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”.

Holders

The number of holders of record of common stock outstanding was 1,140 as of January 31, 2021. 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 paid during 2020 aggregated $4.70 per share. Common stock cash dividends during 2019 aggregated $8.30 per share. On December 15, 2020, Simon’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend for the fourth quarter of 2020 of $1.30 per share, payable on January 22, 2021 to shareholders of record on December 24, 2020.

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 quarter ended December 31, 2020, Simon issued 98,290 shares of common stock to 20 limited partners of the Operating Partnership in exchange for an equal number of units pursuant to the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership. The issuance of 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

None.

The Operating Partnership

Market Information

There is no established trading market for units or preferred units.

Holders

The number of holders of record of units was 222 as of January 31, 2021.

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 2020 aggregated $4.70 per unit. Distributions during 2019 aggregated $8.30 per unit. On December 15, 2020, Simon’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash distribution for the fourth quarter of 2020 of $1.30 per unit, payable on January 22, 2021 to unitholders of record on December 24, 2020. 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

During the quarter ended December 31, 2020, the Operating Partnership issued 955,705 units in connection with the acquisition of an 80% ownership interest in TRG.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

None.

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