Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Simon

Market Information

Simon’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SPG”. The quarterly price range for the shares and the dividends declared per share for each quarter in the last two fiscal years are shown below:

There is no established public trading market for Simon’s Class B common stock. Dividends on the Class B common stock are identical to the common stock.

Holders

The number of holders of record of common stock outstanding was 1,128 as of February 14, 2018. The Class B common stock is subject to two voting trusts as to which Herbert Simon and David Simon are the trustees. Shares of Class B common stock convert automatically into an equal number of shares of common stock upon the occurrence of certain events and can be converted into shares of common stock at the option of the holders.

Dividends

We must pay a minimum amount of dividends to maintain Simon’s status as a REIT. Simon’s future dividends and future distributions of the Operating Partnership will be determined by Simon’s Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, based on actual and projected financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, cash available for dividends and limited partner distributions, cash reserves as deemed necessary for capital and operating expenditures, financing covenants, if any, and the amount required to maintain Simon’s status as a REIT.

Common stock cash dividends during 2017 aggregated $7.15 per share. Common stock cash dividends during 2016 aggregated $6.50 per share. In January 2018, Simon’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.95 per share of common stock payable on February 28, 2018 to stockholders of record on February 14, 2018.

We offer a dividend reinvestment plan that allows Simon’s stockholders to acquire additional shares by automatically reinvesting cash dividends. Shares are acquired pursuant to the plan at a price equal to the prevailing market price of such shares, without payment of any brokerage commission or service charge.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

During the fourth quarter of 2017, we issued an aggregate of 375,560 shares of common stock to limited partners of the Operating Partnership in exchange for an equal number of units pursuant to the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, as follows:

In each case, the issuance of the shares of common stock was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Issuances Under Equity Compensation Plans

For information regarding the securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans, see Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10‑K.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Operating Partnership

Market Information

There is no established trading market for units or preferred units. The following table sets forth for the periods indicated, the distributions declared on the Operating Partnership’s units:

Holders

The number of holders of record of units was 269 as of February 14, 2018.

Distributions

The Operating Partnership makes distributions on its units in amounts sufficient to maintain Simon's qualification as a REIT. Simon is required each year to distribute to its stockholders at least 90% of its REIT taxable income after certain adjustments. Future distributions will be determined by Simon’s Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, based on actual and projected financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, cash available for distributions, cash reserves as deemed necessary for capital and operating expenditures, financing covenants, if any, and the distributions that may be required to maintain Simon's status as a REIT.

Distributions during 2017 aggregated $7.15 per unit. Distributions during 2016 aggregated $6.50 per unit. In January 2018, Simon’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.95 per share. The distribution rate on the Operating Partnership’s units is equal to the dividend rate on Simon’s common stock.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

None.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

None.