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Form 8-K Whitestone REIT For: Jun 26

June 26, 2015 4:12 PM EDT




UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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): June 26, 2015

Whitestone REIT
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Maryland
 
001-34855
 
76-0594970
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

2600 South Gessner, Suite 500, Houston, Texas
 
77063
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 827-9595
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:
 
 
[ ]
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
 
[ ]
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule #14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
 
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
 
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))













Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On June 23, 2015, Whitestone REIT (the “Company”) and Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with JMP Securities LLC (the “Underwriter”). Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agreed to sell 3,750,000 common shares, par value $0.001 per share, at a purchase price of $13.3386 per share. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company granted the Underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 562,500 common shares at a purchase price of $13.3386 per share. The common shares are being offered and sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated June 23, 2015, and a base prospectus, dated May 18, 2015, relating to the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-203727). A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

A copy of the press release announcing the pricing of the common share offering is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits.
    
Exhibit No.
 
Description
1.1
 
Underwriting Agreement, dated October 3, 2013, by and among Whitestone REIT, Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. and JMP Securities LLC.
 
 
 
5.1
 
Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP regarding the legality of shares.
 
 
 
23.1
 
Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
 
 
 
99.1
 
Press Release dated June 23, 2015.







SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Whitestone REIT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
 
June 26, 2015
 
By:
 
/s/ David K. Holeman
 
 
 
 
 
 
David K. Holeman
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer








EXHIBIT INDEX
   
Exhibit No.
 
Description
1.1
 
Underwriting Agreement, dated October 3, 2013, by and among Whitestone REIT, Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. and JMP Securities LLC.
 
 
 
5.1
 
Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP regarding the legality of shares.
 
 
 
23.1
 
Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
 
 
 
99.1
 
Press Release dated June 23, 2015.



Exhibit 1.1










WHITESTONE REIT


3,750,000 Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT




dated June 23, 2015

















JMP Securities LLC






Underwriting Agreement


June 23, 2015

JMP Securities LLC
600 Montgomery Street, 11th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111


Ladies and Gentlemen:

Introductory. This Agreement is among Whitestone REIT, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and JMP Securities LLC (the “Underwriter”) with respect to (i) the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriter of 3,750,000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share of the Company (the “Common Shares”) and (ii) the grant by the Company to the Underwriter of the option described in Section 2 hereof to purchase all or any part of 562,500 additional Common Shares. The aforesaid 3,750,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Firm Shares”) to be purchased by the Underwriter and all or any part of the 562,500 Common Shares subject to the option described in Section 2 hereof (the “Optional Shares”) are herein called, collectively, the “Shares.”

The Company understands that the Underwriter proposes to make a public offering of the Shares as soon as the Underwriter deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-203727) covering the public offering and sale of certain securities, including the Shares, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”), which shelf registration statement was declared effective by the Commission on May 18, 2015. Such registration statement, as of any time, means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto to such time, including the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 430B”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement;” provided, however, that the “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto as of the time of the first contract of sale for the Shares, which time shall be considered the “new effective date” of such registration statement with respect to the Shares within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 430B, including the exhibits and schedules thereto as of such time, the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to the Rule 430B. Each preliminary prospectus used in connection with the offering of the Shares, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, are collectively referred to herein as a “preliminary prospectus.” Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a final prospectus relating to the Shares in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 424(b)”). The final prospectus, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) in connection with the offering of the Shares, including the documents

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incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, are collectively referred to herein as the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (or any successor system)(“EDGAR”).

As used in this Agreement:

Applicable Time” means 9:05 a.m., New York City time, on June 23, 2015 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Underwriter.

Disclosure Package” means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the most recent preliminary prospectus (including any documents incorporated therein by reference) that is distributed to investors prior to the Applicable Time and the information included on Schedule A hereto, all considered together.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including without limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 405”)) relating to the Shares that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Shares or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B hereto.
 
Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules and other information incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, at or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

Section 1.Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership.


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A.    The Company and Whitestone REIT Limited Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership), jointly and severally, hereby represent and warrant to, and covenant with, the Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time, as of Closing Date (as defined below) and any Subsequent Closing Date (as defined below) as follows:

(a)Compliance with Registration and Exchange Act Requirements. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has complied, to the Commission’s satisfaction, with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, the Commission has not issued any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, are threatened by the Commission.

Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in all material respects with the Securities Act. Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriter for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, at the date hereof, at the Closing Date or at any Subsequent Closing Date complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and Securities Act Regulations and did not, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus (including any Prospectus wrapper), as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the date hereof, at the time of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations, at the Closing Date and at any Subsequent Closing Date, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Content described in Section 7(b) hereof. There is no contract or other document required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that has not been described or filed as required.

The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, when they became effective or at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Exchange Act (the “Exchange Act Regulations”). The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, at the time the Registration Statement became effective or when such documents incorporated by reference were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, as the case may be, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading. The documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, when such document incorporated by reference were filed with the Commission as the case may be, when read together with the other information in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not and will not include

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an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(b)Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus; Disclosure Package. As of the Applicable Time, (A) the Disclosure Package nor (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the Disclosure Package, includes, included or will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the any Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus or the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Content (as hereinafter defined).

(c)Company Not Ineligible Issuer. At the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement, at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), at the time the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning, for this paragraph only, of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act Regulations) and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations; and, without limitation to the foregoing, the Company has at all relevant times met, meets and will at all relevant times meet the requirements of Rule 164 for the use of a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby.

(d)Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offering of Shares under this Agreement or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Underwriter as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein, and any preliminary prospectus or prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Content described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(e)Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the last Subsequent Closing Date and the completion of the Underwriter’s distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Underwriter or included in Schedule B hereto or the Registration Statement.

(f)The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Operating Partnership.

(g)Authorization of the Shares. The Shares to be purchased from the Company by the Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered by the Company to the Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date or any Subsequent

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Closing Date against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of law, under the declaration of trust, bylaws or other organizational documents (collectively, the “Organizational Documents”) of the Company or under any agreement to which the Company or any one of its subsidiaries is a party. The Common Shares (including the Shares) conform in all material respects to all descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(h)No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement.

(i)No Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, properties described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus as owned or leased by the Company or its subsidiaries (the “Properties”), operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective subsidiaries, considered as one entity (collectively, a “Material Adverse Effect”); (ii) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and (iii) except for regular quarterly distributions in amounts per share or per OP Unit (as defined below) that are consistent with past practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or the Operating Partnership, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.

(j)Independent Accountants. Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C., who has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder and by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(k)Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in all material respects in accordance with GAAP the information required

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to be stated therein as of the dates indicated. The pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. Except as included or incorporated by reference therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or incorporated by reference therein, regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G of the Exchange Act Regulations and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act Regulations, to the extent applicable. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(l)Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a real estate investment trust in good standing with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) and has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its Properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except in each case, where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(m)Good Standing of Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware, has the partnership power and authority to own, lease and operate its Properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign partnership and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except in each case where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Operating Partnership (the “OP Units”) have been duly authorized and validly issued, and the OP Units owned by the Company are owned free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding equity interests of the Operating Partnership were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of the Operating Partnership. Except for the equity interests of the Operating Partnership, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, a material interest in any shares of stock or any other equity or long term debt securities of any corporation or have any equity interest in any firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity. Except for the subsidiaries listed in Schedule D hereto (together with the Operating Partnership, such entities are referred to in this Agreement as the “subsidiaries” and each a “subsidiary” of the Operating Partnership, and together with the Operating Partnership, of the Company), and except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Operating Partnership does not own, directly or indirectly,

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a material interest in any shares of stock or any other equity or long term debt securities of any corporation or have any equity interest in any firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity.

(n)Good Standing of Subsidiaries. Each “significant subsidiary” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X), if any, and Whitestone TRS, Inc. (each, a “Significant Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Significant Subsidiaries”) has been duly formed or organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation or organization, has the entity power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Significant Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, and, with the exception of the Operating Partnership and any other Significant Subsidiary that is not a corporation, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company free and clear of any material security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding equity interests of the Significant Subsidiaries were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such subsidiary.

(o)Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued and outstanding common shares of beneficial interest of the Company, including the Shares, are as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or redemption of outstanding OP Units described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as the case may be). All of the issued and outstanding Common Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable. All of the issued and outstanding Common Shares have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws and, to the extent applicable, the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), in each case, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the outstanding Common Shares were issued in violation of any preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there are not outstanding options, rights (preemptive or otherwise) or warrant to purchase or subscribe for any Common Shares or any other securities of the Company and (ii) except for OP Units, there are no outstanding equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of beneficial interest of the Company. The description of the Company’s share option, share bonus and other equity and incentive plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents in all material respects the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

(p)Listing. The Shares have been, or as of the Closing Date will be, approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(q)Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of their respective

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subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its Organizational Documents, (ii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition (“Default”) contained in any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, deed of trust, note, contract, franchise, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or such subsidiary is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each an “Existing Instrument”), or (iii) in violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any of its Properties, as applicable, except with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), for such Defaults or violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company’s and Operating Partnership’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and by the Prospectus (i) will not result in any violation of the Organizational Documents of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their respective subsidiaries, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except such consents as have been obtained by the Company or the Operating Partnership, and (iii) will not result in any violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, as applicable, except with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), for such Defaults, violations, breaches or conflicts as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency is required for the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and by the Prospectus, except (A) the filing of a supplemental listing application with respect to the Shares by the Company with the NYSE, (B) such as have been obtained or made by the Company or the Operating Partnership and are in full force and effect, (C) if required, under the Securities Act and applicable state securities or blue sky laws and (D) if required, from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

(r)No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Operating Partnership, threatened, against or affecting the Company or the Operating Partnership or any of their respective subsidiaries, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (other than as disclosed therein), or which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Company or the Operating Partnership of their respective obligations under this Agreement; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.


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(s)Labor Matters. No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries exists or to the Company’s knowledge is threatened or imminent that would have a Material Adverse Effect, and the Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its, the Operating Partnership’s or their subsidiaries’ principal contractors or tenants, that would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t)Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use, or can acquire on reasonable terms, such patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the Company’s business as now conducted or as proposed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted, except where the failure to own, possess, license or have other rights to use or acquire would not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) no party has been granted an exclusive license to use any portion of such Intellectual Property owned by the Company; (b) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no material infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company; (c) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s rights in or to any material Intellectual Property; (d) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property; and (e) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company’s business as now conducted infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others.

(u)All Necessary Permits, etc. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries possesses such valid and current licenses, certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess any such licenses, certificates, authorizations or permits would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and, to the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such license, certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(v)Title to Personal Property. The Company, the Operating Partnership and each of their respective subsidiaries has good title to all the personal property reflected as owned in the financial statements filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the personal property described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned by each of them, in each case free and clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except (i) as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (ii) as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The personal property held under lease by the Company, the Operating Partnership or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(w)Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns in a timely manner or have properly

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requested extensions thereof and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them, except (i) for any taxes, assessments, fines or penalties as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, and (ii) where the failure to file such returns or extensions or to pay such taxes, assessments, fines and penalties could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made appropriate provisions in the Company’s financial statements filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise taxes for all current or prior periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries has not been finally determined except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(x)Company Not an “Investment Company.” The Company has been advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Investment Company Act”). The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus will not be required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.

(y)Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses. All policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no material claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and, to the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z)No Restrictions on Dividends or Other Distributions. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Operating Partnership is not currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends or other distributions to the Company, from making any other distribution on the Operating Partnership’s equity interests, or from repaying to the Company any loans or advances from the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(aa)No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Shares or the OP Units to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

(bb)    Accuracy of Descriptions. The descriptions in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, of affiliate transactions, and contracts required to be described therein are true and correct in all material respects, and there are no affiliate transactions,

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contracts or other documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not described or filed as required.

(cc)    Internal Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains (i) effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act and (ii) a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(dd)    No Material Weakness in Internal Controls. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, in each case, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(ee)    Disclosure Controls. The Company maintains an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act.

(ff)    Equity Awards. With respect to the share options and equity-based awards (the “Equity Awards”) granted pursuant to the equity-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company Share Plans”), (i) each Equity Award designated by the Company or the relevant subsidiary of the Company at the time of grant as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), so qualifies, (ii) each grant of an Equity Award was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Equity Award was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of trustees or a committee of the board of trustees of the Company or the relevant subsidiary of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required shareholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Share Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, (iv) the per share exercise price of each Equity Award was equal to or greater than the fair market value of a Common Share on the applicable Grant Date and (v) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the consolidated financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has knowingly granted, and there is no and has

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been no policy or practice of the Company or any of its subsidiaries of granting, Equity Awards prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Equity Awards with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.

(gg)    No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any trustee, director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the FCPA, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

FCPA” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(hh)    No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(ii)    No Conflict with OFAC Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any trustee, director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds, to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(jj)    Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus: (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation, order, permit or other requirement relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products (collectively, “Materials of Environmental Concern”), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), which violation

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includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations required for the operation of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions thereof, nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any written communication that alleges that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) there is no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or governmental authority, no investigation with respect to which the Company has received written notice, and no written notice by any person or entity alleging potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, attorneys’ fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, “Environmental Claims”), pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, there are no past, present or anticipated future actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could result in a violation of any Environmental Law, require expenditures to be incurred pursuant to Environmental Law, or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iv) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened proceeding under Environmental Law to which a governmental authority is a party and which is reasonably likely to result in monetary sanctions of $750,000 or more.

(kk)    Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance. The Company has conducted a review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has reasonably concluded that such identified associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ll)    ERISA Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”); no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA other than an event for which the notice requirements have been waived by regulations) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company would have any liability; the Company has not incurred or does not reasonably expect to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Section 412 or 4971 of the Code or Section 430 through 436 of the Code, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder; and each “pension plan” for which the Company would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service that such plan is so

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qualified in all material respects and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification, except where such non-compliance, reportable events, liabilities or failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (i) a material increase in the Company and its subsidiaries’ “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year; (ii) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries related to its or their employment that would have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iii) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries have not ever had any liability or obligation under any Plan or had any other liability or obligation under Title IV of ERISA or Sections 430 through 436 of the Code (or predecessor provisions of the Code) and none is reasonably expected. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA or Sections 430 through 436 of the Code (or predecessor provisions of the Code) with respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries may have any liability.
(mm)    Brokers. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company or the Operating Partnership any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(nn)    No Outstanding Loans or Other Indebtedness. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or trustees of the Company or any of the members of any of their families, except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(oo)    Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s trustees or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(pp)    Lending Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

(qq)    Statistical and Market Related Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(rr)    Tenant Leases. Each of the leases pertaining to the Properties has been duly authorized by the Company, the Operating Partnership or one of the subsidiaries, as applicable, has been entered into in the ordinary course of business of such entity, is in full force and effect and is a valid,

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subsisting and enforceable agreement of the Company, the Operating Partnership or such subsidiary, as applicable, and, to the Company’s knowledge, each other party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or general equitable principles. To the knowledge of the Company, no tenant of any portion of any of the Properties is in default under any of the leases governing such Properties and there is no event which, but for the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default under any of such leases, except as described in the Registration Statement or such defaults that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ss)    Title to Real Property. The Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all Properties owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, encroachments, restrictions, mortgages and other defects, except (i) such as are disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (ii) such as are listed as an exception to any owner’s or leasehold title insurance policy with respect to such Property or otherwise set forth in any loan or financing documentation relating to such Property, in each case made available by the Company to the Underwriter or its counsel, (iii) for the leasehold interests of the tenants or (iv) such as except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; any Properties leased by the Company, the Operating Partnership or any subsidiary are held under valid, existing and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, or are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such Property by the Company, the Operating Partnership or such subsidiary; the Company, the Operating Partnership or a subsidiary has obtained an owner’s title insurance policy, from a title insurance company licensed to issue such policy, on each Property that is owned by the Company, the Operating Partnership or a subsidiary that insures the Company’s, the Operating Partnership’s or the subsidiary’s fee interest in such Property, or a lender’s title insurance policy insuring the lien of its mortgage securing such Property with coverage equal to the maximum aggregate principal amount of any indebtedness held by the Company, the Operating Partnership or a subsidiary and secured by such Property.

(tt)    Compliance with Real Estate Regulations. Each of the Properties complies with all applicable zoning laws, ordinances, regulations and deed restrictions or other covenants in all material respects or, if and to the extent there is a failure to comply, such failure does not materially impair the value of any of the Properties and will not result in a forfeiture or reversion of title, except where such failure to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; there is no pending, or to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership threatened, condemnation, zoning change or other similar proceeding or action that will in any material respect affect the size or use of, improvements on, or construction on or access to the Properties, except such zoning changes, proceedings or actions that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(uu)    Mortgages. The mortgages and deeds of trust encumbering the Properties are not convertible into debt or equity securities of the Company or the Operating Partnership nor does the Company hold a participating interest therein and such mortgages and deeds of trust are not cross-defaulted or cross-collateralized to any property not owned directly or indirectly by the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries.

(vv)    REIT Status. The Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under the Code for each taxable year commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2007 and through

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its taxable year ended December 31, 2014, and its current and proposed method of operation as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2015 and thereafter; all statements in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT are correct in all material respects; except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company does not know of any event that would cause or is likely to cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT under the Code for the taxable year ending December 31, 2015 or any time thereafter; each direct and indirect subsidiary of the Company has and will continue to qualify as a “taxable REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the Code, a “qualified REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(i) of the Code, or partnership or disregarded entity (rather than an association or partnership taxable as a corporation) within the meaning of Section 7701 of the Code and all applicable regulations under the Code.

(ww)    Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership has been and the Company does not know of any event that would cause or would reasonably be expected to cause the Operating Partnership to cease being classified as a partnership for purposes of the Code and the Company does not know of any event that would cause or would reasonably be expected to cause the Operating Partnership to be treated as a corporation, association taxable as a corporation or a publicly traded partnership.

(xx)    Actively Traded Security. The Common Shares are an “actively traded security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.

B.    Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or the Operating Partnership and delivered to the Underwriter or to counsel for the Underwriter shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or the Operating Partnership, as the case may be, to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

Section 2.Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Shares.

(a)The Firm Shares. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriter the Firm Shares upon the terms herein set forth. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Company the respective number of Firm Shares set forth on Schedule A. The purchase price per Firm Share to be paid by the Underwriter to the Company shall be $13.3386 per share.

(b)The Closing Date. Delivery of the Firm Shares to be purchased by the Underwriter and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Hunton & Williams LLP, 200 Park Avenue, 52nd Floor, New York, New York 10166 (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Underwriter) at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on June 26, 2015, or such other time and date not later than 1:30 p.m. New York time, on June 26, 2015, as the Underwriter shall designate by notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”).

(c)The Optional Shares; the Subsequent Closing Date. In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriter to purchase up to

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an aggregate of 562,500 Optional Shares from the Company at the same price as the purchase price per share to be paid by the Underwriter for the Firm Shares less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Option Shares. The option granted hereunder may be exercised at any time and from time to time upon notice by the Underwriter to the Company, which notice may be given at any time within 30 days from the date of this Agreement. Such notice shall set forth (i) the aggregate number of Optional Shares as to which the Underwriter is exercising the option, (ii) the names and denominations in which the Optional Shares are to be registered and (iii) the time, date and place at which such Optional Shares will be delivered (which time and date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the Closing Date; and in such case the term “Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares). Each time and date of delivery, if subsequent to the Closing Date, is called a “Subsequent Closing Date” and shall be determined by the Underwriter and shall not be earlier than three nor later than five full business days after delivery of such notice of exercise.

(d)Payment for the Shares. Payment for the Shares shall be made at the Closing Date (and, if applicable, at any Subsequent Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company.

It is understood that the Underwriter has been authorized to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Shares and any Optional Shares the Underwriter has agreed to purchase.

(e)Delivery of the Shares. Delivery of the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Underwriter shall otherwise instruct. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriter.

(f)Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriter. The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered, copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as the Underwriter shall reasonably request at such time as the Underwriter requests on the first business day following the date of this Agreement.

Section 3.Covenants of the Company and the Operating Partnership.

A.Covenants of the Company and the Operating Partnership. The Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, covenant and agree with the Underwriter as follows:

(a)Underwriter’s Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During the period beginning on the Applicable Time and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act Regulations (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, subject to Section 3(A)(c), the Company shall furnish to the Underwriter for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter reasonably objects.

(b)Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Underwriter in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional

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or supplemental information from, the Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus relating to the Shares or the Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any such post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Common Shares from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or notice of prevention or suspension of such use. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order or issue any such notice at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting or reversal of such order or notice at the earliest possible moment, or, subject to Section 3(A)(a), will file an amendment to the Registration Statement or will file a new registration statement and use its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b) and 430B, as applicable, under the Securities Act Regulations, including with respect to the timely filing of documents thereunder, and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations were received in a timely manner by the Commission.

(c)Amendments and Supplements to the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event or development shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Underwriter it is otherwise necessary or advisable to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file a new registration statement containing the Prospectus, in order to comply with law, including in connection with the delivery of the Prospectus, the Company agrees to (i) notify the Underwriter of any such event or condition and (ii) promptly prepare (subject to Sections 3(A)(a) and 3(A)(e) hereof), file with the Commission (and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement to be declared effective) and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriter and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any new registration statement, necessary in order to make the statements in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading or so that the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.

(d)Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents that it has not made, and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Underwriter, it will not make, any offer relating to the Shares that constitutes or would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that otherwise constitutes or would constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act Regulations) or a portion thereof required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 under the Securities Act Regulations; provided that the prior written consent of the Underwriter hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect

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of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule B hereto and any electronic road show. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Underwriter is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act Regulations applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

(e)Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The Company agrees to furnish the Underwriter, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto and the Disclosure Package as the Underwriter may reasonably request.

(f)Copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter two complete manually signed copies of the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a part thereof and such conformed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) as the Underwriter may reasonably request, and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplement thereto and the Disclosure Package as the Underwriter may reasonably request.

(g)Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter to qualify or register the Shares for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws or Canadian provincial securities laws or other foreign laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Underwriter, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares. The Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Shares in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject. The Company will advise the Underwriter promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Shares for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(h)Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(i)Earnings Statement. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriter the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

(j)Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the NYSE all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.


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(k)Listing. The Company will use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the Shares, and cause the Shares to be admitted and authorized for trading, on the NYSE.

(l)Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Shares. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 60th day following the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Underwriter), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” or liquidate or decrease a “call equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer (or enter into any transaction that is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition of), or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any Common Shares, options or warrants to acquire Common Shares or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Shares, other than (a) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (b) the filing of a registration statement or prospectus supplement or the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Shares upon the conversion of OP Units outstanding on the date hereof, (c) grants of restricted Common Shares or restricted common share units pursuant to the Company’s 2008 Long-Term Equity Incentive Ownership Plan, provided that such securities will not vest or become exercisable, as applicable, during the 60-day restricted period without the Underwriter’s prior written consent, (d) the filing of a registration statement or the issuance of Common Shares pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan, (e) the issuance of Common Shares or OP Units as consideration for the acquisition of real estate assets, or (f) any post-effective amendment to a registration statement on Form S-8 effective on the date hereof; provided, however, that prior to the issuance of any of the Company’s securities of pursuant to clause (c) during the restricted period, the recipient of such securities shall sign and deliver a lock-up agreement as described in Section 5(h) below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) during the last 17 days of the 60-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or (y) prior to the expiration of the 60-day restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 60-day period, the restrictions imposed in this clause shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. The Company will provide the Underwriter and each individual subject to the restricted period pursuant to the lock-up letters described in Section 5(h) with prior notice of any such announcement that gives rise to an extension of the restricted period.

(m)Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and use its best efforts to cause the Company’s trustees and officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(n)Future Reports to Shareholders. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will furnish to its shareholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement), to make available to its shareholders consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail provided that any document that is available on EDGAR shall be deemed furnished to the shareholders in satisfaction of the Company’s obligation under this paragraph.


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(o)Future Reports to the Underwriter. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will furnish upon request to the Underwriter as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed or furnished by the Company with the Commission, FINRA or any securities exchange or mailed to the Company’s shareholders; provided that any document that is available on EDGAR shall be deemed furnished to the Underwriter in satisfaction of the Company’s obligation under this paragraph.

(p)Investment Limitation. The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in such a manner as would require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to, and will take such steps as necessary to ensure that neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is required to, register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(q)No Manipulation of Price. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

(r)Books and Records; Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, each of the Company and the Operating Partnership will maintain and keep accurate books and records reflecting their assets and will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company and the Operating Partnership will employ disclosure controls and procedures that are effective to perform the functions for which they were established and designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

(s)REIT Qualification. The Company will use its best efforts to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for the taxable year ending December 31, 2015 and will use its best efforts to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code unless the board of trustees of the Company determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to qualify as a REIT.

(t)Conditions Precedent. The Company and the Operating Partnership will use all reasonable best efforts to do or perform all things required to be done or performed by them prior to the Closing Date to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 4.Payment of Expenses. The Company and the Operating Partnership agree to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Shares (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all

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fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Common Shares, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Underwriter, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi) all filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company and all filing fees and other expenses incurred by the Underwriter in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Shares for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities laws of Canada, and, if requested by the Underwriter, preparing and printing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriter of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vii) the filing fees incident to FINRA’s review and approval of the Underwriter’s participation in the offering and distribution of the Shares (in an amount not to exceed $10,000), (viii) the fees and expenses associated with listing of the Shares on the NYSE, (ix) the expenses of the Company in connection with the marketing and offering of the Shares, including all transportation and other expenses incurred in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Shares and (x) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the Registration Statement. Except as provided in this Section 4, Section 6, Section 7 and Section 8 hereof, the Underwriter shall pay its own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of its counsel.

Section 5.Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriter. The obligations of the Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Shares as provided herein on the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, any Subsequent Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Operating Partnership set forth in Section 1 hereof, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the Optional Shares, as of any Subsequent Closing Date as though then made, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the timely performance by the Company and the Operating Partnership of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

(a)Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Underwriter shall have received from Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C., independent public accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(b)Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection from FINRA. For the period from and after effectiveness of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, any Subsequent Closing Date:

(i)the Company shall have filed the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, with the Commission (including the information required by Rule 430B) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations; or the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the information required by such Rule 430B, and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective;

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(ii)all material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act Regulations shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings under such Rule 433 under the Securities Act Regulations;

(iii)no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission; and

(iv)to the extent a filing with FINRA is required, FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

(c)No Material Adverse Effect. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, any Subsequent Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any change resulting in a Material Adverse Effect or change in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (a) or (g) of this Section 5 which, in the Underwriter’s judgment, shall render it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares.

(d)Opinion of Counsel for the Company and Operating Partnership. On the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinions, dated as of the Closing Date (or the applicable Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be), of Morrison & Foerster LLP, counsel for the Company and Operating Partnership, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 hereto.

(e)Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriter. On the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Date (or the applicable Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be), of Hunton & Williams LLP, counsel for the Underwriter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(f)Officers’ Certificate of the Company. On the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date or Subsequent Closing Date, on behalf of the Company, and the Company as general partner of the Operating Partnership, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and this Agreement, to the effect set forth in subsection (b) of this Section 5, and further to the effect that:

(i)for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to such Closing Date or Subsequent Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Effect;

(ii)the representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement (in each case, subject to the qualifications, if any, described therein) are true and correct on and as of such Closing Date or Subsequent Closing Date with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of such Closing Date or Subsequent

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Closing Date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties speak as of another date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date); and

(iii)each of the Company and the Operating Partnership has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date or Subsequent Closing Date.

(g)Bring-down Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have received from Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C., independent public accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 6, except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date or Subsequent Closing Date.

(h)Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Securityholders of the Company. On or prior to the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Underwriter an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter and substantially to the effect set forth on Exhibit B hereto from the individuals listed on Schedule C hereof, and such agreement shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date.

(i)Listing of Shares. The Shares shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the NYSE, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Underwriter.

(j)Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriter by notice in writing to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, at any time prior to the applicable Subsequent Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8 and Section 13 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

Section 6.Reimbursement of Underwriter’s Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 5 or Section 10, or if the sale to the Underwriter of the Shares on the Closing Date or on any Subsequent Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriter upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Underwriter in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Shares, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.


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Section 7.Indemnification.

(a)Indemnification of the Underwriter. The Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify, and hold harmless the Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter, affiliate, director, officer, employee, agent or controlling person may become subject, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act Regulations) not constituting an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (a “Non-IFWP Road Show”), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact, in each case, necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and to reimburse the Underwriter, its officers, directors, employees, agents and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Underwriter) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by the Underwriter, or its officers, directors, employees, agents or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission based upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Content. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 7(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.

(b)Indemnification of the Company, its Trustees and Officers. The Underwriter agrees to indemnify, and hold harmless the Company, the Operating Partnership, each of their trustees, each of their officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such trustee, officer, or controlling person may become subject, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Non-IFWP Road Show, or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Non-IFWP Road Show, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such trustee, officer or controlling person for any legal and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company and the Operating Partnership hereby acknowledge that the only information that the Underwriter has furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Issuer

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Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Non-IFWP Road Show are the statements set forth in the tenth paragraph (regarding agreements to release persons from lock-ups), the thirteenth paragraph (relating to open market purchases, short positions and stabilizing purchases), and the nineteenth paragraph (regarding electronic distribution and related matters) under the heading “Underwriting” in the Prospectus (collectively, the “Underwriter Content”). The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 7(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Underwriter may otherwise have.

(c)Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (other than local counsel), reasonably approved by the indemnifying party (or by the Underwriter in the case of Section 7(b)), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

(d)Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 7 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which shall not be withheld unreasonably, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 7(c) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees

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that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (y) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

Section 8.Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 is for any reason unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other hand, in connection with the untrue statements or omissions or alleged untrue statements or alleged omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriter, in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Shares as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, or the Underwriter, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.

The Company, the Operating Partnership and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 8.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, the Underwriter shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by the Underwriter in

28



connection with the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each affiliate, director, officer, employee and agent of the Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriter, and each trustee of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

Section 9.Reserved.

Section 10.Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, any Subsequent Closing Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriter by written notice given to the Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or by the NYSE, or trading in securities generally on the NYSE shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been established by the Commission, the NYSE or other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New York authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States has occurred; or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States, or any crisis or calamity, or any material change in the United States or international financial markets, or any material change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Underwriter is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares in the manner and on the terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities. Any termination pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to the Underwriter, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Underwriter pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof or (b) the Underwriter to the Company.

Section 11.No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the offering price of the Shares and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other hand, and the Company and the Operating Partnership are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction, the Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary of the Company, the Operating Partnership or their respective affiliates, shareholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) the Underwriter has not assumed and will not assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or the Operating Partnership with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company and the Operating Partnership on other matters), and the Underwriter has no obligation to the Company or the Operating Partnership with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the Underwriter and its affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Operating Partnership and that the Underwriter has no obligation to disclose any of such interests

29



by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Underwriter has not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby, and the Company and the Operating Partnership have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate.

This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Underwriter, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Company and the Operating Partnership hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company and the Operating Partnership may have against the Underwriter with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.

Section 12.Research Analyst Independence. The Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledge that the Underwriter’s research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriter’s research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company and the Operating Partnership hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company and the Operating Partnership may have against the Underwriter with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriter’s investment banking divisions. The Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledge that the Underwriter is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 13.Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their officers and of the Underwriter set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement (i) will remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any (A) investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of the Underwriter, the officers or employees of the Underwriter or any person controlling the Underwriter, the Company, the officers or employees of the Company, or any person controlling the Company or the Operating Partnership, as the case may be, or (B) acceptance of the Shares and payment for them hereunder and (ii) will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

Section 14.Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:


30



If to the Underwriter:

JMP Securities LLC
600 Montgomery Street, Suite 1100
San Francisco, CA 94111
Attn: General Counsel

with a copy to:

Hunton & Williams LLP
Riverfront Plaza, East Tower
951 E. Byrd Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Facsimile: (804) 344-7999
Attn: David C. Wright, Esq.

If to the Company or the Operating Partnership:

Whitestone REIT
2600 South Gessner, Suite 500
Houston, TX 77063
Facsimile: (713) 784-2966
Attn: James C. Mastandrea

with a copy to:

Morrison & Foerster LLP
2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Suite 6000
Washington, D.C. 20006
Facsimile: (202) 785-7522
Attn: David P. Slotkin

Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

Section 15.Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and to the benefit of (i) the Company, its trustees, any person who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and any officer of the Company who signs the Registration Statement, (ii) the Operating Partnership, (iii) the Underwriter, the officers, directors, employees and agents of the Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act , and (iv) the respective successors and assigns of any of the above, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser of any of the Shares from the Underwriter merely because of such purchase.

Section 16.Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for

31



any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

Section 17.Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 18.Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan, or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 19.General Provisions. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 7 and the contribution provisions of Section 8, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its subsidiaries, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.






[Signature Page Follows.]

32


 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company and the Operating Partnership the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,

WHITESTONE REIT


By:    /s/ David K. Holeman        
Name: David K. Holeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer


WHITESTONE REIT OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

By:    Whitestone REIT,
its General Partner


By:    /s/ David K. Holeman        
Name: David K. Holeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer



[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:



JMP SECURITIES LLC


By:    /s/ Kent Ledbetter    
Name: Kent Ledbetter
Title: Director of Investment Banking




[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 

SCHEDULE A

INFORMATION CONVEYED AT THE APPLICABLE TIME


Price to Public: Variable

Number of Firm Shares Offered and Purchased: 3,750,000

Number of Optional Shares Offered: 562,500





A-1

 

SCHEDULE B

ISSUER GENERAL USE FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS


None


B-1

 

SCHEDULE C

INDIVIDUALS SUBJECT TO LOCK-UP AGREEMENT


James C. Mastandrea
Christine J. Mastandrea
John J. Dee
David K. Holeman
Bradford D. Johnson
Daryl J. Carter
Paul T. Lambert
Donald F. Keating
Jack L. Mahaffey









C-1

 

SCHEDULE D

Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, LP
Whitestone Centers LLC
Whitestone Industrial-Office LLC
Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership III GP, LLC
Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership III LP, LTD
Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership III LP
Whitestone REIT Operating Company IV, LLC
Whitestone Pima Norte LLC
Whitestone Corporate Park West LLC
Whitestone Offices LLC
Whitestone Retail Services, L.L.C.
Whitestone Brokerage Services, L.L.C.
Whitestone SunnySlope Village, L.L.C.
Whitestone Featherwood, LLC
Whitestone Terravita Marketplace, LLC
Whitestone Ahwatukee Plaza, LLC
Whitestone Brokerage Services AZ, LLC
Whitestone Pinnacle of Scottsdale, LLC
Whitestone Pinnacle of Scottsdale - Phase II, LLC
Whitestone Shops At Starwood, LLC
Whitestone Shops At Starwood - Phase III, LLC
Whitestone Shops at Pinnacle, LLC
Whitestone Paradise Village, LLC
Whitestone Fountain Square, LLC
Whitestone Village Square at Dana Park, LLC
Whitestone Village Square at Dana Park Development Land, LLC
Whitestone Pecos Ranch, LLC
Whitestone Headquarters Village, LLC
Whitestone TRS, Inc.
Whitestone Mercado, LLC
Whitestone Realty, LLC
Whitestone Anthem Marketplace, LLC
Whitestone Uptown Tower, LLC
Whitestone Anthem Marketplace Development Land, LLC
Whitestone Fountain Hills, LLC
Whitestone CP Woodland Ph. 2, LLC
Whitestone Woodlake Plaza, LLC
Whitestone Market Street at DC Ranch, LLC
Whitestone Heritage Trace Plaza 1, LLC
Whitestone Heritage Trace Plaza 2, LLC
Whitestone Strand, LLC
Whitestone Promenade, LLC
Whitestone Towne Center, LLC
Whitestone Williams Trace Plaza, LLC
Whitestone Williams Trace Shops, LLC
Whitestone Clear Lake Offices, LLC
Whitestone Village Square at Dana Park Corner, LLC


D-1
Exhibit 5.1



June 26, 2015

Board of Trustees
Whitestone REIT
2600 South Gessner, Suite 500
Houston, Texas 77063

Re: Sale of 3,750,000 Common Shares under Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-203727)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to Whitestone REIT, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of 3,750,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Shares”), pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated June 23, 2015 and the accompanying base prospectus dated May 18, 2015 (such documents, collectively, the “Prospectus”) that form part of the Company’s effective Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-203727) (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Shares are to be sold by the Company pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, dated June 23, 2015, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and JMP Securities LLC (the “Underwriting Agreement”) and in the manner described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

As counsel for the Company, we have examined the Underwriting Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Company’s Amendment and Restatement of the Declaration of Trust, as amended (the “Charter”) and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, as well as originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such other documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of rendering this opinion and we are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Company in with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We also have assumed that the Shares will not be issued in violation of the ownership limit contained in the Charter. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended. We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, or regulations. As used herein, the term “Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended” includes the statutory provisions contained therein, all applicable provisions of the Maryland Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws.

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, it is our opinion that, upon issuance, delivery and payment therefor in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Underwriting Agreement and the resolutions of the Board of Trustees or a duly authorized committee thereof, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.







This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing by the Company of a Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the offer and sale of the Shares, which Form 8-K will be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and may not be relied upon for any other purpose without our express written consent. No opinion may be implied or inferred beyond the opinion expressly stated. This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable law or any facts or circumstances that come to our attention after the date hereof that may affect the opinion contained herein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the above-described Current Report on Form 8-K and to the reference to our firm contained under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission.


Very truly yours,

/s/ Morrison & Foerster LLP

Morrison & Foerster LLP




Exhibit 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

Whitestone REIT Announces Pricing of Public Offering

HOUSTON, TX, June 23, 2015 - Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) (“Whitestone) announced today that it has priced its public offering of 3,750,000 common shares for total expected gross proceeds of approximately $51.6 million before expenses.

The underwriter has been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 562,500 common shares. The offering is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close on June 26, 2015.

JMP Securities LLC is acting as sole book-running manager of the offering.

Whitestone will contribute the net proceeds of the offering to its operating partnership in exchange for units of limited partnership interest in the operating partnership. The operating partnership intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of outstanding indebtedness under Whitestone’s unsecured revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes, which may include acquisitions of additional properties, capital expenditures, the expansion, redevelopment and/or re-tenanting of properties in Whitestone’s portfolio, working capital and other general purposes.

The offering is being made pursuant to Whitestone’s existing effective shelf registration statement, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering of these securities is made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus. A copy of the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus may be obtained by mailing a request to JMP Securities LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 600 Montgomery Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111, or by calling (415) 835-8985.

This press release is not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

About Whitestone REIT

Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) is a fully integrated real estate investment trust that owns, redevelops, repositions, leases, manages and operates Community Centered Properties™. Whitestone focuses on value creation in its community centers, concentrating on local service-oriented tenants. Whitestone’s diversified tenant base provides service offerings including specialty retail, grocery, restaurants, medical, educational and financial services. Founded in 1998, the Company is internally managed with a portfolio of 65 commercial properties in Texas, Arizona, and Illinois.




Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” including with regard to the Whitestone’s securities offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. No assurance can be given that the securities offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Completion of the securities offering on the terms described, and the application of net proceeds, are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of Whitestone including, but not limited to, the status of the economy and the status of capital markets. See the Risk Factors sections of Whitestone’s prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus, as well as periodic reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for a discussion of these factors. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, Whitestone undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.

Whitestone REIT:
David Holeman, (713) 435-2227
Chief Financial Officer




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