Services

Iron Mountain Finally Becomes a REIT, Finally

Warehouse
Thinkstock
Records storage and information management firm Iron Mountain Inc. (NYSE: IRM) has received authorization from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to convert itself to a real estate investment trust (REIT) for the tax year beginning January 1, 2014. The company’s board of directors unanimously approved the conversion Wednesday night.

Iron Mountain will pay a special distribution totaling $600 million to $700 million in the second half of this year in the form of 80% stock and 20% cash. The company will announce the record date and payment date at a later time.

The company also expects to pay an annual distribution of $400 million to $420 million in 2014, compared with a previous estimate of an annual dividend of around $207 million. Based on 193 million shares outstanding, the quarterly distribution comes to $0.52 to $0.54 per share. The distribution will be reduced by the amounts already paid on the common stock.

Iron Mountain shares traded up about 20% on the news as investors chased the returns that come from the tax benefit of owning common stock in a REIT. Income is not taxed at the corporate level as long as 90% of the REIT’s income is returned to investors. Iron Mountain said it intends to make quarterly distributions that are equal to or greater than the minimum required by the IRS.

The company initially filed for REIT status in 2012 after hedge fund Elliot Management kept up the pressure on the company to seek the conversion. Wednesday’s private-letter ruling caps a long and stormy path on the road to becoming a REIT.

Shares of Iron Mountain were up 19.8% in mid-morning trading Thursday to $35.67, after posting a new 52-week high of $36.00 earlier.

ALSO READ: Lamar to Debut as REIT With Almost 5% Yield

Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)

Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?

Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

 

Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!

By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.