FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

General

        The following is a summary of United States material federal income tax considerations associated with an investment in our common shares that may be relevant to you. The statements made in this section of the prospectus are based upon current provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, as currently applicable, currently published administrative positions of the Internal Revenue Service and judicial decisions, all of which are subject to change, either prospectively or retroactively. We cannot assure you that any changes will not modify the conclusions expressed in counsel's opinions described herein. This summary does not address all possible tax considerations that may be material to an investor and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Moreover, this summary

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does not deal with all tax aspects that might be relevant to you, as a prospective shareholder, in light of your personal circumstances, nor does it deal with particular types of shareholders that are subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws, such as insurance companies, holders whose shares are acquired through the exercise of stock options or otherwise as compensation, holders whose shares are acquired through the distribution reinvestment plan or who intend to sell their shares under the share redemption program, tax-exempt organizations except as provided below, financial institutions or broker-dealers, or foreign corporations or persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States except as provided below. The Code provisions governing the federal income tax treatment of REITs and their shareholders are highly technical and complex, and this summary is qualified in its entirety by the express language of applicable Code provisions, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof.

        Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has acted as our special tax counsel, has reviewed this summary and is of the opinion that it fairly summarizes the United States federal income tax considerations that are likely to be material to U.S. shareholders (as defined herein) of our common stock. This opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is based on various assumptions, is subject to limitations and is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or any court.

         We urge you, as a prospective shareholder, to consult your tax advisor regarding the specific tax consequences to you of a purchase of shares, ownership and sale of the shares and of our election to be taxed as a REIT, including the federal, state, local, foreign and other tax consequences of such purchase, ownership, sale and election and of potential changes in applicable tax laws.

REIT Qualification

        We intend to elect to be taxable as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2003. This section of the prospectus discusses the laws governing the tax treatment of a REIT and its shareholders. These laws are highly technical and complex.

        In connection with this offering, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will deliver an opinion to us that, commencing with Dividend Capital Trust's taxable year that began on January 1, 2003, Dividend Capital Trust was organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and its actual method of operation, and its proposed method of operation has enabled it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

        It must be emphasized that the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is based on various assumptions relating to the organization and operation of Dividend Capital Trust, and is conditioned upon representations and covenants made by us regarding our organization, assets and the past, present and future conduct of our business operations. While we intend to operate so that we will qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP or by us that we will so qualify for any particular year. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will have no obligation to advise us or the holders of our common stock of any subsequent change in the matters stated, represented or assumed in the opinion, or of any subsequent change in the applicable law. You should be aware that opinions of counsel are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or any court, and no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge the conclusions set forth in such opinions.

        Qualification and taxation as a REIT depends on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual operating results, distribution levels, and diversity of stock ownership, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Code, the compliance with which will not be

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reviewed by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Our ability to qualify as a REIT also requires that we satisfy certain asset tests, some of which depend upon the fair market values of assets directly or indirectly owned by us. Such values may not be susceptible to a precise determination. While we intend to continue to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any taxable year satisfy such requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

Taxation of Dividend Capital Trust

        If we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income taxes on that portion of our ordinary income or capital gain that we distribute currently to our shareholders, because the REIT provisions of the Code generally allow a REIT to deduct distributions paid to its shareholders. This substantially eliminates the federal "double taxation" on earnings (taxation at both the corporate level and shareholder level) that usually results from an investment in a corporation. Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, however, we will be subject to federal income taxation as follows:

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We will be taxed at regular corporate rates on our undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains;



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Under some circumstances, we may be subject to "alternative minimum tax";



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If we have net income from prohibited transactions (which are, in general, sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business), the income will be subject to a 100% tax;



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If we elect to treat property that we acquire in connection with a foreclosure of a mortgage loan or certain leasehold terminations as "foreclosure property", we may avoid the 100% tax on gain from a resale of that property (if the sale would otherwise constitute a prohibited transaction), but the income from the sale or operation of the property may be subject to corporate income tax at the highest applicable rate (currently 35%);



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Pursuant to provisions in recently enacted legislation, if we should fail to satisfy the asset or other requirements applicable to REITs, as described below, yet nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because there is reasonable cause for the failure and other applicable requirements are met, we may be subject to an excise tax. In that case, the amount of the tax will be at least $50,000 per failure, and, in the case of certain asset test failures, will be determined as the amount of net income generated by the assets in question multiplied by the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%) if that amount exceeds $50,000 per failure;



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If we fail to satisfy either of the 75% or 95% gross income tests (discussed below) but have nonetheless maintained our qualification as a REIT because certain conditions have been met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount equal to the greater of the amount based on the magnitude of the Failure adjusted to reflect the profit margin associated with our gross income;



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If we fail to distribute during each year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the 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 the required distribution over the sum of (A) the amounts actually distributed, plus (B) retained amounts on which corporate level tax is paid by us;



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We may elect to retain and pay tax on our net long-term capital gain. In that case, a United States shareholder would be taxed on its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain and would receive a credit or refund for its proportionate share of the tax we paid; and

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•

If we acquire appreciated assets from a C corporation (i.e., a corporation generally subject to corporate-level tax) in a transaction in which the C corporation would not normally be required to recognize any gain or loss on disposition of the asset and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of the asset during the ten year period beginning on the date on which we acquired the asset, then a portion of the gain may be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate, unless the C corporation made an election to treat the asset as if it were sold for its fair market value at the time of our acquisition.

Requirements for Qualification as a REIT

        In order for us to qualify as a REIT, we must meet and continue to meet the requirements discussed below relating to our organization, sources of income, nature of assets and distributions of income to our shareholders.

Organizational Requirements

        In order to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code, we must meet tests regarding our income and assets described below and:

1)

Be a corporation, trust or association that would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for the REIT provisions of the Code;



2)

Elect to be taxed as a REIT and satisfy relevant filing and other administrative requirements for the year ending December 31, 2003;



3)

Be managed by one or more trustees or directors;



4)

Have our beneficial ownership evidenced by transferable shares;



5)

Not be a financial institution or an insurance company subject to special provisions of the federal income tax laws;



6)

Use a calendar year for federal income tax purposes;



7)

Have at least 100 shareholders for at least 335 days of each taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months; and



8)

Not be closely held as defined for purposes of the REIT provisions of the Code.

        We would be treated as closely held if, during the last half of any taxable year, more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock is owned, directly or indirectly through the application of certain attribution rules, by five or fewer individuals, as defined in the Code to include certain entities. Items 7 and 8 above will not apply until after the first taxable year for which we elect to be taxed as a REIT. If we comply with Treasury regulations that provide procedures for ascertaining the actual ownership of our common stock for each taxable year and we did not know, and with the exercise of reasonable diligence could not have known, that we failed to meet item 8 above for a taxable year, we will be treated as having met item 8 for that year.

        We intend to elect to be taxed as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2003 and we intend to satisfy the other requirements described in Items 1-6 above at all times during each of our taxable years. In addition, our articles of incorporation contain restrictions regarding ownership and transfer of shares of our stock that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements in Items 7 and 8 above. (See "Description of Securities—Restriction on Ownership of Common Stock").

        For purposes of the requirements described herein, any corporation that is a qualified REIT subsidiary of ours will not be treated as a corporation separate from us and all assets, liabilities, and

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items of income, deduction and credit of our qualified REIT subsidiaries will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit. A qualified REIT subsidiary is a corporation, other than a taxable REIT subsidiary (as described below under "Operational Requirements—Asset Tests"), all of the capital stock of which is owned by a REIT.

        In the case of a REIT that is a partner in an entity treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes, 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 requirements described herein. In addition, the character of the assets and gross income of the partnership will retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of the REIT requirements, including the asset and income tests described below. As a result, our proportionate share of the assets, liabilities and items of income of our operating partnership and of any other partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes in which we or our operating partnership have an interest will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income.

        The Code provides relief from violations of the REIT gross income requirements, as described below under "Operational Requirements—Gross Income Tests," in cases where a violation is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and other requirements are met, including the payment of a penalty tax that is based upon the magnitude of the violation. In addition, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the "2004 Act") includes provisions that extend similar relief in the case of certain violations of the REIT asset requirements (see "Operational Requirements—Asset Tests" below) and other REIT requirements, again provided that the violation is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and other conditions are met, including the payment of a penalty tax. These provisions of the 2004 Act become effective beginning with the 2005 tax year. If we fail to satisfy any of the various REIT requirements, there can be no assurance that these relief provisions would be available to enable us to maintain our qualification as a REIT, and, if available, the amount of any resultant penalty tax could be substantial.

Operational Requirements—Gross Income Tests

        To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must satisfy annually two gross income requirements.

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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 and from other specified sources, including qualified temporary investment income, as described below. Gross income includes "rents from real property" and, in some circumstances, interest, but excludes gross income from dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. These dispositions are referred to as "prohibited transactions." This is the 75% Income Test.



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At least 95% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, for each taxable year must be derived from the real property investments described above and generally from distributions and interest and gains from the sale or disposition of stock or securities or from any combination of the foregoing. This is the 95% Income Test.

        The rents we will receive or be deemed to receive will qualify as "rents from real property" for purposes of satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT only if the following conditions are met:

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The amount of rent received from a customer must not be based 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 "rents from real property" solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of gross receipts or sales;

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•

In general, neither we nor an owner of 10% or more of our stock may directly or constructively own 10% or more of a customer (a "Related Party Customer") or a subtenant of the customer (in which case only rent attributable to the subtenant is disqualified);



•

Rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property cannot be greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, as determined based on the average of the fair market values as of the beginning and end of the taxable year; and



•

We normally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to customers, other than through an "independent contractor" who is adequately compensated and from whom we do not derive any income or through a "taxable REIT subsidiary." However, a REIT may provide services with respect to its properties, and the income derived therefrom will qualify as "rents from real property," if the services are "usually or customarily rendered" in connection with the rental of space only and are not otherwise considered "rendered to the occupant." Even if the services provided by us with respect to a property are impermissible customer services, the income derived therefrom will qualify as "rents from real property" if such income does not exceed one percent of all amounts received or accrued with respect to that property.

        We may from time to time enter into hedging transactions with respect to interest rate exposure on one or more of our assets or liabilities. Any such hedging transactions could take a variety of forms, including the use of derivative instruments such as interest rate swap contracts, interest rate cap or floor contracts, futures or forward contracts, and options. For taxable years beginning prior to 2005, to the extent that we enter into such a contract to reduce interest rate risk on indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets, any periodic income from the instrument, or gain from the disposition of the instrument, would be qualifying income for purposes of the REIT 95% gross income test, but not for the 75% gross income test. To the extent that we hedge with other types of financial instruments or in other situations (for example, hedges against fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies), the resultant income will be treated as income that does not qualify under the 95% or 75% income tests unless certain technical requirements are met.

        For taxable years beginning in 2005, the 2004 Act exempts from the 95% REIT income test, income of a REIT arising from "clearly identified" hedging transactions that are entered into to manage the risk of interest rate or price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings, including gain from the disposition of such hedging transactions, to the extent the hedging transactions hedge indebtedness incurred, or to be incurred, by the REIT to acquire or carry real estate assets. In general, for a hedging transaction to be "clearly identified," (a) it must be identified as a hedging transaction before the end of the day on which it is acquired or entered into, and (b) the items or risks being hedged must be identified "substantially contemporaneously" with entering into the hedging transaction (generally, not more than 35 days after entering into the hedging transaction).

        We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT. We may conduct some or all of our hedging activities (including hedging activities relating to currency risk) through a taxable REIT subsidiary or other corporate entity, the income from which may be subject to federal income tax, rather than participating in the arrangements directly. No assurance can be given, however, that our hedging activities will not give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of either or both of the REIT income tests, and will not adversely affect our ability to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements.

        Prior to the making of investments in properties, we may invest the net offering proceeds in liquid assets such as government securities or certificates of deposit or preferred securities of other REITs. For purposes of the 75% Income Test, income attributable to a stock or debt instrument purchased with the proceeds received by a REIT in exchange for stock in the REIT (other than amounts received pursuant to a distribution reinvestment plan) constitutes qualified temporary investment income if such

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income is received or accrued during the one-year period beginning on the date the REIT receives such new capital. To the extent that we hold any proceeds of the offering for longer than one year, we may invest those amounts in less liquid investments such as mortgage-backed securities, maturing mortgage loans purchased from mortgage lenders or shares in other REITs in order to satisfy the 75% Income and the 95% Income Tests and the Asset Tests described below. We expect the bulk of the remainder of our income to qualify under the 75% Income and 95% Income Tests as rents from real property in accordance with the requirements described above. In this regard, we anticipate that most of our leases will be for fixed rentals with annual "consumer price index" or similar adjustments and that none of the rentals under our leases will be based on the income or profits of any person. In addition, none of our customers are expected to be Related Party Customers and the portion of the rent attributable to personal property is not expected to exceed 15% of the total rent to be received under any lease. Finally, we anticipate that all or most of the services to be performed with respect to our properties will be performed by our property manager and such services are expected to be those usually or customarily rendered in connection with the rental of real property and not rendered to the occupant of such property. In addition, we anticipate that any non-customary services will be provided by a taxable REIT subsidiary or, alternatively, by an independent contractor that is adequately compensated and from whom we derive no income. However, we can give no assurance that the actual sources of our gross income will allow us to satisfy the 75% Income and the 95% Income Tests described above.

        Notwithstanding our failure to satisfy one or both of the 75% Income and the 95% Income Tests for any taxable year, we may still qualify as a REIT for that year if we are eligible for relief under specific provisions of the Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if:

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Our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect;



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We attach a schedule of our income sources to our federal income tax return; and



•

Any incorrect information on the schedule is not due to fraud with intent to evade tax.

        It is not possible, however, to state whether, in all circumstances, we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. In addition, as discussed above in "Taxation of Dividend Capital Trust," even if these relief provisions apply, a tax would be imposed with respect to the excess net income.

Operational Requirements—Asset Tests

        At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we also must satisfy four tests ("Asset Tests") relating to the nature and diversification of our assets.

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First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets, cash, cash items and government securities. The term "real estate assets" includes real property, mortgages on real property, shares in other qualified REITs, property attributable to the temporary investment of new capital as described above and a proportionate share of any real estate assets owned by a partnership in which we are a partner or of any qualified REIT subsidiary of ours.



•

Second, no more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class.



•

Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class, the value of any one issuer's securities that we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets. Additionally, we may not own more than 10% of the voting power or value of any one issuer's outstanding securities. This Asset Test does not apply to securities of a taxable REIT subsidiary. For purposes of this Asset Test and the second Asset Test, securities do not include the equity or debt securities of a

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qualified REIT subsidiary of ours or an equity interest in any entity treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes.

•

Fourth, no more than 20% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries. Subject to certain exceptions, a taxable REIT subsidiary is any corporation, other than a REIT, in which we directly or indirectly own stock and with respect to which a joint election has been made by us and the corporation to treat the corporation as a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours and also includes any corporation, other than a REIT, in which a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours owns, directly or indirectly, more than 35 percent of the voting power or value.

        The Asset Tests must generally be met for any quarter in which we acquire securities or other property. Upon full investment of the net offering proceeds we expect that most of our assets will consist of real property and we therefore expect to satisfy the Asset Tests.

        If we meet the Asset Tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our REIT status for a failure to satisfy the Asset Tests at the end of a later quarter in which we have not acquired any securities or other property if such failure occurs solely because of changes in asset values. If our failure to satisfy the Asset Tests results from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, we can cure the failure by disposing of a sufficient amount of non-qualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We intend to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the Asset Tests and to take other action within 30 days after the close of any quarter as may be required to cure any noncompliance.

        The 2004 Act contains a number of provisions applicable to REITs, including relief provisions, that make it easier for REITs to satisfy the asset requirements, or to maintain REIT qualification notwithstanding certain violations of the asset and other requirements. These provisions are generally effective beginning with our 2005 tax year, except as otherwise noted below.

        One such provision applies to "de minimis" violations of the 10% and 5% asset tests. A REIT may maintain its qualification despite a violation of such requirements if (a) the value of the assets causing the violation does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the REIT's total assets, and $10,000,000, and (b) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or the relevant tests are otherwise satisfied within that time frame.

        A second relief provision contained in the 2004 Act allows a REIT which fails one or more of the asset requirements and is ineligible for relief under the de minimis rule to nevertheless maintain its REIT qualification if (a) it provides the IRS with a description of each asset causing the failure, (b) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (c) the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater of (i) $50,000 per failure, and (ii) the product of the net income generated by the assets that caused the failure multiplied by the highest applicable corporate tax rate (currently 35%), and (d) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or otherwise satisfies the relevant asset tests within that time frame.

        The 2004 Act also provides that certain securities will not cause a violation of the 10% value test described above. Such securities include instruments that constitute "straight debt," which now has an expanded definition and includes securities having certain contingency features. A newly enacted restriction, however, precludes a security from qualifying as "straight debt" where a REIT (or a controlled taxable REIT subsidiary of the REIT) owns other securities of the issuer of that security which do not qualify as straight debt, unless the value of those other securities constitute, in the aggregate, 1% or less of the total value of that issuer's outstanding securities. In addition to straight debt, the 2004 Act provides that certain other securities will not violate the 10% value test. Such securities include (a) any loan made to an individual or an estate, (b) certain rental agreements in which one or more payments are to be made in subsequent years (other than agreements between a

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REIT and certain persons related to the REIT), (c) any obligation to pay rents from real property, (d) securities issued by governmental entities that are not dependent in whole or in part on the profits of (or payments made by) a non-governmental entity, (e) any security issued by another REIT, and (f) any debt instrument issued by a partnership if the partnership's income is of a nature that it would satisfy the 75% gross income test described above under "Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Operational Requirements—Gross Income Tests." The 2004 Act also provides that in applying the 10% value test, a debt security issued by a partnership is not taken into account to the extent, if any, of the REIT's proportionate equity interest in that partnership. Each of the changes described in this paragraph that were made by the 2004 Act have retroactive effect beginning with the 2001 tax year.

        To the extent that we fail one or more of the asset tests, and we do not fall within the de minimis safe harbors with respect to the 5% and 10% asset tests, we may nevertheless be deemed to have satisfied such requirements if (i) we take certain corrective measures, (ii) we meet certain technical requirements, and (iii) we pay a specified excise tax of $50,000.

Operational Requirements—Annual Distribution Requirement

        In order to be taxed as a REIT, we are required to make distributions, other than capital gain distributions, to our shareholders each year in the amount of at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (computed without regard to the distributions paid deduction and our net capital gain and subject to certain other potential adjustments) for all tax years. While we must generally pay distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, we may also pay distributions in the following taxable year if (1) they are declared before we timely file our federal income tax return for the taxable year in question, and if (2) they are paid on or before the first regular distribution payment date after the declaration.

        Even if we satisfy the foregoing distribution requirement and, accordingly, continue to qualify as a REIT for tax purposes, we will still be subject to federal income tax on the excess of our net capital gain and our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, over the amount of distributions to shareholders.

        In addition, if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of:

•

85% of our ordinary income for that year;



•

95% of our capital gain net income other than the capital gain net income which we elect to retain and pay tax on for that year; and



•

any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the amount of the required distributions over the sum of (A) the amounts actually distributed plus (B) retained amounts on which corporate level tax is paid by us.

        We intend to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy this requirement; however, it is possible that we may experience timing differences between (1) the actual receipt of income and payment of deductible expenses, and (2) the inclusion of that income and deduction of those expenses for purposes of computing our taxable income. It is also possible that we may be allocated a share of net capital gain attributable to the sale of depreciated property by our operating partnership that exceeds our allocable share of cash attributable to that sale. In those circumstances, we may have less cash than is necessary to meet our annual distribution requirement or to avoid income or excise taxation on undistributed income. We may find it necessary in those circumstances to arrange for financing or raise funds through the issuance of additional shares in order to meet our distribution requirements. If we fail to satisfy the distribution requirement for any taxable year by reason of a later adjustment to our taxable income made by the Internal Revenue Service, we may be able to pay "deficiency dividends" in a later year and include such distributions in our deductions for distributions paid for the earlier year. In that event, we may be able to avoid losing our REIT status or being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, but we would be required to pay interest and a penalty to the Internal Revenue Service based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends for the earlier year.

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        As noted above, we may also elect to retain, rather than distribute, our net long-term capital gains. The effect of such an election would be as follows:

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We would be required to pay the federal income tax on these gains;



•

Taxable U.S. shareholders, while required to include their proportionate share of the undistributed long-term capital gains in income, would receive a credit or refund for their share of the tax paid by the REIT; and



•

The basis of the shareholder's shares would be increased by the difference between the designated amount included in the shareholder's long-term capital gains and the tax deemed paid with respect to such shares.

        In computing our REIT taxable income, we will use the accrual method of accounting and intend to depreciate depreciable property under the alternative depreciation system. We are required to file an annual federal income tax return, which, like other corporate returns, is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. Because the tax law requires us to make many judgments regarding the proper treatment of a transaction or an item of income or deduction, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service will challenge positions we take in computing our REIT taxable income and our distributions.

        Issues could arise, for example, with respect to the allocation of the purchase price of properties between depreciable or amortizable assets and non-depreciable or non-amortizable assets such as land and the current deductibility of fees paid to the Advisor or its affiliates. Were the Internal Revenue Service to successfully challenge our characterization of a transaction or determination of our REIT taxable income, we could be found to have failed to satisfy a requirement for qualification as a REIT. If, as a result of a challenge, we are determined to have failed to satisfy the distribution requirements for a taxable year, we would be disqualified as a REIT, unless we were permitted to pay a deficiency dividend to our shareholders and pay interest thereon to the Internal Revenue Service, as provided by the Code. A deficiency dividend cannot be used to satisfy the distribution requirement, however, if the failure to meet the requirement is not due to a later adjustment to our income by the Internal Revenue Service.

Operational Requirements—Recordkeeping

        We must maintain certain records as set forth in Treasury Regulations in order to avoid the payment of monetary penalties to the Internal Revenue Service. Such Treasury Regulations require that we request, on an annual basis, certain information designed to disclose the ownership of our outstanding shares. We intend to comply with these requirements.

Failure to Qualify as a REIT

        If we fail to qualify as a REIT for any reason in a taxable year and applicable 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. We will not be able to deduct distributions paid to our shareholders in any year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT. In this situation, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to our shareholders that are individuals will generally be taxable at capital gains rates (through 2008), and, subject to limitations of the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the distributions received deduction. We also will be disqualified for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions.

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Sale-Leaseback Transactions

        Some of our investments may be in the form of sale-leaseback transactions. We normally intend to treat these transactions as true leases for federal income tax purposes. However, depending on the terms of any specific transaction, the Internal Revenue Service might take the position that the transaction is not a true lease but is more properly treated in some other manner. If such re-characterization were successful, we would not be entitled to claim the depreciation deductions available to an owner of the property. In addition, the re-characterization of one or more of these transactions might cause us to fail to satisfy the Asset Tests or the Income Tests described above based upon the asset we would be treated as holding or the income we would be treated as having earned and such failure could result in our failing to qualify as a REIT. Alternatively, the amount or timing of income inclusion or the loss of depreciation deductions resulting from the re-characterization might cause us to fail to meet the distribution requirement described above for one or more taxable years absent the availability of the deficiency distribution procedure or might result in a larger portion of our distributions being treated as ordinary distribution income to our shareholders.

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders

Definition

        In this section, the phrase "U.S. shareholder" means a holder of our common stock that for federal income tax purposes is:

•

a citizen or resident of the United States;



•

a corporation, partnership or other entity treated as a corporation or partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof;



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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or



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a trust if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

        For any taxable year for which we qualify for taxation as a REIT, amounts distributed to, and gains realized by, taxable U.S. shareholders with respect to our common shares generally will be taxed as described below. For a summary of the federal income tax treatment of distributions reinvested in additional shares of our common stock pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan, see "Description of Securities—Distribution Reinvestment Plan." For a summary of the federal income tax treatment of shares redeemed by us under our share redemption program, see "Description of Securities—Share Redemption Program."

Distributions Generally

        Distributions to U.S. shareholders, other than capital gain distributions discussed below, will constitute distributions up to the amount of our current or accumulated earnings and profits and will be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income. These distributions are not eligible for the distributions received deduction generally available to corporations. In addition, with limited exceptions, these distributions are not eligible for taxation at the preferential income tax rates for qualified distributions received by individuals from taxable C corporations pursuant to the recently enacted Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. Shareholders that are individuals, however, are taxed at the preferential rates on distributions designated by and received from us to the extent that the distributions are attributable to (i) income retained by us in the prior taxable year on which we were subject to corporate level income tax (less the amount of tax), (ii) distributions received by us

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from taxable C corporations, or (iii) income in the prior taxable year from the sales of "built-in gain" property acquired by us from C corporations in carryover basis transactions (less the amount of corporate tax on such income).

        To the extent that we make a distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital, reducing the tax basis in the U.S. shareholder's shares, and the amount of each distribution in excess of a U.S. shareholder's tax basis in its shares will be taxable as gain realized from the sale of its shares. Distributions that we declare in October, November or December of any year payable to a shareholder of record on a specified date in any of these months will be treated as both paid by us and received by the shareholder on December 31 of the year, provided that we actually pay the distribution during January of the following calendar year. U.S. shareholders may not include any of our losses on their own federal income tax returns.

        We will be treated as having sufficient earnings and profits to treat as a dividend any distribution by us up to the amount required to be distributed in order to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax discussed above. Moreover, any "deficiency dividend" will be treated as an ordinary or capital gain distribution, as the case may be, regardless of our earnings and profits. As a result, shareholders may be required to treat as taxable some distributions that would otherwise result in a tax-free return of capital.

Capital Gain Distributions

        Distributions to U.S. shareholders that we properly designate as capital gain distributions normally will be treated as long-term capital gains to the extent they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year without regard to the period for which the U.S. shareholder has held his stock. A corporate U.S. shareholder might be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain distributions as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains are generally taxable at maximum federal rates of 15% (through 2008) in the case of stockholders who are individuals, and 35% in the case of stockholders that are corporations. Capital gains attributable to the sale of depreciable real property held for more than 12 months are subject to a 25% maximum federal income tax rate for taxpayers who are individuals, to the extent of previously claimed depreciation deductions. See "Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Operational Requirements—Annual Distribution Requirement" for the treatment by U.S. shareholders of net long-term capital gains that we elect to retain and pay tax on.

Certain Dispositions of Our Common Shares

        In general, capital gains recognized by individuals upon the sale or disposition of shares of our common stock will be subject to a maximum federal income tax rate of 15% (from May 6, 2003 through 2008) if such stock is held for more than 12 months, and will be taxed at ordinary income rates (of up to 35% through 2010) if such stock is held for 12 months or less. Gains recognized by stockholders that are corporations are subject to federal income tax at a maximum rate of 35%, whether or not classified as long-term capital gains. Capital losses recognized by a stockholder upon the disposition of share of our common stock held for more than one year at the time of disposition will be considered long-term capital losses, and are generally available only to offset capital gain income of the stockholder but not ordinary income (except in the case of individuals, who may offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income each year). In addition, any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares of our common stock by a stockholder who has held such shares for six months or less, after applying holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions received from us that are required to be treated by the stockholder as long-term capital gain.

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Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding for U.S. Shareholders

        We will report to U.S. shareholders of our common shares and to the Internal Revenue Service the amount of distributions made or deemed made during each calendar year and the amount of tax withheld, if any. Under some circumstances, U.S. shareholders may be subject to backup withholding on payments made with respect to, or cash proceeds of a sale or exchange of, our common stock. Backup withholding will apply only if the shareholder:

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Fails to furnish its taxpayer identification number (which, for an individual, would be his or her Social Security number);



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Furnishes an incorrect taxpayer identification number;



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Is notified by the Internal Revenue Service that the shareholder has failed properly to report payments of interest or distributions and is subject to backup withholding; or



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Under some circumstances, fails to certify, under penalties of perjury, that it has furnished a correct taxpayer identification number and has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding for failure to report interest and distribution payments or has been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that the shareholder is no longer subject to backup withholding for failure to report those payments.

        Backup withholding will not apply with respect to payments made to some shareholders, such as corporations in certain circumstances and tax-exempt organizations. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the amount of any backup withholding with respect to a payment to a U.S. shareholder will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. shareholder's United States federal income tax liability and may entitle the U.S. shareholder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service. U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining an exemption.

Treatment of Tax-Exempt Shareholders

        Tax-exempt entities including employee pension benefit trusts and individual retirement accounts generally are exempt from United States federal income taxation. These entities are subject to taxation, however, on any "unrelated business taxable income" ("UBTI"), as defined in the Code. The Internal Revenue Service has issued a published ruling that distributions from a REIT to a tax-exempt pension trust did not constitute UBTI. Although rulings are merely interpretations of law by the Internal Revenue Service and may be revoked or modified, based on this analysis, indebtedness incurred by us or by our operating partnership in connection with the acquisition of a property should not cause any income derived from the property to be treated as UBTI upon the distribution of those amounts as dividends to a tax-exempt U.S. shareholder of our common shares. A tax-exempt entity that incurs indebtedness to finance its purchase of our common shares, however, will be subject to UBTI under the debt-financed income rules. However, social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts and qualified group legal services plans that are exempt from taxation under specified provisions of the Code are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally will require them to treat dividend distributions from us as UBTI. These organizations are urged to consult their own tax advisor with respect to the treatment of our distributions to them.

        In addition, tax-exempt pension and specified other tax-exempt trusts that hold more than 10% by value of the shares of a REIT may be required to treat a specified percentage of REIT dividends as UBTI. This requirement applies only if our qualification as a REIT depends upon the application of a look-through exception to the closely-held restriction and we are considered to be predominantly held by those tax-exempt trusts. It is not anticipated that our qualification as a REIT will depend upon

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application of the look-through exception or that we will be predominantly held by these types of trusts.

Special Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Shareholders

        The rules governing United States federal income taxation of non-resident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and other foreign shareholders (collectively, "Non-U.S. holders") are complex. The following discussion is intended only as a summary of these rules. Non-U.S. holders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the impact of United States federal, state and local income tax laws on an investment in our common stock, including any reporting requirements as well as the tax treatment of the investment under the tax laws of their home country.

Ordinary Dividends

        The portion of distributions received by Non-U.S. holders payable out of our earnings and profits which are not attributable to our capital gains and which are not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. holder will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30%, unless reduced by treaty. In general, Non-U.S. holders will not be considered to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of their ownership of our common stock. In cases where the dividend income from a Non-U.S. holder's investment in our common stock is, or is treated as, effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder's conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the Non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as domestic stockholders are taxed with respect to such distributions, such income must generally be reported on a U.S. income tax return filed by or on behalf of the non-U.S. holder, and the income may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a Non-U.S. holder that is a corporation.

Non-Dividend Distributions

        Unless our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest (a "USRPI"), distributions by us which are not dividends out of our earnings and profits will not be subject to U.S. income tax. If it cannot be determined at the time at which a distribution is made whether or not the distribution will exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to dividends. However, the Non-U.S. holder may seek a refund from the Internal Revenue Service of any amounts withheld if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. If our common stock constitutes a USRPI, as described below, distributions by us in excess of the sum of our earnings and profits plus the shareholder's basis in our stock will be taxed under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 ("FIRPTA") at the rate of tax, including any applicable capital gains rates, that would apply to a domestic stockholder of the same type (e.g., an individual or a corporation, as the case may be), and the collection of the tax will be enforced by a refundable withholding at a rate of 10% of the amount by which the distribution exceeds the stockholder's share of our earnings and profits.

Capital Gain Distributions

        Under FIRPTA, a distribution made by us to a non-U.S. holder, to the extent attributable to gains from dispositions of USRPIs held by us directly or through pass-through subsidiaries ("USRPI capital gains"), will be considered effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. holder and will be subject to federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. individuals or corporations, without regard to whether the distribution is designated as a capital gain dividend. See above under "Special Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Stockholders—Ordinary Dividends" for a discussion of the consequences of income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. In addition, we will be required to withhold tax equal to 35% of the amount of dividends to the extent the dividends constitute USRPI capital gains. Pursuant to the 2004 Act, a capital gain dividend paid by us that would

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otherwise have been treated as a USRPI capital gain will not be so treated or be subject to FIRPTA, will generally not be treated as income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, and will instead be treated the same as an ordinary dividend from us (see "Special Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Stockholders—Ordinary Dividends"), provided that (1) the capital gain dividend is received with respect to a class of stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States, and (2) the recipient non-U.S. holder does not own more than 5% of that class of stock at any time during the taxable year in which the capital gain dividend is received. This provision of the 2004 Act is effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2004. We do not anticipate our shares satisfying the "regularly traded" requirement. Distributions subject to FIRPTA may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation. A distribution is not a USRPI capital gain if we held the underlying asset solely as a creditor. Capital gain dividends received by a non-U.S. holder from a REIT that are not USRPI capital gains are generally not subject to U.S. income tax, but may be subject to withholding tax.

Dispositions of Our Common Stock

        Unless our common stock constitutes a USRPI, a sale of our common stock by a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. taxation under FIRPTA. Our common stock will not be treated as a USRPI if less than 50% of our assets throughout a prescribed testing period consist of interests in real property located within the United States, excluding, for this purpose, interests in real property solely in a capacity as a creditor.

        Even if the foregoing test is not met, our common stock nonetheless will not constitute a USRPI if we are a "domestically controlled REIT." A domestically controlled REIT is a REIT in which, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of its shares is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. holders. We currently anticipate that we will continue to be a domestically controlled REIT and, therefore, the sale of our common stock should not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. However, we cannot assure you that we are or will continue to be a domestically controlled REIT. If we were not a domestically controlled REIT, whether a Non-U.S. holder's sale of our common stock would be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a United States real property interest would depend on whether our common stock were "regularly traded" on an established securities market and on the size of the selling shareholder's interest in us.

        If the gain on the sale of shares were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, a Non-U.S. holder would be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. shareholder with respect to the gain, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of non-resident alien individuals. Gain from the sale of our common stock that would not otherwise be subject to FIRPTA will nonetheless be taxable in the United States to a non-U.S. holder in two cases: (a) if the non-U.S. holder's investment in our common stock is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. holder, the non-U.S. holder will be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to such gain, or (b) if the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a "tax home" in the United States, the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual's capital gain.

Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding for Non-U.S. Shareholders

        Non-U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisors with regard to U.S. information reporting and backup withholding requirements under the Code.

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Statement of Stock Ownership

        We are required to demand annual written statements from the record holders of designated percentages of our common stock disclosing the actual owners of the shares. Any record shareholder who, upon our request, does not provide us with required information concerning actual ownership of the shares is required to include specified information relating to his shares in his federal income tax return. We also must maintain, within the Internal Revenue District in which we are required to file our federal income tax return, permanent records showing the information we have received about the actual ownership of our common stock and a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with our demand.

Federal Income Tax Aspects of Our Partnership

        The following discussion summarizes certain federal income tax considerations applicable to our investment in our operating partnership. The discussion does not cover state or local tax laws or any federal tax laws other than income tax laws.

Classification as a Partnership

        We will be entitled to include in our income a distributive share of our operating partnership's income and to deduct our distributive share of our operating partnership's losses only if our operating partnership is classified for federal income tax purposes as a partnership, rather than as a corporation or an association taxable as a corporation. Under applicable Treasury Regulations (the "Check-the-Box-Regulations"), an unincorporated domestic entity with at least two members may elect to be classified either as an association taxable as a corporation or as a partnership. If the entity fails to make an election, it generally will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Our operating partnership intends to be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and will not elect to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation under the Check-the-Box-Regulations.

        Even though our operating partnership will not elect to be treated as an association for Federal income tax purposes, it may be taxed as a corporation if it is deemed to be a "publicly traded partnership." A publicly traded partnership is a partnership whose interests are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. Under applicable Treasury regulations (the "PTP Regulations"), limited safe harbors from the definition of a publicly traded partnership are provided. Pursuant to one of those safe harbors (the "Private Placement Exclusion"), interests in a partnership will not be treated as readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof if (i) all interests in the partnership were issued in a transaction (or transactions) that were not required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (ii) the partnership does not have more than 100 partners at any time during the partnership's taxable year. In determining the number of partners in a partnership, a person owning an interest in a flow-through entity (including a partnership, grantor trust or S corporation) that owns an interest in the partnership is treated as a partner in such partnership only if (a) substantially all of the value of the owner's interest in the flow-through entity is attributable to the flow-through entity's direct or indirect interest in the partnership, and (b) a principal purpose of the use of the flow-through entity is to permit the partnership to satisfy the 100 partner limitation. We and our operating partnership believe and currently intend to take the position that our operating partnership should not be classified as a publicly traded partnership because (i) DCX Units are not traded on an established securities market, and (ii) DCX Units should not be considered readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. In addition, our operating partnership presently qualifies for the Private Placement Exclusion.

        Even if our operating partnership were considered a publicly traded partnership under the PTP Regulations, the operating partnership should not be treated as a corporation for Federal income tax

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purposes as long as 90% or more of its gross income consists of "qualifying income" under section 7704(d) of the Code. In general, qualifying income includes interest, dividends, real property rents (as defined by section 856 of the Code) and gain from the sale or disposition of real property. If our operating partnership were characterized as a publicly traded partnership even if it were not taxable as a corporation because of the qualifying income exception, however, holders of DCX Units would be subject to special rules under section 469 of the Code. Under such rules, each holder of DCX Units would be required to treat any loss derived from the operating partnership separately from any income or loss derived from any other publicly traded partnership, as well as from income or loss derived from other passive activities. In such case, any net losses or credits attributable to the operating partnership which are carried forward may only be offset against future income of the operating partnership. Moreover, unlike other passive activity losses, suspended losses attributable to the operating partnership would only be allowed upon the complete disposition of the DCX Unit holder's "entire interest" in the operating partnership.

        We have not requested, and do not intend to request, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that our operating partnership will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

        If for any reason our operating partnership were taxable as a corporation, rather than a partnership, for federal income tax purposes, we would not be able to qualify as a REIT, unless we are eligible for relief from the violation pursuant to relief provisions described above. See "Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Organizational Requirements" and "Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Operational Requirements—Asset Tests," above, for discussion of the effect of the failure to satisfy the REIT tests for a taxable year, and of the relief provisions. In addition, any change in our operating partnership's status for tax purposes might be treated as a taxable event, in which case we might incur a tax liability without any related cash distribution. Further, items of income and deduction of our operating partnership would not pass through to its partners, and its partners would be treated as shareholders for tax purposes. Our operating partnership would be required to pay income tax at corporate tax rates on its net income, and distributions to its partners would constitute dividends that would not be deductible in computing our operating partnership's taxable income.

Income Taxation of Our Operating Partnership and its Partners

        Partners, Not Partnership, Subject to Tax.     A partnership is not a taxable entity for federal income tax purposes. As a partner in our operating partnership, we will be required to take into account our allocable share of our operating partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits for any taxable year of our operating partnership ending within or with our taxable year, without regard to whether we have received or will receive any distributions from our operating partnership.

        Partnership Allocations.     Although a partnership agreement generally determines the allocation of income and losses among partners, such allocations will be disregarded for tax purposes under section 704(b) of the Code if they do not comply with the provisions of section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. If an allocation is not recognized for federal income tax purposes, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partner's interests in the partnership, which will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item. Our operating partnership's allocations of taxable income and loss are intended to comply with the requirements of section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

        Tax Allocations With Respect to Contributed Properties.     Pursuant to section 704(c) of the Code, income, gain, loss, and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership must be allocated for federal income tax purposes in a manner such that the contributor is charged with, or benefits from, the unrealized gain or unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of unrealized

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gain or unrealized loss is generally equal to the difference between the fair market value of the contributed property at the time of contribution and the adjusted tax basis of such property at the time of contribution. Under applicable Treasury Regulations, partnerships are required to use a "reasonable method" for allocating items subject to section 704(c) of the Code and several reasonable allocation methods are described therein.

        Under the partnership agreement, subject to exceptions applicable to the special limited partnership interests, depreciation or amortization deductions of our operating partnership generally will be allocated among the partners in accordance with their respective interests in our operating partnership, except to the extent that our operating partnership is required under section 704(c) to use a different method for allocating depreciation deductions attributable to its properties. In addition, gain or loss on the sale of a property that has been contributed to our operating partnership will be specially allocated to the contributing partner to the extent of any built-in gain or loss with respect to the property for federal income tax purposes. It is possible that we may (1) be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes with respect to contributed properties than would be allocated to us if each such property were to have a tax basis equal to its fair market value at the time of contribution, and (2) be allocated taxable gain in the event of a sale of such contributed properties in excess of the economic profit allocated to us as a result of such sale. These allocations may cause us to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds received by us, which might adversely affect our ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements, although we do not anticipate that this event will occur. The foregoing principles also will affect the calculation of our earnings and profits for purposes of determining the portion of our distributions that are taxable as a dividend. The allocations described in this paragraph may result in a higher portion of our distributions being taxed as a dividend than would have occurred had we purchased such properties for cash.

        Basis in Partnership Interest.     The adjusted tax basis of our partnership interest in our operating partnership generally will be equal to (1) the amount of cash and the basis of any other property contributed to our operating partnership by us, (2) increased by (A) our allocable share of our operating partnership's income and (B) our allocable share of indebtedness of our operating partnership, and (3) reduced, but not below zero, by (A) our allocable share of our operating partnership's loss and (B) the amount of cash distributed to us, including constructive cash distributions resulting from a reduction in our share of indebtedness of our operating partnership. If the allocation of our distributive share of our operating partnership's loss would reduce the adjusted tax basis of our partnership interest in our operating partnership below zero, the recognition of the loss will be deferred until such time as the recognition of the loss would not reduce our adjusted tax basis below zero. If a distribution from our operating partnership or a reduction in our share of our operating partnership's liabilities would reduce our adjusted tax basis below zero, that distribution, including a constructive distribution, will constitute taxable income to us. The gain realized by us upon the receipt of any such distribution or constructive distribution would normally be characterized as capital gain, and if our partnership interest in our operating partnership has been held for longer than the long-term capital gain holding period (currently one year), the distribution would constitute long-term capital gain.

        Depreciation Deductions Available to Our Operating Partnership.     Our operating partnership will use a portion of contributions made by Dividend Capital Trust from net offering proceeds to acquire interests in properties. To the extent that our operating partnership acquires properties for cash, our operating partnership's initial basis in such properties for federal income tax purposes generally will be equal to the purchase price paid by our operating partnership. Our operating partnership plans to depreciate each depreciable property for federal income tax purposes under the alternative depreciation system of depreciation ("ADS"). Under ADS, our operating partnership generally will depreciate buildings and improvements over a 40-year recovery period using a straight-line method and a mid-month convention and will depreciate furnishings and equipment over a 12-year recovery period. To the extent that our operating partnership acquires properties in exchange for units of our operating

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partnership, our operating partnership's initial basis in each such property for federal income tax purposes should be the same as the transferor's basis in that property on the date of acquisition by our operating partnership. Although the law is not entirely clear, our operating partnership generally intends to depreciate such depreciable property for federal income tax purposes over the same remaining useful lives and under the same methods used by the transferors.

        Sale of Our Operating Partnership's Property.     Generally, any gain realized by our operating partnership on the sale of property held for more than one year will be long-term capital gain, except for any portion of such gain that is treated as depreciation or cost recovery recapture. Our share of any gain realized by our operating partnership on the sale of any property held by our operating partnership as inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of our operating partnership's trade or business will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% tax. We, however, do not presently intend to acquire or hold or allow our operating partnership to acquire or hold any property that represents inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of our or our operating partnership's trade or business.

Other Tax Considerations

Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs

        The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 contains a number of provisions that affect the tax treatment of REITs and their stockholders. As discussed above, the 2004 Act includes provisions that generally ease compliance with certain REIT asset requirements, with the REIT 95% gross income requirement (in connection with income from hedging activities), and which grant relief in cases involving violations of the REIT asset and other requirements, provided that specified conditions are met. See "Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Organizational Requirements," "Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Operational Requirements—Asset Tests" and "Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Operational Requirements—Gross Income Tests." The 2004 Act also alters the tax treatment of capital gain dividends received by foreign stockholders in some cases. See "Special Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Stockholders—Capital Gain Distributions." These changes are generally effective beginning in 2005, except that the provisions relating to the 10% asset (value) requirement have retroactive effect to 2001.

        The recently enacted Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 reduced the maximum tax rates at which individuals are taxed on capital gains from 20% to 15% (from May 6, 2003 through 2008) and on dividends payable by taxable C corporations from 38.6% to 15% (from January 1, 2003 through 2008). While gains from the sale of the stock of REITs are eligible for the reduced tax rates, dividends payable by REITs are not eligible for the reduced tax rates except in limited circumstances. See "Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders—Distributions Generally." As a result, dividends received from REITs generally will continue to be taxed at ordinary income rates (now at a maximum rate of 35% through 2010). The more favorable tax rates applicable to regular corporate dividends could cause investors who are individuals to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including our stock.

        In addition, recent revenue proposals, if enacted, would amend Section 163(j) of the Code to limit the ability of a taxable REIT subsidiary to deduct interest paid to its parent REIT in excess the limitations currently in effect.

        The rules dealing with federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department. No assurance can be given as to whether, or in what form, the proposal described above (or any other proposals affecting REITs or their stockholders) will be enacted. Changes to the federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in our stock.

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State and Local Taxation

        We and any operating subsidiaries we may form may be subject to state and local tax in states and localities in which we or they do business or own property. The tax treatment of Dividend Capital Trust, our operating partnership, any operating subsidiaries, joint ventures or other arrangements we or our operating partnership may form or enter into and the tax treatment of the holders of our common stock in local jurisdictions may differ from the federal income tax treatment described above. Consequently, prospective shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on their investment in our common stock.

ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

        The following is a summary of some non-tax considerations associated with an investment in our common stock by a qualified employee pension benefit plan or an IRA. This summary is based on provisions of ERISA and the Code, as amended through the date of this prospectus, and relevant regulations and opinions issued by the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service. We cannot assure you that adverse tax decisions or legislative, regulatory or administrative changes which would significantly modify the statements expressed herein will not occur. Any such changes may or may not apply to transactions entered into prior to the date of their enactment. Each fiduciary of an employee pension benefit plan subject to ERISA, such as a profit sharing, section 401(k) or pension plan, or of any other retirement plan or account subject to Section 4975 of the Code, such as an IRA (collectively, Benefit Plans), seeking to invest plan assets in our common stock must, taking into account the facts and circumstances of such Benefit Plan, consider, among other matters:

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Whether the investment is consistent with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code;



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Whether, under the facts and circumstances attendant to the Benefit Plan in question, the fiduciary's responsibility to the plan has been satisfied;



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Whether the investment will produce UBTI to the Benefit Plan (see "Federal Income Tax Considerations—Treatment of Tax-Exempt Shareholders"); and



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The need to value the assets of the Benefit Plan annually.

        Under ERISA, a plan fiduciary's responsibilities include the following duties:

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To act solely in the interest of plan participants and beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to them, as well as defraying reasonable expenses of plan administration;



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To invest plan assets prudently;



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To diversify the investments of the plan unless it is clearly prudent not to do so;



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To ensure sufficient liquidity for the plan; and



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To consider whether an investment would constitute or give rise to a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code.

        ERISA also requires that the assets of an employee benefit plan be held in trust and that the trustee, or a duly authorized named fiduciary or investment manager, have exclusive authority and discretion to manage and control the assets of the plan. Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit specified transactions involving the assets of a Benefit Plan which are between the plan and any "party in interest" or "disqualified person" with respect to that Benefit Plan. These transactions are prohibited regardless of how beneficial they may be for the Benefit Plan. Prohibited transactions include the sale, exchange or leasing of property, the lending of money or the extension of credit between a Benefit Plan and a party in interest or disqualified person, and the transfer to, or use by, or for the benefit of, a party in interest, or disqualified person, of any assets of a Benefit Plan. A

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fiduciary of a Benefit Plan also is prohibited from engaging in self-dealing, acting for a person who has an interest adverse to the plan or receiving any consideration for its own account from a party dealing with the plan in a transaction involving plan assets. Furthermore, Section 408 of the Code states that assets of an IRA trust may not be commingled with other property except in a common trust fund or common investment fund.

Plan Asset Considerations

        In order to determine whether an investment in our common stock by Benefit Plans creates or gives rise to the potential for either prohibited transactions or the commingling of assets referred to above, a fiduciary must consider whether an investment in our common stock will cause our assets to be treated as assets of the investing Benefit Plans. Neither ERISA nor the Code define the term "plan assets"; however, U.S. Department of Labor Regulations provide guidelines as to whether, and under what circumstances, the underlying assets of an entity will be deemed to constitute assets of a Benefit Plan when the plan invests in that entity (the Plan Assets Regulation). Under the Plan Assets Regulation, the assets of corporations, partnerships or other entities in which a Benefit Plan makes an equity investment will generally be deemed to be assets of the Benefit Plan unless the entity satisfies one of the exceptions to this general rule.

        In the event that our underlying assets were treated by the Department of Labor as the assets of investing Benefit Plans, then, among other adverse results, our management would be treated as fiduciaries with respect to each Benefit Plan shareholder, and an investment in our common stock might constitute an ineffective delegation of fiduciary responsibility to the Advisor, and expose the fiduciary of the Benefit Plan to co-fiduciary liability under ERISA for any breach by the Advisor of the fiduciary duties mandated under ERISA. Further, as another example, if our assets are deemed to be "plan assets," an investment by an IRA in our common stock might be deemed to result in an impermissible commingling of IRA assets with other property.

        If the Advisor or affiliates of the Advisor were treated as fiduciaries with respect to Benefit Plan shareholders, the prohibited transaction restrictions of ERISA and the Code would apply to any transaction involving our assets. These restrictions could, for example, require that we avoid transactions with entities that are affiliated with us or our affiliates or restructure our activities in order to obtain an administrative exemption from the prohibited transaction restrictions. We might have to provide Benefit Plan shareholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us or we might dissolve or terminate. If a prohibited transaction were to occur, the Code imposes an excise tax equal to 15% of the amount involved and authorizes the Internal Revenue Service to impose an additional 100% excise tax if the prohibited transaction is not "corrected." These taxes would be imposed on any disqualified person who participates in the prohibited transaction. In addition, the Advisor and possibly other fiduciaries of Benefit Plan shareholders subject to ERISA who permitted the prohibited transaction to occur or who otherwise breached their fiduciary responsibilities, or a non-fiduciary participating in a prohibited transaction, could be required to restore to the Benefit Plan any profits they realized as a result of the transaction or breach, and make good to the Benefit Plan any losses incurred by the Benefit Plan as a result of the transaction or breach. With respect to an IRA that invests in our common stock, the occurrence of a prohibited transaction involving the individual who established the IRA, or his or her beneficiary, would cause the IRA to lose its tax-exempt status under Section 408(e)(2) of the Code.

        The Plan Assets Regulation provides that the underlying assets of REITs will not be treated as assets of a Benefit Plan investing therein if the interest the Benefit Plan acquires is a "publicly-offered security." A publicly-offered security must be:

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Sold as part of a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and be part of a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,

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within 120 days (or such later time as may be allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission) after the end of the fiscal year in which the initial closing under this offering occurs;

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"Widely held," i.e., part of a class of securities that is owned by 100 or more persons who are independent of the issuer and one another; and



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"Freely transferable."

        Our common stock will be sold as part of an offering of securities to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and is part of a class registered under the Securities Exchange Act. In addition, we have over 100 independent shareholders as of the date of this prospectus. Whether a security is "freely transferable" depends upon the particular facts and circumstances. Our common stock is subject to certain restrictions on transferability intended to ensure that we continue to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT. The regulation provides, however, that where the minimum investment in a public offering of securities is $10,000 or less, the presence of a restriction on transferability intended to prohibit transfers which would result in a termination or reclassification of the entity for state or federal tax purposes will not ordinarily affect a determination that such securities are freely transferable. The minimum investment in our common stock is less than $10,000.

        If our common stock is "widely held" and assuming that no other facts and circumstances other than those referred to in the preceding paragraph exist that restrict transferability of our common stock and any offering takes place as described in this prospectus, our common stock would constitute "publicly-offered securities" and, accordingly, it is more likely than not that our underlying assets would not be considered "plan assets" under the Plan Assets Regulation.

Other Prohibited Transactions

        Regardless of whether the shares qualify for the "publicly-offered security" exception of the Plan Assets Regulation, a prohibited transaction could occur if Dividend Capital Trust, the Advisor, any selected dealer or any of their affiliates is a fiduciary (within the meaning of Section 3(21) of ERISA) with respect to any Benefit Plan purchasing the shares. Accordingly, unless an administrative or statutory exemption applies, shares should not be purchased by a Benefit Plan with respect to which any of the above persons is a fiduciary. A person is a fiduciary with respect to a Benefit Plan under Section 3(21) of ERISA if, among other things, the person has discretionary authority or control with respect to "plan assets" or provides investment advice for a fee with respect to "plan assets." Under a regulation issued by the Department of Labor, a person shall be deemed to be providing investment advice if that person renders advice as to the advisability of investing in our common stock and that person regularly provides investment advice to the Benefit Plan pursuant to a mutual agreement or understanding (written or otherwise) (1) that the advice will serve as the primary basis for investment decisions, and (2) that the advice will be individualized for the Benefit Plan based on its particular needs.

Annual Valuation

        A fiduciary of an employee benefit plan subject to ERISA is required to determine annually the fair market value of each asset of the plan as of the end of the plan's fiscal year and to file a report reflecting that value with the Department of Labor. When the fair market value of any particular asset is not available, the fiduciary is required to make a good faith determination of that asset's "fair market value" assuming an orderly liquidation at the time the determination is made. In addition, a trustee or custodian of an IRA must provide an IRA participant with a statement of the value of the IRA each year.

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        In discharging its obligation to value assets of a plan, a fiduciary subject to ERISA must act consistently with the relevant provisions of the plan and the general fiduciary standards of ERISA. Unless and until our common stock is listed on a national securities exchange or an over-the-counter market, it is not expected that a public market for the shares will develop. To date, neither the Internal Revenue Service nor the Department of Labor has promulgated regulations specifying how a plan fiduciary should determine the "fair market value" of the shares, namely when the fair market value of the shares is not determined in the marketplace. Therefore, to assist fiduciaries in fulfilling their valuation and annual reporting responsibilities with respect to ownership of shares, we intend to provide reports of our annual determinations of the current value of our net assets per outstanding share to those fiduciaries (including IRA trustees and custodians) who identify themselves to us and request the reports.

        For so long as we are offering shares, we intend to use the most recent offering price as the per share net asset value. We will continue to use the most recent offering price as the per share net asset value until December 31st of the year following the year in which the most recently completed offering has expired unless a new offering has commenced prior to that time in which case we would use the new offering price. After that time, the value of the properties and our other assets will be based upon a valuation. Such valuation will be performed by a person independent of us and of our advisor.

        We anticipate that we will provide annual reports of our determination of value (1) to IRA trustees and custodians not later than January 15 of each year, and (2) to other Benefit Plan fiduciaries within 75 days after the end of each calendar year. Each determination may be based upon valuation information available as of October 31 of the preceding year, up-dated, however, for any material changes occurring between October 31 and December 31. In connection with our 2004 annual report, we determined in accordance with the methodology described above that the per share net asset value was $10.50.

        We intend to revise these valuation procedures to conform with any relevant guidelines that the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor may hereafter issue. Meanwhile, we cannot assure you:

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That the value determined by us could or will actually be realized by us or by shareholders upon liquidation (in part because appraisals or estimated values do not necessarily indicate the price at which assets could be sold and because no attempt will be made to estimate the expenses of selling any of our assets);



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That shareholders could realize this value if they were to attempt to sell their shares; or



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That the value, or the method used to establish value, would comply with the ERISA or IRA requirements described above.