ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE: NNN), an equity real estate investment trust, announced today that 100% of the dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders in 2009 is classified for federal income tax purposes as a taxable distribution. The common stock and preferred series dividends paid per share are classified as either ordinary income or capital gains as outlined below. None of the ordinary income is characterized as Qualified Dividend. 


                                                 Total Capital  Unrecaptured
                             Total     Ordinary  Gain           Section 1250
                   CUSIP#    Dividend  Income    Distribution   Gain (1)
                   ------    --------  --------  ------------   ------------

                             100.0000%  99.6788%     0.3212%       0.1178%

    Common Stock  637417106 $1.500000 $1.495182   $0.004818     $0.001767
    Preferred
     Series C     637417403 $1.843750 $1.837828   $0.005922     $0.002172

(1) Represents additional characterization of, and is part of, "Total Capital Gain Distribution."

"The common dividend of $1.50 per share paid in 2009 marks the twentieth consecutive annual dividend increase for National Retail Properties, a milestone very few public companies have achieved," said Kevin Habicht, Chief Financial Officer. "This consistent dividend has been an important part of the company's total return to shareholders which has outperformed industry and general equity benchmarks."

National Retail Properties invests primarily in high-quality retail properties subject generally to long-term, net leases. As of September 30, 2009, the company owned 1,004 Investment properties in 44 states with a gross leasable area of approximately 11.4 million square feet. For more information on the company, visit www.nnnreit.com.

SOURCE National Retail Properties, Inc.