UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC  20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

December 11, 2008

 

INLAND WESTERN RETAIL REAL ESTATE TRUST, INC.

(exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

Maryland

 

000-51199

 

41-2679325

(State or other
jurisdiction of
incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

2901 Butterfield Road, Oak Brook, Illinois

 

60523

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (630) 218-8000

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 8.01               Other Events

 

On December 11, 2008, the Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc. (“Inland Western” or “Company”) board of directors approved a change to the Company’s dividend policy.  In response to the extraordinary current economic conditions, Inland Western’s board of directors believes the prudent course of action to preserve shareholder capital is the movement of the Company’s cash distributions payment from a monthly basis to a quarterly basis.  Management anticipates this amended policy will result in conserving cash of over $1,000,000 annually. The Company intends to continue to comply with the REIT distribution requirements and distribute no less than 90 percent of taxable income, which may result in a reduction in the level of dividend payouts going forward.  The amended dividend policy will become effective January 1, 2009 with respect to any first quarter dividend declared and payable in April, 2009.  The Company expects to declare and pay the December, 2008 distribution in January, 2009 as planned.

 

The statements and certain other information contained in this report, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “continue,” “remains,” “intend,” “aim,” “should,” “prospects,” “could,” “future,” “potential,” “believes,” “plans,” “likely,” “anticipate,” and “probable,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby.  These statements should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment.  Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.  These uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, market demand and pricing, competitive and cost factors, and other risk factors.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

INLAND WESTERN RETAIL REAL

 

ESTATE TRUST, INC.

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s/ Steven P. Grimes

 

 

Steven P. Grimes

 

 

Chief Operating Officer, Chief

Date: December 15, 2008

 

Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

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