holder’s common stock warrant immediately prior to the occurrence of such event. If the consideration to be received upon exercise of the common stock warrant following any such event consists of common stock of the surviving entity, then from and after the occurrence of such event, the exercise price of such common stock warrant will be subject to the same anti-dilution and other adjustments described in the second preceding paragraph, applied as if such common stock of the surviving entity were common stock.

CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Consequences of an Investment in Our Securities

The following is a general summary of material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us, and to the purchasers of our securities and our election to be taxed as a REIT. It is not tax advice. The summary is not intended to represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to a particular stockholder in view of any person’s particular circumstances, nor is it intended to represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to stockholders subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws such as insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, securities broker-dealers, investors in pass-through entities, expatriates and taxpayers subject to alternative minimum taxation.

The following discussion relating to an investment in our securities was based on consultations with Powell Goldstein LLP, our special counsel. In the opinion of Powell Goldstein LLP, the following discussion, to the extent it constitutes matters of law or legal conclusions (assuming the facts, representations, and assumptions upon which the discussion is based are accurate), accurately represents the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to purchasers of our securities. Powell Goldstein LLP has not rendered any opinion regarding any effect of such issuance on purchasers of our securities. The sections of the Code relating to the qualification and operation as a REIT are highly technical and complex. The following discussion sets forth the material aspects of the Code sections that govern the federal income tax treatment of a REIT and its stockholders. The information in this section is based on the Code; current, temporary, and proposed Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code; the legislative history of the Code; current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS; and court decisions, in each case, as of the date of this prospectus. In addition, the administrative interpretations and practices of the IRS include its practices and policies as expressed in private letter rulings which are not binding on the IRS, except with respect to the particular taxpayers who requested and received these rulings.

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Taxation of Omega

General.  We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or a REIT, under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 1992. We believe that we have been organized and operated in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code and we intend to continue to operate in such a manner, but no assurance can be given that we have operated or will be able to continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT.

The sections of the Code that govern the federal income tax treatment of a REIT are highly technical and complex. The following sets forth the material aspects of those sections. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof.

In the opinion of Powell Goldstein LLP, which opinion has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we are organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT, and our current and proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for continued qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. This opinion is based on various assumptions and is conditioned upon certain representations made by us as to factual matters concerning our business and properties. Moreover, such qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet, through actual annual operating results, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership, the various qualification tests imposed under the Code discussed below, the results of which will not be reviewed by Powell Goldstein LLP on an ongoing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the various results of our operation for any particular taxable year will satisfy such requirements. Further, such requirements may be changed, perhaps retroactively, by legislative or administrative actions at any time. We have neither sought nor obtained any formal ruling from the IRS regarding our qualification as a REIT and presently have no plan to apply for any such ruling. See “— Failure to Qualify.”

If we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income taxes on our net income that is currently distributed to stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” (i.e., taxation at both the corporate and the stockholder levels) that generally results from an investment in a corporation. However, we will be subject to federal income taxation as follows: First, we will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains; provided, however, that if we have a net capital gain, we will be taxed at regular corporate rates on our undistributed REIT taxable income, computed without regard to net capital gain and the deduction for capital gains dividends, plus a 35% tax on undistributed net capital gain, if our tax as thus computed is less than the tax computed in the regular manner. Second, under certain circumstances, we may be subject to the “alternative minimum tax” on our items of tax preference that we do not distribute or allocate to our stockholders. Third, if we have (i) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) other nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate on such income. Fourth, if we have net income from prohibited transactions (which are, in general, certain sales or other dispositions of property (other than foreclosure property) held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business by us, (i.e., when we are acting as a dealer)), such income will be subject to a 100% tax. Fifth, if we should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test (as discussed below), but have nonetheless maintained our qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements have been met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount equal to (a) the gross income attributable to the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% or 95% test, multiplied by (b) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. Sixth, if we should fail to distribute by the end of each year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed. Seventh, we will be subject to a 100% excise on transactions with a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. Eighth, if we acquire any asset, which is defined as a “built-in gain asset” from a C corporation that is not a REIT (i.e., generally a corporation subject to full corporate-level tax) in a transaction in which the basis of the built-in gain asset in our hands is determined by reference to the basis of the asset (or any other property) in the hands of the C corporation, and we recognize gain on the disposition of such asset during the 10-year period, which is defined as the “recognition

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period,” beginning on the date on which such asset was acquired by us, then, such gain, but not more than built-in gain (i.e., the excess of (a) the fair market value of such asset on the date such asset was acquired by us over (b) our adjusted basis in such asset on such date), will be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate. The results described above with respect to the recognition of built-in gain assume that we will not make an election pursuant to Treasury Regulations. Section 1.337(d)-7(c)(5).

Requirements for Qualification.  The Code defines a REIT as a domestic corporation, trust or association: (1) which is managed by one or more trustees or directors; (2) the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest; (3) which would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code; (4) which is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to the provisions of the Code; (5) the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons; (6) during the last half year of each taxable year not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities); and (7) which meets certain other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its annual distributions to stockholders. The Code provides that conditions (1) to (4), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year and that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than twelve months. For purposes of conditions (5) and (6), pension funds and certain other tax-exempt entities are treated as individuals, subject to a “look-through” exception in the case of condition (6). We may avoid disqualification as a REIT for a failure to satisfy any of these tests if such failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.

Income Tests.  In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we annually must satisfy two gross income requirements. First, at least 75% 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 (including generally “rents from real property,” interest on mortgages on real property and gains on sale of real property and real property mortgages, other than property described in Section 1221 of the Code) and income derived from certain types of temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived from such real property investments, dividends, interest, and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities other than property held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.

Rents received by us will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if several conditions are met. First, the amount of the rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, any 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 receipts or sales. Second, the Code provides that rents received from a tenant will not qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income tests if we or an owner (actually or constructively) of 10% or more of the value of our stock, actually or constructively owns 10% or more of such tenant, which is defined as a related party tenant. Third, if rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to such personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property.” Finally, for rents received to qualify as “rents from real property,” we generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to the tenants of such property, other than through an independent contractor from which we derive no revenue. We may, however, directly perform certain services that are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy and that are not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant” of the property. In addition, we may provide a minimal amount of “non-customary” services to the tenants of a property, other than through an independent contractor, as long as our income from the services does not exceed 1% of our income from the related property. Furthermore, we may own up to 100% of the stock of a TRS, which may provide customary and noncustomary services to our tenants without tainting our rental income from the related properties.

The term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued (directly or indirectly) if the determination of such amount depends 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 “interest” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of gross receipts or sales. In addition, an amount that is based on the income

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or profits of a debtor will be qualifying interest income as long as the debtor derives substantially all of its income from the real property securing the debt as a result of leasing substantially all of its interest in such real property, but only to the extent that the amounts received by the debtor would be qualifying “rents from real property” if received directly by a REIT.

If a loan contains a provision that entitles us to a percentage of the borrower’s gain upon the sale of the real property securing the loan or a percentage of the appreciation in the property’s value as of a specific date, income attributable to that loan provision will be treated as gain from the sale of the property securing the loan, which generally is qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests.

Interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property generally is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. However, if the highest principal amount of a loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property securing the loan as of the date we agreed to originate or acquire the loan, a portion of the interest income from such loan will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, but will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. The portion of the interest income that will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test will be equal to the portion of the principal amount of the loan that is considered not to be secured by real property.

Prohibited Transactions.  We will incur a 100% tax on the net income derived from any sale or other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. We believe that none of our assets is held for sale to customers and that a sale of any of our assets would not be in the ordinary course of our business. Whether a REIT holds an asset primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business depends, however, on the facts and circumstances in effect from time to time, including those related to a particular asset. Nevertheless, we will attempt to comply with the terms of safe-harbor provisions in the federal income tax laws prescribing when an asset sale will not be characterized as a prohibited transaction. We cannot assure you, however, that we can comply with the safe-harbor provisions or that we will avoid owning property that may be characterized as property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business.

Foreclosure Property.  We will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate on any income from foreclosure property, other than income that otherwise would be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, less expenses directly connected with the production of that income. However, gross income from foreclosure property will qualify for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Foreclosure property is any real property, including interests in real property, and any personal property incident to such real property:

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that is acquired by a REIT as the result of the REIT having bid in such property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced such property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after there was a default or default was imminent on a lease of such property or on indebtedness that such property secured;

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for which the related loan or lease was acquired by the REIT at a time when the default was not imminent or anticipated; and

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for which the REIT markets a proper election to treat the property as foreclosure property.

Property generally ceases to be foreclosure property at the end of the third taxable year following the taxable year in which the REIT acquired the property, or longer if an extension is granted by the Secretary of the Treasury. This grace period terminates and foreclosure property ceases to be foreclosure property on the first day:

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on which a lease is entered into for the property that, by its terms, will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test, or any amount is received or accrued, directly or indirectly, pursuant to a lease entered into on or after such day that will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test;

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on which any construction takes place on the property, other than completion of a building or any other improvement, where more than 10% of the construction was completed before default became imminent; or

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which is more than 90 days after the day on which the REIT acquired the property and the property is used in a trade or business which is conducted by the REIT, other than through an independent contractor from whom the REIT itself does not derive or receive any income.

Beginning on January 1, 2001, foreclosure property also includes any “qualified health care property,” as defined in Code Section 856(e)(6) acquired by us as the result of the termination or expiration of a lease of such property. We may operate a qualified healthcare facility, acquired in this manner for two years or longer if an extension is granted. At present, we do not own property with respect to which we have made foreclosure property elections. Properties that are taken back in a foreclosure or bankruptcy and operated for our own account are treated as foreclosure properties for income tax purposes, pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 856(e). Gross income from foreclosure properties is “good income” for purposes of the annual REIT income tests. Once this election is made on the tax return, it is “good income” for a period of three years, or until the properties are no longer operated for our own account. An election to extend the foreclosure status period for an additional three years can be made. In all cases of the foreclosure property, we utilize an independent contractor to conduct day-to-day operations in order to maintain REIT status. In certain cases, we may operate facilities through a taxable REIT subsidiary. For those properties operated through the taxable REIT subsidiary, we utilize an eligible independent contractor to conduct day-to-day operations to maintain REIT status. As a result of the foregoing, we do not believe that our participation in the operation of nursing homes will increase the risk that we will fail to qualify as a REIT. Through our 2007 taxable year, we have not paid any tax on our foreclosure property because those properties have been producing losses. However, in the future, our income from foreclosure property could be significant and we could be required to pay a significant amount of tax on that income.

Hedging Transactions.  From time to time, we enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Our hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase these items, and futures and forward contracts. To the extent that we enter into an interest rate swap or cap contract, option, futures contract, forward rate agreement, or any similar financial instrument to hedge our indebtedness incurred to acquire or carry “real estate assets,” any periodic income or gain from the disposition of that contract will be excluded from gross income (both the numerator and the denominator) for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but will not be qualifying gross income (not included in the numerator but included in the denominator) for purposes of the 75% gross income test. To the extent that we hedge with other types of financial instruments, or in other situations, it is not entirely clear how the income from those transactions will be treated for purposes of the gross income tests. We have structured and intend to continue to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT.

TRS Income.  A TRS may earn income that would not be qualifying income if earned directly by the parent REIT. Both the subsidiary and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a TRS. If a TRS directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the stock of another corporation, the other corporation also will automatically be treated as a TRS as well. Overall, no more than 20% of the value of a REIT’s assets may consist of securities of one or more TRSs. However, a corporation which directly or indirectly (i) operates or manages a health care (or lodging) facility, or (ii) provides to any other person (under a franchise, license, or otherwise) rights to any brand name under which a health care (or lodging) facility is operated, cannot be a TRS. A TRS will pay income tax at regular corporate rates on any income that it earns. In addition, the new rules limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. The rules also impose a 100% excise tax on transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT or the REIT’s tenants that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. We have made a TRS election with respect to Omega TRS I, Inc., which previously owned all of the preferred stock of Omega Worldwide. This entity will pay corporate income tax on their taxable income and their after-tax next income will be available for distribution to us, if any.

Failure to Satisfy Income Tests.  If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for such year if we are entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. These relief provisions will be generally available if our failure to meet such tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, we attach a schedule of the sources of our income to our tax return, and any incorrect information on the schedule was not due to fraud with intent to evade tax. It is not possible,

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however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. Even if these relief provisions apply, we would incur a 100% tax on the gross income attributable to the greater of the amounts by which we fail the 75% and 95% gross income tests, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

Asset Tests.  At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we must also satisfy the following tests relating to the nature of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by (i) real estate assets, including (i) our allocable share of real estate assets held by partnerships in which we own an interest, and (ii) stock or debt instruments held for not more than one year purchased with the proceeds of a stock offering or long-term (at least five years) debt offering of our company), cash, cash items and government securities. Second, of our investments not included in the 75% asset class, the value of our interest in any one issuer’s securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets. Third, we may not own more than 10% of the voting power or value of any one issuer’s outstanding securities. Fourth, no more than 20% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of one or more TRSs. Fifth, no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of TRSs and other non-TRS taxable subsidiaries and other assets that are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test.

For purposes of the second and third asset tests, the term “securities” does not include any security in another REIT, debt or equity securities of a qualified REIT subsidiary or TRS, any loan to an individual or an estate, any Code Section 467 rental agreement, any obligation to pay rents from real property, certain government issued securities, certain debt securities of a partnership, or equity interest in any partnership. The term “securities,” however, generally includes debt securities issued by another REIT or a partnership, except that debt securities of a partnership are not treated as securities for purposes of the 10% value test if we own at least a 20% profits interest in the partnership.

We may own up to 100% of the stock of one or more TRSs. However, overall, no more than 20% of the value of our assets may consist of securities of one or more TRSs, and no more than 25% of the value of our assets may consist of the securities of TRSs and other non-TRS taxable subsidiaries (including stock in non-REIT C Corporations) and other assets that are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test.

If the outstanding principal balance of a mortgage loan exceeds the fair market value of the real property securing the loan, a portion of such loan likely will not be a qualifying real estate asset under the federal income tax laws. The non-qualifying portion of that mortgage loan will be equal to the portion of the loan amount that exceeds the value of the associated real property.

After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our status as a REIT for failure to satisfy any of the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in asset values. If the failure to satisfy the asset tests results from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, the failure can be cured by disposition of sufficient non-qualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We have maintained and intend to continue to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests and to take such other action within 30 days after the close of any quarter as may be required to cure any noncompliance.

Failure to Satisfy Asset Tests.  Subject to certain deminimis exceptions, we may avoid disqualification as a REIT in the event of certain failures to satisfy the asset tests provided that our failure to meet such tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, we attach a schedule with our return that contains a description of each asset that caused the failure, we dispose of the assets generally within six (6) months of the last day of the quarter in which identification of the failure occurred, and we pay a tax on the failure equal to the greater of (a) $50,000, and (b) the product of the net income for the period beginning on the date of the failure and ending generally on the date of disposition of the asset that was generated by the assets that caused the failure multiplied by the highest applicable corporate tax rate.

Annual Distribution Requirements.  In order to qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends (other than capital gain dividends) to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to (A) the sum of (i) 90% of our “REIT taxable income” (computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain) and (ii) 90% of the net income (after tax), if any, from foreclosure property, minus (B) the sum of certain items of noncash income.

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Such distributions must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for such year and paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. In addition, such distributions are required to be made pro rata, with no preference to any share of stock as compared with other shares of the same class, and with no preference to one class of stock as compared with another class except to the extent that such class is entitled to such a preference. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain or do distribute at least 90%, but less than 100% of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be subject to tax thereon at regular ordinary and capital gain corporate tax rates.

Furthermore, if we fail to distribute during a calendar year, or by the end of January following the calendar year in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, at least the sum of:

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85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year;

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95% of our REIT capital gain income for such year; and

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any undistributed taxable income from prior periods,

we will incur a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts we actually distribute. We may elect to retain and pay income tax on the net long-term capital gain we receive in a taxable year. If we so elect, we will be treated as having distributed any such retained amount for purposes of the 4% excise tax described above. We have made, and we intend to continue to make, timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements. We may also be entitled to pay and deduct deficiency dividends in later years as a relief measure to correct errors in determining our taxable income. Although we may be able to avoid income tax on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, we will be required to pay interest to the IRS based upon the amount of any deduction we take for deficiency dividends.

Our ability to make distributions in amounts sufficient to meet the requirements set forth in the previous paragraph may be dependent, in part, on our ability to claim,, among other things, depreciation deductions with respect to owned facilities. This treatment for federal income tax purposes depends upon classification of the leases with respect to such owned facilities as “true leases” rather than financing arrangements. The question of whether we are the owner of such facilities and whether the leases are true leases for federal tax purposes is essentially based upon factual matters. We believe that we will be treated as the owner of each of the facilities that we lease, and such leases will be treated as “true leases” for federal income tax purposes. However, no assurances can be given that the IRS will not successfully challenge our status as the owner of our facilities subject to leases, and the status of such leases as true leases, asserting that the purchase of the facilities by us and the leasing of such facilities merely constitute steps in secured financing transactions in which the lessees are owners of the facilities and we are merely a secured creditor. In such event, we would not be entitled to claim depreciation deductions with respect to any of the affected facilities. As a result, we might fail to meet the 90% distribution requirement or, if such requirement is met, we might be subject to corporate income tax or the 4% excise tax.

Failure to Qualify

If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, and the 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. Distributions to stockholders in any year in which we fail to qualify will not be deductible and our failure to qualify as a REIT would reduce the cash available for distribution by us to our stockholders. In addition, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, all distributions to stockholders will be taxable as ordinary income, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, and, subject to certain limitations of the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we would also be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to such statutory relief. Failure to qualify could result in our incurring indebtedness or liquidating investments in order to pay the resulting taxes.

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Other Tax Matters

We own and operate a number of properties through subsidiaries, known as qualified REIT subsidiaries, or “QRSs”. Code Section 856(i) provides that a corporation which is a qualified REIT subsidiary shall not be treated as a separate corporation, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of a qualified REIT subsidiary shall be treated as assets, liabilities and such items (as the case may be) of the REIT. Thus, in applying the tests for REIT qualification described in this prospectus under the heading “Taxation of Omega,” the QRSs will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction, and credit of such QRSs will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction, and credit.

In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership, the REIT is treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and as earning its allocable share of the gross income of the partnership for purposes of the applicable REIT qualification tests. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets, liabilities, and items of income of any partnership, joint venture, or limited liability company that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes in which we own an interest, directly or indirectly, will be treated as our assets and gross income for purposes of applying the various REIT qualification requirements.

Taxation of Stockholders

Taxation of Domestic Stockholders.  As long as we qualify as a REIT, if you are a taxable U.S. stockholder, distributions made to you out of current or accumulated earnings and profits (and not designated as capital gain dividends) will be taken into account by you as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporations or the special 15% tax rate applicable to individuals and certain other taxpayers in the case of dividends paid by a regular C corporation. However, to the extent that any of our income represents income on which we have paid tax at corporate income tax rates or dividend income from a regular C corporation, including dividend income from a TRS that we own, your proportionate share of such dividend income will be eligible for such special 15% tax rate. Distributions that are designated as capital gain dividends will be taxed as long-term capital gains (to the extent they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year) and eligible for the special 15% maximum tax rate on capital gain income applicable to individuals and certain other tax payers (unless such capital gain income is attributable to unrecaptured Section 1250 gain, in which case the applicable maximum tax rate will be 25%, instead of 15%), without regard to the period for which you have held our stock. However, if you are a corporation, you may be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Further, if we designate a dividend as a capital gain dividend to you and you dispose of your shares in a sale or exchange in which you recognize a loss, and have held those shares for six (6) months or less, you will be required to treat the loss from the sale of your shares as long-term (instead of short-term) capital loss to the extent of the of the dividend distributions you received from us that were designated as capital gain distributions that were permitted to treat as long-term capital gains.

Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to you to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of your shares, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of those shares. To the extent that distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits exceed the adjusted basis of your shares, you will include the distributions in income as long-term capital gain (or short-term capital gain if you have held the shares for one year or less) assuming the shares are a capital asset in your hands. In addition, any distribution declared by us in October, November, or December of any year payable to you as a stockholder of record on a specified date in any of these months shall be treated as both paid by us and received by you on December 31 of that year, provided that the distribution is actually paid by us during January of the following calendar year. You may not include in your individual income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.

Backup Withholding

Assuming that you are a U.S. stockholder, we will report to you and the IRS the amount of distributions paid during each calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any. Under the backup withholding rules, you may be subject to backup withholding with respect to distributions paid unless you:

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are a corporation or come within certain other exempt categories and when required, demonstrate this fact; or

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provide a taxpayer identification number, certify as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise comply with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

If you do not provide us with your correct taxpayer identification number, you may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against your income tax liability. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to you, if you fail to certify your nonforeign status to us. See “— Taxation of Stockholders — Taxation of Foreign Stockholders.”

Treatment of Tax-Exempt Stockholders.  If you are a tax-exempt employee pension trust or other domestic tax-exempt stockholder, our distributions to you generally will not constitute “unrelated business taxable income,” or UBTI, unless you have borrowed to acquire or carry our common stock. However, qualified trusts that hold more than 10% (by value) of certain REITs may be required to treat a certain percentage of that REIT’s distributions as UBTI. This requirement will apply only if:

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the REIT would not qualify for federal income tax purposes but for the application of a “look-through” exception to the “five or fewer” requirement applicable to shares held by qualified trusts; and

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the REIT is “predominantly held” by qualified trusts.

A REIT is predominantly held if either:

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a single qualified trust holds more than 25% by value of the REIT interests; or

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one or more qualified trusts, each owning more than 10% by value of the REIT interests, hold in the aggregate more than 50% by value of the REIT interests.

The percentage of any REIT dividend treated as UBTI is equal to the ratio of the UBTI earned by the REIT (treating the REIT as if it were a qualified trust and therefore subject to tax on UBTI) to the total gross income (less certain associated expenses) of the REIT.

A de minimis exception applies where the ratio set forth in the preceding sentence is less than 5% for any year. For those purposes, a qualified trust is any trust described in section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. The provisions requiring qualified trusts to treat a portion of REIT distributions as UBTI will not apply if the REIT is able to satisfy the “five or fewer” requirement without relying upon the “look-through” exception. The restrictions on ownership of our common stock in our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, generally will prevent application of the provisions treating a portion of REIT distributions as UBTI to tax-exempt entities purchasing our common stock, absent approval by our board of directors.

Taxation of Foreign Stockholders.  The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and other foreign stockholders (collectively, Non-U.S. Stockholders) are complex and no attempt will be made herein to provide more than a summary of these rules. Prospective Non-U.S. Stockholders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the impact of federal, state and local income tax laws with regard to an investment in shares, including any reporting requirements.

If you are a Non-U.S. Stockholder, the following discussion will apply to you. Distributions that are not attributable to gain from our sales or exchanges of U.S. real property interests and not designated by us as capital gains dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions will ordinarily be subject to a withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the distribution unless an applicable tax treaty reduces or eliminates that tax.

However, if income from the investment in the shares is treated as effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business, you generally will be subject to a tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. stockholders are taxed with respect to the distributions (and may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax if you are a foreign corporation). We expect to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on the gross amount of any distributions made to you unless:

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a lower treaty rate applies, you file an IRS Form W-8BEN with us and other conditions are met; or

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you file an IRS Form W-8ECI with us claiming that the distribution is effectively connected income, and other conditions are met.

Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to you to the extent that the distributions do not exceed the adjusted basis of your shares, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of the shares. To the extent that distributions in excess of current accumulated earnings and profits exceed the adjusted basis of your shares, these distributions will give rise to tax liability if you would otherwise be subject to tax on any gain from the sale or disposition of your shares in us, as described below. If it cannot be determined at the time a distribution is made whether or not the distribution will be in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distributions will be subject to withholding at the same rate as dividends. However, amounts withheld can be refundable if the Non-U.S. stockholder files a U.S. tax return if it is subsequently reporting that a distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

For any year in which we qualify as a REIT, distributions that are attributable to gain from our sales or exchanges of U.S. real property interests will be taxed to you under the provisions of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, or FIRPTA. Under FIRPTA, distributions attributable to gain from sales of U.S. real property interests are taxed to you as if the gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business. You would thus be taxed at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. stockholders (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals). Also, distributions subject to FIRPTA may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a foreign corporate stockholder not entitled to a treaty exemption. We are required by applicable Treasury Regulations to withhold 35% of any distribution that could be designated by us as a capital gains dividend. This amount is creditable against your FIRPTA tax liability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of any distribution attributable to gain from a sale by us of U.S. real property interests, if the distribution is with respect to a class of our stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market, you do not own more than 5% of that class of stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution, and we are a “domestically controlled REIT” as defined below, then the distribution will be exempted from the application of the FIRPTA rules and the distribution will be subject to the withholding rules for ordinary income, i.e., subject to a 30% withholding tax unless the a Form W-8BEN has been filed (indicating that a lower treaty rate applies) or a Form W-8ECI has been filed (indicating that the distribution is effectively connected income).

Gain recognized by you upon a sale of shares generally will not be taxed under FIRPTA if we are a “domestically controlled REIT,” defined generally as a REIT in which at all times during a specified testing period less than 50% in value of the stock was held directly or indirectly by foreign persons. It is currently anticipated that we will be a “domestically controlled REIT,” although there can be no assurance that we will retain that status. If we are not “domestically controlled,” gain recognized by you will continue to be exempt under FIRPTA if you at no time owned more than five percent of our common stock. However, gain not subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to you if:

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investment in the shares is effectively connected with your U.S. trade or business, in which case you will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders with respect to the gain; or

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you are a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and other applicable requirements are met, in which case you will be subject to a 30% tax on your capital gains.

If the gain on the sale of shares were to be subject to taxation under FIRPTA, you will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders with respect to the gain (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals).

If the proceeds of a sale of shares by you are paid by or through a U.S. office of a broker, the payment is subject to information reporting and to backup withholding unless you certify as to your name, address and non-U.S. status or otherwise establish an exemption. Generally, U.S. information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to a payment of disposition proceeds if the payment is made outside the U.S. through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S.

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broker. U.S. information reporting requirements (but not backup withholding) will apply, however, to a payment of disposition proceeds outside the U.S. if:

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the payment is made through an office outside the U.S. of a broker that is: (a) a U.S. person; (b) a foreign person that derives 50% or more of its gross income for certain periods from the conduct of a trade or business in the U.S.; or (c) a “controlled foreign corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and

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the broker fails to initiate documentary evidence that you are a Non-U.S. Stockholder and that certain conditions are met or that you otherwise are entitled to an exemption.

Possible Legislative or Other Actions Affecting Tax Consequences

Prospective holders of our securities should recognize that the present federal income tax treatment of investment in our company may be modified by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time and that any of these actions may affect investments and commitments previously made. The rules dealing with federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the Treasury Department, resulting in revisions of regulations and revised interpretations of established concepts as well as statutory changes. Revisions in federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect the tax consequences of investment in our company.

State and Local Taxes

We may be and you may be subject to state or local taxes in other jurisdictions such as those in which we may be deemed to be engaged in activities or own property or other interests. The state and local tax treatment of us may not conform to the federal income tax consequences discussed above.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities covered by this prospectus from time to time. Registration of the securities covered by this prospectus does not mean, however, that those securities will necessarily be offered or sold.

We may sell the securities separately or together:

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through one or more underwriters or dealers in a public offering and sale by them;

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directly to investors; or

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through agents.

We may sell the securities from time to time:

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in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time;

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at market prices prevailing at the times of sale;

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at price related to such prevailing market prices; or

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at negotiated prices.

We will describe the method of distribution of the securities and the terms of the offering in the prospectus supplement.

If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions described above. The securities

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may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities being distributed if they purchase any of the securities.

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment.

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or other persons to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase offered securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date or dates. Institutions with which these contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others. The obligations of any purchasers under any delayed delivery contract will not be subject to any conditions except:

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the purchase of the offered securities must not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the purchaser is subject; and

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if the offered securities are also being sold to underwriters, we will have sold to the underwriters the offered securities not sold for delayed delivery.

The underwriters, dealers and other persons will not have any responsibility for the validity or performance of these contracts. The prospectus supplement relating to the contracts will set forth the price to be paid for securities under the contracts, the commission payable for solicitation of the contracts and the date or dates in the future for delivery of offered securities under the contracts.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments made by the underwriters, dealers or agents, under agreements between us and the underwriters, dealers and agents.

We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of securities an option to purchase additional securities in connection with the distribution.

Underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or our purchasers, as their agents in connection with the sale of securities. These underwriters, dealers or agents may be considered to be underwriters under the Securities Act. As a result, discounts, commissions or profits on resale received by the underwriters, dealers or agents may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions. The prospectus supplement will identify any such underwriter, dealer or agent and describe any compensation received by them from us. In no event will the aggregate discounts, concessions and commissions

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to any underwriters, dealers or agents exceed eight percent of the gross proceeds. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

Shares of our common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Unless otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement, all securities we offer, other than common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriter may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We may apply to list any series of debt securities, preferred stock or warrants on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. Therefore, there may not be liquidity or a trading market for any series of securities.

In connection with an offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase in an offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while an offering is in progress.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the underwriters have repurchased securities sold by or for the account of that underwriter in stabilizing or short-covering transactions.

These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. As a result, the price of the securities may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected on an exchange or automated quotation system, if the securities are listed on that exchange or admitted for trading on that automated quotation system, or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Underwriters, dealers or agents who may become involved in the sale of our securities may engage in transactions with and perform other services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they receive compensation.

VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES

In connection with particular offerings of the securities in the future, and if stated in the applicable prospectus supplements, the validity of those securities may be passed upon for the Company by Powell Goldstein LLP and for any underwriters or agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements and schedules included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements and schedules are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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