VEREIT explained

VEREIT, Inc.
Former Name:American Realty Capital Properties Inc., or ARCP
Industry:Real estate investment trust
Founder:Nicholas Schorsch
Fate:Acquired by Realty Income
Hq Location City:Phoenix, Arizona
Hq Location Country:U.S.
Key People:Glenn J. Rufrano, CEO
Michael J. Bartolotta, CFO
Revenue: (2020)
Net Income: US$-201 million (2020)
Assets: US$13.324 billion (2020)
Equity: US$6.804 billion (2020)
Num Employees:160 (2020)
Footnotes:[1]

VEREIT, Inc. was a real estate investment trust headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona that invested in single-tenant retail, restaurant, office and industrial properties. As of December 31, 2020, the company owned 3,831 properties with an aggregate of 89.7 million square feet.[1] The company was acquired by Realty Income in November 2021.

The company was formerly known as American Realty Capital Properties Inc. and it changed its name after an accounting scandal. Its name was derived for the Latin word "veritas", meaning truth.

History

The company was founded in 2010 by Nicholas Schorsch.[2]

In November 2013, the company acquired CapLease, adding 68 properties totaling over 13 million square feet.[3]

In January 2014, the company acquired 120 properties from funds managed by Fortress Investment Group for $601.2 million.[4]

In February 2014, the company acquired Cole Real Estate Investments, becoming the largest publicly traded net lease REIT.[5] Cole was sold to CIM Group in February 2018.[6]

In October 2014, the company admitted to a $23 million accounting error and fired chief financial officer Brian Block.[7] Lawsuits alleged that insiders received over $900 million in fees from the company.[8] In December 2014, Schorsch resigned as chairman.[9] [10] In July 2015, the company changed its name to VEREIT.[11] [12] In September 2019, certain defendants agreed to pay $1.025 billion, consisting of $738.5 million from the company, $225 million from the company's former external manager and its principals including Nicholas Schorsch, $12.5 million from the company's former CFO Brian Block who was found guilty of securities fraud in 2017 and sentenced to 18 months in prison, and $49 million from the company's former auditor Grant Thornton.[13] [14] VEREIT also settled pending litigation by plaintiffs under Section 11 of the Securities Act that were not part of the class action for $15.7 million.[15] [16]

On November 1, 2021, Realty Income acquired the company.[17] [18] [19] [20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: VEREIT, Inc. 2020 Form 10-K Annual Report . U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
  2. News: Schorsch's American Realty Capital Properties Fires CFO Over Inflated Earnings . . Erin . Carlyle . October 29, 2014.
  3. American Realty Capital Properties Announces Closing of CapLease Acquisition . . November 5, 2013.
  4. American Realty Capital Properties Completes Acquisition of Fortress Portfolio . . January 9, 2014.
  5. American Realty Capital Properties Completes Acquisition of Cole Real Estate Investments Creating Largest Net Lease REIT . . February 7, 2014.
  6. CIM ACQUIRES COLE CAPITAL® FROM VEREIT® . CIM Group . February 1, 2018.
  7. News: Schorsch Brokerage Tells Advisers Not to Recommend Own Company Stock . Michael . Wursthorn . . November 5, 2014 . subscription.
  8. News: Suit: Schorsch, aides milked $900MM fees before real estate scandal . Joseph N. . DiStefano . . April 20, 2015.
  9. News: Schorsch Resigns as Chairman of American Realty Capital . Brian . Louis . Prashant . Gopal . . December 15, 2014 . subscription.
  10. Nicholas S. Schorsch Resigns from American Realty Capital Properties, Inc. . . December 15, 2014.
  11. VEREIT™ New Corporate Name for American Realty Capital Properties . . July 28, 2015.
  12. News: RCP Emerges From Scandal With a New Name: VEREIT . Prashant . Gopal . . July 28, 2015 . subscription.
  13. News: Ex-American Realty CFO Gets 18 Months in Jail . Matthew . Heller . . November 9, 2017.
  14. News: Vereit, others reach $1.025 billion settlement over American Realty accounting . Jonathan . Stempel . . September 30, 2019.
  15. VEREIT® Enters Into Settlement Agreements and Releases with Additional Shareholders . . February 11, 2019.
  16. Web site: vereit9302019-ex101. www.sec.gov.
  17. Realty Income Closes Merger With VEREIT . . November 1, 2021.
  18. News: Phoenix real estate giant Vereit to be acquired, move headquarters . Russ . Wiles . . April 29, 2021.
  19. Realty Income To Merge With VEREIT® In All-Stock Transaction . . April 29, 2021.
  20. News: Realty Income to buy commercial property landlord VEREIT for about $11 billion . Uday . Sampath . Shreyasee . Raj . . April 29, 2021.