UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.     )

 

Filed by the Registrant  ý

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  o

 

Check the appropriate box:

ý

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

o

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

Definitive Additional Materials

o

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

Arden Realty, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

Not Applicable

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

o

No fee required.

ý

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

69,964,328 shares of common stock, including in-the-money stock options to purchase shares of common stock, restricted shares and shares of common stock issuable upon exchange of common units of limited partnership interest in Arden Realty Limited Partnership

 

(3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

The proposed maximum aggregate value of the transaction for purposes of calculating the filing fee is $3,177,499,920. The maximum aggregate value of the transaction represents the product of the estimated merger consideration per share of common stock multiplied by the aggregate number of shares of common stock, including restricted shares, in-the-money stock options and common units of limited partnership interest, entitled to receive cash consideration in the merger. Solely for purposes of this calculation, the merger consideration per share is estimated to be $45.416 per share, or $45.25 per share in base merger consideration plus $0.166 per share, representing an amount equal to a prorated portion of a normal quarterly dividend as of an assumed closing date of April 30, 2006.

 

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

$3,177,499,920

 

(5)

Total fee paid:

 

 

$339,992.49

o

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

 

 

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

 

 

(3)

Filing Party:

 

 

 

 

(4)

Date Filed:

 

 

 

 

 

Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

 



 

 

ARDEN REALTY, INC.

11601 Wilshire Boulevard

Fourth Floor

Los Angeles, CA  90025

 

 , 2006

 

Dear Common Stockholder:

 

You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of stockholders of Arden Realty, Inc., a Maryland corporation, to be held on                  ,              , 2006, at                a.m., local time, at the                             .

 

On December 21, 2005, Arden Realty, Inc. and Arden Realty Limited Partnership entered into a merger agreement with General Electric Capital Corporation, Trizec Properties, Inc., Trizec Holdings Operating LLC, Atlas Merger Sub, Inc. and Atlas Partnership Merger Sub, Inc., pursuant to which, among other things, Arden Realty, Inc. agreed to merge with and into Atlas Merger Sub, Inc. Upon completion of the merger, our common stockholders will receive cash consideration of $45.25 for each share of common stock, plus an amount equal to the prorated portion of the normal quarterly dividend payable on our common stock up to the closing date without interest and less any required withholding for taxes. On               , 2006, the last trading day prior to the printing of the proxy statement that accompanies this letter, the closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $       per share. At the special meeting of stockholders, we will ask you to consider and vote on the approval of the merger agreement and the merger.

 

After careful consideration, our board of directors unanimously approved the merger agreement and the merger and determined that the merger is advisable, fair to and in the best interests of our company and our common stockholders. Our board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the proposal to approve the merger agreement and the merger.

 

Your vote is important. The merger agreement and the merger must be approved by the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are entitled to vote at the special meeting. The completion of the merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions. More information about the merger is contained in the accompanying proxy statement. We encourage you to read the accompanying proxy statement in its entirety, because it describes the terms of the proposed merger, the documents related to the merger and related transactions and provides specific information about the special meeting.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, please complete, sign, date and promptly return the proxy card in the enclosed prepaid return envelope, or, if you would prefer, follow the instructions on your proxy card for telephonic or internet proxy authorization, as soon as possible. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank or by another nominee, you should instruct your broker, bank or other nominee how to vote by following the voting instruction form furnished by your broker, bank or other nominee. If you do not vote or do not instruct your broker, bank or other nominee how to vote, it will have the same effect as voting against the approval of the merger agreement and the merger.

 

If you sign, date and send us your proxy but do not indicate how you want to vote, your proxy will be voted “FOR” the approval of the merger agreement and the merger.

 

On behalf of our board of directors, we thank you for your continued support of our company and urge you to vote for the approval of the merger agreement and the merger.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Richard S. Ziman

 

Chairman of the Board and

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

This proxy statement is dated                  , 2006 and is first being mailed to common stockholders on or about                      , 2006.

 



 

 

ARDEN REALTY, INC.

 

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To be held                 , 2006

 

To the Common Stockholders of Arden Realty, Inc.:

 

A special meeting of the stockholders of Arden Realty, Inc., a Maryland corporation, will be held on              ,                      , 2006, at             a.m., local time, at                           , for the following purposes:

 

1. to consider and vote on a proposal to approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 21, 2005, by and among Arden Realty, Inc., Arden Realty Limited Partnership, General Electric Capital Corporation, Trizec Properties, Inc., Trizec Holdings Operating LLC, Atlas Merger Sub, Inc. and Atlas Partnership Merger Sub, Inc. and the merger of Arden Realty, Inc. with and into Atlas Merger Sub, Inc. pursuant thereto;

 

2. to consider and vote on a proposal to approve any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies; and

 

3. to transact any other business that may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting.

 

Only our common stockholders of record at the close of business on               , 2006, the record date for the special meeting, may vote at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank or by another nominee, you should instruct your broker, bank or other nominee how to vote by following the voting instruction form furnished by your broker, bank or other nominee. Your vote is very important. Please submit your proxy or voting instructions as soon as possible to make sure that your shares are represented and voted at the special meeting, whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting.

 

You may revoke a proxy at any time before it is voted. If you are the record holder of your shares of our common stock, you may revoke the proxy:  (a) by filing with our corporate secretary a duly executed revocation of proxy; (b) by submitting a duly executed proxy with a later date to our corporate secretary; or (c) by appearing at the special meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the special meeting without voting will not itself revoke a proxy. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, you must contact your broker, bank or nominee to revoke your proxy.

 

For more information about the special meeting, the proposed merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, please review the accompanying proxy statement and the merger agreement attached to it as Annex A. If you have any questions or need special assistance, please call our proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., at (800) 322-2885.

 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

 

 

David A. Swartz

 

General Counsel and Secretary

 

                 , 2006

Los Angeles, California

 



 

 

ARDEN REALTY, INC.

11601 Wilshire Boulevard

Fourth Floor

Los Angeles, CA  90025

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SUMMARY

 

The Parties

1

The Merger and Related Transactions

2

Merger Consideration

3

Dividends

4

Treatment of Common Units

4

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

4

The Special Meeting

4

Merger Vote Requirement; Stockholders Entitled to Vote; Vote Required; Quorum

5

Partnership Merger Vote Requirement

5

Opinions of Our Financial Advisors

5

Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger

6

The Merger Agreement

6

Voting Agreement

8

Regulatory Matters

8

Dissenters’ Rights

8

Litigation Relating to the Merger

8

Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

9

Delisting and Deregistration of Our Common Stock

9

 

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER

10

 

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

15

 

 

THE SPECIAL MEETING

17

Date, Time and Place

17

Purpose of the Special Meeting

17

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

17

Record Date; Stockholders Entitled to Vote; Quorum

17

Vote Required for Approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger

17

Vote Required to Adjourn or Postpone the Special Meeting

18

Vote Required for Approval of the Partnership Merger

18

Voting; Proxies

18

Adjournments; Other Business

18

Revocation of Proxies

18

Solicitation of Proxies

19

Dissenters’ Rights

19

Assistance

19

 

 

PROPOSAL 1: THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE MERGER

20

 

 

APPROVAL OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE MERGER

20

General Description of the Merger

20

Background of the Merger

21

Factors Considered by Our Board of Directors and Reasons for the Merger

32

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

36

Opinions of Our Financial Advisors

36

Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger

47

Voting Agreement

52

Regulatory Matters

52

Dissenters’ Rights

52

Litigation Relating to the Merger

53

Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

53

Delisting and Deregistration of Our Common Stock

57

 

 

THE MERGER AGREEMENT

58

The Merger and Related Transactions

58

Merger Consideration

59

 

i



 

Dividends

60

Treatment of Common Units

60

Payment Procedures

61

Representations and Warranties

61

Conduct of Business Pending the Merger

64

Other Covenants

65

Conditions to the Merger

65

Definition of Material Adverse Effect

67

No Solicitation

67

Termination of the Merger Agreement

68

Termination Fee and Expenses

70

Amendment of the Merger Agreement

70

Stockholder Meeting

70

Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance

71

Employment Benefit Arrangements

71

 

 

PROPOSAL 2: POSTPONEMENTS OR ADJOURNMENTS OF THE SPECIAL MEETING

72

The Adjournment or Postponement Proposal

72

Vote Required and Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

72

 

 

SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

73

 

 

OTHER MATTERS

76

 

 

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

76

 

 

PROXY SOLICITATION EXPENSE

76

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

76

 

 

Annex A – Agreement and Plan of Merger

 

 

 

Annex B – Opinion of Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC

 

 

 

Annex C – Opinion of Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Financial Advisors, Inc.

 

 

 

 

ii



 

SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights selected information from this proxy statement and may not contain all the information about the merger that is important to you. To understand the merger fully and for a more complete description of the legal terms of the merger, you should read carefully this proxy statement in its entirety, including the annexes and the other documents to which we have referred you, including the merger agreement attached as Annex A.

 

The Parties

 

Arden Realty, Inc.

 

Arden Realty, Inc. (referred to in this proxy statement as “we,” “us,” “our” or “our company”), a Maryland corporation, is a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”). Our primary strategy is to own, manage, lease, develop, renovate and acquire commercial office properties located in Southern California. Additional information about us is available on our website at http://www.ardenrealty.com. The information contained on our website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this proxy statement or any other report or document on file with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Shares of our common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), under the symbol “ARI.”  Our principal executive offices are located at 11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Fourth Floor, Los Angeles, California 90025, and our telephone number is (310) 966-2600. For additional information about us and our business, see “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 76.

 

Arden Realty Limited Partnership

 

Arden Realty Limited Partnership (our “operating partnership”) is a Maryland limited partnership through which we conduct substantially all of our business and own, either directly or indirectly through subsidiaries, substantially all of our assets. Where the context requires, references to “we,” “us,” “our” or “our company” also include our operating partnership. Arden Realty Limited Partnership’s principal executive offices are also located at 11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Fourth Floor, Los Angeles, California 90025, and its telephone number is (310) 966-2600.

 

Atlas Partnership Merger Sub, Inc.

 

Atlas Partnership Merger Sub, Inc. (“Partnership Merger Sub”) is a Maryland corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of our company. Partnership Merger Sub was formed in 2005 solely for the purpose of merging with and into our operating partnership. Partnership Merger Sub has not carried on any activities to date other than those incident to its formation and the negotiation and execution of the merger agreement. Partnership Merger Sub’s principal executive offices are located at 11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Fourth Floor, Los Angeles, California 90025, and its telephone number is (310) 966-2600.

 

General Electric Capital Corporation

 

General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECC”) was incorporated in 1943 in the State of New York under the provisions of the New York Banking Law relating to investment companies. On July 2, 2001, GECC reincorporated and changed its domicile from New York to Delaware. All outstanding common stock of GECC is owned by General Electric Capital Services, Inc., the common stock of which is in turn wholly owned directly or indirectly by General Electric Company. Through its division GE Commercial Finance Real Estate, GECC is a world leader in real estate capital with more than $35 billion in core assets and 34 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia/New Zealand. Additional information about GE Commercial Finance Real Estate is available on its website at http://www.gerealestate.com. The information contained on this website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this proxy statement or any other report or document on file with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. GECC’s principal executive offices are located at 292 Long Ridge Road, Stamford, Connecticut 06927, and its telephone number is (203) 961-5400.

 



 

Atlas Merger Sub, Inc.

 

Atlas Merger Sub, Inc. (“REIT Merger Sub”) is a Maryland corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of GECC. REIT Merger Sub was formed in 2005 solely for the purpose of facilitating GECC’s acquisition of our company. REIT Merger Sub has not carried on any activities to date other than those incident to its formation and the negotiation and execution of the merger agreement. REIT Merger Sub’s principal executive offices are located at 292 Long Ridge Road, Stamford, Connecticut 06927, and its telephone number is (203) 585-0179.

 

Trizec Properties, Inc.

 

Trizec Properties, Inc. (“Trizec REIT”), a Delaware corporation, is one of the largest fully integrated, self-managed, publicly traded REITs in the United States. Trizec REIT is engaged in owning and managing office properties in the United States. Trizec REIT’s office properties are concentrated in seven core markets in the United States, located in the following major metropolitan areas:  Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; New York, New York; and Washington, D.C. Additional information about Trizec REIT is available on its website at http://www.trz.com. The information contained on Trizec REIT’s website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this proxy statement or any other report or document on file with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Trizec REIT’s shares of common stock are quoted on the NYSE under the symbol “TRZ.”  Trizec REIT’s principal executive offices are located at 10 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 1100, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and its telephone number is (312) 798-6000.

 

Trizec Holdings Operating LLC

 

Trizec Holdings Operating LLC (“Trizec OP”) is a Delaware limited liability company through which Trizec REIT conducts substantially all its business and owns substantially all of its assets. Trizec OP’s principal executive offices are located at 10 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 1100, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and its telephone number is (312) 798-6000. Trizec OP and Trizec REIT are sometimes referred to in this proxy statement collectively as “Trizec.”

 

The Merger and Related Transactions (page 58)

 

Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 21, 2005, by and among us, our operating partnership, GECC, Trizec REIT, Trizec OP, REIT Merger Sub and Partnership Merger Sub (the “merger agreement”), which is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A and is incorporated by reference herein, we will engage in a multistep transaction that will result in the transfer of 13 of our properties and several undeveloped land parcels to Trizec OP, the merger of our operating partnership with Partnership Merger Sub and the merger of our company with REIT Merger Sub.

 

Admission

 

Prior to consummation of any of the transactions described in the merger agreement, we will form a wholly owned subsidiary that will be admitted as a limited partner to our operating partnership and be issued newly authorized Series C preferred units (the “Series C units”), equal to a 0.01% interest in our operating partnership, in exchange for a capital contribution (the “admission”). The admission is a technical step that is necessary to ensure that the operating partnership continues to comply with certain requirements of Maryland partnership law following completion of the transaction.

 

Redemption and Exchange

 

Pursuant to the merger agreement, holders of common units of limited partnership interest in our operating partnership (“common units”) that are “accredited investors” (other than us and our subsidiaries) may elect to have their common units redeemed (the “redemption” and each such holder, a “redeeming common unit holder”) by our operating partnership in exchange for an interest in one or, under certain circumstances, two existing or newly formed limited liability companies that each will own one of our operating partnership’s properties to be transferred to Trizec (such interests, the “LLC Interests”). Our operating partnership will also distribute to each redeeming common unit holder an amount in cash equal to a prorated portion of the normal quarterly distribution payable on common units up to the closing date, without interest and less any required withholding for taxes.

 

2



 

Following the redemption, each redeeming common unit holder will contribute to Trizec OP all of its LLC Interests in exchange (the “exchange”) for common limited liability company membership interests in Trizec OP (“Trizec OP units”).

 

Partnership Merger

 

One day after the completion of the admission, redemption and exchange, Partnership Merger Sub will merge with and into our operating partnership (the “partnership merger”), with our operating partnership continuing as the surviving partnership. The partnership merger will become effective at such time as the partnership articles of merger have been accepted for record by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) in accordance with Maryland law, or such later time, up to 30 days after the partnership articles of merger are accepted for record by the SDAT, as we and GECC may agree and designate in the partnership articles of merger. Common unit holders that do not participate in the redemption (“non-redeeming common unit holders”) will have their common units converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive $45.25 for each common unit, plus an amount equal to the prorated portion of the normal quarterly distribution payable on common units up to the closing date without interest and less any required withholding for taxes (the “common unit merger consideration”). Upon consummation of the partnership merger, we will continue to be the general partner of the surviving partnership and our wholly owned subsidiary will be the sole limited partner of the surviving partnership.

 

Asset Distribution and Asset Sale

 

The surviving partnership will distribute its interests and rights in 11 or, under certain circumstances, 12 properties, several undeveloped land parcels and any LLC Interests retained by the surviving partnership after the redemption and exchange, to us in partial redemption of our common units (the “asset distribution”). Thereafter, pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement between Trizec OP and GECC, we will transfer the distributed assets to Trizec OP for approximately $1.6 billion in cash, less the aggregate amount paid in Trizec OP units to common unit holders in the exchange and the debt associated with the Trizec assets (the “asset sale”). The asset sale will not affect the cash consideration to be received by our common stockholders in the merger. Upon the consummation of the exchange and the asset sale, Trizec will be the direct or indirect owner of 13 properties and several undeveloped land parcels (the “Trizec assets”) currently owned by our operating partnership.

 

The Merger

 

Pursuant to the merger agreement, we will merge with and into REIT Merger Sub (the “merger”) and REIT Merger Sub will be the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of GECC (the “surviving entity”). The merger will become effective at such time as the articles of merger have been accepted for record by the SDAT in accordance with Maryland law, or up to 30 days after the articles of merger are accepted for record by the SDAT as we and GECC may agree and designate in the articles of merger in accordance with Maryland law.

 

Closing

 

Consummation of the redemption, exchange, asset sale or partnership merger are not conditions to the merger and in the event any or all fail to occur, the parties shall nevertheless be obligated to consummate the merger. The closing of the merger and related transactions will occur over the course of two days. The admission, redemption and exchange will occur on the first day of closing. The partnership merger, asset distribution, asset sale and merger will occur on the second day of closing.

 

Merger Consideration (page 59)

 

The merger agreement provides that each share of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will be converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive cash consideration of $45.25 for each share of common stock, plus an amount equal to the prorated portion of the normal quarterly dividend payable on our common stock up to the closing date without interest and less any required withholding for taxes (collectively, the “common stock merger consideration”). Upon closing, each share of our common stock will be canceled and will cease to exist, and our common stockholders will cease to have any rights with respect to their shares of our common stock other than the right to receive the common stock merger consideration. A more complete description of the effects of the merger on shares of our common stock, options and

 

3



 

restricted shares is set forth below under the heading “The Merger Agreement – Merger Consideration” on page 59.

 

Dividends (page 60)

 

The merger agreement authorizes us to continue to declare and pay regular quarterly dividends (subject to certain limited exceptions, not to exceed $0.505 per share of our common stock per quarter) for each full fiscal quarter that ends prior to the closing of the merger. For example, if the closing date of the merger were March 26, 2006, holders of shares of our common stock would receive regularly quarterly dividends through the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2005, and an amount equal to the pro rata portion of the quarterly dividend for the quarter ending March 31, 2006 would be paid as part of the common stock merger consideration.

 

Treatment of Common Units (page 60)

 

In connection with the partnership merger, each common unit holder will have the right to receive the common unit merger consideration, or, if such common unit holder is an “accredited investor” and so elects, subject to certain conditions, the right to have its common units redeemed in exchange for LLC Interests. Each redeeming common unit holder will also receive an amount in cash equal to a prorated portion of the normal quarterly distribution payable on common units up to the closing date, without interest and less any required witholding for taxes, paid by our operating partnership. Immediately following the redemption, each redeeming common unit holder will contribute all of its LLC Interests to Trizec OP in exchange for Trizec OP units.  The number of Trizec OP units received by a redeeming common unit holder will be an amount equal to (i) the number of common units held by such redeeming common unit holder immediately prior to the redemption, multiplied by (ii) the quotient determined by dividing (x) $45.25 by (y) $21.89, which was the closing price of Trizec REIT common stock on the day preceding the execution of the merger agreement.  If the average closing price of Trizec REIT’s common stock for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the closing date of the merger is greater than $23.50 or less than $18.89, then the number of Trizec OP units received will be calculated by using such 10-day average closing price rather than $21.89.  At the effective time of the partnership merger, common units that were not redeemed will be converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive the common unit merger consideration.  Each Trizec OP unit issued to redeeming common unit holders in the exchange will have economic attributes that are substantially similar to a share of Trizec REIT common stock, and will be redeemable at the option of the holder at any time after one year for cash equal to the then-current market price of Trizec REIT common stock or, at the option of Trizec OP, one share of Trizec REIT common stock.  In addition, Trizec will grant redeeming common unit holders certain tax protections, registration rights and in-kind redemption rights.  A more complete description of the effects of the merger on the common units, is set forth under the heading “The Merger Agreement Treatment of Common Units” on page 60.

 

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors (pages 36 and 72)

 

On December 21, 2005, after careful consideration of the factors described under the heading “Approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger – Factors Considered by Our Board of Directors and Reasons for the Merger” on page 32, our board of directors unanimously:

 

                                          determined that it was advisable, fair to and in the best interests of our company and our common stockholders for us to enter into the merger agreement and consummate the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement; and

 

                                          approved the merger agreement and the merger and directed that they be submitted to our common stockholders for approval at a special meeting of stockholders.

 

In addition, our board of directors unanimously determined to recommend to our common stockholders that the common stockholders vote “FOR” the proposal to approve the merger agreement and the merger (“Proposal 1”) and “FOR” the proposal to approve any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies (“Proposal 2”).

 

The background and reasons for the merger are described in detail on pages 21 through 36.

 

The Special Meeting (page 17)

 

The special meeting of our stockholders will be held at the                         , at                a.m., local time, on                         ,                      , 2006. At the special meeting, you will be asked, by proxy or in person, to:

 

                                          consider and vote on Proposal 1, to approve the merger agreement and the merger;

 

                                          consider and vote on Proposal 2, to approve any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies; and

 

                                          approve the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting.

 

4



 

Merger Vote Requirement; Stockholders Entitled to Vote; Vote Required; Quorum (page 17)

 

The merger agreement and the merger must be approved by the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are entitled to vote at the special meeting. You may vote at the special meeting if you owned shares of our common stock at the close of business on the record date for the special meeting,               , 2006. On the record date, there were                       shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. You have one vote for each share of common stock that you owned on the record date.

 

A quorum is necessary to hold a valid special meeting and if a quorum is not present, a vote cannot occur. A quorum will be present if the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock are present at the special meeting, either in person or by proxy. We may, however, seek to adjourn or postpone the special meeting if a quorum is not present at the special meeting.

 

Partnership Merger Vote Requirement (page 18)

 

Our consent as the general partner of our operating partnership is the only consent required to approve the partnership merger. In connection with our board of directors’ determination to approve the merger, we also approved the partnership merger. Therefore, the partnership merger will be consummated if and immediately prior to consummation of the merger.

 

Opinions of Our Financial Advisors (page 36)

 

Opinion of Wachovia Securities

 

At our board meeting on December 21, 2005, Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (“Wachovia Securities”) rendered its oral opinion, which was subsequently confirmed in writing, to our board of directors to the effect that, as of December 21, 2005, subject to and based on the assumptions and limitations set forth in its opinion, the $45.25 in cash for each share of common stock to be received by holders of shares of our common stock pursuant to the merger agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.

 

The full text of Wachovia Securities’ written opinion, dated December 21, 2005 (the “Wachovia Securities opinion”), which sets forth, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the opinion and the review undertaken in connection with the opinion, is attached as Annex B to, and is incorporated by reference in, this proxy statement. The opinion of Wachovia Securities does not constitute a recommendation as to how you should vote with respect to the merger agreement, the merger or any other matter related thereto. You should carefully read the opinion in its entirety.

 

Opinion of Houlihan Lokey

 

At our board meeting on December 21, 2005, Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Financial Advisors, Inc. (“Houlihan Lokey”) rendered its oral opinion, which was subsequently confirmed in writing, to our board of directors to the effect that, as of December 21, 2005, subject to and based on the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the opinion and the review undertaken, as set forth in the opinion, the $45.25 in cash for each share of common stock to be received by holders of shares of our common stock pursuant to the merger agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.

 

The full text of Houlihan Lokey’s written opinion, dated December 21, 2005 (the “Houlihan Lokey opinion”), which sets forth, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the opinion and the review undertaken in connection with the opinion, is attached as Annex C to, and is incorporated by reference in, this proxy statement. The opinion of Houlihan Lokey does not constitute a recommendation as to how you should vote with respect to the merger agreement, the merger or any other matter related thereto. You should carefully read the opinion in its entirety.

 

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Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger (page 47)

 

Members of our board of directors and our executive officers have certain interests in the merger that differ from, or are in addition to, those of other common stockholders. For example:

 

                                          in accordance with the terms of the existing compensation awards, our executive officers hold options to purchase shares of our common stock, the vesting of which will be accelerated so that these options will vest in full upon stockholder approval of Proposal 1. At the time the merger is consummated, they will be converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive a single lump sum cash payment equal to the product of (a) the number of shares of common stock subject to such option and (b) the excess, if any, of the common stock merger consideration over the exercise price per share of such option (the “option merger consideration,” and along with the common stock merger consideration and the common unit merger consideration, each a form of “merger consideration”);

 

                                          our directors and executive officers hold restricted shares as to which, in accordance with the terms of the existing compensation awards, the restrictions will lapse and the restricted shares will vest in full upon stockholder approval of Proposal 1. At the time the merger is consummated, they will be converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive the common stock merger consideration;

 

                                          in accordance with the terms of our 2005–2009 Outperformance Program, certain of our executive officers will receive payments of cash or stock based on the total return to common stockholders for the period beginning on April 1, 2005 and ending on the date of stockholder approval of the merger;

 

                                          certain of our executive officers will receive, in the event of termination of their employment within a specified period of time as a result of the merger, change of control benefits consisting of lump sum cash payments and the continuation of medical benefits, as provided for under their existing employment agreements with us;

 

                                          certain of our executive officers will receive, as a result of the merger, cash payments in respect of their interests in our deferred compensation plan, as provided for under that plan;

 

                                          our directors and officers will continue to be indemnified by the surviving company for six years after the completion of the merger and will have the benefit of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for six years after completion of the merger; and

 

                                          as common unit holders, Richard S. Ziman, the chairman of our board of directors and the chief executive officer of our company, and Victor J. Coleman, a director and the president and chief operating officer of our company, and certain of their family members and affiliates, will have the right to receive in exchange for their common units, either the common unit merger consideration or the right to participate in the redemption and exchange and receive Trizec OP units, plus an amount in cash equal to a prorated portion of the normal quarterly distribution payable on common units up to the closing date, without interest and less any required withholding for taxes.

 

All of the members of our board of directors were fully aware of the foregoing interests of our directors and executive officers in the merger and our independent directors met in executive session to consider them prior to approving the merger agreement and the merger.

 

The Merger Agreement

 

Conditions to the Merger (page 65)

 

Completion of the merger depends upon the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions, including:

 

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                                          approval of the merger agreement and the merger by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of our common stock;

 

                                          receipt of a legal opinion from our outside legal counsel, Latham & Watkins LLP (“Latham”), regarding our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes;

 

                                          continued accuracy of the respective representations and warranties and compliance with the covenants made by us and GECC in the merger agreement;

 

                                          the absence of events, changes or occurrences that have had, or would be reasonably expected to have, a material adverse effect on our company;

 

                                          the absence of any action involving a governmental authority that would reasonably be expected to impose limitations on GECC’s ability to effectively exercise full rights of ownership over the surviving entity or result in a governmental investigation or material fines being imposed by the government; and

 

                                          other customary closing conditions.

 

Where the law permits, GECC, on the one hand, or we, on the other hand, could decide to complete the merger even though one or more conditions were not satisfied. By law, however, neither GECC nor we can waive:

 

                                          the requirement that the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of our common stock approve the merger; or

 

                                          any court order or law preventing the closing of the merger.

 

Termination of the Merger Agreement (page 68)

 

GECC and we can jointly agree to terminate the merger agreement at any time, even if our common stockholders have approved the merger. In addition, either GECC or we can decide, without the consent of the other, to terminate the merger agreement if:

 

                                          any governmental entity shall have issued a governmental order permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting either the merger or the partnership merger and such order has become final and unappealable;

 

                                          the merger has not been consummated by June 30, 2006, unless the failure to consummate the merger prior to such date is a result of any action or inaction of the party seeking to terminate the merger agreement pursuant to this provision; or

 

                                          the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of our common stock fail to approve the merger agreement and the merger in accordance with Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter.

 

GECC may unilaterally terminate the merger agreement if:

 

                                          our board of directors fails to recommend that our common stockholders approve the merger agreement and the merger;

 

                                          our board of directors approves, or recommends that our common stockholders approve, a third-party acquisition proposal;

 

                                          we have entered into a third-party acquisition proposal; or

 

                                          we have materially breached any of our representations, warranties or covenants contained in the merger agreement, and that breach is incapable of being cured by us prior to June 30, 2006.

 

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We may unilaterally terminate the merger agreement if:

 

                                          GECC has materially breached any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in the merger agreement that is incapable of being cured by GECC prior to June 30, 2006; or

 

                                          in order for us to enter into a definitive agreement to effect a superior transaction with a third party, provided that we have given GECC at least three business days’ prior written notice and we pay GECC the termination fee described below under the heading “The Merger Agreement – Termination Fee and Expenses” on page 70.

 

Termination Fee and Expenses (page 70)

 

The merger agreement provides that, in specified circumstances, we may be required to pay GECC a termination fee of $100.0 million. The merger agreement also provides that if either party terminates the merger agreement because of the other party’s material breach of a representation, warranty or covenant, the breaching party must reimburse the nonbreaching party for expenses up to $10.0 million. In addition, we have agreed to reimburse GECC’s expenses up to $10.0 million if the merger agreement is terminated because the requisite stockholder approval is not obtained. In any case in which we are required to pay a termination fee, the amount of any expenses that we pay to GECC will be credited against the amount of the termination fee so that the total amount of the termination fee and expense reimbursement that we may be required to pay will not exceed $100.0 million.

 

Paying Agent (page 61)

 

The Bank of New York will act as the paying agent in connection with the merger.

 

Voting Agreement (page 52)

 

Each of Mr. Ziman and Mr. Coleman, have entered into a voting agreement with GECC, dated as of December 21, 2005 (the “voting agreement”). Pursuant to the voting agreement, Messrs. Ziman and Coleman have agreed to vote all of the shares of our common stock that they beneficially own in favor of the merger agreement and the merger as well as against any third-party acquisition proposal or other proposal that would impede or adversely affect the merger. The shares of our common stock beneficially owned by Messrs. Ziman and Coleman and governed by the voting agreement aggregate approximately 2.3% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.

 

Regulatory Matters (page 52)

 

No material federal or state regulatory requirements or approvals need be obtained by us or GECC in connection with either the merger or the partnership merger, other than the filing and distribution of this proxy statement and other materials that may be deemed soliciting materials and the filing of the articles of merger and the partnership articles of merger with, and the acceptance of such articles of merger for record by, the SDAT.

 

Dissenters’ Rights (page 52)

 

We are organized as a corporation under Maryland law. Under Maryland law, because shares of our common stock are listed on the NYSE, our common stockholders who object to the merger do not have any appraisal rights or dissenters’ rights in connection with the merger.

 

Litigation Relating to the Merger (page 53)

 

On December 23, 2005, a purported stockholder class action lawsuit related to the merger agreement was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court naming us and each of our directors as defendants. The lawsuit, Charter Township of Clinton Police and Fire Retirement System v. Arden Realty, Inc., et al. (Case No. BC345065), alleges, among other things, that the $45.25 per share in cash to be paid to the holders of shares of our common stock in connection with the merger is inadequate and that the individual defendants breached their duties to our stockholders in negotiating and approving the merger agreement. A second purported stockholder class action lawsuit, Dwyer v. Arden Realty, Inc., et al. (Case No. BC345468), was filed in Los Angeles County Superior

 

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Court on January 4, 2006 against the same defendants as in Charter Township. The Dwyer complaint alleges claims for breach of duty, indemnification and injunctive relief. We believe that these lawsuits are without merit and intend to vigorously defend the actions.

 

Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences (page 53)

 

The receipt of the merger consideration for each share of our common stock pursuant to the merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. Generally for United States federal income tax purposes, you will recognize gain or loss as a result of the merger measured by the difference, if any, between the merger consideration per share and your adjusted tax basis in that share. In addition, under certain circumstances, we may be required to withhold a portion of your merger consideration under applicable tax laws. Tax matters can be complicated, and the tax consequences of the merger to you will depend on your particular tax situation. We urge you to consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the merger to you.

 

You should read “Approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger – Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” on page 53 for a more complete discussion of the federal income tax consequences of the merger.

 

Delisting and Deregistration of Our Common Stock (page 57)

 

If the merger is completed, shares of our common stock will no longer be listed on the NYSE and will be deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER

 

Q:                                   What matters will be voted on at the special meeting?

 

A:                                   You are being asked to:

 

                                          consider and vote on Proposal 1, to approve the merger agreement and the merger;

 

                                          consider and vote on Proposal 2, to approve any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies; and

 

                                          approve the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting.

 

Q:                                   What is the proposed merger transaction?

 

A:                                   Once the merger agreement and the merger have been approved by our common stockholders and the other closing conditions under the merger agreement have been satisfied or waived, we will merge with and into REIT Merger Sub with REIT Merger Sub being the surviving entity and GECC being the sole remaining holder of the common stock of the surviving entity. For additional information about the merger, please review the merger agreement attached to this proxy statement as Annex A and incorporated by reference into this proxy statement. We encourage you to read the merger agreement carefully and in its entirety, as it is the principal document governing the merger.

 

Q:                                   As a common stockholder, what will I receive in the merger?

 

A:                                   For each outstanding share of common stock, our common stockholders will receive the common stock merger consideration, which is an amount in cash equal to $45.25 for each share of common stock, plus an amount equal to the prorated portion of the normal quarterly dividend payable on our common stock up to the closing date without interest and less any required withholding for taxes. The amount equal to the prorated portion of the normal quarterly dividend will be determined by multiplying $0.505 by the quotient obtained when dividing (a) the number of days between the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter for which dividends were declared and paid and the closing date of the merger, by (b) the total number of days in the fiscal quarter during which the closing occurs, without interest and less any required withholding for taxes.

 

Q:                                   When and where is the special meeting of our stockholders?

 

A:                                   The special meeting of stockholders will take place on                   ,                      , 2006, at             a.m. local time, at the                              .

 

Q:                                   Who can vote and attend the special meeting?

 

A:                                   All common stockholders of record as of the close of business on            , 2006, the record date for the special meeting, are entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at the special meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. Each share is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the meeting.

 

Q:                                   What vote of our common stockholders is required to approve the merger agreement and the merger?

 

A:                                   Approval of the merger agreement and the merger requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are entitled to vote at the special meeting. We urge you to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card, or follow the instructions on your proxy card for telephonic or internet proxy authorization, to assure the representation of your shares at the special meeting.

 

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Q:                                   How does the common stock merger consideration compare to the market price of shares of our common stock?

 

A:                                   The cash consideration of $45.25 for each share represents an approximate 3.8% discount to the closing price of our common stock on the day before the merger announcement; an approximate 22.0% premium to the closing price of our common stock on the trading day prior to our board’s decision to pursue strategic alternatives on August 9; an approximate 11.2% premium to the average closing price of our common stock for the six-month period before the public announcement of the merger; and an approximate 19.7% premium over the average closing price of our common stock for the one-year period before the public announcement of the merger.

 

Q:                                    If the merger is completed, when can I expect to receive the common stock merger consideration for my shares of common stock?

 

A:                                   As soon as practicable after the completion of the merger, you will receive a letter of transmittal describing how you may exchange your shares of common stock for the common stock merger consideration. At that time, you must send your share certificates with your completed letter of transmittal to the paying agent in order to receive the common stock merger consideration. You should not send your share certificates to us or anyone else until you receive these instructions. You will receive payment of your portion of the common stock merger consideration after we receive from you a properly completed letter of transmittal, together with your share certificates. If you hold your shares of common stock in “street name,” your broker or nominee will surrender your shares in exchange for your portion of the common stock merger consideration following completion of the merger.

 

Q:                                   How does our board of directors recommend that I vote?

 

A:                                   Our board of directors unanimously recommends that our common stockholders vote to approve the merger agreement and the merger.

 

Q:                                   Why is our board of directors recommending that I vote in favor of the proposal to approve the merger agreement and the merger?

 

A:                                   After careful consideration, our board of directors unanimously approved the merger agreement and the merger and unanimously determined that the merger is advisable, fair to and in the best interests of our company and our common stockholders. In reaching its decision to approve the merger agreement and the merger and to recommend the approval of the merger agreement and the merger by our common stockholders, our board of directors consulted with management, as well as with our legal and financial advisors, and considered the terms of the proposed merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Our board of directors also considered each of the items set forth on pages 32 through 36 under the heading “Approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger – Factors Considered by Our Board of Directors and Reasons for the Merger.”

 

Q:                                   How do I cast my vote?

 

A:                                   If you were a holder of record of shares of our common stock on                   , 2006, you may vote in person at the special meeting or submit a proxy for the special meeting. You can submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed, postage paid envelope, or, if you prefer, by following the instructions on your proxy card for telephonic or internet proxy authorization.

 

If you sign, date and send your proxy and do not indicate how you want to vote, your proxy will be voted “FOR” the approval of the merger agreement and the merger and “FOR” the approval of any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies.

 

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Q:                                   How do I cast my vote if my shares of common stock are held of record in “street name” by my bank, broker or another nominee?

 

A:                                   If your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee, which is often referred to as holding your shares in “street name,” you must obtain a proxy form from the broker, bank or other nominee that is the record holder of your shares and provide the record holder of your shares with instructions on how to vote your shares, in accordance with the voting directions provided by your broker, bank or nominee. If you do not provide the record holder of your shares with instructions on how to vote your shares, the record holder generally will not be permitted to vote your shares. The inability of your record holder to vote your shares, often referred to as a “broker nonvote,” will have the same effect as a vote against the approval of the merger agreement and the merger. If your shares are held in “street name,” please refer to the voting instruction card used by your broker, bank or other nominee, or contact them directly, to see if you may submit voting instructions using the internet or telephone.

 

Q:                                   What will happen if I abstain from voting or fail to vote?

 

A:                                   If you abstain from voting, fail to cast your vote in person or by proxy or if you hold your shares in “street name” and fail to give voting instructions to the record holder of your shares it will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal 1, to approve of the merger agreement and the merger, but will have no effect on Proposal 2, to approve any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting for the purpose of solicting additional proxies.

 

Q:                                   What happens if I sell my shares before the special meeting?

 

A:                                   The record date for the special meeting, the close of business on            , 2006, is earlier than the date of the special meeting. If you held your shares of common stock on the record date but transfer them prior to the effective time of the merger, you will retain your right to vote at the special meeting, but not the right to receive the common stock merger consideration for the common shares. The right to receive such consideration will pass to the person who owns the shares you previously owned when the merger becomes effective.

 

Q:                                   Can I change my vote after I have delivered my proxy?

 

A:                                   Yes. If you are a record holder, you can change your vote at any time before your proxy is voted at the special meeting by delivering a later-dated, signed proxy card to our corporate secretary, by authorizing a subsequent proxy telephonically or over the internet, or by attending the special meeting in person and voting. Attendance at the special meeting without voting will not itself revoke your proxy. You also may revoke your proxy by delivering a notice of revocation to our corporate secretary prior to the vote at the special meeting. If your shares are held in “street name,” you must contact your broker, bank or nominee to determine how to revoke your proxy.

 

Q:                                   How will proxy holders vote my shares?

 

A:                                   If you complete and properly sign the proxy card attached to this proxy statement and return it to us prior to the special meeting, your shares will be voted as you direct. If no direction is otherwise made, your shares will be voted in accordance with our board of directors’ recommendations. Our board of directors recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal 1, to approve the merger agreement and the merger and “FOR” Proposal 2, to approve any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies. Our board of directors’ recommendation is set forth, together with the description of the proposals, in this proxy statement. See the discussion under the heading “Approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger – Recommendation of Our Board of Directors” on page 36 and “The Adjournment or Postponement Proposal” on page 72.

 

Q:                                   What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?

 

A:                                   You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. If you are a holder of record and your shares are registered in more than one name,

 

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you will receive more than one proxy card. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive. You may also follow the instructions on the proxy cards for telephonic or internet proxy authorization for each proxy card that you receive.

 

Q:                                   Does Arden Realty, Inc. expect to continue to pay regular quarterly dividends on its shares of common stock?

 

A:                                   Yes, in accordance with certain dollar limitations contained in the merger agreement, we expect to continue to declare and pay regular quarterly dividends to our common stockholders of record for each full fiscal quarter ending prior to the closing of the merger. There will be no prorated dividend paid for the quarter in which the closing occurs; rather, an equivalent amount will be paid as a portion of the common stock merger consideration.

 

Q:                                   What rights do I have if I oppose the merger?

 

A:                                   If you are a common stockholder of record, you can vote against the merger by indicating a vote against the proposal on your proxy card and signing and mailing your proxy card or by voting against the merger in person at the special meeting. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you can vote against the merger in accordance with the voting instructions provided to you by the record holder of your shares. You are not, however, entitled to dissenters’ or appraisal rights under Maryland law because shares of our common stock are listed on the NYSE.

 

Q:                                   Is the merger expected to be taxable to me?

 

A:                                   Yes. The receipt of the merger consideration for each share of our common stock pursuant to the merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. Generally, for United States federal income tax purposes, you will recognize gain or loss as a result of the merger measured by the difference, if any, between the merger consideration per share and your adjusted tax basis in that share. In addition, under certain circumstances, we may be required to withhold a portion of your merger consideration under applicable tax laws. You should read “Approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger – Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” on page 53 for a more complete discussion of the United States federal income tax consequences of the merger. Tax matters can be complicated, and the tax consequences of the merger to you will depend on your particular tax situation.

 

We urge you to consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the merger to you.

 

Q:                                   Should I send in my common stock certificates now?

 

A:                                   No. As soon as practicable after the merger is completed, stockholders of record at the effective time of the merger will be sent written instructions for exchanging their certificates for the common stock merger consideration. These instructions will tell you how and where to send in your certificates in return for the common stock merger consideration.

 

Q:                                   What will happen to my common shares after completion of the merger?

 

A:                                   Following the completion of the merger, your shares will be canceled and will represent only the right to receive your portion of the common stock merger consideration. Trading in shares of our common stock on the NYSE will cease. Price quotations for shares of our common stock will no longer be available and we will cease filing periodic reports with the SEC.

 

Q:                                   When do you expect the merger to be completed?

 

A:                                   We are working to complete the merger as quickly as possible. We currently expect to complete the merger on or about                  , 2006. However, we cannot predict the exact timing of the merger because the merger is subject to specified closing conditions. See the discussion under the heading “The Merger Agreement – Conditions to the Merger” on page 65.

 

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Q:                                   Who can help answer my questions?

 

A:                                   If you have any questions about the proposals or how to submit your proxy or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card, you should contact:

 

Arden Realty, Inc.
11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Fourth Floor
Los Angeles, California 90025
Attention:  Investor Relations
Phone:  (310) 966-2600
E-mail:  proxy@ardenrealty.com

 

or our proxy solicitor:

 

MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
105 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Phone:  (800) 322-2885
E-mail:  proxy@mackenziepartners.com

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This proxy statement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of our management and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in a forward-looking statement.

 

In any forward-looking statement in which we express an expectation or belief as to future results, that expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the statement or expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. Risks and uncertainties pertaining to the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements:

 

                                          the possibility that the proposed merger will not be consummated on the terms described in this proxy statement, or at all;

 

                                          the potential adverse effect on our business, properties and operations because of certain covenants we made in the merger agreement;

 

                                          the decrease in the amount of time and attention that management can devote to our business and properties while also devoting its attention to effectuating the proposed merger;

 

                                          increases in operating costs resulting from the expenses related to the proposed merger;

 

                                          our inability to retain and, if necessary, attract key employees, particularly in light of the proposed merger;

 

                                          risks resulting from any lawsuits that may arise out of or have arisen as a result of the proposed merger, including the matters described under the heading “Approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger – Litigation Relating to the Merger” on page 53;

 

                                          risks that planned and additional real estate investments may not be consummated;

 

                                          risks generally incident to the ownership of real property, including the ability to retain tenants and rent space upon lease expirations, the financial condition and solvency of our tenants, the relative illiquidity of real estate and changes in real estate taxes, regulatory compliance costs and other operating expenses; and

 

                                          risks related to our status as a REIT for United States federal income tax purposes, such as the existence of complex regulations relating to our status as a REIT, the effect of future changes in REIT requirements as a result of new legislation and the adverse consequences of the failure to qualify as a REIT.

 

Many of these and other important factors are detailed in this proxy statement or in various SEC filings made periodically by us. We discussed a number of material risks in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which are available from us without charge or online at http://www.ardenrealty.com. Please review this proxy statement and these filings and do not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

 

You should consider the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that may be issued by us or persons acting on our behalf. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in

 

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this proxy statement to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this proxy statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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THE SPECIAL MEETING

 

We are furnishing this proxy statement to our common stockholders as part of the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors in connection with the special meeting of our stockholders.

 

Date, Time and Place

 

We will hold the special meeting on                   ,                      , 2006, at               a.m., local time, at                                   .

 

Purpose of the Special Meeting

 

The purpose of the special meeting is to:

 

                                          consider and vote on Proposal 1, to approve the merger agreement and the merger (see “Approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger” on page 20 and “The Merger Agreement” on page 58);

 

                                          consider and vote on Proposal 2, to approve any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies (see “The Adjournment or Postponement Proposal” on page 72; and

 

                                          transact any other business that may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting.

 

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

 

Our board of directors has unanimously determined that it is advisable, fair to and in the best interests of our company and our common stockholders for us to enter into the merger agreement and consummate the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

 

Our board of directors unanimously recommends that our common stockholders vote “FOR” Proposal 1, to approve the merger agreement and the merger and “FOR” Proposal 2, to approve any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies.

 

Record Date; Stockholders Entitled to Vote; Quorum

 

Only common stockholders of record at the close of business on               , 2006, the record date, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting. On the record date,        shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and held by                stockholders of record. Our common stockholders on the record date are entitled to one vote per share on any proposal at the special meeting.

 

A quorum is necessary to hold a valid special meeting. A quorum will be present if the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock are present at the special meeting, either in person or by proxy. If a quorum is not present, a vote cannot occur. In deciding whether a quorum is present, abstentions and any broker nonvotes will be counted as shares that are represented at the special meeting.

 

Vote Required for Approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger

 

The approval of the merger agreement and the merger by our common stockholders requires the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are entitled to vote at the special meeting. Because the vote is based on the number of shares outstanding rather than the number of votes cast, an abstention, a failure to vote your shares in person or by proxy or, if your shares are held in “street name,” a failure to give voting instructions to the record holder of your shares, resulting in a broker nonvote, each will have the same effect as voting against the approval of the merger agreement and the merger.

 

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Vote Required to Adjourn or Postpone the Special Meeting

 

The approval of any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal.  Because an abstention, a failure to vote or a broker nonvote is not a vote cast, each will have no effect on the approval of Proposal 2.

 

Vote Required for Approval of the Partnership Merger

 

Our consent as the general partner of our operating partnership is the only consent required to approve the partnership merger. In connection with our board of directors’ determination to approve the merger, we also approved the partnership merger. Therefore, the partnership merger will be consummated if and immediately prior to consummation of the merger.

 

Voting; Proxies

 

At the special meeting, you may vote by proxy or, if you are the record holder of your shares, in person.

 

Voting in Person

 

If you plan to attend the special meeting and wish to vote in person, you will be given a ballot at the special meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are held in “street name” and you wish to attend and vote at the special meeting, you must contact your broker, bank or other nominee and obtain a “legal proxy” which may take several days.

 

Voting by Proxy

 

All shares of our common stock represented by properly executed proxies received in time for the special meeting will be voted at the special meeting in the manner specified by the common stockholders giving those proxies. Properly executed proxies that do not contain voting instructions will be voted “FOR” Proposal 1 and “FOR” Proposal 2.

 

Only shares affirmatively voted for Proposal 1 and properly executed proxies that do not contain voting instructions will be counted as votes to approve Proposal 1. Because the vote is based on the number of shares outstanding rather than the number of votes cast, an abstention, a failure to vote your shares in person or by proxy or, if your shares are held in “street name,” a broker nonvote, each will have the same effect as voting against Proposal 1.

 

Approval of Proposal 2, however, requires only a majority of the votes cast on the proposal and therefore an abstention, a failure to vote your shares in person or by proxy or a broker nonvote, each will have no effect on the approval of Proposal 2.

 

Adjournments; Other Business

 

If a quorum is not present or represented at the special meeting, the common stockholders entitled to vote and present or represented by proxy have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the special meeting. At such adjourned special meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the special meeting as originally notified.

 

Under Maryland law, no business other than the proposals to approve the merger agreement and the merger and to approve any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies may be brought before the special meeting. If other matters incidental to the conduct of the meeting are properly presented at the special meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote in accordance with their discretion with respect to those matters.

 

Revocation of Proxies

 

Submitting a proxy on the enclosed form does not preclude a common stockholder of record from voting in person at the special meeting. A common stockholder of record may revoke a proxy at any time before it is voted by filing with our corporate secretary a duly executed revocation of proxy, by submitting a duly executed proxy to our corporate secretary with a later date or by appearing at the special meeting and voting in person. A common stockholder of record may revoke a proxy by any of these methods, regardless of the method used to deliver the common stockholder’s previous proxy. Attendance at the special meeting without voting will not itself revoke a

 

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proxy. If your shares are held in “street name,” you must contact your broker, bank or other nominee to revoke your proxy.

 

Solicitation of Proxies

 

We are soliciting proxies for the special meeting from our stockholders. We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies for the special meeting from our common stockholders and will pay approximately $15,000 (plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses) to MacKenzie Partners, Inc., our proxy solicitor. In addition to solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies by telephone, telegram or otherwise. Our directors, officers and employees will not be additionally compensated for such solicitation, but may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection therewith. We will also request persons, firms and corporations holding shares beneficially owned by others to send proxy materials to, and obtain proxies from, the beneficial owners of such shares and will, upon request, pay the common stockholders’ reasonable expenses for doing so.

 

Dissenters’ Rights

 

We are organized as a corporation under Maryland law. Under Maryland law, because shares of our common stock are listed on the NYSE, our common stockholders who object to the merger do not have any appraisal rights or dissenters’ rights in connection with the merger.

 

Assistance

 

If you need assistance in completing your proxy card or authorizing your proxy over the internet or telephonically, or if you have questions regarding our special meeting, please contact:

 

Arden Realty, Inc.
11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Fourth Floor
Los Angeles, California 90025
Attention:  Investor Relations

Phone:  (310) 966-2600
E-mail:  proxy@ardenrealty.com

 

or our proxy solicitor:

 

MacKenzie Partners, Inc.

105 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10016

Phone:  (800) 322-2885

E-mail:  proxy@mackenziepartners.com

 

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PROPOSAL 1:  THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE MERGER

 

APPROVAL OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT
AND THE MERGER

 

The following is a description of the material aspects of the merger agreement and the merger. While we believe that the following description covers the material terms of the merger agreement and the merger, the description may not contain all of the information that is important to you. We encourage you to read carefully this proxy statement, including the merger agreement attached as Annex A, for a more complete understanding of the merger. The following description is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the merger agreement.

 

General Description of the Merger

 

Under the terms of the merger agreement, GECC will acquire us and our subsidiaries through the merger of our company with and into REIT Merger Sub, with REIT Merger Sub continuing as the surviving entity. As a result of the merger, you will have no future ownership interest in the surviving entity and, as a result, will not have the opportunity to share in any of the future earnings or growth of our company.

 

As set forth in more detail in the merger agreement, the merger will occur in connection with the following transactions. Prior to the merger and the other transactions described in the merger agreement, we will form a wholly owned subsidiary that will be admitted to our operating partnership as a limited partner and will acquire Series C units representing a 0.01% interest in our operating partnership in exchange for a capital contribution. Common unit holders that are “accredited investors” may elect to have their common units redeemed, following the admission, by our operating partnership in exchange for LLC Interests, which are interests in one or, under certain circumstances, two existing or newly formed limited liability companies that each will own one of the properties to be transferred to Trizec. In connection with the redemption, our operating partnership will also distribute to each redeeming common unit holder an amount in cash equal to a prorated portion of our normal quarterly distribution payable on common units up to the closing date, without interest and less any required withholding for taxes. Following the admission and redemption, each redeeming common unit holder will contribute to Trizec OP all of its LLC Interests in exchange for Trizec OP units. One day after the completion of the admission, redemption and exchange, Partnership Merger Sub will merge with and into our operating partnership, with our operating partnership continuing as the surviving entity. Common unit holders that did not participate in the redemption and exchange will have each unit converted, subject to certain terms and conditions, into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive the common unit merger consideration, which is an amount in cash equal to (i) $45.25 plus (ii) an amount equal to a prorated portion of our normal quarterly distribution payable on common units up to the closing date, without interest and less any required withholding for taxes. Thereafter, the surviving partnership will distribute its interests and rights in the remaining Trizec assets to us in partial redemption of our common units and we will transfer the Trizec assets to Trizec OP for approximately $1.6 billion, less the aggregate amount paid in Trizec OP units to common unit holders in the exchange and the debt associated with the Trizec assets. Following the admission, redemption, exchange, partnership merger, asset distribution and asset sale, we will merge with and into REIT Merger Sub, with REIT Merger Sub as the surviving entity.

 

Under the terms of merger agreement, each issued and outstanding share of our common stock will be converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive the common stock merger consideration, which is an amount in cash equal to (i) $45.25 plus (ii) an amount equal to a prorated portion of our normal quarterly dividend up to the closing date, without interest and less any required withholding for taxes. Each outstanding option to purchase shares of common stock under any of our employee option or compensation plans will be canceled in exchange for the right to receive the option merger consideration, which is a single lump sum cash payment equal to the product of (a) the number of shares subject to such option and (b) the excess, if any, of the common stock merger consideration over the exercise price per share of such option.  If the exercise price per share of any such option is equal to or greater than the common stock merger consideration, then such option will be canceled without any cash payment.

 

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Background of the Merger

 

During 2003 and 2004, we were approached by various entities on multiple occasions about the possibility of acquiring us or engaging in other potential strategic transactions. These entities included a public office REIT, two private investment funds and a pension fund, as well as GECC, with whom we held informal discussions regarding an acquisition transaction in July and August of 2004. We entered into confidentiality agreements and engaged in informal discussions with each of these entities. None of these entities conducted substantive due diligence on our company other than a review of public filings and informal discussions with our management. For a variety of reasons, including the price ranges discussed by these entities in meetings with senior management and senior management’s general view that there would be future opportunities to undertake transactions at higher valuations, none of these informal discussions resulted in the submission to us of a formal acquisition proposal.

 

Although senior management was confident that its strategic business plan was sound and offered opportunities for future growth, by mid-2005, our senior management came to the view that an unusually positive series of developments in the United States economy and the Southern California office market since 2002 had created an environment that made a strategic transaction an increasingly compelling alternative to continuing to operate our company consistent with past practice or other potential alternatives. Historically low interest rates and an influx of foreign and institutional investors seeking alternatives to stock and bond investments had created highly favorable market conditions for real estate investments. Prices for real estate assets had increased rapidly during these years, reaching historic highs, while capitalization rates were reaching historic lows. Office property fundamentals, such as rents, vacancy and absorption, were also strengthening. The stock prices of publicly traded REITs responded positively to these developments, significantly outpacing the performance of broader stock indices such as the Standard & Poor’s 500. Moreover, a number of large portfolio acquisitions had occurred in 2004 and early 2005 at low capitalization rates, a trend that was reflected in the Southern California office market by several transactions, including Maguire Properties, Inc.’s acquisition of a portfolio of properties from CommonWealth Partners for more than $1.5 billion in late January 2005.

 

Between July 2004 and July 2005, our stock price increased by approximately 17%. Nevertheless, we did not believe that either the implied value of our assets based on private market transactions, or the unique value of our large, high-quality portfolio of office properties in the supply-constrained Southern California market, had been appropriately reflected in our stock price, particularly in light of the gradual improvement that we had achieved in our portfolio in recent years through our senior management’s successful “capital recycling” program of targeted dispositions and acquisitions. Additionally, in our senior management team’s experience, valuations of public REITs and office properties were subject to fluctuation based on a variety of factors, including prevailing interest rates, local and national economic conditions that drive demand for office space and the performance of alternative investments such as stocks and bonds. Although in recent years these factors had been unusually and persistently positive, there could be no assurance that these factors would remain so. Interest rates, in particular, remained low, but were generally expected to increase in the future, which would make financing real estate acquisitions more costly and could therefore be expected to reduce demand for real estate acquisitions and the attendant values. In addition, because REIT share prices historically have had a negative correlation to interest rates, increases in interest rates could be expected to push down our stock price. Price-to-earnings multiples of public REITs were at historic highs, while REITs’ dividend yields were at or near historic lows. At the same time, because capitalization rates were historically low there was increased risk that we would not be able to reinvest proceeds from asset sales and achieve rates of return commensurate with our past performance. In light of all of these factors, by mid-2005, our senior management concluded that the conditions required to successfully consummate a strategic transaction that maximized stockholder returns were very favorable and we determined to actively investigate the feasibility and potential value of a sale or other strategic transaction involving our company.

 

During the course of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) Institutional Investor Forum held in New York, New York, on June 8 through June 10, 2005, members of our senior management discussed generally with representatives of Lehman Brothers Inc. (“Lehman Brothers”) and Wachovia Securities, two investment banking firms that had done substantial debt and equity underwriting for us in the past, senior management’s willingness to explore potential opportunities for a strategic transaction. Lehman Brothers and Wachovia Securities each requested an opportunity to study our options and to meet with our senior management team more formally in the near future.

 

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During June, July and August, following the NAREIT conference, our senior management team met and had informal discussions with each of Lehman Brothers and Wachovia Securities on a number of occasions in an effort to determine whether the opportunities presented by potential strategic transactions were attractive enough to merit formal consideration by our board of directors. At various times during this period, Messrs. Ziman and Coleman notified the members of our board that they had begun to investigate the risks and benefits of a strategic transaction and, from time to time, updated the members of our board on our senior management’s discussions with Lehman Brothers and Wachovia Securities.

 

On July 7, Wachovia Securities discussed trends and developments in the real estate markets generally, the Southern California office market specifically, the market for public REIT stocks and the potential benefits and risks of pursuing a strategic transaction with our senior management. Wachovia Securities recommended that we approach a number of large, well-capitalized potential transaction parties as a means of assessing the potential value of our company and the feasibility of consummating a transaction on favorable terms. Wachovia Securities suggested a number of potential transaction parties, including GECC and Trizec, that Wachovia Securities might approach on our behalf in the event we determined to pursue a transaction.

 

During the week of July 10, our senior management approached Secured Capital Corp. (“Secured Capital”) to aid our senior management team in its investigation of the merits of a potential strategic transaction. Secured Capital had brokered a number of our property acquisitions in recent years and, in senior management’s view, was particularly knowledgeable about our assets and our markets.

 

On July 20, Lehman Brothers, Wachovia Securities and Secured Capital met with our senior management to discuss our strategic options in more detail. At the July 20 meeting, the participants discussed, among other things, the timing of a possible transaction, various economic and market factors that could influence the valuations offered by potential transaction parties, execution risks associated with pursuing a strategic transaction and other potential strategies that we might undertake in an effort to increase stockholder value. The group also discussed our current strategic business plan and the risks and opportunities of continuing to operate in accordance with that plan. Lehman Brothers, Wachovia Securities and Secured Capital each suggested entities that they believed could be expected to have interest in pursuing a strategic transaction with us, as well as sufficient assets and access to capital to complete a transaction involving a portfolio as large as ours.

 

In the view of our senior management team, the data, trends, strategies, risks and potential benefits discussed by the group at the July 20 meeting supported management’s belief that the market climate for a successful transaction was favorable, that the risks associated with further investigating a transaction were manageable and that the potential benefits to our stockholders were significant enough to merit formal consideration by our board of directors. Accordingly, our senior management requested that each of Wachovia Securities, Lehman Brothers and Secured Capital join them at the next scheduled meeting of our board of directors on August 9 and jointly discuss the potential benefits and risks of a strategic transaction with our board.

 

The discussion with Lehman Brothers, Wachovia Securities and Secured Capital on August 9 reiterated in detail the data, trends, strategies, risks and potential benefits discussed by each of them and our senior management team over the prior two months. Lehman Brothers, Wachovia Securities and Secured Capital discussed various alternatives to enhance stockholder value, including continuing to operate our company under our current business plan, including continuation of our “capital recycling” plan of targeted acquisitions and dispositions, a sale of our company and our operating partnership or an alternative strategic transaction. Our board discussed the risks and benefits of each of these alternatives and strategies, including the challenges that the size and concentration of our portfolio could present to a sale of our company. Our board also discussed additional strategies that we might pursue to enhance stockholder value, including the potential sale of a large number of noncore assets followed by a special dividend to stockholders, as well as a potential leveraged recapitalization of our company. Our board of directors discussed a variety of potential transaction parties which we and Lehman Brothers, Wachovia Securities and Secured Capital collectively believed had sufficient assets, or access to sufficient capital, to consummate an acquisition of our company. Lehman Brothers, Wachovia Securities and Secured Capital next discussed the process and timing of a potential strategic transaction, including the benefits of a private auction process in which the universe of potential transaction parties would be winnowed down to those entities that could meet our board’s price expectations and had access to sufficient resources to close a transaction in a timely manner. This auction process was likely to maximize stockholder value by reducing disruption to our company and reducing business and market risk that could affect consummation of a transaction.

 

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At the close of the August 9 meeting, our board of directors unanimously determined that we should undertake a formal process to explore strategic alternatives, potentially including a sale or other strategic transaction. Our board authorized senior management to engage each of Lehman Brothers, Wachovia Securities and Secured Capital as our strategic financial advisors (our “strategic financial advisors”), subject to the negotiation and execution of mutually satisfactory engagement letters. On August 9, our stock price closed at $37.10.

 

During August and September our senior management worked with our strategic financial advisors and considered approximately 50 potential qualified transaction parties. These entities included a broad cross-section of public REITs, including Trizec, other public companies, including GECC, pension funds, pension fund advisors, closed-end investment funds, open-end fund sponsors, commingled/closed-end funds and buyout funds. Our senior management and our strategic financial advisors approached 20 entities that we collectively determined were best qualified to complete an acquisition of our company. Concurrently, our outside counsel, Latham, prepared a form of confidentiality agreement that our general counsel, David Swartz, distributed to these 20 entities. We negotiated and executed confidentiality agreements with 16 of these entities, 15 of which ultimately conducted due diligence on us and discussed the possibility of a strategic transaction with our strategic financial advisors. Confidentiality agreements with each of GECC and Trizec were executed on October 3. The seven entities that decided not to participate in the process cited, among other things, valuation concerns and the size and concentration of our portfolio of properties.

 

During this period, our strategic financial advisors prepared an online data room to facilitate access to due diligence materials by those potential transaction parties that had executed confidentiality agreements and had elected to move forward in the process. On September 30, our strategic financial advisors distributed a bid-procedures letter to the 15 interested bidders. The letter set a deadline of November 1 for bidders to submit nonbinding preliminary indications of interest to acquire us.

 

On September 29, the Realty Stock Alert (“RSA”), an industry trade newsletter and website, speculated that our company was for sale. Our stock price rose 4.4% on larger than normal volume and closed that day at $40.40.

 

Beginning on September 30, our board of directors met during the course of its annual retreat. Our senior management reviewed with our board the status of our process to explore a strategic transaction. At the request of our board, and in light of the RSA article from the previous day and numerous press inquiries that followed, attorneys from Latham participated in the meeting by telephone. Our board of directors discussed our legal obligations with respect to public disclosure of any potential transaction. Our board determined that there was no reason to believe that any of our employees or agents were responsible for any unauthorized disclosure and determined that we would not make any public announcement regarding a possible strategic transaction. In addition, our board of directors discussed the benefits of engaging a fourth financial advisor whose role would be limited to rendering an additional fairness opinion in connection with any strategic transaction.

 

In light of the progress of the strategic transaction process to date, our senior management and Latham discussed the advisability of engaging Maryland counsel that was expert in the legal duties of board members under Maryland law and had extensive experience working with REITs. On October 1, we engaged Venable LLP (“Venable”) as our Maryland counsel in connection with the strategic transaction process.

 

On October 10, our board of directors met again to discuss the status of the strategic transaction process. At the request of our board, Latham participated in the meeting. Our senior management updated our board of directors on the progress of interested bidders’ due diligence and other developments. Members of our senior management who were participating in the meeting were then excused from the meeting so that the independent directors could discuss the strategic transaction process and their fiduciary duties. The independent directors determined that conflicts of interest between our common stockholders and common unit holders, including Messrs. Ziman and Coleman, had not yet arisen during the course of the transaction and that our senior management should continue leading our investigation of a strategic transaction under the board’s supervision.

 

On October 17, our board of directors held a meeting at which our senior management again updated our board on the status of the strategic transaction process and the substantial due diligence being conducted by interested bidders.

 

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On October 26, the Wall Street Journal reported in its “Property Report” column that public REITs were increasingly going private and that many investors and analysts were speculating about whether our company would be the next REIT taken private.

 

On October 28, RSA reported that first-round bids were due the following week and speculated that bids would be as high as $51.00 per share. During the morning of October 28, the NYSE temporarily suspended trading in our common stock. NYSE officials contacted us and explained that trading had been suspended because of a significant imbalance between buyers and sellers. Trading resumed later that day and by the end of that trading day, our stock price had risen 5.7% to close at $45.15.

 

On October 31, our board of directors held another meeting at which our senior management updated our board regarding the strategic transaction process, including the deadline for bids the following day and the anticipated timeline of events once bids were received. At the request of our board of directors, Latham also participated in the meeting. Our board discussed the October 28 RSA article and the suspension of trading in our common stock and determined that we had no reason to believe that any of our employees or agents were responsible for any unauthorized disclosure about the strategic transaction process. Our board then discussed our directors’ legal duties in any strategic transaction to our common stockholders and, in our capacity as the general partner of our operating partnership, our duties to common unit holders. Our board also discussed our contractual obligation under our operating partnership’s partnership agreement to use commercially reasonable efforts to structure any sale of our company to give common unit holders the opportunity to avoid recognizing taxable gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In light of these legal and contractual duties, our board of directors discussed various circumstances that could give rise to a material conflict of interest between our common stockholders and common unit holders, including Messrs. Ziman and Coleman, and the measures that our board could take in response to any such conflict. Our board of directors determined that, in light of these potential conflicts, the independent directors should meet in executive session from time to time during the course of the strategic transaction process to determine whether any actual conflicts had arisen and how to respond to any such conflict.

 

On November 1, we received seven nonbinding, preliminary indications of interest to acquire all of the outstanding shares of our common stock and our operating partnership’s outstanding common units for cash at per-share valuations ranging from a low of $41.00 for each share and each unit to a high of $46.00 for each share and each unit. GECC and Trizec were, separately, each among the entities that delivered indications of interest.

 

GECC’s letter indicated that it was interested in acquiring all of the outstanding shares of our common stock and the outstanding common units of our operating partnership for a cash purchase price of between $44.00 and $46.00 for each share and each unit. GECC further indicated that it was willing to structure the transaction in a manner that would be tax-efficient for common unit holders by offering them the opportunity to exchange their common units for senior preferred partnership units about which GECC provided little detail, stating only that these units would earn a fixed, but unspecified, rate of return and that common unit holders and our common stockholders would receive the same economic value.

 

Trizec’s letter indicated that it was willing to acquire all of the outstanding shares of our common stock and the outstanding common units of our operating partnership for a cash purchase price of between $42.00 and $44.00 for each share and each unit. Trizec also indicated that it was willing to structure the transaction in a manner that would be tax-efficient for common unit holders by offering them the opportunity to exchange their units for common limited liability company membership interests in Trizec OP and to work with us to address other tax-efficient structuring alternatives. Trizec indicated that it anticipated closing any transaction with a joint bidder, which it had not yet identified.

 

A third bidder, which we refer to as “Bidder A,” indicated that it was interested in acquiring us for a cash purchase price of between $44.00 and $46.00 for each share and each unit. Bidder A also indicated that it was willing to work with us to structure the transaction in a manner that would be tax-efficient for common unit holders. A fourth bidder, “Bidder B,” indicated that it was interested in acquiring us for a cash purchase price of $46.00 for each share and each unit. Bidder B did not indicate whether it would be willing to structure the transaction in a manner that was tax-efficient for common unit holders. A fifth bidder, “Bidder C,” indicated that it was interested in acquiring us for a cash purchase price of $45.00 for each share and each unit. Bidder C did not indicate whether it would be willing to structure the transaction in a manner that was tax-efficient for common unit holders. A sixth bidder, “Bidder D,” indicated that it was interested in acquiring us for a cash purchase price of between $41.00 and

 

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$43.00 for each share and each unit, and was willing to consider alternative treatment of common units. A seventh bidder, “Bidder E,” indicated that it was interested in acquiring us for a cash purchase price of $44.00 for each share and each unit, and was willing to structure the transaction in a manner that would be tax-efficient for common unit holders.

 

Our board of directors met on November 3 to discuss and evaluate the various bidders and the relative merits of their respective proposals. At the request of our board, our strategic financial advisors and Latham also participated in the meeting. Messrs. Ziman and Coleman and representatives from Lehman Brothers and Wachovia Securities presented summaries of the seven indications of interest that we had received. Our board discussed the relative strengths and weaknesses of the various bids. GECC, Bidder A and Bidder B had indicated that they were willing to acquire our company at a price for each share that was at the high end of the range of bids received. Furthermore, our board noted that each of these entities had access to sufficient capital to close a transaction and had conducted significant due diligence, which would potentially facilitate the execution of a definitive merger agreement on a rapid timetable, thereby reducing our business risk and disruption from the transaction. By contrast, our board of directors discussed a number of relative weaknesses in the remaining four proposals:

 

                                          Trizec had offered consideration at the lower end of the range of bids and, in the view of our senior management and our strategic financial advisors, would not be willing to consummate the transaction without one or more joint bidders that it had yet to identify.

 

                                          Bidder C had conducted limited due diligence and its proposal contemplated a number of features that presented an unacceptable level of closing risk and valuation risk, including a $50.0 million liquidated damages limit and an adjustment to the proposed merger consideration depending upon fluctuations in our working capital.

 

                                          Although Bidder D was a large, well-established entity with access to significant capital, and had undertaken a significant amount of due diligence, its indicative pricing was the lowest offered by any of the bidders.

 

                                          Bidder E was also a large and well-established entity with access to significant capital and had engaged in a substantial due diligence investigation of our company. Bidder E’s proposed consideration, however, was at the lower end of the range of bids and it had indicated in its proposal letter that, despite the breadth of its due diligence to date, it would need at least another 60 days to finish its diligence and execute a definitive merger agreement.

 

Our board of directors then discussed whether Bidder D might be willing to increase its bid to a more competitive level if allowed to enter into the next round of the process. Our strategic financial advisors informed our board that in recent conversations Bidder D had specifically indicated to our strategic financial advisors that it would have difficulty underwriting the valuation set forth in its initial bid letter and that it was, therefore, unlikely to increase its offer price. Our board then discussed whether Bidder E could be persuaded to proceed with a transaction in a more expedited manner. Our strategic financial advisors explained that, as a pension fund advisor, Bidder E potentially was required to undertake more detailed due diligence than other bidders and was not known by reputation to move quickly on investments as large and significant as a potential acquisition of us. Our board of directors asked our strategic financial advisors whether, notwithstanding the relative weaknesses of the remaining bidders’ proposals, it might be beneficial to permit additional bidders to continue into the final round of the process. Our strategic financial advisors explained that participating in a multistage auction process required bidders to make a substantial investment of time and resources, and that in their experience bidders were typically unwilling to make that investment if the perceived chances of success were too low because the field of interested bidders was not being periodically narrowed. The strategic financial advisors explained that, in their view, we were more likely to achieve a successful result for our stockholders by focusing our efforts and resources on a smaller number of bidders who had bid high, had demonstrated serious interest and conducted substantial due diligence, and had the resources and the ability to consummate a transaction in a timely manner. Based on our board of directors’ evaluation of the seven proposals and the recommendations of our senior management and our strategic financial advisors, our board determined to proceed with a final round of negotiations and bidding with GECC, Bidder A and Bidder B, but authorized our senior management to reintroduce other bidders into the process if they determined that doing so would be in the best interest of the process and our common stockholders.

 

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Members of senior management that were participating in the meeting were then excused from the meeting and the independent, nonmanagement members of our board of directors discussed whether any of the proposals submitted to us raised conflicts of interest between common unit holders, including Messrs. Ziman and Coleman, and our common stockholders. Among other things, our independent directors noted that all of the bidders had either expressly indicated in their proposal letters that they would be willing to structure their transactions to be tax-efficient for common unit holders without diminishing the consideration payable to common stock holders, or had otherwise remained silent about the specific structure of their proposed transaction. Based upon the details of the various bids set forth in the proposal letters, our independent directors determined that none of the proposals from bidders had given rise to conflicts of interest between common unit holders, including Messrs. Ziman and Coleman, and our common stockholders.

 

On or around November 7, each of GECC and Bidder A approached Lehman Brothers and Wachovia Securities and indicated that, if they were to win the auction, they intended to keep only a portion of our assets and would seek to find one or more buyers for the remainder of our properties. Each of GECC and Bidder A further indicated that finding a potential buyer or buyers for the assets it did not expect to retain prior to submitting its final bid could mitigate some of the risks of acquiring a portfolio as large and concentrated as ours. Accordingly, each of GECC and Bidder A requested permission to speak to potential asset purchasers, something that was prohibited by the terms of the confidentiality agreements that they had entered into with us. GECC and Bidder A each specifically requested permission to speak with Trizec and another public REIT, which we refer to herein as “Asset Buyer.”  Asset Buyer had been involved in the process at an earlier stage, had entered into a confidentiality agreement with us and had conducted substantial due diligence, but had elected not to submit a formal indication of interest on November 1 because it was primarily interested in acquiring only a relatively small number of our assets. Lehman Brothers and Wachovia Securities discussed these requests with our senior management team and collectively determined that they believed it would benefit the process to permit GECC and Bidder A to approach Trizec and Asset Buyer about agreeing to sell certain of our assets in connection with their final bids. On November 8, we authorized GECC and Bidder A to speak about jointly bidding with Trizec and Asset Buyer, but only those two entities, for their final bids.

 

On November 11, our strategic financial advisors delivered a final bid-procedures letter to each of the remaining bidders, indicating that final bids would be due on Friday, December 9.

 

From November 14 through November 21, our senior management and other key employees met separately with each of the three final-round bidders in a series of bidder-specific due diligence meetings.

 

On November 14, our board of directors held a meeting at which representatives of Wachovia Securities, Lehman Brothers, Secured Capital, Latham and Venable were all present. Our senior management and our strategic financial advisors updated our board on the status of the strategic transaction process. At our board of directors’ request, Venable made a presentation to our board regarding our directors’ legal duties to common stockholders and our duties to common unit holders in connection with any strategic transaction.

 

Around this time our board of directors again discussed whether to engage a fourth financial advisor to provide a second fairness opinion in connection with any strategic transaction. Our board of directors determined that we should engage a fourth financial advisor whose role would be limited to rendering an additional fairness opinion in connection with a transaction. After discussing the reputations and qualifications of a number of financial advisors, our board authorized our senior management to engage one of three financial advisors, including Houlihan Lokey. Soon thereafter, our senior management engaged Houlihan Lokey.

 

After our November 14 board meeting, Mr. Coleman and representatives of Lehman Brothers and Secured Capital had dinner with representatives of Bidder C. At that dinner, Bidder C expressed its disappointment at not being chosen as one of the final round bidders, and indicated that it still desired to participate in the process as a bidder or in some other capacity.

 

On November 17, Messrs. Ziman and Coleman and representatives of Lehman Brothers had breakfast with Tim Callahan, president and chief executive officer of Trizec. Mr. Callahan reiterated Trizec’s interest in pursuing a strategic transaction.

 

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On November 18, Bidder B informed our strategic financial advisors that, based on the additional due diligence that it had conducted since submitting its indication of interest on November 1, it would not be able to support a valuation within the range of prices indicated in its bid letter, and that, as a result, it was withdrawing from the process. Our senior management discussed Bidder B’s departure from the process with our strategic financial advisors and Bidder C’s continuing desire to reenter the process. Although our senior management and our strategic financial advisors did not believe that Bidder C would be likely to produce a proposal that was more attractive than the bids expected from GECC and Bidder A, they determined that it would benefit the competitive dynamics of the process if Bidder B were replaced with a third bidder. In light of Bidder C’s continuing interest, Messrs. Ziman and Coleman determined that Bidder C should be permitted to reenter the process and thereafter informed the various members of our board of directors of Bidder B’s withdrawal from, and Bidder C’s reentrance to, the process.

 

On November 21, we distributed a draft merger agreement to GECC, Bidder A and Bidder C. That same day, the Los Angeles Business Journal and RSA each published articles speculating that an auction process was underway. RSA speculated that an announcement of a sale of our company was imminent, and that the acquisition price for each share would be in the mid-forties, and maybe as high as $51 for each share. Our stock price rose 1.7% and closed on November 21 at $45.71.

 

On November 28, counsel for Bidder C delivered to Latham a brief memo outlining its initial reactions to the draft merger agreement. The memo did not propose a specific transaction structure, but reiterated many of the material provisions of Bidder C’s initial proposal that had been unacceptable to our board of directors.

 

On December 1, our board of directors held a meeting to discuss the strategic transaction process. Representatives of each of Lehman Brothers, Wachovia Securities, Secured Capital and Houlihan Lokey participated in the meeting, as did attorneys from Latham and Venable. Our strategic financial advisors informed our board that, after engaging in discussions with each of Trizec and Asset Buyer, Bidder A had elected to jointly bid with Trizec, and that as of that morning, GECC had elected to sell assets to Asset Buyer as part of GECC’s bid.

 

Our strategic financial advisors also noted that Bidder C was contemplating jointly bidding with a large private equity company and a publicly traded real estate development company. Bidder C had not, however, conducted a significant amount of due diligence since being readmitted to the process and had not provided Latham with comprehensive comments to the draft merger agreement. Our board of directors determined that, in light of the lower bid originally submitted by Bidder C, the limited due diligence conducted by Bidder C, the fact that Bidder C was still searching for equity investors that would provide it with access to the resources necessary to complete a strategic transaction and that Bidder C had not submitted comprehensive comments on the draft merger agreement that would enable our board to fully evaluate Bidder C’s proposal, the resources and attention of our senior management and our legal and strategic financial advisors should be focused primarily on GECC and Bidder A, but that our strategic financial advisors should continue to engage with Bidder C and encourage Bidder C to submit an attractive proposal for our company. Despite being permitted to reenter the final round of bidding, and the continued efforts of our senior management and our strategic financial advisors, Bidder C ultimately did not submit a formal proposal to acquire us or engage in some other strategic transaction with our company.

 

Our strategic financial advisors then discussed the recent performance of our common stock. Since the August 9 meeting when our board determined to begin exploring a potential strategic transaction, our common stock had provided a total return of 24.4%, compared to a total return of 6.2% on a peer group of public REITs. Our strategic financial advisors and our board of directors then discussed the effect of news stories speculating about our possible sale, the correlation of those stories with the more significant increases in our stock price and the relative absence of other material information about us entering the market during these periods. Based on that discussion, our board of directors determined that a significant acquisition premium had already been priced into our common stock.

 

Our board of directors and our strategic financial advisors then discussed a number of alternative strategies, other than a sale of our company as contemplated by the bids received on November 1, that we could undertake to potentially enhance stockholder value, and the risks and benefits of each strategy, including:

 

                                          continuing to operate our company under senior management’s current business plan, including a continuation of our “capital recycling” plan of targeted acquisitions and dispositions;

 

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                                          a strategic repositioning, in which we would continue to operate our company as discussed above but sell a large number of lower-quality assets and distribute all or a portion of the sales proceeds to stockholders through one or more special dividends;

 

                                          a leveraged recapitalization in which we would borrow a significant amount of money and distribute all or a portion of it to stockholders through a special dividend;

 

                                          a leveraged repositioning, in which we would combine aspects of both a strategic repositioning and a leveraged recapitalization, with all or a portion of proceeds and borrowings distributed to stockholders through one or more special dividends; and

 

                                          a liquidation our company.

 

After reviewing the various risks, benefits and reasonably anticipated costs of each of these alternative strategies, and comparing them to the risks, benefits and reasonably anticipated costs of a sale of our company, our board of directors determined that the current strategic transaction process should continue.

 

Between December 2 and December 5, Latham and Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. (“Hogan & Hartson”), counsel for Trizec, engaged in a series of calls to explore alternatives that would permit qualified common unit holders to continue to defer the recognition of taxable gain after the consummation of any transaction with Bidder A and Trizec.

 

On December 5, King & Spalding LLP (“King & Spalding”), counsel for GECC, delivered its comments on the draft merger agreement to Latham. King & Spalding’s comments proposed a transaction structure in which our company and our operating partnership would each merge with newly formed subsidiaries of GECC. Common unit holders who met certain qualifications would be given the right to elect to receive preferred limited partnership units in the surviving partnership in the partnership merger. Accompanying King & Spalding’s comments to the merger agreement was a term sheet that set forth GECC’s proposed terms for the preferred limited partnership units that qualifying common unit holders could elect to receive. King & Spalding’s comments to the merger agreement would also have obligated us to sell, immediately prior to the closing of the merger transaction, an unspecified number of properties to a party or parties designated by GECC. GECC’s obligation to close the transaction was not subject to completion of this sale or a financing condition. Our senior management, Latham and our strategic financial advisors reviewed and discussed King & Spalding’s comments and identified a number of significant issues presented by those comments.

 

On December 6, counsel for Bidder A and Hogan & Hartson delivered to Latham their consolidated comments on the draft merger agreement. These comments proposed a transaction structure that would permit qualified common unit holders to exchange those units for membership interests in Trizec OP, effect the sale of certain assets to Trizec OP and merge our company and our operating partnership into a newly formed subsidiary of Bidder A. The consolidated comments from counsel for Bidder A and Hogan & Hartson would also have obligated us to sell, prior to the closing of the merger transactions, an unspecified number of properties to a party or parties designated by Bidder A. Our senior management, Latham and our strategic financial advisors reviewed and discussed the consolidated comments of counsel to Bidder A and Hogan & Hartson and identified a number of significant issues presented by these comments.

 

Between December 6 and December 9, Latham had several conversations with King & Spalding, Hogan & Hartson and counsel for Bidder A to negotiate issues in the draft merger agreement, including, in each case, among others, the level of representations being made by us and our operating partnership, the degree to which our board of directors could consider alternative proposals for strategic transactions after execution of the merger agreement, the amount and timing of payment of the fees and expense reimbursements that we would have to pay to Bidder A or GECC, as applicable, if we or Bidder A or GECC, as applicable, were to terminate the agreement under certain circumstances (including if we were to terminate the transaction to enter into a superior proposal), restrictions on our ability to operate our business between the execution and closing of the merger agreement and the treatment of, and tax issues relating to, common units.

 

On the evening of December 7, Messrs. Ziman and Coleman had dinner with Joseph Parsons, President of North America Equity for GE Commercial Finance Real Estate, an operating unit of GECC, and Thomas Wagner,

 

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Managing Director of North America Equity for GE Commercial Finance Real Estate. Messrs. Parsons and Wagner were the principal representatives of GECC in the transaction. At the dinner, Messrs. Parsons and Wagner reiterated their strong desire to acquire us and to do so on an expedited basis.

 

On December 8, our senior management, including Messrs. Ziman and Coleman, participated in a teleconference with certain members of Trizec’s senior management team, including Mr. Callahan. Attorneys from Latham, as well as representatives of our strategic financial advisors, also participated in the call. The call was intended to give our company, in its capacity as the General Partner of our operating partnership, an opportunity to make diligence inquiries of Trizec’s management in connection with the potential transaction between us, Bidder A and Trizec, because, as described above, that transaction contemplated that qualifying common unit holders would be given the opportunity to exchange their units for Trizec OP units.

 

Also on December 8, our board held a teleconference meeting during which our senior management and Latham updated our board of directors on the progress of negotiations on the draft merger agreement with GECC and Bidder A.

 

On December 9, Bidder A contacted Lehman Brothers and indicated that, based on the additional due diligence that it had conducted since submitting its indication of interest on November 1, it would have difficulty supporting a valuation of our company within the range of prices indicated in its bid letter. Although Bidder A did not formally withdraw from the process, and indicated that it would be willing to proceed if we were willing to accept a valuation that was at or below $43.50 for each share and each unit, it informed Lehman Brothers that it would not submit a final bid at that time.

 

On December 9, GECC contacted our strategic financial advisors and indicated that it and Asset Buyer had not yet reached an agreement with respect to the terms on which Asset Buyer would acquire properties from GECC at the closing of an acquisition of us, but that GECC anticipated that these issues would be resolved soon and that it anticipated submitting a final bid sometime that evening.

 

On December 9, our board of directors held a teleconference meeting. Representatives of our strategic financial advisors and Latham also participated in the meeting. Senior management updated our board on the status of discussions with each of GECC and Bidder A. Our board of directors discussed Bidder A’s decision not to submit a final bid and the importance of maintaining competitive dynamics in the process. Accordingly, our board instructed our senior management and our strategic financial advisors to continue negotiating with Bidder A.

 

On December 10, our board of directors held a teleconference meeting. Representatives of Latham and our strategic financial advisors participated in the meeting. During the course of this meeting, GECC submitted an unsigned letter that stated that GECC was willing to increase its purchase price to $46.25 for each share and each unit, but that its obligation to close would be subject to Asset Buyer obtaining certain proceeds that were held in an escrow account. Our board discussed the implications of the escrow release condition with our strategic financial advisors, who indicated that such a condition was highly unusual in a public acquisition transaction like the one we were contemplating. Our board determined that the escrow closing condition would create an unacceptable amount of closing risk and instructed our strategic financial advisors to inform GECC that the escrow condition would not be acceptable, but that we were willing to explore alternative structures that would facilitate GECC’s bid.

 

On December 11, our board of directors held another teleconference meeting. Representatives of each of our strategic financial advisors participated in the call, as did Latham and Venable. Our strategic financial advisors indicated that they had discussed the escrow release condition with GECC over the past day and had learned a number of details about the prerequisites for the release of the escrowed funds to Asset Buyer. Lehman Brothers noted its understanding that the board of directors of Asset Buyer would not authorize Asset Buyer’s participation in the transaction without the release of those funds, and that GECC’s board had not approved GECC’s acquisition of us without the sale of certain assets to Asset Buyer or another suitable purchaser. Our strategic financial advisors indicated that GECC had told them that GECC and Asset Buyer were exploring ways to solve the problem so that they could submit a bid without the escrow condition.

 

Our board of directors and our strategic financial advisors then discussed potential methods to facilitate GECC’s bid. Lehman Brothers then informed our board that it had begun investigating the cost and feasibility of providing a commitment to GECC whereby it would agree to purchase the assets slated to be sold to Asset Buyer in

 

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the event that Asset Buyer was unable to obtain the release of its escrowed funds. After discussion, our board agreed that such an arrangement could lead to a more favorable transaction. Our board of directors then discussed the status of Bidder A. Our strategic financial advisors indicated that they had spoken to Bidder A, who reiterated that they remained interested in pursuing an acquisition of us, but that one of the investors for which it served as advisor and which would provide a significant amount of the equity financing for any transaction was not willing to participate in the acquisition at a per-share price higher than $43.50. Bidder A had also indicated that it was searching for additional equity financing needed to close a transaction. Our board instructed our senior management and our strategic financial advisors to continue to engage with Bidder A.

 

Between December 12 and December 16, Latham continued to negotiate with King & Spalding regarding the terms of the merger agreement.

 

On December 14, Latham distributed to our board of directors the then-current draft of the GECC merger agreement and on December 15 delivered to our board an executive summary of that agreement.

 

On December 16, our board of directors held a meeting in which representatives of each of our strategic financial advisors and Latham and Venable participated. Senior management updated our board on the status of the strategic transaction process. Latham reported that substantial progress had been made with King & Spalding on the merger agreement, but that a number of significant issues remained unresolved. Latham then reviewed the terms of the draft GECC merger agreement with our board of directors in detail. Lehman Brothers updated our board on its efforts to underwrite a commitment to GECC, but noted that GECC had not responded positively to Lehman Brothers’ proposal and had indicated to Lehman Brothers that they were working on other means of addressing the escrow release issue that GECC believed were preferable. Our strategic financial advisors then updated our board of directors on the status of Bidder A. In a series of communications with our strategic financial advisors, Bidder A had indicated that it had been seeking new or additional equity co-investors in an effort to revitalize its bid to acquire us, but had not been successful and therefore was not prepared to make a formal, competitive proposal to acquire our company.

 

On December 16, the Los Angeles Times ran a story stating that GECC and another bidder were vying to acquire us and speculating that the purchase price would be between $50.00 and $57.00 per share. That day our stock price hit a 52-week high of $48.20 per share during intra-day trading and closed up $0.72 at $46.92.

 

On December 18, GECC submitted a formal bid to acquire our company and our operating partnership for $44.00 for each share and each unit. Rather than selling certain assets to Asset Buyer as had been contemplated up to that point, GECC’s bid was now premised upon Trizec purchasing certain assets. The bid was accompanied by a full mark-up of the draft merger agreement reflecting a revised, multistep structure. Except for changes relating to the new structure, the merger agreement mark-up was largely consistent with the draft that our board had reviewed with Latham on December 16. The agreement still presented a number of significant issues, including among others, the size of the termination fee and the amount of the expense reimbursement, which had increased from the level contemplated in our prior conversations with GECC. GECC’s proposal, however, contemplated that the transaction would close even if Trizec did not perform its obligations under the agreement. If Trizec did not perform its obligations, common unit holders would be forced to accept cash from GECC at the closing and could, therefore, recognize taxable gains.

 

Our board of directors held a teleconference meeting on the evening of December 18 to discuss GECC’s bid. Each of our strategic financial advisors, Latham and Venable participated in the call. Our senior management reviewed the general terms of the bid with our board. Latham reviewed the structure of the transaction and the material issues raised for stockholders and common unit holders by the terms of the bid. Our board of directors discussed the terms of the proposal, whether the reduced bid price would be acceptable and how they should respond to GECC. Concluding that it needed more time to study and understand the proposal before making any determinations, our board decided to convene another board meeting to discuss the proposal in depth the following day.

 

Early in the morning on December 19, Mr. Ziman received a call from Mr. Callahan. Mr. Callahan expressed his desire to reach an agreement between the parties as soon as possible and that Trizec and Hogan & Hartson would be willing to work with us to address any issues caused by the proposed transaction structure.

 

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Later in the morning of December 19, our board of directors met again to discuss GECC’s formal bid. Representatives of our strategic financial advisors, Latham and Venable all participated in person or by telephone. Our board discussed in detail the proposed transaction, as well as our directors’ legal duties to our common stockholders and our duties to common unit holders. At the end of the meeting, our board of directors concluded that GECC’s and Trizec’s bid was unacceptable because, among other things, the price was too low. Accordingly, our board of directors instructed senior management and our strategic financial advisors to inform GECC that its proposal was unacceptable, but that we would be willing to accept a proposal at $46.25 for each share and each unit pursuant to the structure set forth in GECC’s December 10 letter. After consulting with its legal and strategic financial advisors, our board also determined that we should agree to the expense reimbursement provision proposed by GECC, but only if GECC agreed to reduce the termination fee from $106.0 million to $100.0 million.

 

Our board held another teleconference meeting during the afternoon on December 19. Representatives of our strategic financial advisors and Latham all participated. Our senior management informed our board of directors that representatives of Lehman Brothers had contacted GECC to relay our board’s reaction to GECC’s proposal. GECC subsequently contacted Lehman Brothers to indicate that GECC could increase its price, but was not authorized to offer $46.25 for each share and each unit. Our board of directors concluded that our strategic financial advisors should inform GECC that the minimum price that our board would be willing to accept was $45.25 for each share and each unit.

 

After our board meeting on December 19, Lehman Brothers contacted GECC and relayed our board of directors’ determination regarding the minimum acceptable price for each share and each unit and its concerns regarding the terms of the proposal. GECC contacted Lehman Brothers later that day and indicated that it was authorized to pay between $45.00 and $45.25 for each share and each unit. GECC also agreed to reduce the termination fee from $106.0 million to $100.0 million.

 

Over the course of December 19 and 20, attorneys for our company and GECC negotiated the voting agreement, negotiated terms of the merger agreement, finalized the schedules and resolved certain diligence issues. GECC agreed that it would be willing to pay $45.25 for each outstanding share and each outstanding unit, and a corresponding amount, net of exercise price, for each outstanding option.

 

On December 21, our board of directors held a meeting to consider the merger. Representatives of all of our financial advisors, Latham and Venable also participated. In advance of the meeting, each member of our board received a copy of the merger agreement and related documents and copies of presentations to be made by Houlihan Lokey, Wachovia Securities and Latham. At the meeting, Latham reviewed the terms of the proposed merger agreement and Venable again reviewed our directors’ standard of conduct under Maryland law. During the meeting, Wachovia Securities rendered an oral opinion to our board, subsequently confirmed in a written opinion, to the effect that, as of December 21, 2005, subject to and based on the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the opinion and the review undertaken, as set forth in the opinion, the $45.25 in cash for each share to be received by the holders of our common stock pursuant to the merger agreement, was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.

 

During the meeting, Houlihan Lokey also rendered an oral opinion to our board, subsequently confirmed in a written opinion, to the effect that, as of December 21, 2005, subject to and based on the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the opinion and the review undertaken, as set forth in the opinion, the $45.25 in cash for each share to be received by the holders of our common stock pursuant to the merger agreement, was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.

 

Our board then discussed at length the terms of the proposed merger and a variety of positive and negative considerations concerning the transaction and the overall strategic alternatives available to the company. These factors are described in more detail below under the heading “– Factors Considered by Our Board of Directors and Reasons for the Merger” on page 32. Members of senior management who were participating in the meeting were excused from the meeting and the independent, nonmanagement members of our board (each of whom is independent under NYSE standards) met in executive session to discuss the transaction and any interests that Messrs. Ziman and Coleman may have in the transaction that are different than, and could potentially conflict with, the interests of our common stockholders. Our independent directors discussed in detail each of the matters

 

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discussed under the heading “– Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger” on page 47, with particular emphasis on Messrs. Ziman’s and Coleman’s holdings of common units. Our independent directors determined that their regular evaluation of, and preparation to respond to, potential conflicts of interest between members of our senior management who are members of our board of directors and our common stockholders, including meeting in executive session, enabled the independent directors to effectively oversee the strategic transaction process. Our independent directors also noted that our senior management team and our legal and strategic financial advisors had negotiated a transaction in which our common stockholders would receive the largest amount of merger consideration that GECC had formally indicated that it would be willing to pay. In addition, our board determined that the transaction would satisfy our fiduciary duties and contractual obligations to common unit holders by providing a structure that would be tax-efficient for common unit holders. At the conclusion of the December 21 meeting, our board of directors unanimously approved the merger agreement and the merger and directed that the merger agreement and the merger be submitted for consideration by our common stockholders at a special meeting of stockholders.

 

Late in the evening of December 21, 2005, the parties executed the merger agreement. On December 22, 2005, prior to the opening of the financial markets, the parties to the merger agreement issued a joint press release announcing the transaction.

 

Factors Considered by Our Board of Directors and Reasons for the Merger

 

In reaching its decision to approve the merger agreement and the merger and to recommend that our common stockholders approve the merger agreement and the merger, our board of directors consulted numerous times with our senior management and our legal and financial advisors. These consultations included discussions regarding our strategic business plan, the historical prices of our common stock, our past and current business operations and financial condition, our future prospects, the potential transaction with GECC and Trizec and other strategic alternatives.

 

In particular, our board of directors considered the following factors, which in the aggregate it deemed potentially favorable, in reaching its decision to approve the merger agreement and the merger:

 

Value and Form of Merger Consideration

 

Each share of our common stock that is outstanding at the effective time of the merger will be converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive cash consideration of $45.25, plus an amount equal to a prorated portion of the normal quarterly dividend up to the closing date without interest and less any required withholding for taxes. The cash consideration of $45.25 for each share is fixed and will not be adjusted for changes in the price of our common stock prior to the closing date of the merger and represents a premium to the average closing price of our common stock of approximately:

 

                                                  $8.15 for each share, or a 22.0% premium, over the closing price of our common stock on August 9, the trading day prior to our board’s decision to pursue strategic alternatives.

 

                                                  $6.57 for each share, or a 17.0% premium, over the closing price of our common stock on September 28, the trading day prior to RSA’s speculation that we were for sale.

 

                                                  $4.55 for each share, or a 11.2% premium, over the average closing price of our common stock for the six-month period before the public announcement of the merger.

 

                                                  $7.43 for each share, or a 19.7% premium, over the average closing price of our common stock for the one-year period before the public announcement of the merger.

 

The consideration to be received by our common stockholders in the merger, which was determined based on arm’s-length negotiations, represents an attractive price. The payment of cash as the form of common stock merger consideration will provide our common stockholders with immediate liquidity and value that is not subject to market fluctuation.

 

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Favorable Market Conditions

 

As discussed above under the heading “– Background of the Merger” on page 21, our board of directors determined that the merger allows us to take advantage of conditions in the real estate markets generally, and the Southern California office market specifically, that have created an unusually favorable environment for effecting a strategic transaction to maximize stockholder value:

 

                                          Prices for real estate assets, particularly in large metropolitan markets like Southern California, have increased rapidly in recent years, reaching historic highs, while capitalization rates have reached historic lows.

 

                                          Office property fundamentals, such as rents, vacancies and net absorption, were strengthening in our markets.

 

                                          Interest rates remained low by historic standards, but were generally expected to rise in the near-term. As interest rates rise, demand for real estate assets would be expected to decrease, and because REIT stock prices historically have had a negative correlation to interest rates, our stock price may have greater downside risk in the future.

 

                                          A number of large portfolio acquisitions in 2004 and 2005 suggested that a successful sale of our company at an attractive valuation was feasible.

 

Our Business and Prospects

 

 Our board of directors believes that the merger represents a more desirable alternative for our common stockholders than continuing to operate as an independent public company under our current strategic business plan. In the view of our board, realizing a cash premium in the merger provides more value for our common stockholders on a risk-adjusted basis than executing our strategic business plan. In making this determination, we considered a number of risks facing us in the future, including the various risks discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the following:

 

                                          The valuations of public REITs and funds from operations multiples have reached historic highs in recent months, while dividend yields have reached historic lows.

 

                                          Our funds from operations multiple is significantly above the mean for office REITs generally, while analysts’ consensus estimates for our 2006 earnings growth lag behind the peer average.

 

                                          Our stock price is, and has been since prior to the beginning of the strategic transaction procedure, trading at a premium to analysts’ estimates of the net asset value of our portfolio.

 

                                          Competition in our markets for properties, tenants and investors is significant, with five office REITs or real estate operating companies focused on Southern California.

 

Other Strategic Alternatives

 

As discussed above under the heading “– Background of the Merger” on page 21, in addition to the merger transaction, our board of directors considered other strategic alternatives that might be available to us, including a strategic repositioning involving a sale of a selected number of assets followed by a special dividend to common stockholders, a leveraged recapitalization followed by a special dividend to common stockholders, a leveraged repositioning combining elements of a strategic repositioning and a leveraged recapitalization and a liquidation. After considering the potential benefits and risks to us and our common stockholders associated with each of these alternatives, our board of directors determined that the merger represented the alternative that was in the best interests of our common stockholders.

 

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Opinions of Wachovia Securities and Houlihan Lokey

 

Our board of directors considered as favorable to its determination the opinion and analyses of Wachovia Securities described under the heading “– Opinions of Our Financial Advisors – Opinion of Wachovia Securities” on page 36, including the oral opinion of Wachovia Securities, which was subsequently confirmed in writing, to the effect that, as of December 21, 2005 and subject to and based on the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the opinion and the review undertaken as set forth in its opinion, the $45.25 in cash to be received for each outstanding share of common stock pursuant to the merger agreement is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of such shares.

 

Our board of directors also considered as favorable to its determination the opinion and analyses of Houlihan Lokey described under the heading “– Opinions of Our Financial Advisors – Opinion of Houlihan Lokey” on page 42, including the oral opinion of Houlihan Lokey, which was subsequently confirmed in writing, to the effect that, as of December 21, 2005 and subject to and based on the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the opinion and the review undertaken as set forth in its opinion, the $45.25 in cash to be received for each outstanding share of common stock pursuant to the merger agreement is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of such shares.

 

The High Probability of Transaction Completion

 

Our board of directors considered as favorable that, in its judgment, there is a high probability of completing the proposed transaction. Based on our discussions with and analysis of GECC, our board of directors determined that GECC will have the necessary resources at closing to complete the merger. The merger agreement does not contain a financing condition and even if Trizec were unable or unwilling to satisfy its obligations under the merger agreement, GECC would be obligated to consummate the merger.

 

The Existence of a Limited Termination Right in the Event of a Superior Proposal

 

Our board of directors is not prohibited from receiving proposals and inquiries for other potential acquisition proposals (although to date we have not received such an inquiry). If, however, before receiving stockholder approval for the merger, we receive an unsolicited bona fide acquisition proposal, we may furnish information to, and participate in discussions and negotiations with, the party making the proposal if our board of directors determines in good faith that (i) failure to do so would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with our directors’ duties to the company or our common stockholders, (ii) prior to taking such action, we enter into a confidentiality agreement with the party making the acquisition proposal and (iii) the acquisition proposal is reasonably likely to lead to a transaction that would be more favorable to our common stockholders than the merger. Upon making such a determination and subject to the satisfaction of specified conditions and payment of a termination fee, we may enter into an agreement with respect to a superior proposal with a third party.

 

Approval of Our Common Stockholders Is Required

 

The merger is subject to the approval of our common stockholders and our common stockholders have the option to reject the merger agreement and merger.

 

Our board of directors also considered the following potentially negative factors in its deliberations concerning the merger agreement and the merger:

 

Recent Trading Prices of Our Common Stock

 

Although our board of directors believes that the cash consideration of $45.25 for each share represents an attractive price and a significant premium to historical prices for our common stock, the per-share closing price of our common stock on the day before we announced the merger was $46.99 for each share. Accordingly, $45.25 for each share represents a $1.74 per share, or 3.8%, discount to the closing price of our common stock on December 21. As discussed above under the heading “– Background of the Merger” on page 21, however, our board of directors concluded, after extensive discussion with our legal and financial advisors during a number of meetings, and after taking into account the correlation between speculation about the sale our company in trade publications and mainstream press, the significant increases in the price of our common stock since August 9, the relative

 

34



 

absence of other new, publicly available information about us and the performance of other comparable REITs, that a substantial sale premium was reflected in the price of our common stock by the time our board met to consider the merger proposal from GECC and Trizec.

 

Our Common Stockholders Will Be Unable to Share in Our Company’s Future Growth

 

Our board of directors recognized that the merger would preclude our common stockholders from having the opportunity to participate in the future performance of our assets and any future appreciation in the value of our common stock. Common stockholders will no longer share in any of our future growth or receive quarterly dividends. Since December 2002, we have paid annual dividends of $2.02 for each share to our common stockholders on a quarterly basis.

 

As discussed under the heading “– Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger” on page 47, each of Messrs. Ziman and Coleman hold common units and, in connection with the merger, may elect to receive Trizec OP units in exchange for their existing common units.

 

Tax Consequences to Our Common Stockholders

 

 Our board of directors recognized that the merger is a taxable transaction and, as a result, our common stockholders will generally be required to pay taxes on any gains that result from their receipt of the cash consideration in the merger.

 

Significant Costs Involved

 

Our board of directors considered the significant costs involved in connection with completing the merger, the substantial management time and effort required to effectuate the merger and the related disruption to our operations. If the merger is not consummated, then we may be required to bear these expenses and the costs of these disruptions. Moreover, our board considered that if the merger agreement is terminated by GECC because our common stockholders do not approve the merger, we would be obligated to reimburse GECC for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the merger and related transactions up to an aggregate maximum amount of $10.0 million.

 

Prohibition against Soliciting Other Offers

 

Even though the merger agreement permits our board of directors to receive unsolicited inquiries and proposals regarding other potential acquisition proposals, it also prohibits us from soliciting, initiating, knowingly encouraging or taking any other action to facilitate inquiries with respect to acquisition proposals or making any proposals for, or participating in any discussions or negotiations regarding any acquisition proposals except under the circumstances discussed under the heading “The Merger Agreement – No Solicitation” on page 67. If we receive a superior proposal and ultimately enter into an agreement for such a transaction, we would be obligated to pay a termination fee in the amount of $100.0 million to GECC, subject to certain conditions.

 

Benefits to Certain Directors and Executive Officers

 

Our board of directors also considered the fact that Messrs. Ziman and Coleman have interests in the merger that differ from, or are in addition to, and therefore may conflict with, the interests of our common stockholders. These interests are discussed under the heading “– Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger” on page 47, including the lapsing of restrictions and immediate vesting of common stock awarded under our benefit plans, additional severance payments that may be received under certain circumstances, and the ability to defer recognition of income by electing to receive Trizec OP units in exchange for their existing common units. In executive session, however, the independent members of our board of directors determined that their regular evaluation of, and preparation to respond to, potential conflicts of interest between management board members and our common stockholders had enabled the independent directors to effectively oversee the strategic transaction process. Moreover, our senior management team and our legal and strategic financial advisors had negotiated a transaction in which our common stockholders would receive the largest amount of merger consideration that GECC had formally indicated that it would be willing to pay, satisfying our directors’ duties to our company. In addition, our board determined that the transaction would satisfy our duties and contractual obligations to common unit holders by providing a structure that would be tax-efficient for them.

 

35



 

In view of the wide variety of factors considered by our board of directors, our board did not find it practicable to, and did not, quantify or otherwise attempt to assign relative weights to the specific factors considered. Our board of directors views its recommendation as being based on the totality of the information presented to, and considered by, it. After taking into consideration all of the factors discussed above, among others, our board of directors determined that the potential benefits of the merger substantially outweigh the potential detriments associated with the merger.

 

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

 

Our board of directors, at a special meeting held on December 21, 2005, after due consideration, unanimously:

 

                                          determined that it was advisable fair to and in the best interests of our company and our common stockholders for us to enter into the merger agreement and consummate the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement; and

 

                                          approved the merger agreement and the merger and directed that they be submitted to our common stockholders for approval at a special meeting of stockholders.

 

Our board of directors unanimously recommends that our common stockholders vote “FOR” Proposal 1, the approval of the merger agreement and the merger.

 

Opinions of Our Financial Advisors

 

Our board of directors retained Wachovia Securities to act as a financial advisor with respect to a possible sale, or other extraordinary transaction involving a change of control, of our company and to render an opinion to our board of directors as to the fairness from a financial point of view of the per-share consideration to be received by our stockholders in connection with the transaction. Our board of directors also retained Houlihan Lokey to render an opinion to our board of directors as to the fairness from a financial point of view of the per-share consideration to be received by our stockholders in connection with the transaction. Set forth in separate parts below are summaries of their respective opinions.

 

Opinion of Wachovia Securities

 

Our board of directors retained Wachovia Securities to act as one of our financial advisors with respect to a possible sale, or other extraordinary transaction involving a change of control, of our company. Our board of directors selected Wachovia Securities to act as one of its financial advisors based on its qualifications, expertise and reputation. Wachovia Securities rendered its oral opinion to our board of directors and subsequently provided its written opinion that, as of December 21, 2005, subject to and based on the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the opinion and the review undertaken, as set forth in the opinion, the $45.25 in cash per share of our common stock to be received by holders of shares of our common stock pursuant to the merger agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.

 

The full text of Wachovia Securities opinion, which sets forth, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the opinion and the review undertaken in connection with the opinion, is attached as Annex B to this proxy statement. You should carefully read the opinion. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion.

 

The Wachovia Securities opinion did not address the merits of the underlying business decision to enter into the merger agreement and does not constitute a recommendation to any holder of shares of our common stock as to how such holder should vote in connection with the merger agreement.

 

In arriving at its opinion, Wachovia Securities has, among other things:

 

                                          reviewed the merger agreement, including the financial terms of the merger agreement;

 

36



 

                                          reviewed annual reports to stockholders and Annual Reports on Form 10-K for our company for the five years ended December 31, 2004;

 

                                          reviewed certain interim reports to stockholders and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for our company;

 

                                          reviewed certain business, financial and other information, including financial forecasts, regarding our company, a portion of which was publicly available and a portion of which was furnished to Wachovia Securities by our management, and discussed the business and prospects of our company with our management;

 

                                          participated in discussions and negotiations among representatives of our company, GECC and Trizec and their financial and legal advisors;

 

                                          reviewed the reported price and trading activity for shares of our common stock;

 

                                          considered certain financial data for our company and compared that data with similar data regarding certain other publicly traded companies that Wachovia Securities deemed to be relevant;

 

                                          compared the proposed financial terms of the merger agreement with the financial terms of certain other business combinations and transactions that Wachovia Securities deemed to be relevant; and

 

                                          considered other information such as financial studies, analyses and investigations, as well as financial and economic and market criteria that Wachovia Securities deemed to be relevant.

 

In connection with its review, Wachovia Securities has relied upon the accuracy and completeness of the foregoing financial and other information, including all accounting, legal and tax information and did not assume any responsibility for any independent verification of such information and assumed such accuracy and completeness for purposes of this opinion. With respect to financial forecasts furnished to Wachovia Securities by our management, Wachovia Securities assumed that they were reasonably prepared and reflected the best current estimates and judgments of management as to our future financial performance. Wachovia Securities assumed no responsibility for, and expressed no view as to, financial projections or the assumptions upon which they are based. In arriving at its opinion, Wachovia Securities did not prepare or obtain any independent evaluations or appraisals of our assets or liabilities, nor were they provided with any such evaluations or appraisals.

 

In rendering its opinion, Wachovia Securities assumed that the merger will be consummated on the terms described in the merger agreement, without waiver of any material terms or conditions, and that in the course of obtaining any necessary legal, regulatory or third-party consents and/or approvals, no restrictions will be imposed or other actions will be taken that will have an adverse effect on the merger or other actions contemplated by the merger agreement in any way meaningful to its analysis.

 

The Wachovia Securities opinion is necessarily based on economic, market, financial and other conditions and the information made available to Wachovia Securities as of the date of its opinion. In addition, Wachovia Securities expressed no view on the terms of the partnership merger or on the terms pursuant to which holders of our partnership units may become holders of Trizec OP units. Additionally, Wachovia Securities expressed no view on whether any holder of our partnership units should exchange its partnership units for shares of our common stock. Wachovia Securities’ opinion does not address the relative merits of the merger or other actions contemplated by the merger agreement compared with other business strategies or transactions that may have been considered by our management, our board of directors or any committee thereof.

 

The summary set forth below does not purport to be a complete description of the analyses performed by Wachovia Securities, but describes, in summary form, the material analyses of Wachovia Securities in connection with its fairness opinion. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and is not necessarily susceptible to a partial analysis or summary description. In arriving at its fairness opinion, Wachovia Securities considered the results of all its analyses as a whole and did not attribute any particular weight to any analysis or factors considered by it. Accordingly, the analyses listed in the tables and described below must be considered as a whole. Considering any portion of such analyses and the factors considered, without considering all analyses and factors, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the process underlying the Wachovia Securities opinion.

 

37



 

Historical Stock Trading Analyses. Wachovia Securities reviewed publicly available historical trading prices and volumes for shares of our common stock for the 12-month period between December 21, 2004 and December 19, 2005. Wachovia Securities also reviewed publicly available historical trading prices and volumes for shares of our common stock for the period between September 29, 2004 and September 28, 2005 (the day prior to the day on which an article was published speculating that our company was for sale). In addition, Wachovia Securities compared the $45.25 in cash per share of our common stock to be received by holders of shares of our common stock pursuant to the merger agreement to the average closing trading prices of shares of our common stock during the 10-day, 30-day, 60-day, 90-day, 180-day and 12-month periods ending December 19, 2005, as well as the high and low closing trading prices during the 52-week period ending December 19, 2005. The $45.25 per share offer price represents a premium to the historical closing prices of shares of our common stock as follows:

 

 

 

Closing Price

 

Premium to Closing Price

 

September 28, 2005

 

$38.68

 

17.0

%

 

December 19, 2005

 

$47.10

 

(3.9

)%

 

10-Day Average

 

$46.11

 

(1.9

)%

 

30-Day Average

 

$45.67

 

(0.9

)%

 

60-Day Average

 

$43.47

 

4.1

%

 

90-Day Average

 

$41.77

 

8.3

%

 

180-Day Average

 

$38.86

 

16.4

%

 

12-month Average

 

$37.78

 

19.8

%

 

52-Week High

 

$47.12

 

(4.0

)%

 

52-Week Low

 

$33.01

 

37.1

%

 

 

Comparable Companies Analysis. Wachovia Securities compared our financial, operating and stock market data to the following publicly traded REITs:

 

Boston Properties, Inc.

Crescent Real Estate Equities Company

Mack-Cali Realty Corporation

CarrAmerica Realty Corporation

Equity Office Properties Trust

Kilroy Realty Corporation

Maguire Properties, Inc.

Reckson Associates Realty Corp.

SL Green Realty Corp.

Trizec Properties, Inc.

Vornado Realty Trust

 

Wachovia Securities calculated the multiple of per share closing prices to estimated funds from operations (“FFO”) for 2006 for the comparable companies, based upon projected financial information from the Thompson Financial Company First Call (“First Call”) consensus estimates and closing share prices on December 19, 2005. Wachovia Securities calculated a range consisting of the high, mean, median and low multiples of per share price to estimated FFO for the comparable companies and applied this range to our management’s and First Call’s consensus estimates of estimated FFO for 2006. This analysis produced an implied per share value range for shares of our common stock of $32.49 to $51.60 as set forth in the table below.

 

 

 

2006 FFO Multiple

 

Implied Per Share Common
Stock Price Based on
Consensus 2006 Estimated
FFO

 

Implied Per Share Common
Stock Price Based on
Management’s 2006
Estimated FFO

 

High:

 

18.9x

 

$48.38

 

$51.60

 

Mean:

 

14.9x

 

$37.87

 

$40.39

 

Median:

 

14.4x

 

$36.96

 

$39.41

 

Low:

 

12.7x

 

$32.49

 

$34.65

 

 

38



 

Wachovia Securities selected the companies reviewed in the comparable companies’ analyses because of, among other reasons, their specialization in the office REIT sector, geographic location, asset quality, market capitalization and capital structure. None of the companies utilized in the above analyses, however, is identical to our company. Accordingly, a complete analysis of the results of the foregoing calculations cannot be limited to a quantitative review of such results and involves complex considerations and judgments concerning the differences in the financial and operating characteristics of the comparable companies and other factors that could affect the public trading value of the comparable companies, as well as the potential trading value of our company.

 

Selected Transactions Analysis. Wachovia Securities examined selected transactions involving publicly traded REITs from 2000 to 2005 with an aggregate value ranging from $3 billion to $7 billion and transactions involving publicly traded office REITs announced from 2000 through 2005. Wachovia Securities reviewed information relating to FFO and premiums paid in connection with these transactions. Using publicly available information, including estimates of 2006 FFO published by First Call, Wachovia Securities compared transaction multiples of FFO and premiums paid for the merger with the selected transactions. The selected transactions were:    

 

Acquiror

 

Target

 

CalEAST Industrial Investors, LLC

 

CenterPoint Properties Trust

 

Brandywine Realty Trust

 

Prentiss Properties Trust

 

DRA Advisors LLC

 

Capital Automotive REIT

 

DRA Advisors LLC

 

CRT Properties, Inc.

 

ProLogis

 

Catellus Development Corporation

 

The Lightstone Group, LLC

 

Prime Group Realty Trust

 

Simon Property Group, Inc.

 

Chelsea Property Group, Inc.

 

Archstone Communities Trust

 

Charles E. Smith Residential Realty, Inc.

 

Equity Office Properties Trust

 

Spieker Properties, Inc.

 

Equity Office Properties Trust

 

Cornerstone Properties, Inc.

 

 

Wachovia Securities calculated, among other things, a range consisting of the high, mean, median and low transaction prices to forward FFO multiples for the selected transactions and applied this range to our management’s and First Call’s consensus estimates of our FFO for 2006. Based upon transaction multiples, Wachovia Securities calculated the following range of implied share prices:

 

 

 

FFO Multiple of Selected
Transactions

 

Implied Per Share Common
Stock Price Based on
Consensus 2006 Estimated
FFO

 

Implied Per Share Common
Stock Price Based on
Management’s 2006
Estimated FFO

 

High:

 

20.9x

 

$53.63

 

$57.19

 

Mean:

 

14.3x

 

$36.62

 

$39.06

 

Median:

 

13.8x

 

$35.41

 

$37.76

 

Low:

 

10.1x

 

$25.78

 

$27.49

 

 

Wachovia Securities also examined separately a subset of the selected transactions involving publicly traded office REITs announced from 2000 to 2005. The selected transactions are:

 

Acquiror

 

Target

 

Brandywine Realty Trust

 

Prentiss Properties Trust

 

DRA Advisors LLC

 

CRT Properties Trust

 

The Lightstone Group, LLC

 

Prime Group Realty Trust

 

Equity Office Properties Trust

 

Spieker Properties, Inc.

 

Equity Office Properties Trust

 

Cornerstone Properties, Inc.

 

 

Wachovia Securities calculated, among other things, a range consisting of the high, mean, median and low transaction prices to forward FFO multiples for the selected office REIT transactions and applied this range to our management’s and First Call’s consensus estimates of our FFO for 2006. Based upon transaction multiples, Wachovia Securities calculated the following range of implied share prices:

 

39



 

 

 

FFO Multiple of Selected
Office REIT Transactions

 

Implied Per Share Common
Stock Price Based on
Consensus 2006 Estimated
FFO

 

Implied Per Share Common
Stock Price Based on
Management’s 2006
Estimated FFO

 

High:

 

15.2x

 

$38.89

 

$41.47

 

Mean:

 

12.4x

 

$31.67

 

$33.77

 

Median:

 

11.5x

 

$29.32

 

$31.26

 

Low:

 

10.1x

 

$25.78

 

$27.49

 

 

In addition, Wachovia Securities analyzed the premium or discount paid by the acquiror in all of the transactions used in the selected transactions analysis, in relation to the average closing market price of shares of the targets’ common stock on the day prior to the announcement of the transaction and the average closing prices for the 10-day, 30-day, 60-day and 90-day closing prices for the period prior to the announcement of the selected transaction.

 

Using publicly available information, Wachovia Securities calculated, among other things, a range consisting of the high, mean, median and low premium paid in these transactions and applied this range to the corresponding day and average for the closing prices of shares of our common stock. This analysis resulted in the following range of implied share prices for each share of common stock:

 

Selected Publicly Traded Real Estate Transactions

Implied Per Share Common Stock Price

 

 

 

Premium to
December 19,
2005 Closing
Price

 

Premium to
10-Day
Average

 

Premium to
30-Day
Average

 

Premium to
60-Day
Average

 

Premium to
90-Day
Average

 

High:

 

$57.00

 

$56.40

 

$56.92

 

$54.25

 

$51.76

 

Mean:

 

$52.78

 

$52.10

 

$52.16

 

$50.07

 

$48.22

 

Median:

 

$51.95

 

$51.07

 

$51.21

 

$49.28

 

$48.11

 

Low:

 

$49.88

 

$49.69

 

$47.63

 

$44.59

 

$43.97

 

 

Selected Office REIT Transactions

Implied Per Share Common Stock Price

 

 

 

Premium to
December 19,
2005 Closing
Price

 

Premium to
10-Day
Average

 

Premium to
30-Day
Average

 

Premium to
60-Day
Average

 

Premium to
90-Day
Average

 

High:

 

$57.00

 

$56.40

 

$54.97

 

$54.25

 

$51.76

 

Mean:

 

$53.03

 

$52.50

 

$52.40

 

$50.47

 

$48.70

 

Median:

 

$52.00

 

$51.56

 

$51.58

 

$49.46

 

$48.10

 

Low:

 

$49.88

 

$49.69

 

$50.09

 

$47.54

 

$45.54

 

 

Because the market conditions, rationale and circumstances surrounding each of the transactions analyzed in the various selected transaction analyses were specific to each transaction and because of the inherent differences between our businesses, operations and prospects and those of the comparable acquired companies, Wachovia Securities believed that it was inappropriate to, and therefore did not, rely solely on the quantitative results of the analysis. Accordingly, Wachovia Securities also made qualitative judgments concerning differences between the characteristics of these transactions and the proposed merger that could affect our acquisition values and those of such acquired companies including the size of those transactions and market conditions at the time of those transactions.

 

40



 

Discounted Dividend Analysis. Wachovia Securities performed a discounted dividend analysis on our company using our management’s projections for FFO per share and dividend payouts per share for 2006 through 2009. Wachovia Securities calculated the implied present values of projected cash dividends for our company for 2006 through 2009 using discount rates ranging from 9.0% to 11.0%. Wachovia Securities then calculated implied terminal values in 2009 based on multiples ranging from 10.0x FFO to 15.0x FFO. Wachovia Securities derived a range of per share values for shares of our common stock based on the implied present values of our cash dividends and the implied present values of our terminal values in 2009. The analysis resulted in a range of implied values of $33.73 to $50.42 per share of our common stock.

 

Net Asset Valuation Analysis. Using information provided by our management, Wachovia Securities calculated the net asset value per share of our common stock. For this analysis, Wachovia Securities applied a range of capitalization rates from 5.75% to 6.75% to our management’s projected 2006 net operating income (net of recurring capital expenditures and estimated California’s Proposition 13 tax reassessments). The resulting gross real estate value was added to the gross value of our other assets, including our land development assets, less our outstanding debt and other liabilities and estimated transaction costs, to arrive at an estimated net asset value per share of our common stock. In applying the range of capitalization rates, Wachovia Securities took into consideration current market conditions and property characteristics. The net asset valuation analysis produced a range of implied values of $38.43 to $54.56 per share of our common stock.

 

In performing its analyses, Wachovia Securities made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond our control. No company, transaction or business used in the analyses described above is identical to our company or the proposed merger. Any estimates contained in Wachovia Securities’ analyses are not necessarily indicative of future results or actual values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by these estimates. The analyses performed were prepared solely as a part of Wachovia Securities’ analysis of the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares of our common stock, as of December 21, 2005, and subject to and based on the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the opinion and the review undertaken in such opinion, of the $45.25 in cash per share of our common stock to be received by such holders pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, and were conducted in connection with the delivery by Wachovia Securities of its fairness opinion, dated December 21, 2005.

 

Wachovia Securities’ opinion was one of the many factors taken into consideration by our board of directors in making its determination to approve the merger. Wachovia Securities’ analyses summarized above should not be viewed as determinative of the opinion of our board of directors with respect to the value of shares of our common stock or of whether our board of directors would have been willing to agree to a different form of consideration.

 

Wachovia Securities is a trade name of Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, an investment banking subsidiary and affiliate of Wachovia Corporation.  Wachovia Securities, as part of its investment banking and financial advisory business, is continuously engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, competitive biddings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for corporate and other purposes.  Wachovia Securities and its affiliates provide a full range of financial advisory securities and lending services in the ordinary course of business for which they receive customary fees. In connection with matters unrelated to the merger, Wachovia Securities and its affiliates in the past have provided financing services to our company.  In February 2005, Wachovia Securities served as lead manager in our offering of $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% notes due 2015 and in August 2004, as lead manager in our offering of $200 million aggregate principal amount of 5.20% notes due 2011.  In November 2003, Wachovia Securities led an interest rate swap of $49.3 million in principal amount and in December 2002, it led another interest rate swap of $87.5 million in principal amount.  In December 2002, Wachovia Securities served as agent and participating lender for our company in a $50 million repurchase by us of our common stock.  In August 2002, Wachovia Securities participated in the loan syndication by committing $40 million to our $310 million unsecured revolving line of credit agented by Wells Fargo.  As of November 30, 2005, Wachovia Securities has committed $95 million to our line of credit under our Fourth Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of July 7, 2005.  In addition, in connection with matters unrelated to the merger, Wachovia Securities and its affiliates have in the past provided financing services for GECC and its affiliates.  Aditionally, in connection with matters unrelated to the merger, Wachovia Securities and its affiliates have in the past provided financial services for Trizec.  Wachovia Securities and its affiliates provide, and in the future may provide, similar or other banking and financial services to, and maintain their relationships with, our company, GECC and its affiliates and Trizec.  Wachovia Securities also maintains active equity and/or fixed income research on our company and certain affiliates of GECC and Trizec.  Additionally, in the ordinary course of its business, Wachovia Securities may trade in our securities and affiliates of GECC and Trizec, for its own account and for the accounts of its customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities.

 

Pursuant to an engagement letter dated October 21, 2005, our board of directors engaged Wachovia Securities as one of its financial advisors with respect to a possible sale or other strategic transaction involving our company. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, we have agreed to pay Wachovia Securities a fee of $500,000, which represents a nonrefundable cash fee paid to Wachovia Securities upon the delivery of its opinion to our board

 

41



 

of directors and a fee of $10,000,000 payable at the close of the transaction, except that such fee is reduced by $375,000 as a result of the additional opinion received from Houlihan Lokey. In addition, we have agreed to reimburse Wachovia Securities for its expenses and to indemnify Wachovia Securities and certain related parties against certain liabilities and certain expenses related to or arising out of Wachovia Securities’ engagement.

 

Opinion of Houlihan Lokey

 

Our board of directors also retained Houlihan Lokey to render an opinion to our board of directors as to the fairness from a financial point of view of the per share consideration to be received by our stockholders in connection with the transaction. Our board of directors retained Houlihan Lokey based upon its experience in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations and similar transactions, particularly with respect to REITs. Houlihan Lokey is a nationally recognized investment banking firm that is continually engaged in providing financial advisory services and rendering fairness opinions in connection with mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, business valuations and securities valuations for a variety of regulatory and planning purposes, recapitalizations, financial restructurings and private placements of debt and equity securities.

 

On December 21, 2005, Houlihan Lokey delivered its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed by its written opinion dated December 21, 2005, to our board of directors to the effect that, as of the date of the Houlihan Lokey opinion, on the basis of its analyses summarized below and subject to and based on the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the opinion and the review undertaken, the per-share sale consideration to be received by our stockholders in the merger is fair to them from a financial point of view.

 

The full text of the opinion, which describes, among other things, the assumptions made, general procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken by Houlihan Lokey in rendering its opinion is attached to this proxy statement as Annex C and is incorporated in this proxy statement by reference. The summary of the Houlihan Lokey opinion in this proxy statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Houlihan Lokey opinion. Stockholders are urged to read the Houlihan Lokey opinion in its entirety.

 

The Houlihan Lokey opinion does not constitute a recommendation to our board of directors or stockholders on whether or not to support the sale and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to how to vote on any matter relating to the sale. In addition, Houlihan Lokey expressed no view on the partnership merger or the terms pursuant to which common unit holders may become holders of Trizec OP units. Houlihan Lokey expressed no view on whether any common unit holder should exchange its common units for shares of our common stock. The Houlihan Lokey opinion was furnished for the benefit of our board of directors in evaluating the merger. The Houlihan Lokey opinion does not constitute legal, regulatory, accounting, insurance, tax or other similar professional advice, and does not address:

 

                                          the underlying business decision of our company, its security holders or any other party to proceed with or effect the merger;

 

                                          the fairness of any portion or aspect of the merger not expressly addressed in the Houlihan Lokey opinion;

 

                                          the fairness of any portion or aspect of the merger to the holders of any class of securities, creditors or our other constituencies, or any other party other than those set forth in the Houlihan Lokey opinion;

 

                                          the relative merits of the merger as compared to any alternative business strategies that might exist for us or the effect of any other transaction in which we might engage;

 

                                          the tax or legal consequences of the merger to either us, our security holders, or any other party; or

 

                                          whether any security holder should tender their shares in connection with the merger.

 

In connection with its opinion, Houlihan Lokey made such review, analyses and inquiries as it deemed necessary and appropriate under the circumstances. Among other things, Houlihan Lokey:

 

                                          reviewed the company’s annual report to stockholders on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005,

 

42



 

which the company’s management identified as being the most current financial statements available;

 

                                          spoke with certain members of our management regarding the operations, financial condition, future prospects and projected operations and performance of our company and regarding the merger, and spoke with representatives of our investment bankers and counsel regarding our company, the merger, and related matters;

 

                                          visited certain of our assets;

 

                                          reviewed the following agreements and documents to be delivered at the closing of the merger:

 

                  the GECC letter of interest dated December 18, 2005;

 

                  a draft of the merger agreement;

 

                  a draft of the merger agreement disclosure schedule; and

 

                  the term sheet for our operating partnership limited partner contributions dated December 18, 2005;

 

                                          reviewed the following documents:

 

                  presentation to the board of directors dated August 9, 2005 prepared by the strategic financial advisors;

 

                  summary of bids and first round bid letters presented to the board of directors on November 3, 2005;

 

                  presentation to the board of directors dated December 1, 2005 prepared by the strategic financial advisors;

 

                  the first round bid procedure letter dated September 30, 2005;

 

                  the second round bid procedure letter dated November 11, 2005;

 

                  the confidential information memorandum; and

 

                  the property book;

 

                                          reviewed forecasts and projections prepared by our management with respect to our company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 through 2009;

 

                                          reviewed the 2000–2005 dispositions summary prepared by our management dated November 11, 2005;

 

                                          reviewed the summary of shares and options excluded from severance analysis as of October 31, 2005;

 

                                          reviewed the severance analysis prepared by The Schonbraun McCann Group, LLC, dated December 1, 2005;

 

                                          reviewed the Argus property files and assumptions summary for leasing and marketing, as presented in the online data room;

 

                                          reviewed the land development schedule and ground lease summary, as presented in the online data room;

 

                                          reviewed summary information for NextEdge and AVP, as presented in the online data room;

 

                                          reviewed the historical market prices and trading volume for our publicly traded securities for the past three years and those of certain publicly traded companies, which Houlihan Lokey deemed relevant;

 

                                          reviewed certain other publicly available financial data for certain companies that Houlihan Lokey deemed relevant and publicly available transaction prices and premiums paid in other change of control transactions that Houlihan Lokey deemed relevant for companies in related industries to our company; and

 

                                          conducted such other financial studies, analyses and inquiries as Houlihan Lokey deemed appropriate.

 

43



 

In order to determine the fairness of the consideration from a financial point of view to our stockholders, Houlihan Lokey determined a range of values of our common stock. In order to determine such range of values for our common stock, Houlihan Lokey used the following valuation methodologies:  public stock price approach, market approach, comparable transaction approach, a discounted cash flow approach and net asset value approach, pre- and post-transaction costs.

 

Public Price Approach. Houlihan Lokey reviewed the historical market prices and trading volume for our publicly traded common stock and reviewed publicly available analyst reports, news articles and press releases relating to our company. Houlihan Lokey reviewed our closing stock price on a spot basis, five-day average and 30-day average, as of December 21, 2005, the day immediately preceding public announcement of the merger, and September 23, 2005, the date preceding published market speculation about a potential sale of our company. The resulting per share indications from this approach, as reviewed by Houlihan Lokey, ranged from $45.86 to $46.99 as of December 21, 2005 and $38.35 to $38.52 as of September 23, 2005. Based on this approach, the resulting enterprise value (“EV”) indications ranged from $4.23 billion to $4.86 billion. EV is calculated by adding an entity’s market value of equity, plus the book value of its existing debt and preferred stock, less cash and cash equivalents. Houlihan Lokey noted that the $45.25 price to be paid per share of our common stock in the merger is within the range of values indicated by this analysis.

 

Market Approach. Houlihan Lokey reviewed certain financial information of the following ten comparable publicly traded office REITs selected solely by Houlihan Lokey:

 

Boston Properties Inc.

CarrAmerica Realty Corporation

Crescent Real Estate Equities Company

Equity Office Properties Trust

HRPT Properties Trust

Kilroy Realty Corp.

Mack-Cali Realty Corporation

Maguire Properties, Inc.

Reckson Associates Realty Corp.

Trizec Properties, Inc.

 

Houlihan Lokey calculated certain financial ratios of the comparable companies based on the most recent publicly available information. These financial ratios included the multiples of:  (i) EV to latest twelve months (“LTM”) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortizations (“EBITDA”); (ii) market value of equity (“MVE”) to LTM FFO; (iii) EV to our management’s projected 2006 EBITDA and (iv) MVE to our management’s projected 2006 FFO. Houlihan Lokey also considered the dividend yield for each of the comparable companies.

 

Houlihan Lokey’s analysis showed that the multiples and dividend yields exhibited by the comparable companies were as follows:

 

 

 

LTM
EBITDA
Multiple

 

LTM
FFO
Multiple

 

2006
EBITDA
Multiple

 

2006
FFO
Multiple

 

Dividend Yield

 

Maximum:

 

22.8x

 

22.2x

 

19.7x

 

17.2x

 

8.1%

 

Mean:

 

16.3x

 

13.9x

 

15.1x

 

12.8x

 

5.5%

 

Median:

 

15.1x

 

13.6x

 

14.7x

 

12.8x

 

5.5%

 

Minimum:

 

12.5x

 

9.7x

 

12.7x

 

7.9x

 

3.3%

 

 

Houlihan Lokey derived EV indications for our company by applying selected LTM and 2006 projected EBITDA and FFO multiples to estimated operating results provided by our management for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2005 and the projected 12-month period ending December 31, 2006. Under the dividend yield approach, Houlihan Lokey applied selected market yields to our stated annual dividend and added debt net of cash to derive EV indications. Based on the above, the resulting indications of the EV of our operations range from approximately $4.12 billion to $4.33 billion. On an MVE basis, the market approach yielded values ranging from

 

44



 

$36.19 to $39.21 per share. Houlihan Lokey noted that the $45.25 price to be paid per share of our common stock in the merger is above the range of values indicated by this analysis.

 

Comparable Transaction Approach. Houlihan Lokey reviewed the consideration paid in certain change of control acquisitions of selected REITs from 2000 through 2005, as shown in the following table:

 

($ in millions)

 

Date
Announced

 

Target Name

 

Enterprise Value

 

EV/EBITDA

 

FFO Multiple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10/3/2005

 

Prentiss Properties Trust

 

$3,227.0

 

 

15.1x

 

 

13.9x

 

 

6/17/2005

 

CRT Properties, Inc.

 

1,699.7

 

 

17.3x

 

 

18.5x

 

 

2/17/2005

 

Prime Group Realty Trust

 

889.4

 

 

22.4x

 

 

23.1x

 

 

8/20/2004

 

Rouse Co.

 

12,600.0

 

 

18.9x

 

 

NMF

 

 

6/21/2004

 

Chelsea Property Group, Inc.

 

4,800.0

 

 

16.9x

 

 

17.3x

 

 

4/16/2004

 

Hallwood Realty Partners

 

454.0

 

 

12.4x

 

 

13.6x

 

 

1/22/2004

 

Great Lakes REIT, Inc.

 

595.5

 

 

11.5x

 

 

8.6x

 

 

2/23/2001

 

Spieker Properties, Inc.

 

7,200.0

 

 

13.2x

 

 

14.3x

 

 

11/2/2000

 

American Industrial

 

527.2

 

 

9.1x

 

 

8.4x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum

 

$12,600.0

 

 

22.4x

 

 

23.1x

 

 

 

 

Mean

 

$3,560.3

 

 

15.2x

 

 

14.7x

 

 

 

 

Median

 

$1,699.7

 

 

15.1x

 

 

14.1x

 

 

 

 

Minimum

 

$454.0

 

 

9.1x

 

 

8.4x

 

 

 

Houlihan Lokey reviewed the foregoing transactions to understand the range of multiples paid for the REITs that were subject to such transactions. Houlihan Lokey derived an indication of the range of EV for us by applying the EBITDA and FFO multiples that are indicated by the comparable transactions to our adjusted LTM EBITDA and FFO ended September 30, 2005. Based on the above, Houlihan Lokey calculated EV indications to be in the range of $4.01 billion to $4.45 billion. On an MVE basis, this approach resulted in values ranging from $34.61 to $40.93 per share. Houlihan Lokey noted that the $45.25 price to be paid per share of our common stock in the merger is above the range of values indicated by this analysis.

 

Discounted Cash Flow. Houlihan Lokey also reviewed our projected cash flows provided by management on an aggregate basis, which excluded cash flows associated with AVP and NextEdge. NextEdge is a turnkey provider of integrated energy efficiency solutions for the commercial real estate industry and AVP provides investment management services to American Value Partners Fund I, L.P. The present value of these cash flows for our company was calculated using a range of discount rates of 8 to 12 percent and a range of terminal capitalization rates of 6.5 to 8.5 percent. Separate projections were used to value AVP and NextEdge. The present value of the cash flows for AVP and NextEdge was calculated using a range of discount rates of 33 to 37 percent and a range of terminal multiples of 1.5x to 3.5x. Based on the above, Houlihan Lokey calculated EV indications to be in the range of $4.301 billion to $4.963 billion. On an MVE basis, this approach resulted in values ranging from $38.97 to $48.48 per share. Houlihan Lokey noted that the $45.25 price to be paid per share of our common stock in the merger is within the range of values indicated by this analysis.

 

Net Asset Value Approach. Houlihan Lokey reviewed the underlying assumptions used by management to arrive at an estimated net asset value range for our properties. The assumptions reviewed for each property included: the LTM net operating income, implied capitalization rates, per square feet market prices, discount rates used in the cash flow analysis for each asset, rental growth rates and occupancy assumptions. The range of estimated market value of our properties plus other assets and less liabilities yielded a range of $46.11 to $54.00 per share, assuming all assets were sold immediately upon liquidation and excluding any adjustments for transaction costs. In addition, Houlihan Lokey calculated the net asset value range less estimated transaction costs, which included severance payments, debt defeasance costs, transfer taxes and professional fees. The estimated net asset value indications post-transaction costs ranged between $42.76 and $50.71 per share. Houlihan Lokey noted that the

 

45



 

$45.25 price to be paid per share of our common stock in the merger is within the range of values indicated by this analysis.

 

For purposes of its opinion, Houlihan Lokey has not undertaken any inquiry as to, or taken into consideration, the possible tax consequences of the sale (including whether our public stockholders will recognize taxable income as a result of participating in the sale). Such tax consequences could be material and could affect the analysis underlying the conclusions reached in the opinion of Houlihan Lokey.

 

The opinion of Houlihan Lokey is based on the business, economic, market and other conditions, as they existed as of December 21, 2005. Houlihan Lokey has not undertaken, and is under no obligation, to update, revise, reaffirm or withdraw the Houlihan Lokey opinion, or otherwise comment on or consider events occurring after the date of its opinion. In rendering its opinion, Houlihan Lokey relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all data, material and other information (including, without limitation, the financial forecasts and projections) furnished, or otherwise made available, to it, discussed with or reviewed by it, or publicly available, and does not assume any responsibility with respect to such data, material and other information. In addition, Houlihan Lokey relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, that the financial forecasts and projections have been reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of our future financial results and condition, and Houlihan Lokey expressed no opinion with respect to such forecasts and projections or the assumptions on which they are based. Houlihan Lokey relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, that there has been no material change in our assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects since the date of our most recent financial statements provided to it, and that there is no information or facts that would make the information reviewed by it incomplete or misleading. Houlihan Lokey was not requested to make, and did not make, any physical inspection or independent appraisal or evaluation of any of our assets, properties or liabilities (contingent or otherwise), nor was it provided with any such appraisal or evaluation. Houlihan Lokey expresses no opinion regarding the liquidation value of any entity. Houlihan Lokey also assumed that none of our company, GECC nor Trizec is party to any material pending transaction, including, without limitation, any external financing, recapitalization, acquisition or merger, divestiture or spin-off (other than the merger).

 

Houlihan Lokey also relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, that:

 

                                          the representations and warranties of all parties to the agreements reviewed by it and all other related documents and instruments referred to in the Houlihan Lokey opinion are true and correct;

 

                                          each party to all such agreements will perform all of the covenants and agreements required to be performed by such party;

 

                                          all conditions to the consummation of the merger will be satisfied without waiver thereof;

 

                                          the merger will be consummated in a timely manner in accordance with the terms described in the agreements provided to Houlihan Lokey, without any amendments or modifications thereto or any adjustment to the aggregate consideration (through offset, reduction, indemnity claims, post-closing purchase price adjustments or otherwise);

 

                                          all governmental, regulatory and other consents and approvals necessary for the consummation of the merger will be obtained and that no delay, limitations, restrictions or conditions will be imposed that would result in the disposition of any material portion of our assets, or otherwise have an adverse effect on us or the expected benefits of the merger; and

 

                                          the final forms of the draft agreements reviewed by it did not differ in any material respect from such draft agreements.

 

The summary of Houlihan Lokey set forth above describes the material points of more detailed analyses performed by Houlihan Lokey in arriving at its opinion. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex analytical process involving various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and application of those methods to the particular circumstances and is therefore not readily susceptible to summary description. In arriving at its opinion, Houlihan Lokey made qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor. Accordingly, Houlihan Lokey believes that its analyses and summary set

 

46



 

forth herein must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses, without considering all analyses and factors, or portions of this summary, could create an incomplete and/or inaccurate view of the processes underlying the analyses set forth in Houlihan Lokey’s opinion. In its analysis, Houlihan Lokey made numerous assumptions with respect to our company, the transaction, industry performance, general business, economic, market and financial conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of the respective entities. The estimates contained in such analyses are not necessarily indicative of actual values or predictive of future results or values, which may be more or less favorable than suggested by such analyses. Additionally, analyses relating to the value of our businesses or securities are not appraisals. Accordingly, such analyses and estimates are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty.

 

Pursuant to an engagement letter dated December 9, 2005, we agreed to pay Houlihan Lokey a total fee of $750,000 for its provision of a fairness opinion in connection with the proposed transaction. In addition to such fee, we also agreed to reimburse Houlihan Lokey for certain reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and legal expenses incurred in connection with the provision of their opinion. In addition, we have agreed to indemnify Houlihan Lokey and certain other parties against certain liabilities and expenses relating to or arising out of their engagement. No portion of Houlihan Lokey’s aggregate fee or indemnity or reimbursement rights is contingent upon the conclusions reached in the Houlihan Lokey opinion or the consummation of the merger.

 

Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger

 

In considering the recommendation of our board of directors to vote for the proposal to approve the merger agreement and the merger, you should be aware that our directors and executive officers may have certain interests in, and will receive benefits from, the merger that differ from, or are in addition to (and therefore may conflict with), the interests of our common stockholders generally. These additional interests are described below. In addition, the number of shares of our common stock owned by our directors and named executive officers as of February 10, 2006 appears below under the heading “Securities Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management” on page 73. Our board of directors was aware of these interests during their deliberations regarding the merits of the merger agreement and considered them in determining to recommend to our common stockholders that they vote to approve the merger agreement and the merger.

 

Treatment of Stock Options and Restricted Shares

 

Stock Options. The Third Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option and Incentive Plan provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights or restricted stock awards to executives or other key employees. Each outstanding option to purchase our common stock under any employee option or compensation plan or other arrangement, including the 1996 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, whether or not then exercisable, will be converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive the option merger consideration.  If the exercise price per share of any such option is equal to or greater than the common stock merger consideration, then such option will be canceled without any cash payment.

 

As of December 31, 2005, our directors and executive officers held stock options to acquire an aggregate of 881,120 shares of our common stock, with a weighted average exercise price of $25.01 per share, consisting of vested options representing approximately $14.5 million of aggregate value and unvested stock options representing $3.3 million of aggregate value, based on cash consideration of $45.25 for each share.

 

The following table sets forth the number of in-the-money stock options held by each of our directors and executive officers as of December 31, 2005, and the dollar amount payable to each director and executive officer for those stock options upon consummation of the merger:

 

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Name

 

Options (#)

 

Net Merger Consideration(1)

 

Richard S. Ziman

 

668,100

 

 

$13,351,349

 

 

Victor J. Coleman

 

130,300

 

 

2,735,282

 

 

Richard S. Davis

 

21,360

 

 

522,038

 

 

Robert C. Peddicord

 

21,360

 

 

522,038

 

 

Howard S. Stern

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

David A. Swartz

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

Leslie E. Bider

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

Carl D. Covitz

 

10,000

 

 

130,000

 

 

Larry S. Flax

 

30,000

 

 

572,500

 

 

Steven C. Good

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

Alan I. Rothenberg

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

Total

 

881,120

 

 

$17,833,207

 

 

 


(1)                  Represents the cash consideration of $45.25 for each share, less the applicable option exercise prices. Does not include the prorated portion of the normal quarterly dividend to be paid as part of the common stock merger consideration.

 

Restricted Shares. Restricted share awards issued to our directors and executive officers as long-term incentive compensation generally are subject to forfeiture if the executive officer ceases to be an executive officer prior to the end of the vesting period for the restricted shares. In accordance with the terms of the existing compensation awards, any restrictions or forfeiture provisions will terminate or lapse and the restricted shares will vest in full upon stockholder approval of Proposal 1 and will be treated in the same manner as other shares of our common stock and, accordingly, will have the right to receive the common stock merger consideration. As of December 31, 2005, our directors and executive officers held an aggregate of 741,261 unvested restricted shares and will be entitled to receive the cash amounts indicated in the table below with respect to their existing restricted shares, plus the prorated portion of our normal quarterly dividend to be paid as part of the merger consideration.

 

The following table sets forth the number of unvested restricted shares held by each of our directors and executive officers as of December 31, 2005, and the dollar amount payable to each director and executive officer for those shares upon consummation of the merger:

 

Name

 

Restricted Shares (#)

 

Merger Consideration(1)

 

Richard S. Ziman

 

304,307

 

 

$13,769,892

 

 

Victor J. Coleman

 

178,882

 

 

8,094,410

 

 

Richard S. Davis

 

80,187

 

 

3,628,462

 

 

Robert C. Peddicord

 

80,187

 

 

3,628,462

 

 

Howard S. Stern

 

27,455

 

 

1,242,339

 

 

David A. Swartz

 

45,143

 

 

2,042,721

 

 

Leslie E. Bider

 

5,500

 

 

248,875

 

 

Carl D. Covitz

 

4,700

 

 

212,675

 

 

Larry S. Flax

 

4,700

 

 

212,675

 

 

Steven C. Good

 

4,700

 

 

212,675

 

 

Alan I. Rothenberg

 

 

5,500

 

 

248,875

 

 

Total

 

741,261

 

 

$33,542,061

 

 

 


(1)                  Does not include the prorated portion of the normal quarterly dividend to be paid as part of the common stock merger consideration.

 

In addition, our directors and executive officers each own additional restricted shares that have already vested and are therefore not subject to accelerated vesting as a result of the merger. See “Securities Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management” on page 73.

 

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2005–2009 Outperformance Program

 

Under our 2005–2009 Outperformance Program, certain of our executives can receive equity awards if shares of our common stock generate superior returns for our stockholders. The program is performance-based, utilizing total return to stockholders as the measurement criteria for the period beginning on April 1, 2005 and ending on the date of a “change in control,” as defined in the Third Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, which includes the date of stockholder approval of the merger. Awards will be paid in common stock or cash, with the amount awarded based on the value created for stockholders in excess of the performance threshold, which is the greater of a 12% compounded annual return or a return equal to 115% of the total return of the Morgan Stanley REIT Index (“RMS”) over the measurement period. The outperformance program establishes a bonus pool equal to 6.0% of such excess stockholder returns (including dividends paid) over the performance threshold. The pool is capped at 1.5% of the capitalization of our company based on the average of the closing prices of one share of our common stock on the NYSE for the 20 trading days on which our stock was traded prior to April 1, 2005 or the 20 trading days prior to and including the last day of the measurement period, as applicable.

 

The stockholder returns are measured against a baseline stock price of $34.97, which was the average closing price of our common stock for the 20 trading days prior to April 1, 2005, the day the outperformance program was adopted by our board of directors. The following table sets forth the allocations of the bonus pool that our executive officers will be entitled to receive:

 

Name

 

Percentage Allocation

 

Richard S. Ziman

 

20.0

%

 

Victor J. Coleman

 

20.0

 

 

Richard S. Davis

 

10.0

 

 

Robert C. Peddicord

 

10.0

 

 

Howard S. Stern

 

10.0

 

 

David A. Swartz

 

 

10.0

 

 

Total

 

80.0

%

 

 

Because the RMS is subject to fluctuation, the bonus pool for the outperformance program cannot be finally determined until closing. While the RMS threshold is subject to change, the 12% threshold sets a fixed minimum threshold for determining the bonus pool and, consequently, sets an effective cap on the total amount of the bonus pool. Based on an assumed closing date of April 30, 2006, the common stock merger consideration and the 12% threshold, we estimate the bonus pool will not exceed approximately $33.2 million.

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

 

Our Deferred Compensation Plan provides certain key employees, selected by the compensation committee, with supplemental deferred benefits in the form of retirement payments. The compensation committee has selected nine of our current key employees to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan and receive contributions made by us on their behalf, including all of our executive officers. The contributions made by us on behalf of the Deferred Compensation Plan participants will vest automatically in the event of a “change in control” as defined in the Deferred Compensation Plan, which includes stockholder approval of the merger.

 

Upon stockholder approval of the merger, the participants will be entitled to cash payments in respect of their interests in our deferred compensation plan. Based upon their vested account balances as of December 31, 2005, and estimated contributions as of March 1, 2006, it is estimated that our executive officers will be entitled to the following payments under the Deferred Compensation Plan as a result of the merger:

 

Name

 

Amount of Payment

 

Richard S. Ziman

 

$1,661,389

 

 

Victor J. Coleman

 

296,553

 

 

Richard S. Davis

 

179,290

 

 

Robert C. Peddicord

 

180,399

 

 

Howard S. Stern

 

114,348

 

 

David A. Swartz

 

 

133,759

 

 

Total

 

$2,565,739

 

 

 

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Severance Arrangements

 

Under the terms of our existing employment agreements with Messrs. Ziman, Coleman, Davis, Peddicord, Stern and Swartz, in the event (i) the executive terminates his employment within two years for Messrs. Ziman and Coleman and 12 months for Messrs. Davis, Peddicord, Stern and Swartz after a “change of control,” (ii) the executive terminates his employment for “good reason,” or (iii) the executive’s employment is terminated by us without “cause,” as each term is defined in each employment agreement, the terminated executive will be entitled to (a) payment of base compensation through the date of termination of employment and, for Messrs. Ziman and Coleman, payment of a prorated bonus through the date of termination, (b) a single severance payment and (c) continued receipt of certain health benefits for a specified period of time following the date of termination. The bonus payments for Messrs. Ziman and Coleman are equal to the amount of the respective executive’s most recent annual bonus prorated on an annual basis to the date of termination of employment. The single severance payments for Messrs. Ziman and Coleman are equal to the sum of four times the respective executive’s highest annual base compensation for the preceding 48 months and four times the highest annual bonus received in the preceding 48-month period. The single severance payment for Messrs. Davis, Peddicord and Swartz is equal to the sum of three times the respective executive’s average annual base compensation for the preceding 24-month period and an amount equal to three times the highest annual bonus received in the preceding 24-month period. The single severance payment for Mr. Stern is equal to the sum of 2.99 times his average annual base compensation for the preceding 24-month period and an amount equal to 2.99 times his highest annual bonus received in the preceding 24-month period. Messrs. Ziman and Coleman will continue to receive health benefits for four years commencing on the date of termination and Messrs. Davis, Peddicord, Stern and Swartz will continue to receive health benefits for up to 18 months commencing on the date of termination. In the event of a termination without cause, in addition to payment of the single severance payment for Messrs. Ziman, Coleman, Davis, Peddicord, Stern and Swartz, any unvested stock options and restricted stock awards will become fully vested as of the date of termination. In addition, if any of Messrs. Ziman’s, Coleman’s, Davis’, Peddicord’s, Stern’s or Swartz’s severance payments or benefits are deemed to be subject to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), an additional payment, referred to as a gross-up payment, will be made to such executive so that after the payment of all income and excise taxes, the executive will be in the same after-tax position as if no excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code had been imposed.

 

It is estimated that in the event the employment of our executive officers is terminated as described above immediately after the consummation of the merger, they will be entitled to the following approximate severance payments:

 

Name

 

Amount of Payment(1)

 

Richard S. Ziman

 

$7,487,029

 

 

Victor J. Coleman

 

6,090,154

 

 

Richard S. Davis

 

2,785,226

 

 

Robert C. Peddicord

 

2,331,765

 

 

Howard S. Stern

 

1,894,843

 

 

David A. Swartz

 

 

1,682,230

 

 

Total

 

$22,280,247

 

 

 


(1)                  Includes estimates of base compensation payments (if applicable), single severance payments and health benefits costs. Does not include acceleration of vesting of stock options and restricted stock awards, gross-up payments or amounts of outperformance awards, which will not be determinable until the consummation of the merger.

 

Amendments to Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Provisions of Plans

 

The compensation committee has authorized our officers and the officers of our operating partnership to amend or enter into agreements to amend all employee benefit plans and agreements of our company and our operating partnership that might constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation plans” under Section 409A of the

 

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Code (“Section 409A”), including those plans in which the executive officers participate and those agreements to which the executive officers are a party.  These plans and agreements, subject to the consent of any “service provider” (within the meaning of Section 409A), to the extent required by the terms of such plans and agreements, may be amended to provide either for the compensation and/or benefits payable under such plans and agreements not to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A or to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A, including by cashing out, accelerating, deferring or eliminating any such payments and/or benefits.   If any such amendment of a plan or agreement results in the deferral of the payment of or provision of any compensation or benefit under the plan or agreement, then we or our operating partnership will pay the affected service provider interest on the amount of the deferred payment or benefit at the rate of 4.5%, compounded annually, for the deferral period imposed by such amendment.

 

Indemnification and Insurance

 

The merger agreement provides that, for a period of six years from and after the completion of the merger, GECC, the surviving entity and the surviving partnership will indemnify and hold harmless each of our directors and executive officers in respect of acts or omissions at or prior to the consummation of the merger to the fullest extent authorized or permitted under applicable law.

 

The merger agreement also provides that the surviving entity will maintain officers’ and directors’ liability insurance that will provide coverage on a basis comparable to the existing coverage for a period of six years after the consummation of the merger. The surviving entity, however, is not required to spend more than 200% of the current annual premium. In addition, if the surviving entity or any of its successors or assigns merges into any other person and is not the surviving entity or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person, proper provisions must be made so that the successors and assigns of the surviving entity will assume all of the obligations set forth in the section of the merger agreement relating to directors’ and officers’ liability.

 

Election Option for Common Unit Holders

 

In connection with the partnership merger, each common unit holder will have the right to receive the common unit merger consideration or, if such common unit holder is an “accredited investor” and so elects, subject to certain conditions, the right to have its common units redeemed in exchange for LLC Interests, plus an amount in cash equal to a prorated quarterly distribution up to the closing date, without interest and less any required withholding for taxes. Immediately following the redemption, each redeeming common unit holder will contribute all of its LLC Interests to Trizec OP in exchange for Trizec OP units.

 

Mr. Ziman and entities affiliated with him beneficially own 646,228 common units. Mr. Coleman and entities affiliated with him beneficially own 376,646 common units. Messrs. Ziman and Coleman have initially indicated that they will elect to have our operating partnership redeem all of their common units for LLC Interests and exchange those LLC Interests for Trizec OP units. If they so elect, and Trizec REIT’s common stock remains within the range of $18.89 to $23.50:

 

              Mr. Ziman will receive:  1,335,853 Trizec OP units; and

 

              Mr. Coleman will receive:  778,585 Trizec OP units.

 

Common unit holders who participate in the redemption and the exchange may be able to utilize that structure to defer potential taxable gain they might otherwise recognize in an all-cash transaction, such as the partnership merger. In addition, Trizec OP has agreed to provide certain tax protections to redeeming common unit holders. For a more complete discussion of the treatment of common units, please see “The Merger Agreement – Treatment of Common Units” on page 60. Common unit holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the specific tax consequences of this election.

 

Dividends

 

The merger agreement authorizes us to continue to declare and pay regular quarterly dividends (subject to certain limitations, not to exceed $0.505 per share of our common stock per quarter) for each full fiscal quarter that

 

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ends prior to the closing of the merger. For example, if the closing date of the merger were March 26, 2006, our common stockholders of record would receive regular quarterly dividends through the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2005. The pro rata portion of the quarterly dividend for the quarter ending March 31, 2006 would instead be paid as part of the common stock merger consideration.

 

Voting Agreement

 

Messrs. Ziman and Coleman have entered into a voting agreement with GECC, dated as of December 21, 2005. The shares of our common stock beneficially owned by Messrs. Ziman and Coleman and governed by the voting agreement aggregate approximately 2.3% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Pursuant to the voting agreement, Messrs. Ziman and Coleman have agreed to vote all of the shares of our common stock that they then beneficially own:

 

                                          in favor of approval of the merger agreement and the merger and each of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement; and

 

                                          against (i) any merger or merger agreement (with a third party), consolidation, combination, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by our company, (ii) any third-party acquisition proposal or (iii) any amendment of our articles of incorporation or bylaws or other proposal or transaction that would in any manner delay, impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify the mergers, the merger agreement or any of the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement or change in any manner the voting rights of shares of our common stock.

 

In addition, Messrs. Ziman and Coleman have agreed not to directly or indirectly:

 

                                          transfer or enter into any agreement, option or other arrangement with respect to the transfer of any of the shares of our common stock governed by the voting agreement to any person other than pursuant to the merger agreement; or

 

                                          grant any proxies, deposit any of the shares of our common stock governed by the voting agreement into any voting trust or enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise, with respect to the shares of our common stock governed by the voting agreement.

 

Messrs. Ziman and Coleman may, however, pursuant to certain restrictions, transfer the shares of our common stock governed by the voting agreement to certain persons, provided such persons agree to be bound by the terms of the voting agreement.

 

Regulatory Matters

 

No material federal or state regulatory requirements or approvals need be obtained by us or GECC in connection with either the merger or the partnership merger, other than the filing and distribution of this proxy statement and other materials that may be deemed soliciting materials and the filing of the articles of merger and the partnership articles of merger with, and the acceptance of such articles of merger for record by, the SDAT.

 

Under the Merger Agreement, we and GECC have agreed to use our reasonable best efforts to obtain all required governmental approvals in connection with the completion of the proposed transaction.

 

Dissenters’ Rights

 

We are organized as a corporation under Maryland law. Under Section 3-202 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, because shares of our common stock are listed on the NYSE, our common stockholders who object to the merger do not have any appraisal rights or dissenters’ rights in connection with the merger. As a result, if a common stockholder does not vote in favor of the merger and the merger takes place anyway, the stockholder will be bound by the terms of the merger agreement and entitled only to the common stock merger consideration in exchange for the common stockholder’s shares under the merger agreement.

 

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Litigation Relating to the Merger

 

On December 23, 2005, a purported stockholder class action lawsuit related to the merger agreement was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court naming us and each of our directors as defendants. The lawsuit, Charter Township of Clinton Police and Fire Retirement System v. Arden Realty, Inc., et al. (Case No. BC345065), alleges, among other things, that $45.25 per share in cash to be paid to the holders of shares our common stock in connection with the merger is inadequate and that the individual defendants breached their duties to our stockholders in negotiating and approving the merger agreement. The complaint seeks the following relief:  (i) declaring that the lawsuit is properly maintainable as a class action and certification of the plaintiff as a class representative; (ii) declaring that the defendants have breached their duties owed to the plaintiff and other members of the class; (iii) enjoining the merger and, if such transaction is consummated, rescinding the transaction; (iv) enjoining the triggering of “acceleration” clauses related to stock options upon a change of control; (v) requiring the defendants to uphold their fiduciary duties and to fully insulate themselves from any conflicts of interest that interfere with such duties; and (vi) awarding attorneys’ and experts’ fees to the plaintiff.

 

A second purported stockholder class action lawsuit, Dwyer v. Arden Realty, Inc., et al. (Case No. BC345468), was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on January 4, 2006 against the same defendants as in Charter Township. The Dwyer complaint alleges claims for breach of duty, indemnification and injunctive relief. The complaint seeks the following relief:   (i) declaring that the lawsuit is properly maintainable as a class action and certification of the plaintiff as a class representative; (ii) preliminarily and permanently enjoining defendants from proceeding with, consummating or closing the proposed transaction; (iii) in the event the transaction is consummated, rescinding the transaction; (iv) awarding compensatory damages against defendants; and (v) awarding plaintiff attorneys’ fees and costs.

 

We believe that these lawsuits are without merit and intend to vigorously defend the actions.

 

Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

 

The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences of the merger to holders of our common stock who receive cash for their shares pursuant to the merger. This summary is based on current law, is for general information only and is not tax advice. This summary is based on the Code, applicable Treasury Regulations, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, each as in effect as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change or different interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary assumes that shares of our common stock are held as capital assets. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, any rulings from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) concerning our tax treatment or the tax treatment of the merger, and the statements in this proxy are not binding on the IRS or any court. We can provide no assurance that the tax consequences contained in this discussion will not be challenged by the IRS, or if challenged, will be sustained by a court. This summary does not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to particular holders of our common stock in light of their personal circumstances, or to other types of holders, including, without limitation:

 

                                          banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions;

 

                                          broker-dealers;

 

                                          traders;

 

                                          expatriates;

 

                                          tax-exempt organizations;

 

                                          persons who are subject to alternative minimum tax;

 

                                          persons who hold their shares of common stock as a position in a “straddle” or as part of a “hedging”, “conversion” or other risk-reduction transaction;

 

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                                          persons deemed to sell their shares of common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;

 

                                          United States persons that have a functional currency other than the United States dollar;

 

                                          except to the extent specifically discussed below, non-U.S. Holders (as defined below);

 

                                          non-U.S. Holders who at any time have held more than 5% of our common stock;

 

                                          partnerships or other entities treated as partnerships for United States federal income tax purposes and partners in such partnerships; or

 

                                          persons who acquired their shares of our common stock upon the exercise of stock options or otherwise as compensation.

 

In addition, this discussion does not address any state, local or foreign tax consequences of the merger. You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the specific tax consequences to you of the merger and our election to be taxed as a REIT.

 

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” means a holder of our common stock that is:

 

                                          a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

                                          a corporation, a partnership or an entity treated as a corporation or a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any State or the District of Columbia;

 

                                          an estate, the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

                                          a trust (a) the administration over which a United States court can exercise primary supervision and (b) all of the substantial decisions of which one or more United States persons have the authority to control, and certain other trusts considered U.S. Holders for federal income tax purposes.

 

A “non-U.S. Holder” is a holder of our common stock other than a U.S. Holder.

 

Consequences to Us of the Merger

 

For United States federal income tax purposes, we will treat the merger and asset sale as if we had sold all of our assets to REIT Merger Sub and Trizec OP in exchange for the merger consideration and then made a liquidating distribution of the merger consideration to our stockholders in exchange for shares of our common stock.

 

Consequences of the Merger to U.S. Holders

 

A U.S. Holder’s receipt of cash in exchange for shares of our common stock pursuant to the merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. In general, a U.S. Holder will recognize capital gain or loss as a result of the merger measured by the difference, if any, between the merger consideration per share and the holder’s adjusted tax basis in that share. Such gain or loss will constitute long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder held such share for more than one year as of the effective time of the merger. However, if a U.S. Holder recognizes loss upon the receipt of cash in the merger in exchange for shares of our common stock that it has held for six months or less, after applying certain holding period rules, the loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent such holder received distributions from us which were required to be treated as long-term capital gains. Long-term capital gains of noncorporate taxpayers generally are taxable at a maximum federal income tax rate of 15%. Capital gains of corporate shareholders generally are taxable at the regular tax rates applicable to corporations. The deductibility of capital losses may be subject to limitations. In addition, the IRS has the authority to prescribe, but has not yet prescribed, regulations that would apply a tax rate of 25% to a portion of

 

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capital gain realized by a noncorporate shareholder on the sale of REIT shares that would correspond to the REIT’s “unrecaptured Section 1250 gain.”

 

Consequences of the Merger to Non-U.S. Holders

 

Generally, a non-U.S. Holder’s gain or loss from the merger will be determined in the same manner as that of a U.S. Holder. The United States federal income tax consequences of the merger to a non-U.S. Holder will depend on various factors, including whether the receipt of the merger consideration is taxed under the provisions of Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, or FIRPTA, governing sales of REIT shares or whether the receipt of the merger consideration is taxed under the provisions of FIRPTA governing distributions from REITs. The provisions governing distributions from REITs could apply because, for United States federal income tax purposes, the merger will be treated as a sale of our assets followed by a liquidating distribution from us to our common stockholders of the proceeds from the asset sale. Current law is unclear as to which provisions should apply, and both sets of provisions are discussed below. In general, the provisions governing the taxation of distributions by REITs are less favorable to non-U.S. Holders, and non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible application of those provisions.

 

Taxable Sale of Shares. Subject to the discussion of backup withholding and of distribution of gain from the disposition of U.S. real property interests below, if the merger is treated as a taxable sale of shares of our common stock, a non-U.S. Holder should not be subject to United States federal income taxation on any gain or loss from the merger unless:  (i) the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States; (ii) the non-U.S. Holder is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the merger and certain other requirements are met; or (iii) such shares of common stock constitute a “U.S. real property interest” under FIRPTA.

 

A non-U.S. Holder whose gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States will be subject to United States federal income tax on such gain on a net basis in the same manner as a U.S. Holder. In addition, a non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax on such effectively connected gain.

 

A non-U.S. Holder who is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the merger and who meets certain other requirements will be subject to a flat 30% tax on the gain derived from the merger, which may be offset by United States source capital losses. In addition, the non-U.S. Holder may be subject to applicable alternative minimum taxes.

 

If a non-U.S. Holder’s shares of our common stock constitute a “U.S. real property interest” under FIRPTA, such holder will be subject to United States federal income tax on the gain recognized in the merger on a net basis in the same manner as a U.S. Holder. A non-U.S. Holder’s shares of our common stock generally will not constitute a U.S. real property interest if (i) we are a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” at the effective time of the merger, or (ii) the non-U.S. Holder holds 5% or less of the total fair market value of our common stock at all times during the shorter of (a) the five-year period ending with the effective date of the merger and (b) the non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares. A “qualified investment entity” includes a REIT. Assuming we qualify as a REIT, we will be a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” at the effective time of the merger if non-U.S. Holders held directly or indirectly less than 50% in value of our stock at all times during the five-year period ending with the effective time of the merger. No assurances can be given that the actual ownership of our stock has been or will be sufficient for us to qualify as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” at the effective time of the merger.

 

In addition, shares of our common stock will not constitute a U.S. real property interest if (i) as of the effective date of the merger, we did not hold any U.S. real property interests, and (ii) all of the U.S. real property interests held by us during the five-year period ending with the effective date of the merger were disposed of in transactions in which the full amount of the gain (if any) was recognized. We believe we should satisfy the foregoing exception as a result of the asset sale and merger, which for federal income tax purposes will be treated as the sale of our assets followed by the distribution of the sales proceeds to our shareholders. In such a case, shares of our common stock would not constitute U.S. real property interests as of the effective date of the merger.

 

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If the merger consideration is considered attributable to the sale of our shares and our shares are U.S. real property interests, we would be required to withhold and pay to the IRS an amount equal to 10% of the merger consideration to be received by a non-U.S. Holder, unless the non-U.S. Holder establishes an exemption to such withholding.

 

Distribution of Gain from the Disposition of U.S. Real Property Interests. The tax treatment described above assumes that the receipt of the merger consideration will be treated as a sale or exchange of shares of our common stock for purposes of FIRPTA. It is possible, however, that the IRS may assert that the merger consideration received by a non-U.S. Holder is subject to tax under Section 897(h)(1) of the Code as a distribution from us that is attributable to gain from the deemed sale of our U.S. real estate assets in the merger and from the actual sale of the Trizec assets to Trizec OP, and not as a sale of shares of our common stock. If the IRS were successful in making this assertion, then such distribution would be taxed under FIRPTA, unless a special exception applies (the “5% Exception,” discussed below). If the distribution were taxed under FIRPTA, the gain recognized by a non-U.S. Holder generally would be subject to United States federal income tax on a net basis to the extent attributable to gain from the sale of our real estate assets, and a corporate non-U.S. Holder could be subject to the branch profits tax on such FIRPTA gain. On the other hand, the 5% Exception would apply to a non-U.S. Holder of our shares if the non-U.S. Holder does not own more than 5% of our common stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution. In this case, the FIRPTA tax would not apply, but there is some risk that the merger consideration could be treated as an ordinary dividend distribution from us, in which case the merger consideration you receive would be subject to United States federal income tax at a 30% rate.

 

 Income Tax Treaties. If a non-U.S. Holder is eligible for treaty benefits under an income tax treaty with the United States, the non-U.S. Holder may be able to reduce or eliminate certain of the United States federal income tax consequences discussed above, such as the branch profits tax. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisor regarding possible relief under an applicable income tax treaty.

 

U.S. Withholding Tax Under FIRPTA. Although the matter is not free from doubt, we intend to take the position that no amount of the merger consideration payable to a non-U.S. Holder is subject to withholding under FIRPTA, regardless of whether the merger is treated as a taxable sale of shares or as giving rise to a distribution of gain from the disposition of our real estate assets. If a non-U.S. Holder holds its shares through a nominee, that nominee may take a contrary position and conclude that withholding applies under FIRPTA to the merger consideration payable to such non-U.S. Holder.

 

A non-U.S. Holder may be entitled to a refund or credit against the holder’s United States tax liability, if any, with respect to any amount withheld pursuant to FIRPTA, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS on a timely basis. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisor regarding withholding tax considerations.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Backup withholding may apply to payments made in connection with the merger. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a holder who (a) in the case of a U.S. Holder, furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding on the substitute IRS Form W-9 or successor form, (b) in the case of a non-U.S. Holder, furnishes an applicable IRS Form W-8 or successor form, or (c) is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against such holder’s United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.

 

THE FOREGOING DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO THE MERGER AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. THEREFORE, HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE MERGER, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY OF UNITED STATES FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS.

 

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Delisting and Deregistration of Our Common Stock

 

If the merger is completed, shares of our common stock will no longer be listed on the NYSE and we will deregister our common stock under the Exchange Act.

 

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THE MERGER AGREEMENT

 

The following description is a summary of the material terms of the merger agreement. The summary does not, however, contain all of the terms of the merger agreement and is qualified by reference to the complete text of the merger agreement, which is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A and is incorporated by reference herein. We encourage you to read the entire merger agreement.

 

The merger agreement attached as Annex A to this proxy statement has been included to provide you with information regarding its terms. Except for its status as a contractual document that establishes and governs the legal relations among the parties thereto with respect to the transactions described above, the merger agreement is not intended to be a source of factual, business or operational information about the parties.

 

The representations, warranties and covenants made by the parties in the merger agreement are qualified, including by information in the schedules referenced in the merger agreement that we delivered in connection with the execution of the merger agreement, and are subject to important limitations agreed to by the parties in connection with negotiating the terms of the merger agreement. Certain representations and warranties made by the parties in the merger agreement may have been used to allocate risks between the respective parties to the merger agreement, including where the parties do not have complete knowledge of all facts, instead of establishing these matters as facts. Furthermore, the representations and warranties may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties, which may differ from those applicable to you. These representations and warranties may or may not have been accurate as of any specific date and do not purport to be accurate as of the date of this proxy statement. Accordingly, you should not rely on the representations and warranties as characterizations of the actual state of facts at the time they were made or otherwise.

 

As a common stockholder, you are not a third-party beneficiary of the merger agreement and therefore you may not directly enforce any of its terms and conditions. You should also be aware that none of the representations or warranties contained in the merger agreement has any legal effect among the parties to the merger agreement after the effective time of the merger, nor will the parties to the merger agreement be able to assert the inaccuracy of the representations and warranties as a basis for refusing to close the transaction unless all such inaccuracies as a whole would have or would reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on the party that made the representations and warranties.

 

The Merger and Related Transactions

 

Admission

 

Prior to consummation of any of the transactions described in the merger agreement, we will form a wholly owned subsidiary that will be admitted to our operating partnership and be issued Series C units, equal to a 0.01% interest in our operating partnership, in exchange for a capital contribution. The admission is a technical step that is necessary to ensure that the operating partnership continues to comply with certain requirements of Maryland partnership law following completion of the transaction.

 

Redemption and Exchange

 

Pursuant to the merger agreement, common unit holders that are “accredited investors” (other than us and our subsidiaries) may elect to have their common units redeemed by our operating partnership in exchange for LLC Interests, which are interests in one or, under certain circumstances, two existing or newly formed limited liability companies that each hold one of our operating partnership’s properties. Our operating partnership will also distribute to each redeeming common unit holder an amount in cash equal to a prorated quarterly distribution on common units up to the closing date, without interest and less any required withholding for taxes.

 

Following the redemption, each redeeming common unit holder will contribute to Trizec OP all of its LLC Interests in exchange for Trizec OP units. A more complete description of the redemption and exchange is set forth under the heading “– Treatment of Common Units” on page 60.

 

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Partnership Merger

 

One day after the completion of the admission, redemption and exchange, Partnership Merger Sub will merge with and into our operating partnership, with our operating partnership continuing as the surviving partnership. The partnership merger will become effective at such time as the partnership articles of merger have been accepted for record by the SDAT in accordance with Maryland law, or such later time, up to 30 days after the partnership articles of merger are accepted for record by the SDAT, as we and GECC may agree and designate in the partnership articles of merger. Non-redeeming common unit holders will have their common units converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive the common unit merger consideration. Upon consummation of the partnership merger, we will continue to be the general partner of the surviving partnership and our wholly owned subsidiary will be the sole limited partner of the surviving partnership.

 

Asset Distribution and Asset Sale

 

In the asset distribution, the surviving partnership will distribute its interests and rights in 11 or, under certain circumstances, 12 properties, several undeveloped land parcels and any LLC Interests retained by the surviving partnership after the redemption and exchange, to us in partial redemption of our common units. Thereafter, pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement between Trizec OP and GECC, we will transfer the distributed assets to Trizec OP for approximately $1.6 billion in cash, less the aggregate amount paid in Trizec OP units to common unit holders in the exchange and the debt associated with the Trizec assets in the asset sale. The asset sale will not affect the cash consideration to be received by our common stockholders in the merger. Upon the consummation of the exchange and the asset sale, Trizec will be the direct or indirect owner of 13 properties and several undeveloped land parcels currently owned by our operating partnership.

 

The Merger

 

Pursuant to the merger agreement, we will merge with and into REIT Merger Sub and REIT Merger Sub will be the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of GECC. The merger will become effective at such time as the articles of merger have been accepted for record by the SDAT in accordance with Maryland law, or up to 30 days after the articles of merger are accepted for record by the SDAT as we and GECC may agree and designate in the articles of merger in accordance with Maryland law.

 

Closing

 

Consummation of the redemption, exchange, asset sale or partnership merger are not conditions to the merger and in the event any or all fail to occur, the parties shall nevertheless be obligated to consummate the merger. The closing of the merger and related transactions will occur over the course of two days. The admission, redemption and exchange will occur on the first day of closing. The partnership merger, asset distribution, asset sale and merger will occur on the second day of closing.

 

Merger Consideration

 

The merger agreement provides that each share of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will be converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive the common stock merger consideration, which is an amount in cash equal to $45.25 for each share of common stock, plus an amount equal to the prorated portion of the normal quarterly dividend payable on our common stock up to the closing date without interest and less any required withholding for taxes. The amount equal to the prorated portion of the normal quarterly dividend will be determined by multiplying $0.505 by the quotient obtained when dividing (a) the number of days between the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter for which dividends were declared and paid and the closing date of the merger, by (b) the total number of days in the fiscal quarter during which the closing occurs. Upon closing, each share of our common stock will be canceled and will cease to exist, and our common stockholders will cease to have any rights with respect to their shares of our common stock other than the right to receive the common stock merger consideration. In accordance with the terms of the original compensation awards, all unvested stock options will vest, and holders of stock options will receive the option merger consideration. Also in accordance with the terms of the original compensation awards, all restricted shares, including those to be granted pursuant to the 2005–2009 Outperformance Program, will vest in full immediately prior to the effective time of the

 

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merger and, therefore, will be considered for all purposes of the merger agreement as outstanding shares of common stock, entitling the holders of such shares to receive the common stock merger consideration.

 

Dividends

 

In addition to an amount equal to the prorated portion of the normal quarterly dividend to be received as part of the common stock merger consideration, the merger agreement authorizes us to continue to declare and pay regular quarterly dividends and distributions in accordance with past practice, respectively, up to the closing of the mergers.

 

Treatment of Common Units

 

In connection with the partnership merger, each common unit holder will have the right to receive the common unit merger consideration, or, if such common unit holder is an “accredited investor” and so elects, subject to certain conditions, the right to have its common units redeemed in exchange for LLC Interests. Each redeeming common unit holder will also receive an amount in cash equal to a prorated portion of the normal quarterly distribution payable on common units up to the closing date, without interest and less any required withholding for taxes, paid by our operating partnership. Immediately following the redemption, each redeeming common unit holder will contribute all of its LLC Interests to Trizec OP in exchange for Trizec OP units.  The number of Trizec OP units received by a redeeming common unit holder will be an amount equal to (i) the number of common units held by such redeeming common unit holder immediately prior to the redemption, multiplied by (ii) the quotient determined by dividing (x) $45.25 by (y) $21.89, which was the closing price of Trizec REIT common stock on the day preceding the execution of the merger agreement.  If the average closing price of Trizec REIT’s common stock for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the closing date of the merger is greater than $23.50 or less than $18.89, then the number of Trizec OP units received will be calculated by using such 10-day average closing price rather than $21.89. Each Trizec OP unit issued to redeeming common unit holders in the exchange will have economic attributes that are substantially similar to a share of Trizec REIT common stock, and will be redeemable at the option of the holder at any time after one year for cash equal to the then-current market price of Trizec REIT common stock or, at the option of Trizec OP, one share of Trizec REIT common stock.

 

At the effective time of the partnership merger, common units that were not redeemed will be converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive the common unit merger consideration.

 

The completion of the redemption and exchange is not a condition of the merger. If the redemption and exchange is not consummated, GECC will pay redeeming common unit holders the common unit merger consideration. In addition, if the failure of the redemption and exchange is due to a breach by Trizec, Trizec OP will pay redeeming common unit holders:  (i) the amount of taxable income or gain recognized by the redeeming common unit holder by virtue of the occurrence of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, multiplied by the maximum combined federal and applicable state and local income tax rates for the related taxable year; and (ii) a “gross-up” amount equal to the taxes (calculated at the rates described above) associated with the payment of the amount described in clause (i) and this clause (ii). As described above under the heading “Approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger – Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger – Election Option” on page 51, some of our officers and directors and related entities own common units and are eligible to participate in this exchange.

 

Common unit holders who participate in the redemption and the exchange may be able to utilize that structure to defer potential taxable gain they might otherwise recognize in an all-cash transaction, such as the partnership merger. Common unit holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the specific tax consequences of this election.

 

In connection with the exchange, Trizec OP has agreed to provide certain tax protections to redeeming common unit holders, including:  (i) Trizec OP will indemnify each redeeming common unit holder for certain adverse tax consequences in the event Trizec OP, directly or indirectly, sells, exchanges or otherwise disposes of the LLC Interests or the properties held by such limited liability companies in a taxable transaction during the 10-year period following the exchange; and (ii) Trizec OP will offer each redeeming common unit holder the opportunity to guarantee certain indebtedness of Trizec OP during the 20-year period following the exchange in order to minimize certain adverse tax consequences to exchanging common unit holders.

 

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In addition, subject to certain conditions, Trizec OP has agreed that, at any time after the seventh anniversary of the exchange, each redeeming common unit holder has the right to request that Trizec OP redeem all, but not less than all, of the redeeming common unit holder’s Trizec OP units in exchange for one or more properties owned by Trizec OP or identified by the redeeming common unit holder and acquired by Trizec OP from one or more third-party sellers. Furthermore, Trizec OP has agreed to provide each redeeming common unit holder certain registration rights with respect to its Trizec OP units as are customary in similarly situated exchanges.

 

The descriptions contained in this proxy statement of the anticipated rights and obligations of redeeming common unit holders do not constitute an offer to receive LLC Interests or Trizec OP units.

 

Payment Procedures

 

GECC will cause to be deposited with the paying agent, The Bank of New York, cash in the amount of the aggregate merger consideration payable to our common stockholders of record and stock options. We will deposit with the paying agent cash in the amount of the prorated portion of the normal quarterly dividend to be paid to our common stockholders. Our operating partnership will deposit with the paying agent cash in the amount of the aggregate partnership merger consideration payable to non-redeeming common unit holders. A letter of transmittal will be sent to each of our former common stockholders and each non-redeeming common unit holders as soon as practicable following the closing of the merger that will include detailed instructions on how they may exchange their shares of common stock or common units for the cash consideration they will receive in the merger or partnership merger. The paying agent will pay our former common stockholders and the non-redeeming common unit holders, that have submitted their duly completed letters of transmittal and share certificates, the merger consideration or the partnership merger consideration that they are entitled to receive, net of any applicable withholding tax. No interest will be paid on any cash paid pursuant to the merger or partnership merger.

 

Representations and Warranties

 

Our Company and Our Operating Partnership

 

We and our operating partnership have made a number of customary representations and warranties to GECC and REIT Merger Sub that expire upon the completion of the merger relating to, among other things:

 

                                          existence, good standing and authority;

 

                                          subsidiaries;

 

                                          capital structure, including ownership of common units;

 

                                          authority to enter into the merger agreement and to consummate the merger;

 

                                          no conflicts, required filings and consents;

 

                                          neither the merger agreement nor the consummation of the merger will breach organizational documents or material agreements;

 

                                          neither the merger agreement nor the consummation of the merger requires any governmental consents;

 

                                          permits;

 

                                          compliance with laws;

 

                                          compliance with SEC reporting requirements;

 

                                          financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”);

 

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                                          no material undisclosed liabilities;

 

                                          the absence of certain changes since September 30, 2005;

 

                                          the absence of material legal proceedings;

 

                                          benefits, labor and employee matters;

 

                                          accuracy and compliance of this proxy statement;

 

                                          real property and leases;

 

                                          pending transactions regarding personal property;

 

                                          property title and title insurance;

 

                                          compliance with requirements of governmental authorities;

 

                                          condemnation or rezoning proceedings;

 

                                          third-party purchase options;

 

                                          site work and reimbursements due from third parties;

 

                                          property management agreements;

 

                                          participation agreements;

 

                                          required material repairs or alterations;

 

                                          renovations or restorations in progress;

 

                                          intellectual property;

 

                                          tax matters, including qualification as a REIT and tax protection agreements;

 

                                          environmental matters;

 

                                          material contracts, debt instruments and hedging transactions;

 

                                          brokers’, finders’ or investment bankers’ fees;

 

                                          receipt of opinions of financial advisors;

 

                                          insurance;

 

                                          disclosure of all related party transactions;

 

                                          exemption from anti-takeover statutes;

 

                                          inapplicability of the Investment Company Act of 1940; and

 

                                          compliance with the Patriot Act.

 

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GECC and REIT Merger Sub

 

GECC and REIT Merger Sub have made a number of representations and warranties to us that expire upon the completion of the merger regarding various matters pertinent to the merger. The topics covered by these representations and warranties include the following:

 

                                          due organization and good standing;

 

                                          authority to enter into the merger agreement and to consummate the merger;

 

                                          required consents and approvals and no violations;

 

                                          neither the merger agreement nor the consummation of the merger will breach organizational documents or material agreements;

 

                                          neither the merger agreement nor the consummation of the merger requires any governmental consents;

 

                                          no litigation;

 

                                          brokers’, finders’ or investment banker’ fees;

 

                                          availability of funds;

 

                                          ownership of REIT Merger Sub and no prior activities; and

 

                                          accuracy of information supplied for this proxy statement.

 

Trizec REIT and Trizec OP

 

Trizec has made a number of representations and warranties to us that expire upon the completion of the merger regarding various matters pertinent to the merger. The topics covered by these representations and warranties include the following:

 

                                          due organization and good standing;

 

                                          capital structure;

 

                                          authority to enter into the merger agreement, certain related agreements and to consummate the merger and related transactions;

 

                                          required consents and approvals and no violations;

 

                                          neither the merger agreement nor the consummation of the merger will breach organizational documents or material agreements;

 

                                          neither the merger agreement nor the consummation of the merger requires any governmental consents;

 

                                          compliance with SEC reporting requirements;

 

                                          financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP;

 

                                          no material undisclosed liabilities;

 

                                          the absence of certain changes since September 30, 2005;

 

                                          the absence of material legal proceedings against Trizec;

 

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                                          REIT and nonpublicly traded partnership status; and

 

                                          brokers’, finders’ or investment banker’ fees.

 

Conduct of Business Pending the Merger

 

Until the completion of the merger, we have agreed that, unless permitted by obtaining GECC’s prior written consent or except as contemplated by the merger agreement, we will, and will cause our subsidiaries to, among other things:

 

                                          conduct our business only in the ordinary course of business and in a manner that is consistent with past practice;

 

                                          use commercially reasonable efforts to keep available the services of our officers and key employees and to preserve our relationships with tenants, customers, suppliers and others with whom we do business;

 

                                          use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain our assets and properties in their current condition between signing and closing; and

 

                                          comply in all material respects with applicable laws including timely filing all SEC reports and furnishing appropriate voluntary disclosure.

 

In addition, pending the merger, we have agreed that, without GECC’s prior written consent or except as contemplated by the merger agreement, we will not, and will cause our subsidiaries not to, among other things:

 

                                          amend our charter or bylaws or our operating partnership’s certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement or similar organizational or governance documents of any subsidiary;

 

                                          issue, sell, repurchase or redeem any shares of our capital stock or equity equivalents, other than in connection with the exercise of options, the exchange of common units pursuant to the partnership agreement or the vesting of restricted shares;

 

                                          split, combine or re-classify any of our or our subsidiaries’ shares or partnership interests;

 

                                          declare, set aside or pay any dividends or distributions on any of our or our subsidiaries’ equity securities, other than regular quarterly dividends on shares of our common stock and corresponding regular quarterly distributions payable to common unit holders (not in excess of $0.505 per share of common stock), dividends or distributions paid by any of our subsidiaries to us directly or indirectly and dividends or distributions required for us to maintain our status as a REIT or avoid paying income or excise tax otherwise payable;

 

                                          grant any lien on or with respect to any of our assets;

 

                                          except pursuant to agreed-upon criteria and for obligations in effect on December 21, 2005, purchase, acquire, sell, lease, encumber, transfer or dispose of any assets;

 

                                          subject to certain exceptions, incur debt in excess of normal working capital borrowings;

 

                                          pay, prepay or satisfy any debt where a prepayment penalty or similar charge will apply;

 

                                          except as may be required by any benefit plan in effect on December 21, 2005, increase the compensation or benefits payable, or grant any severance rights, to our directors, officers or employees;

 

                                          change, in any material respect, any of our accounting principles or practices except as required by GAAP or changes in law;

 

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                                          except as contemplated by the merger agreement, amend or waive any performance or vesting criteria or accelerate vesting, exercisability or funding under any benefit plan;

 

                                          except pursuant to agreed-upon criteria and for obligations in effect on December 21, 2005, enter into, renew, terminate or materially modify any lease or material contract;

 

                                          settle or compromise any material litigation;

 

                                          subject to certain exceptions, make any tax election or settle or compromise any material tax liability;

 

                                          make capital expenditures or undertake development activities, in each case other than in accordance with agreed-upon budgets; or

 

                                          agree to take any of the foregoing actions.

 

The covenants in the merger agreement relating to the conduct of our business are very detailed and the above description is only a summary. You are urged to read carefully and in its entirety the section of the merger agreement entitled “Conduct of Business Pending the Closing” in Annex A to this proxy statement.

 

Other Covenants

 

We have agreed to certain other covenants regarding general matters, including but not limited to:

 

                                          preparing and filing with the SEC this proxy statement and holding a stockholders’ meeting to vote on the merger;

 

                                          subject to certain limitations, our board of directors recommending that our common stockholders approve the merger and using reasonable efforts to obtain the necessary stockholder approval;

 

                                          providing GECC and its representatives and designees access to our and our subsidiaries’ properties, books, records, contracts and other information; and

 

                                          taking certain steps to consummate and make effective the redemption, exchange and asset sale.

 

The parties have also agreed to certain other covenants regarding general matters, including but not limited to:

 

                                          cooperating in the preparation, filing and distribution of this proxy statement and any other filing required under the Exchange Act or any other federal, state or foreign law; and

 

                                          GECC and Trizec have agreed to keep all information regarding our company, obtained during the preparation of this proxy statement or preparation for the asset sale, confidential pursuant to two separate confidentiality agreements.

 

Conditions to the Merger

 

Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations to Effect the Merger

 

The obligations of our company and our operating partnership and the obligations of GECC, REIT Merger Sub and Partnership Merger Sub to complete the merger are subject to the fulfillment or, where permissible, waiver of the following conditions:

 

                                          the approval of the merger agreement and the merger by the requisite affirmative vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of our common stock in accordance with Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter; and

 

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                                          all material governmental approvals and consents required to consummate the merger have been obtained.

 

Conditions to the Obligations of GECC to Effect the Merger

 

The obligations of GECC and REIT Merger Sub to complete the merger are subject to the satisfaction or, where permissible, waiver of the following additional conditions:

 

                                          each of the representations and warranties made by us contained in the merger agreement shall be true and correct, without giving effect to any “materiality” or “material adverse effect” qualification contained in any representation or warranty, at and as of December 21, 2005 and at and as of the closing of the merger, as though made on and as of the closing of the merger, except to the extent that these representations and warranties are expressly limited by their terms to a particular date, in which case these representations and warranties will be true and correct at and as of that date, and except where the failure of these representations and warranties to be true and correct would not reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on our company;

 

                                          we shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all obligations, agreements and covenants to be performed or complied with by us under the merger agreement at or prior to the closing of the merger;

 

                                          GECC will have received a certificate dated as of the closing of the merger from our chief executive officer certifying to each of the above closing conditions for us and our operating partnership;

 

                                          GECC will have received an opinion, dated as of the closing date of the merger, from Latham, our tax counsel, to the effect that we have been organized and have operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for all taxable periods commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1996 through and including the closing date of the merger. The opinion of Latham will be based on various assumptions and representations as to factual matters, including representations made by us in a factual certificate provided by one of our officers, and upon factual assumptions and representations set forth in this proxy statement and other documents incorporated by reference in this proxy statement;

 

                                          there shall have been no event, change or occurrence, individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our company; and

 

                                          there shall have been no action instituted or threatened by or before any governmental authority that would reasonably be expected to impose limitations on GECC’s ability to effectively exercise full rights of ownership over the surviving entity or result in a governmental investigation or material fines being imposed by the government.

 

Conditions to Our Obligations to Effect the Merger

 

Our obligations to complete the merger are subject to the satisfaction or, where permissible, waiver of the following additional conditions:

 

                                          each of the representations and warranties made by GECC and REIT Merger Sub contained in the merger agreement shall be true and correct, in all material respects, at and as of December 21, 2005 and at and as of the closing of the merger, as though made at and as of the closing of the merger, except to the extent that these representations and warranties are expressly limited by their terms to a particular date, in which case these representations and warranties will be true and correct at and as of that date;

 

                                          GECC and REIT Merger Sub shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all obligations, agreements and covenants to be performed or complied with by them under the merger agreement at or prior to the closing of the merger; and

 

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                                          we will have received a certificate dated as of the closing of the merger from an officer of GECC certifying to each of the above closing conditions.

 

Conditions to the Obligations of Trizec OP

 

The obligations of Trizec OP to consummate the exchange are conditioned upon there not having been, since December 21, 2005, any event, change or occurrence, individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our company.

 

Definition of Material Adverse Effect

 

Under the merger agreement, a “material adverse effect” means any event, circumstance, change or effect that is materially adverse to the business, assets, properties, financial condition or results of operations of our company and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Any effects on our business, however, resulting from the following will not be considered a material adverse effect:

 

                                          any decrease in the market price of our common stock;

 

                                          any events, circumstances, changes or effects that affect the office industry generally that do not disproportionately affect our company and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the office industry in the United States;

 

                                          any changes in the United States or global economy or capital, financial or securities markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates, that do not disproportionately affect our company and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the office industry in the United States;

 

                                          any changes in the legal or regulatory conditions in the geographic regions in which our company operates that do not disproportionately affect our company and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the office industry in the geographic regions in which we operate;

 

                                          the commencement or escalation of a war or material armed hostilities or the occurrence of acts of terrorism or sabotage that do not disproportionately affect our company and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the office industry in the United States;

 

                                          any events, circumstances, changes or effects arising from the consummation or anticipation of the merger or the announcement of the execution of the merger agreement;

 

                                          any events, circumstances, changes or effects arising from the compliance with the terms of, or the taking of any action required by, the merger agreement; or

 

                                          changes of law or GAAP affecting the office industry that do not disproportionately affect our company and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the office industry in the United States.

 

No Solicitation

 

Under the merger agreement, until its termination, we will not, nor will we authorize or cause our subsidiaries, or any of our or their officers, directors, employees, investment bankers, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants, agents or other representatives to, solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage or take any other action to facilitate any inquiries with respect to, make any proposal for, or participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, any “acquisition proposal.”  The merger agreement defines “acquisition proposal” as any inquiry, offer or proposal regarding any:

 

                                          merger, consolidation or similar business combination involving us or any of our significant subsidiaries, including our operating partnership;

 

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                                          sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, of 30% or more of our consolidated assets;

 

                                          issue, sale or other disposition of securities representing 30% or more of the votes associated with our outstanding securities; or

 

                                          tender offer or exchange offer in which a person, entity, or group will acquire beneficial ownership of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock.

 

The term “acquisition proposal” does not include the merger, the partnership merger or the asset sale pursuant to the merger agreement.

 

We have agreed to cease all existing activities, discussions or negotiations with respect to any acquisition proposal as of December 21, 2005. If we receive an unsolicited bona fide acquisition proposal, we may furnish information to, and participate in discussions and negotiations with, the party making the proposal if our board of directors determines in good faith that (i) failure to do so would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with our directors’ duties to us or our common stockholders, (ii) prior to taking such action, we enter into a confidentiality agreement with the party making the acquisition proposal and (iii) the acquisition proposal is reasonably likely to lead to a superior proposal. A “superior proposal” is defined in the merger agreement as an acquisition proposal that our board of directors has determined in good faith is more favorable to our common stockholders than the merger, but references to “30%” in the definition of an acquisition proposal are “50%” for purposes of the definition of a superior proposal.

 

We have agreed that we will notify GECC within two business days after receipt of any acquisition proposal, including notice of its material terms and conditions, and we will continue to keep GECC informed of the status and details of any such acquisition proposal.

 

Under the merger agreement, prior to stockholder approval of the merger, our board of directors may not, unless a superior proposal has been made, our board determines that failure to take these actions would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with our board’s duties to us or our common stockholders and we notify GECC of our decision to withdraw or modify our board’s approval or recommendation of the merger agreement and the merger:

 

                                          withdraw, qualify or modify, in a manner material and adverse to GECC or REIT Merger Sub, its approval of the merger agreement, or its recommendation that our common stockholders approve the merger agreement;

 

                                          recommend a third-party acquisition proposal to our common stockholders; or

 

                                          cause us to enter into any agreement contemplating a third-party acquisition proposal.

 

If our board of directors makes the determination described in the preceding paragraph regarding a superior proposal, we may not withdraw or modify our board’s approval and recommendation of the merger agreement and the merger or enter into a definitive agreement in connection with the superior proposal until three business days after we have provided GECC with written notice that we intend to terminate the merger agreement containing the material terms and conditions of the superior proposal. During such three-day period, we will permit GECC to propose adjustments to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement with a view to enabling our board of directors to proceed with its recommendation to our common stockholders to approve the merger pursuant to such modified terms.

 

Termination of the Merger Agreement

 

Right to Terminate

 

The merger agreement may be terminated and the merger abandoned at any time prior to the effective time, whether before or after approval of the merger by our common stockholders:

 

                                          by mutual written consent of GECC and us;

 

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                                          by either GECC or us if:

 

                  any governmental entity shall have issued a governmental order permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting either the merger or the partnership merger and such order has become final and unappealable;

 

                  the merger has not been consummated by June 30, 2006, unless the failure to consummate the merger prior to such date is a result of any action or inaction of the party seeking to terminate the merger agreement pursuant to this provision; or

 

                  our common stockholders fail to approve the merger agreement and the merger with the requisite affirmative vote in accordance with Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter;

 

                                          by GECC if:

 

                  our board of directors fails to recommend that our common stockholders approve the merger agreement;

 

                  our board of directors recommends that our common stockholders accept a third-party acquisition proposal;

 

                  we have entered into a third-party acquisition proposal; or

 

                  we have materially breached any of our representations, warranties or covenants contained in the merger agreement, which breach leads to the failure of a condition to the merger contained in the merger agreement and is incapable of being cured by us prior to June 30, 2006;

 

                                          by us if:

 

                  GECC has materially breached any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in the merger agreement, which breach leads to the failure of a condition to the merger contained in the merger agreement and is incapable of being cured by GECC prior to June 30, 2006; or

 

                  we enter into, or in order for us to enter into, a definitive agreement to effect a superior proposal with a third party, provided that we have given GECC at least three business days’ prior written notice and we pay GECC the termination fee described below under the heading “– Termination Fee and Expenses.”

 

Effect of Termination

 

Except for provisions in the merger agreement regarding confidentiality of nonpublic information, public announcements, payment of fees and expenses and specified miscellaneous provisions, if the merger agreement is terminated as described above, the merger agreement will become null and void and have no effect. In addition, if the merger agreement is so terminated, there will be no liability on the part of GECC or us (other than the obligations relating to payment of fees and expenses under specified conditions, as described below under the heading “– Termination Fee and Expenses”), except that such termination will not relieve any party from any liability resulting from or arising out of any breach of any agreement or covenant contained in the merger agreement. The confidentiality agreement, dated October 3, 2005, between us and GECC will continue in effect notwithstanding any termination of the merger agreement. If the merger agreement is terminated as described above, all filings, applications and other submissions made pursuant to the merger agreement shall be withdrawn from the agency or other person to which they were made.

 

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Termination Fee and Expenses

 

Termination Fee

 

We will pay GECC a termination fee equal to $100.0 million in any of the following circumstances:

 

                                          if the merger agreement is terminated because we have entered into an agreement to effect a third-party acquisition proposal; or

 

                                          if the merger agreement is terminated because:

 

                  (i) our common stockholders do not approve the transaction, (ii) our board of directors withdraws or adversely changes its recommendation that our common stockholders approve the merger, or (iii) the merger has not been consummated by June 30, 2006; and

 

                  a third-party acquisition proposal has been made and not withdrawn; and,

 

                  either (i) we enter into an agreement with respect to a third-party acquisition proposal within nine months of termination; or (ii) we consummate an alternative transaction within 12 months of termination.

 

Expenses

 

All fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the merger agreement and related transactions will be paid by the party incurring such expenses. If either party terminates the merger agreement because of the other party’s material breach of a representation, warranty or covenant, however, the breaching party must reimburse the other for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the merger and related transactions up to an aggregate maximum amount of $10.0 million. We have also agreed to pay GECC’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the merger and related transactions up to an aggregate maximum amount of $10.0 million if the merger agreement is terminated by GECC because the requisite stockholder approval is not obtained.

 

In any case in which we are required to pay a termination fee, as described above, the amount of any expenses that we pay to GECC will be credited against the amount of the termination fee so that the total amount of the termination fee and expense reimbursement will not exceed $100.0 million.

 

Such payment of expenses is not an exclusive remedy, but is in addition to any other rights or remedies available to the parties and will not constitute liquidated damages or in any other respect limit the damages available in case of any breach of the merger agreement.

 

Amendment of the Merger Agreement

 

The parties may amend the merger agreement but, after our common stockholders have approved the merger agreement, no such amendment will be made which by law requires further approval by our common stockholders without first obtaining such stockholder approval. The merger agreement may only be amended or any provision waived by an instrument in writing signed by GECC and us.

 

Stockholder Meeting

 

We have agreed to call a meeting of our common stockholders as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date that this proxy statement is cleared by the SEC. Our board of directors has unanimously agreed to recommend the approval of the merger agreement and the merger to our common stockholders (subject to the board’s right to change its recommendation under specified circumstances, as discussed above under the heading “– No Solicitation”), and we have agreed to use our reasonable efforts to obtain the required stockholder approval of the merger agreement and the merger, subject at all times to our and our directors’ right and duty to act in a manner consistent with fiduciary duties.

 

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Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance

 

The merger agreement provides that GECC, the surviving entity and the surviving partnership will indemnify and hold harmless each person who is, has been or becomes before the completion of the merger an officer or director of our company or any of its subsidiaries, to the fullest extent permitted by law. In addition, for six years after the effective time of the merger, the surviving entity will maintain in effect all rights to indemnification existing in favor of, and all limitations of personal liability of, the present and former directors and officers of our company and our subsidiaries provided for in our or our subsidiaries’ organizational and corporate governance documents in effect on December 21, 2005.

 

The merger agreement further provides for the maintenance of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance with respect to claims arising from facts or events that occurred on or before the effective time of the mergers, including with respect to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. The surviving entity, however, will not be required to expend more than 200% of annual premiums currently paid by our company for such policies.

 

Employment Benefit Arrangements

 

On and after the closing of the merger, GECC has agreed to, or to cause the surviving entity to, continue all of our benefit plans (other than equity plans) or to provide comparable benefits in the aggregate for a period of not less than eighteen months after the closing date. In addition, employees of the surviving entity will receive credit for service to us for purposes of vacation, severance and participation in benefit plans. Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, we, or the surviving entity, will also make certain payments to our officers on or before the effective time of the merger. For a more complete discussion of these agreements,  please see “Approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger – Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger” on page 47.

 

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PROPOSAL 2:  POSTPONEMENTS OR ADJOURNMENTS OF THE SPECIAL MEETING

 

The Adjournment or Postponement Proposal

 

If the number of shares of our common stock present or represented and voting in favor of Proposal 1, to approve the merger agreement and the merger, is insufficient to adopt that proposal, we intend to move to adjourn or postpone the special meeting in order to enable our board of directors to solicit additional proxies in respect of such proposal. In that event, we will ask our stockholders to vote only upon Proposal 2, to adjourn or postpone the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies, and not Proposal 1.

 

In this proposal, we are asking you to authorize the holder of any proxy solicited by our board of directors to vote in favor of adjourning or postponing the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies. If the stockholders approve Proposal 2, we could adjourn or postpone the special meeting and any adjourned or postponed session of the special meeting and use the additional time to solicit additional proxies, including the solicitation of proxies from stockholders that have previously returned properly executed proxies or authorized a proxy telephonically or by using the internet. Among other things, approval of Proposal 2 could mean that, even if we had received proxies representing a sufficient number of votes against Proposal 1 to defeat that proposal, we could adjourn or postpone the special meeting without a vote on Proposal 1 and seek to convince the holders of those shares to change their votes to votes in favor of the merger agreement and the merger. In addition, we may seek to adjourn or postpone the special meeting if a quorum is not present at the special meeting.

 

Vote Required and Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

 

Approval of Proposal 2, if necessary, requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal. No proxy that is specifically marked “AGAINST” Proposal 1 will be voted in favor of Proposal 2, unless it is specifically marked “FOR” Proposal 2. Our board of directors believes that if the number of shares of our common stock present or represented at the special meeting and voting in favor Proposal 1 is insufficient to approve that proposal, it is in the best interests of our company and our common stockholders to enable our board of directors to continue to seek to obtain a sufficient number of additional votes in favor of approval of the merger agreement and the merger to bring about Proposal 1’s approval.

 

Our board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” Proposal 2, to adjourn or postpone the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies.

 

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SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock as of February 10, 2006, by:  (a) each director; (b) our chief executive officer and each of our other four most highly compensated executive officers (named executive officers); (c) all executive officers and directors as a group; and (d) all other common stockholders known by us to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of the shares of our common stock. The number of shares of common stock “beneficially owned” by each common stockholder is determined under rules of the SEC regarding the beneficial ownership of securities. Under these rules, beneficial ownership of shares of common stock includes (i) any shares as to which the person or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power, and (ii) any shares as to which the person or entity has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days, including certain securities that are redeemable or exercisable for shares (which, therefore, includes common units).

 

The information in the table below is based in part on Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G reports filed with the SEC. If you wish, you may obtain these reports from the SEC. Except as otherwise indicated, each individual named has a business address of 11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Fourth Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90025, and has sole investment and voting power with respect to the securities shown.

 

Name and Address

 

Number of Shares of
Common Stock
(1)

 

Percentage of Common Stock
Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cohen & Steers, Inc.
757 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017

 

8,454,828(2)

 

12.59%(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
1585 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

 

6,742,259(3)

 

10.04%(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clarion CRA Securities, LP
259 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite 205
Radnor, PA 19087

 

4,493,409(4)

 

6.69%(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit Suisse
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010

 

4,423,725(5)

 

6.59%(5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard S. Ziman

 

2,324,131(6)

 

3.46%(6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victor J. Coleman

 

1,012,831(7)