10. EQUITY

On May 9, 2018, our board of directors (“Board”) increased the EVPS of our common stock to $11.05 based substantially on the estimated market value of our portfolio of real estate properties and our third-party investment management business as of March 31, 2018. We engaged a third-party valuation firm to provide a calculation of the range in EVPS of our common stock as of March 31, 2018, which reflected certain balance sheet assets and liabilities as of that date. Previously, on November 8, 2017, our Board increased the EVPS of our common stock to $11.00 from $10.20 based substantially on the estimated market value of our portfolio of real estate properties and our third-party investment management business as of October 5, 2017, the first full business day after the closing of the PELP transaction.

Shares of our common stock are issued under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “DRIP”) and redeemed under the Share Repurchase Program (“SRP”), as discussed below, at the same price as the EVPS in effect at the time of issuance or redemption.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan—The DRIP allows stockholders to invest distributions in additional shares of our common stock. Stockholders who elect to participate in the DRIP, and who are subject to U.S. federal income taxation laws, will incur a tax liability on an amount equal to the fair value on the relevant distribution date of the shares of our common stock purchased with reinvested distributions, even though such stockholders have elected not to receive the distributions in cash. In connection with the proposed Merger (see Note 3), the DRIP was temporarily suspended for the month of July 2018; therefore, all DRIP participants received their July 2018 distribution in cash rather than in stock. The DRIP plan resumed in August 2018, with the distribution paid in September 2018.

Share Repurchase Program—Our SRP provides an opportunity for stockholders to have shares of common stock repurchased, subject to certain restrictions and limitations. The Board reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, to reject any request for repurchase. Further, the cash available for repurchases on any particular date will generally be limited to the proceeds from the DRIP during the preceding four fiscal quarters, less amounts already used for repurchases since the beginning of that period. In connection with the Merger, the SRP was also temporarily suspended for the month of July 2018 and resumed in August 2018.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, repurchase requests surpassed the funding limits under the SRP. Approximately 4.5 million shares of our common stock were repurchased under the SRP during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Repurchase requests in connection with a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability,” or “determination of incompetence” were completed in full. The remaining repurchase requests that were in good order were fulfilled on a pro rata basis. Due to the program's funding limits, no funds will be available for the remainder of 2018. However, we will continue to fulfill repurchases sought upon a stockholder's death, “qualifying disability,” or “determination of incompetence” in accordance with the terms of the SRP.

In connection with the proposed Merger, the combined company will be required to reset its share repurchase queue. As a result, all SRP requests currently on file will be canceled on the date the Merger closes. All stockholders wishing to participate in the SRP after the Merger must submit a new SRP form to the transfer agent, DST, after the Merger to be included in the next standard repurchase of the combined company. All standard repurchase requests must be on file and in good order to be included for next standard repurchase of the combined company, which is expected to be in July 2019. At that time, should the demand for standard redemptions exceed the funding available for repurchases, the combined company is expected to make pro-rata redemptions. Following that standard repurchase, standard repurchase requests that are on file with the combined company and in good order that have not been fully executed (due to pro-rata redemptions), will remain on file for future redemptions.

Convertible Noncontrolling Interests—As part of the PELP transaction, we issued 39.4 million OP units that are classified as Noncontrolling Interests. Prior to the PELP transaction, the Operating Partnership also issued limited partnership units that were designated as Class B units for asset management services provided by our former advisor. Upon closing of the PELP transaction, all outstanding Class B units vested and were converted to OP units.

Under the terms of the Partnership Agreement, OP unit holders may elect to exchange OP units. The Operating Partnership controls the form of the redemption, and may elect to exchange OP units for shares of our common stock, provided that the OP units have been outstanding for at least one year. As the form of redemption for OP units is within our control, the OP units outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, are classified as Noncontrolling Interests within permanent equity on our consolidated balance sheets. The cumulative distributions that have been paid on OP units are included in Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests on the consolidated statements of equity. There were 44.5 million OP units outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Nonconvertible Noncontrolling Interests—In addition to partnership units of the Operating Partnership, Noncontrolling Interests also includes a 25% ownership share of one of our subsidiaries who provides advisory services, which was not significant to our results.