-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, H1rkQtWU4eGizcr69fgyZiZfCrePYAmEgZ44NBU95WLjypKv3nTrCL5fP3jCfgtK EOBXRfXMIh4r97K9iZBAMQ== 0001140361-09-014628.txt : 20090612 0001140361-09-014628.hdr.sgml : 20090612 20090612172711 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001140361-09-014628 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20090612 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20090612 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20090612 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001063344 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 251811499 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-14765 FILM NUMBER: 09890549 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 44 HERSHA DRIVE CITY: HARRISBURG STATE: PA ZIP: 17102 BUSINESS PHONE: 7172364400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 44 HERSHA DRIVE CITY: HARRISBURG STATE: PA ZIP: 17102 8-K 1 form8k.htm HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST 8K 6-12-2009 form8k.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K



CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 12, 2009


HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Maryland
001-14765
251811499
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)


510 Walnut Street, 9th Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
(Address and zip code of
principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (215) 238-1046

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

£
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
£
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
£
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
£
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 


 
 

 

Item 1.01
Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement

On June 12, 2009, Hersha Hospitality Trust (the “Company”) and Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership entered into a sales agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as sales agent.  In accordance with the Sales Agreement, the Company may offer and sell up to 15,000,000 Class A common shares of beneficial interest (the “Placement Shares”).  Sales of the Placement Shares, if any, may be made by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (including, without limitation, sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange, or any other existing trading market for the Company’s Class A common shares, or to or through a market maker) and in privately negotiated transactions.  Under the Sales Agreement, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practice to sell the Placement Shares as directed by the Company.  Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. will be entitled to compensation equal to 2.75% of the gross sales price per share for any Placement Shares sold under the Sales Agreement.

The Sales Agreement is attached as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits

 
(d)
Exhibits

1.1—Sales Agreement, dated June 12, 2009, by and among Hersha Hospitality Trust, Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

8.1—Opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP with respect to tax matters.

 
2

 

SIGNATURE

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

 
HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST
 
         
         
         
Date:  June 12, 2009
 
By:
        /s/Ashish R. Parikh
 
    Ashish R. Parikh  
    Chief Financial Officer  

 
3

 

Exhibit Index


Exhibit No.
 
Description
     
 
Sales Agreement, dated June 12, 2009, by and between Hersha Hospitality Trust, Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
     
 
Opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP with respect to tax matters.
 
 
4

EX-1.1 2 ex1_1.htm EXHIBIT 1.1 ex1_1.htm

EXHIBIT 1.1


HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST
15,000,000 CLASS A COMMON SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

CONTROLLED EQUITY OFFERINGSM

SALES AGREEMENT

June 12, 2009

CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.
110 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Each of Hersha Hospitality Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership, a Virginia limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”),  confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“CF&Co”), as follows:

1.           Issuance and Sale of Shares.  The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through CF&Co, acting as agent and/or principal, up to 15,000,000 of the Company’s Class A common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Shares” or “Shares”).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitation set forth in this Section 1 on the number of Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and CF&Co shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance.  The issuance and sale of Shares through CF&Co will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed by the Company and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement to issue Shares.

The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-138038), including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Shares, to be issued from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”). Such registration statement has become effective under the Securities Act.  The Company may file one or more additional registration statements from time to time that will contain a base prospectus with respect to the Shares. The Company shall prepare one or more prospectus supplements specifically relating to the Shares (collectively, the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the base prospectus included as part of each such registration statement containing a base prospectus with respect to the Shares.  The Company shall  furnish to CF&Co, for use by CF&Co, copies of the prospectus included as part of each such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Shares.  Except where the context otherwise requires, each such registration statement, as amended when it became effective, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or deemed to be part of each such registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 430B or 462(b) of the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” Each base prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, together with any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act (“Rule 433”), if any, relating to the offering of the Shares, which (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company or (ii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i), in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g), is herein called the “Prospectus.”  Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.  For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”).

 
- 1 -

 

2.           Placements.  Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell Shares hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify CF&Co by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires the Shares to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of Shares to be issued (the “Placement Shares”), the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Shares that may be sold in any one Trading Day (as defined in Section 3) and any minimum price below which sales may not be made (a “Placement Notice”), a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters necessary is attached hereto as Schedule 1.  The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule 2 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from CF&Co set forth on Schedule 2, as such Schedule 2 may be amended from time to time. The Placement Notice shall be effective upon receipt by CF&Co unless and until (i) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, CF&Co declines to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, (ii) the entire amount of the Placement Shares have been sold, (iii) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice, (iv) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, or (iv) the Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 11.   The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to CF&Co in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule 3.  It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor CF&Co will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to CF&Co and CF&Co does not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein.  In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control.

3.           Sale of Placement Shares by CF&Co.  Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon the Company’s issuance of a Placement Notice, and unless the sale of the Placement Shares described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, CF&Co, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Placement Shares up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice.  CF&Co will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than the opening of the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Shares hereunder setting forth the number of Placement Shares sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company to CF&Co pursuant to Section 2 with respect to such sales, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by CF&Co (as set forth in Section 5(a)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales.  After consultation to the Company and subject to the terms of the Placement Notice, CF&Co may sell Placement Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”), on any other existing trading market for the Shares or to or through a market maker.  After consultation with the Company and subject to the terms of the Placement Notice, CF&Co may also sell Placement Shares in privately negotiated transactions.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that CF&Co will be successful in selling Placement Shares, and (ii) CF&Co will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Placement Shares for any reason other than a failure by CF&Co to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Placement Shares as required under this Section 3.  For the purposes hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest are purchased and sold on the principal market on which the common shares of beneficial interest are listed or quoted.

 
- 2 -

 

4.           Suspension of Sales.  The Company or CF&Co may, upon notice (the “Suspension Notice”) to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other Party set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable facsimile transmission or email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other Party set forth on Schedule 2), suspend any sale of Placement Shares; provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair either party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice.  Each of the Parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against the other unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Schedule 2 hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.

5.           Settlement.

(a)         Settlement of Placement Shares.  Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice, settlement for sales of Placement Shares will occur on the third (3rd) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”).  The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Shares sold (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price received by CF&Co at which such Placement Shares were sold, after deduction for (i) CF&Co’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, (ii) any other amounts due and payable by the Company to CF&Co hereunder pursuant to Section 7(h) (Expenses) hereof, and (iii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.

(b)         Delivery of Placement Shares.  On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Placement Shares being sold by crediting CF&Co’s or its designee’s account (provided CF&Co shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradeable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form.  On each Settlement Date, CF&Co will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date.  The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver Placement Shares on a Settlement Date, the Company agrees that in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 9(a) (Indemnification and Contribution) hereto, it will (i) hold CF&Co harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company and (ii) pay to CF&Co any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

 
- 3 -

 

6.           Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership.  The Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally represent and warrant to, and agree with, CF&Co that as of the date of this Agreement and as of each Representation Date (as defined in Section 7(n) below) on which a certificate is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(n) of this Agreement and as of each Applicable Time, as the case may be:

(a)         The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.  The Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission and has been declared effective under the Securities Act.  The Company has prepared or will prepare the Prospectus Supplement that names CF&Co as an underwriter, acting as principal and/or agent, in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.”    The Company has not received, and has no knowledge of, any order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, or threatening or instituting proceedings for that purpose.  Any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been so described or filed.  The Prospectus Supplement has been so prepared and will be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act within the time period prescribed therein.   Copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any such amendments or supplements and all documents incorporated by reference therein that were filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement have been delivered, or made available, to CF&Co and its counsel.  The Common Stock is currently listed on the Exchange under the trading symbol “HT.”

(b)         The Prospectus delivered to CF&Co for use in connection with the offering of Shares will, at the time of such delivery, be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(c)         Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, at each deemed effective date with respect to CF&Co pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) of the Securities Act, and as of each Applicable Time, as the case may be, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any amendment thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to CF&Co furnished to the Company in writing by CF&Co expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by CF&Co consists of the information described as such in Schedule 4 hereto.

(d)         Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued, as of the date hereof, each Applicable Time, and at each Representation Date, as the case may be, included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to CF&Co furnished to the Company in writing by CF&Co expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by CF&Co consists of the information described as such in Schedule 4 hereto.

 
- 4 -

 

(e)         Each document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus heretofore filed, when it was filed (or, if any amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), conformed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any further documents so filed and incorporated after the date of this Agreement will, when they are filed, conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; no such document when it was filed (or, if an amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and no such document, when it is filed, will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.

(f)          Each issuer free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 433), as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Shares or until any earlier date that the Company notifies CF&Co in writing, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any incorporated document deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any issuer free writing prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by CF&Co specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by CF&Co consists of the information described as such in Schedule 4 hereto.

(g)         All of the issued and outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.  None of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Company were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights; except as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no outstanding options, warrants or similar rights to subscribe for, or contractual obligations to issue, sell, transfer or acquire, any shares of beneficial interest of the Company or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares of beneficial interest; the Placement Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against full payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other or similar rights; and the shares of beneficial interest of the Company, including the Placement Shares, conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus. The certificates for the Placement Shares are in due and proper form and the holders of the Shares will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.

(h)         Immediately after the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, all of the issued and outstanding Common Units and Preferred Units (each, as defined below) will have been or will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable.  Immediately after the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, none of the outstanding common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“Common Units”) or preferred units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“Preferred Units”) will have been issued in violation of any preemptive right, right of first refusal or other similar right; and the outstanding Common Units and Preferred Units have been offered, sold and issued by the Operating Partnership in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.

(i)          The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than (i) the subsidiaries that are listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year and (ii) those subsidiaries formed since the last day of the most recently ended fiscal year (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”).

 
- 5 -

 

(j)          Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries that are consolidated with the Company in the Company’s financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (the “Consolidated Subsidiaries”) is duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation or organization with full corporate, partnership or entity power and authority, as the case may be, to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as described in the Prospectus and is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure to so register or qualify has not had or will not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, properties, results of operations or prospects of the Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(k)          The outstanding equity interests of, or other ownership interests in, each of the Consolidated Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and, except as to Consolidated Subsidiaries that are partnerships or limited liability companies, nonassessable and are, or will be, owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any security interest, lien, encumbrance or claim.

(l)          Except as described in the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any court or governmental or other regulatory or administrative agency or commission pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or involving the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary, which might individually or in the aggregate prevent or adversely affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor to the Company's knowledge, is there any basis for any such action, suit, inquiry, proceeding or investigation. There are no agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments that are required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that are not described, filed or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as required by the Securities Act.  All such contracts to which the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary is a party have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or the applicable Consolidated Subsidiary, constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company or the applicable Consolidated Subsidiary and are enforceable against the Company or the applicable Consolidated Subsidiary in accordance with the terms thereof, except as enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) the application of bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and other laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) equitable principles being applied at the discretion of a court before which any proceeding may be brought.  Neither the Company nor any Consolidated Subsidiary has received written notice or been made aware that the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary is in breach of or default under any such contracts to which it is a party.

(m)        Neither the Company nor any Consolidated Subsidiary is (i) in violation of (A) its Organizational Documents, (B) to the Company's knowledge, any law, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary, the violation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect or (C) any decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary; or (ii) in default in any material respect in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in (x) any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or (y) any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument (each of (x) and (y), an “Existing Instrument”) to which the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound, which default would have a Material Adverse Effect; and to the Company’s knowledge, there does not exist any state of facts that constitutes a default or an event of default on the part of the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary as defined in such documents or that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or event of default which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 
- 6 -

 

(n)         Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership has full legal right, power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein, including the issuance, sale and delivery of the Placement Shares as provided herein and the Operating Partnership’s issuance of the Common Units to the Company.  The Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance by the Company and the Operating Partnership of their obligations under this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and the Operating Partnership and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Operating Partnership, and constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and the Operating Partnership, enforceable against the Company and the Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by (i) the application of bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and other laws affecting creditors' rights generally (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (ii) equitable principles being applied at the discretion of a court before which any proceeding may be brought, and except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.

(o)         The Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, including all amendments thereto (the “Partnership Agreement”), has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the general partner of the Operating Partnership and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the general partner, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights or by general equity principles.

(p)         No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, certificate, permit, registration, designation or filing by or with any governmental agency or body is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and the Operating Partnership of their respective obligations under this Agreement and the consummation by the Company and the Operating Partnership of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the valid authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Placement Shares, except such as have been obtained or made and may be required by (i) the Exchange and (ii) the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Placement Shares.

(q)         Neither the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares by the Company, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company and the Operating Partnership nor the consummation by the Company and the Operating Partnership of the transactions contemplated hereby (i) conflicts with or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach of, or a default under, the Company's declaration of trust, as amended or supplemented, or bylaws, the Operating Partnership's certificate of limited partnership or the Operating Partnership Agreement, or any Existing Instrument to which the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary is a party or by which any of its respective properties may be bound, (iii) violates any statute, law, regulation, ruling, filing, judgment, injunction, order or decree applicable to the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary or any of their properties, or (iv) results in a breach of, or default or Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or results in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary pursuant to, or requires the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances that will not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder's behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary.

 
- 7 -

 

(r)         Other than owners of Common Units by persons other than the Company, no holder of any securities of the Company has rights to the registration of any securities of the Company or other similar rights as a result of or in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby that have not been satisfied or heretofore waived in writing. No person or entity has a right of participation or first refusal with respect to the sale of the Shares by the Company.

(s)         KPMG LLP, who has audited the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the related notes thereto and supporting schedules) incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is and was, during the periods covered by its reports incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, independent registered public accountants as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who has audited the consolidated statements of operations, of changes in members’ equity and of cash flows of Mystic Partners, LLC and its subsidiaries (including the related notes and supporting schedules thereto) for the year ended December 31, 2006 incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is and was, during the periods covered by its reports incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, independent registered public accountants as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and PCAOB.

(t)         The financial statements, together with related schedules and notes, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, present fairly the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and changes in financial position of the Company, the Consolidated Subsidiaries and Mystic Partners, LLC and its subsidiaries, as the case may be, on the basis stated in the Registration Statement at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which they apply; such statements and related schedules and notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein; and the other financial and statistical information and data set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus is accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and records of the Company, the Consolidated Subsidiaries and Mystic Partners, LLC and its subsidiaries, as the case may be.  No other financial statements or schedules are required by Form S-3 or otherwise to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

(u)         Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which such information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) neither the Company nor any Consolidated Subsidiary has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, indirect, direct or contingent, or entered into any transaction that is not in the ordinary course of business, (ii) neither the Company nor any Consolidated Subsidiary has sustained any material loss or interference with its business or properties from fire, flood, windstorm, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, (iii) except for regular quarterly dividends, neither the Company nor any Consolidated Subsidiary has paid or declared any dividends or other distributions with respect to its capital shares and the Company is not in default under the terms of any class of capital shares of the Company or any outstanding debt obligations, (iv) there has not been any change in the authorized or outstanding capital stock of the Company (other than the issuance of Common Shares to the trustees, employees and officers of the Company and its affiliates pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plan and upon exchange or conversion of other outstanding securities) or any material change in the indebtedness of the Company, (other than in the ordinary course of business and borrowings under existing or future bank lines of credit) and (v) there has not been any material adverse change, or any development involving or that may reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(v)         The Placement Shares to be sold under this Agreement have been or will be approved for listing on the Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.  The Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act or delisting any such securities from the Exchange, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the Exchange is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.

 
- 8 -

 

(w)        The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares to be sold hereunder by CF&Co as principal or agent for the Company, other than the Prospectus and the Registration Statement.

(x)         Other than excepted activity pursuant to Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action that constituted, or any action designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in or constitute stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or for any other purpose.

(y)         The Company and each Subsidiary has timely filed (or valid extensions to such filings have been obtained) all tax returns required to be filed (other than certain state or local tax returns, as to which the failure to file, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect), which returns are complete and correct in all material respects, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default in the payment of any taxes that were payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto (whether imposed directly or through witholding). Except as disclosed in the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented), all deficiencies asserted as a result of any federal, state, local or foreign tax audits have been paid or finally settled and no issue has been raised in any such audit that, by application of the same or similar principles, reasonably could be expected to result in a proposed deficiency for any other period not so audited. There are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to any federal, state, local or foreign tax return for any period. On each Settlement Date, all stock transfer and other taxes that are required to be paid in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares will have been fully paid by the Company and all laws imposing such taxes will have been complied with.

(z)         Except as set forth in the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented), there are no transactions with “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) or any officer, director or security holder of the Company (whether or not an affiliate) that are required by the Securities Act to be disclosed in the Prospectus that have not been disclosed as required.  Additionally, no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any such Subsidiary on the other hand that is required by the Securities Act to be disclosed in the Prospectus that is not so disclosed.

(aa)       Neither the Company nor any Consolidated Subsidiary is an “investment company”, a company “controlled” by an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(bb)      Each of the Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries has good and valid title to all property (real and personal), free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests or other encumbrances except (i) such as are described in the Prospectus or (ii) such as do not or will not materially adversely affect the Company or such Consolidated Subsidiary’s use of the property or the conduct of the business of the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries, either individually or taken as a whole. All property (real and personal) leased by the Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries is held under valid and enforceable leases with only such exceptions as in the aggregate do not or will not materially adversely affect the use of the property or the conduct of the business of the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries, either individually or taken as a whole.

 
- 9 -

 

(cc)       The Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries have all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, consents and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (hereinafter “permit” or “permits”) as are necessary to own their properties and to conduct their business in the manner described in the Prospectus, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the Prospectus, except where the failure to have obtained any such permit has not had and will not have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries has operated and is operating its business in material compliance with all of its obligations with respect to each such permit and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination of any such permit and except where such revocation or termination would not have a Material Adverse Effect or result in any other material impairment of the rights of any such permit, subject in each case to such qualification as may be set forth in the Prospectus; and, except as described in the Prospectus, such permits contain no restrictions that are material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(dd)       The Company has established, maintains and evaluates disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) and “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) in accordance with such rules and any related rules of the Commission or the Exchange; such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its Consolidated Subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer by others within those entities, and except as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as amended, such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established.

(ee)       Except as disclosed in the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and, to the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s knowledge, neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any Consolidated Subsidiary, employee or agent thereof, has made any payment of funds of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any Consolidated Subsidiary, as the case may be, or received or retained any funds, and no funds of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any Consolidated Subsidiary, as the case may be, have been set aside to be used for any payment, in each case in violation of any law, rule or regulation.

(ff)        Based on evaluations of its internal controls over financial reporting, the Company is not aware of (i) any material weakness in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

(gg)      None of the Company, any Consolidated Subsidiary or, to the Company's knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or of any Consolidated Subsidiary, has, directly or indirectly, (i) made any unlawful contribution to any candidate for political office, or failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation of law or (ii) made any payment to any federal, state, local or foreign governmental official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction thereof or applicable foreign jurisdictions.

 
- 10 -

 

(hh)       The Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except in each case as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Consolidated Subsidiary has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries owns, leases or occupies any property that appears on any list of hazardous sites compiled by any state or local governmental agency.

(ii)         There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(jj)         The Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for its taxable years ended December 31, 1999 through December 31, 2008, and the Company's current and proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for taxation as a real estate investment trust under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2009 and in the future. The Subsidiaries that are partnerships have been and will continue to be treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes and not as corporations, associations taxable as corporations or as publicly traded partnerships.

(kk)       Intentionally Omitted.

(ll)         The Company and the Subsidiaries own and have full right, title and interest in and to, or have valid licenses to use, each material trade name, trademark, service mark, patent, copyright, approval, trade secret and other similar rights (collectively “Intellectual Property”) under which the Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries conduct all or any material part of their business, and none of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries has created any lien or encumbrance on, or granted any right or license with respect to, any such Intellectual Property except where the failure to own or obtain a license or right to use any such Intellectual Property has not and will not have a Material Adverse Effect; there is no claim pending against the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary with respect to any Intellectual Property, and none of the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary has received written notice or otherwise become aware that any Intellectual Property that it uses or has used in the conduct of its business infringes upon or conflicts with the rights of any third party.

(mm)     No officer, trustee or nominee for trustee of the Company has a direct or indirect affiliation or association with any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

(nn)      The Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; and neither the Company nor any Consolidated Subsidiary has reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a comparable cost.

 
- 11 -

 

(oo)      Title insurance in favor of the Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries, as the case may be, has been obtained with respect to each property owned by any such entity in an amount at least equal to (A) the cost of acquisition of such property or (B) the cost of construction of such property (measured at the time of such construction), except where the failure to maintain such title insurance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(pp)      In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and the Consolidated Subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties).  On the basis of such review and amount of its established reserves, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(qq)       Except for matters which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries is engaged in any unfair labor practice; (ii) there is (A) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements is pending or threatened, (B) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries and (C) no union representation dispute currently existing concerning the employees of the Company, Hersha Hospitality Management, L.P. (“HHMLP”)or any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries, and (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, (A) no union organizing activities are currently taking place concerning the employees of the Company or any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries and (B) there has been no violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, any applicable wage or hour laws or any provision of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder concerning the employees of the Company, HHMLP or any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries;

(rr)        The Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries have complied and will comply in all material respects with wage and hour determinations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor under the Service Contract Act of 1965 and the Fair Labor Standards Act in paying its employees' salaries, fringe benefits and other compensation for the performance of work or other duties in connection with contracts with the U.S. government, and have complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the National Labor Relations Act, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended by the Older Workers' Benefit Protection Act, and federal, state and local labor laws, each as amended except where the failure to comply with any such requirements has not, and will not, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ss)       Except with respect to non-timely filings of reports pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act by certain of the Company's officers and trustees as described in the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Commission on April 15, 2009 under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” there is and has been no failure on the part of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any Consolidated Subsidiary and any of the officers and directors of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any Consolidated Subsidiary, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 
- 12 -

 

(tt)        Other than this Agreement, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary or CF&Co for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(uu)      The Company acknowledges and agrees that CF&Co has informed the Company that CF&Co may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, purchase and sell common shares or preferred stock of the Company for its own account while this Agreement is in effect.

(vv)      Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to CF&Co or to counsel for CF&Co shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company and/or the Operating Partnership, as applicable, to CF&Co as to the matters set forth therein.

(ww)     The Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledge that CF&Co and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 7 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to CF&Co, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

7.           Covenants of the Company.  The Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, covenant and agree with CF&Co that:

(a)         Registration Statement Amendments; Payment of Fees.  After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a Prospectus relating to any Placement Shares is required to be delivered by CF&Co under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), (i) the Company will notify CF&Co promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any comment letter from the Commission or any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information, (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon CF&Co’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in CF&Co’s reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by CF&Co (provided, however, that the failure of CF&Co to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect CF&Co’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, relating to the Placement Shares or a security convertible into the Placement Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to CF&Co within a reasonable period of time before the filing and CF&Co has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of CF&Co to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect CF&Co’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to CF&Co at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) of the Securities Act).

 
- 13 -

 

(b)        Notice of Commission Stop Orders.  The Company will advise CF&Co, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any other order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose or any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Securities Act, or if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Shares; and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop or other order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop or other order should be issued.

(c)         Delivery of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes.  During any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by CF&Co under the Securities Act with respect to a pending sale of the Placement Shares, (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and to file on or before their respective due dates all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act.  If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify CF&Co to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

(d)         Listing of Placement Shares.  During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by CF&Co under the Securities Act with respect to a pending sale of the Placement Shares (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on the Exchange and to qualify the Placement Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as CF&Co reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign entity or dealer in securities or file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.

(e)         Filings with the Exchange.  The Company will timely file with the Exchange all documents and notices required by the Exchange of companies that have or will issue securities that are traded on the Exchange.

(f)          Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus.  The Company will furnish to CF&Co and its counsel (at the expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that are filed with the Commission during any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including all documents filed with the Commission during such period that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities as CF&Co may from time to time reasonably request and, at CF&Co’s request, will also furnish copies of the Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of the Placement Shares may be made.  The copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto furnished to CF&Co will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
 
 
- 14 -

 

(g)         Earnings Statement.  The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement covering a 12-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) and Rule 158 of the Securities Act.

(h)         Expenses.  The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 hereunder, will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including, but not limited to, expenses relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and each amendment and supplement thereto, of each Prospectus and of each amendment and supplement thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Placement Shares, (iii) the qualification of the Placement Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(d) of this Agreement, including filing fees, (iv) the printing and delivery to CF&Co of copies of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and of this Agreement, (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing or qualification of the Placement Shares for trading on the Exchange, and (vi) filing fees and expenses, if any, of the Commission and FINRA.

(i)          Use of Proceeds.  The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares to be sold by it hereunder in accordance in all material respects with the statements under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus. The Company will effect the issuance to the Company by the Operating Partnership of a number of Common Units equal to the number of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement upon the Company's contribution to the Operating Partnership of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares.

(j)          Notice of Other Sales.  During the pendency of any Placement Notice given hereunder, the Company shall provide CF&Co notice as promptly as reasonably possible before it offers to sell, contracts to sell, sells, grants any option to sell or otherwise disposes of any Shares (other than Placement Shares offered pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire Shares; provided, that such notice shall not be required in connection with the (i) issuance, grant or sale of the Company’s common shares, options to purchase the Company’s common shares or the Company’s common shares issuable upon the exercise of options or other equity awards pursuant to the any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in the Prospectus, (ii) the issuance of securities in connection with an acquisition, merger, joint venture or sale or purchase of assets described in the Prospectus, (iii) the issuance or sale of the Company’s common shares pursuant to any dividend reinvestment plan that the Company may adopt from time to time provided the implementation of such is disclosed to CF&Co in advance, (iv) any of the Company’s common shares issuable upon the redemption of outstanding Common Units in accordance with the Operating Partnership Agreement and (v) the issuance of Common Units by the Operating Partnership in exchange for properties.

(k)         Change of Circumstances.  The Company will, at any time during a fiscal quarter in which the Company intends to tender a Placement Notice or sell Placement Shares, advise CF&Co promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document provided to CF&Co pursuant to this Agreement.

(l)          Due Diligence Cooperation.  The Company and the Operating Partnership will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by CF&Co or its agents in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as CF&Co may reasonably request.

 
- 15 -

 

(m)        Required Filings Relating to Placement of Placement Shares.  The Company agrees that on such dates as the Securities Act shall require, the Company will (i) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, which prospectus supplement will set forth, within the relevant period, the amount of Placement Shares sold through CF&Co, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to CF&Co with respect to such Placement Shares, and (ii) deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to each exchange or market on which such sales were effected as may be required by the rules or regulations of such exchange or market.

(n)         Representation Dates; Certificate.  On or prior to the date that the first Placement Shares are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and each time the Company (i) files the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares or amends or supplements the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares (other than a prospectus supplement filed in accordance with Section 7(m) of this Agreement) by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of documents by reference to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares, (ii) files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, (iii) files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act, or (iv) files a report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than an earnings release, to “furnish” information pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or to provide disclosure pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K relating to the reclassifications of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act (each date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) shall be a "Representation Date"), the Company shall furnish CF&Co with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(n) within ten (10) Trading Days of any Representation Date if requested by CF&Co.  The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(n) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of (1) the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and (2) the next occurring Representation Date; provided, however, that such waiver shall not apply for any Representation Date on which the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Shares following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide CF&Co with a certificate under this Section 7(n), then before the Company delivers the Placement Notice or CF&Co sells any Placement Shares, the Company shall provide CF&Co with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(n), dated the date of the Placement Notice.

(o)         Legal Opinion.  On or prior to the date that the first Placement Shares are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall cause to be furnished to CF&Co (i) a written opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP (“Company Counsel”), or other counsel satisfactory to CF&Co, in form and substance satisfactory to CF&Co and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(o)-A, (ii) a letter of Company Counsel or other counsel satisfactory to CF&Co, in form and substance satisfactory to CF&Co and its counsel, dated the date that the letter is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(o)-B, (iii) a written tax opinion of Company Counsel, or other counsel satisfactory to CF&Co, in form and substance satisfactory to CF&Co and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(o)-C and (iv) a written opinion of Franklin Firm LLP, counsel for HHMLP, in form and substance satisfactory to CF&Co and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(o)-D.  Within ten (10) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(n) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause to be furnished to CF&Co a letter of Company Counsel or other counsel satisfactory to CF&Co, in form and substance satisfactory to CF&Co and its counsel, dated the date that the letter is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(o)-B modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided, however, that in lieu of such letter for subsequent Representation Dates, counsel may furnish CF&Co with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that CF&Co may rely on a prior letter delivered under this Section 7(o) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior letter shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).

 
- 16 -

 

(p)        Comfort Letter.  On or prior to the date that the first Placement Shares are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and within ten (10) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(n) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause KPMG LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (and any other independent accountant whose report is included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus) to furnish CF&Co letters (the "Comfort Letters"), dated the date of the Comfort Letter is delivered, in form and substance satisfactory to CF&Co, (i) confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the PCAOB, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.

(q)        Non-Delivery of Materials. Failure to deliver any of the certificates, opinion, letters or comfort letters required by and at the times set forth in paragraphs (m), (n), (o) or (p) above shall be deemed as the delivery by the Company of a Suspension Notice.

(r)         Market Activities.  The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase the Shares to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Shares to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement other than CF&Co; provided, however, that the Company may bid for and purchase its common shares in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act.

(s)         Insurance.  The Company shall maintain, and shall cause its Consolidated Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable and customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.

(t)         Compliance with Laws.  The Company shall maintain, and shall cause its Consolidated Subsidiaries to maintain, all environmental permits, licenses and other authorizations required by federal, state and local law in order to conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus, and the Company and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries shall conduct their businesses, or cause their businesses to be conducted, in substantial compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations and with applicable environmental laws, except where the failure to maintain or be in compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(u)        REIT Treatment.  The Company will use its best efforts to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for the taxable year ending December 31, 2009 and for its future taxable years that include any portion of the term of this Agreement, unless the Board of Trustees determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to be so qualified.

 
- 17 -

 

(v)        Investment Company Act.  The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so as to reasonably ensure that neither it nor its Consolidated Subsidiaries will be or become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act, assuming no change in the Commission’s current interpretation as to entities that are not considered an investment company.

(w)        Securities Act and Exchange Act.  The Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of, or dealings in, the Placement Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the Prospectus.

(x)         No Offer to Sell.  Other than a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) approved in advance by the Company and CF&Co in its capacity as principal or agent hereunder, neither CF&Co nor the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than CF&Co in its capacity as such) will, directly or indirectly, make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any free writing prospectus relating to the Placement Shares to be sold by CF&Co as principal or agent hereunder.

(y)         Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  The Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries will use their best efforts to comply with all effective applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

8.           Conditions to CF&Co’s Obligations. The obligations of CF&Co hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties made by the Company and the Operating Partnership herein, to the due performance by the Company and the Operating Partnership of their respective obligations hereunder, to the completion by CF&Co of a due diligence review satisfactory to CF&Co in its reasonable judgment, and to the continuing satisfaction (or waiver by CF&Co in its sole discretion) of the following additional conditions:

(a)         Registration Statement Effective.  The Registration Statement shall be effective and shall be available for (i) all sales of Placement Shares issued pursuant to all prior Placement Notices and (ii) the sale of all Placement Shares contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice.

(b)         No Material Notices.  None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing:  (i) receipt by the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, related Prospectus or such documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 
- 18 -

 

(c)         No Misstatement or Material Omission.  CF&Co shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in CF&Co’s reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in CF&Co’s opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(d)         Material Changes.  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there shall not have been any material adverse change, on a consolidated basis, in the authorized equity or long-term debt of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the other Consolidated Subsidiaries or any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect, or any downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to any of the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s securities (other than asset backed securities) by any rating organization or a public announcement by any rating organization that it has under surveillance or review its rating of any of the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s securities (other than asset backed securities), the effect of which, in the case of any such action by a rating organization described above, in the reasonable judgment of CF&Co (without relieving the Company or the Operating Partnership of any obligation or liability it may otherwise have), is so material as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Placement Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

(e)         Legal Opinion and Letter.  CF&Co shall have received the opinions and letter of Company Counsel required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(o) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion and letter is required pursuant to Section 7(o).

(f)          Comfort Letter.  CF&Co shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(p) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(p).

(g)         Representation Certificate.  CF&Co shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(n) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(n).

(h)         No Suspension.  Trading in the Shares shall not have been suspended on the Exchange.

(i)          Other Materials.  On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(n), the Company and the Operating Partnership shall have furnished to CF&Co such appropriate further information, certificates and documents as CF&Co may have reasonably requested. All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents shall have been in compliance with the provisions hereof. The Company and the Operating Partnership shall have furnished CF&Co with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as CF&Co shall have reasonably requested.

(j)           Securities Act Filings Made.  All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

(k)         Approval for Listing.  The Placement Shares shall either have been (i) approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance, or (ii) the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Shares on the Exchange at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice.

(l)          No Termination Event.  There shall not have occurred any event that would permit CF&Co to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a).

 
- 19 -

 

9.           Indemnification and Contribution.

(a)         Company and Operating Partnership Indemnification.  The Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless CF&Co, the directors, officers, partners, employees and agents of CF&Co and each person, if any, who (i) controls CF&Co within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with CF&Co (a “CF&Co Affiliate”) from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including, but not limited to, any and all reasonable investigative, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with, and any and all amounts paid in settlement (in accordance with Section 9(c)) of, any action, suit or proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and any indemnifying parties or between any indemnified party and any third party, or otherwise, or any claim asserted), as and when incurred, to which CF&Co, or any such person, may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based, directly or indirectly, on (x) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Company or the Operating Partnership or based on written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company or the Operating Partnership filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Shares under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, (y) the omission or alleged omission to state in any such document a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in it not misleading or (z) any breach by any of the indemnifying parties of any of their respective representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement; provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arises from the sale of the Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement and is caused directly or indirectly by an untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to CF&Co and furnished to the Company by CF&Co expressly for inclusion in any document as described in clause (x) of this Section 9(a) (that information being limited to the information described in Schedule 4 hereto). This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company or the Operating Partnership might otherwise have.

(b)        CF&Co Indemnification. CF&Co agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each officer of the Company that signed the Registration Statement, the Operating Partnership and each person, if any, who (i) controls the Company or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with the Company or the Operating Partnership (a “Company Affiliate”) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 9(a), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to CF&Co and furnished to the Company by CF&Co expressly for inclusion in any document as described in clause (x) Section 9(a) (that information being limited to the information described in Schedule 4 hereto).

(c)         Procedure.  Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 9 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 9, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 9 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provision of this Section 9 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (iv) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 9 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising or that may arise out of such claim, action or proceeding.

 
- 20 -

 

(d)        Contribution.  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 9 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable from the Company, the Operating Partnership or CF&Co, the Company and CF&Co will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company or the Operating Partnership from persons other than CF&Co, such as persons who control the Company or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of the Securities Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the Company, the Operating Partnership and CF&Co may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and CF&Co, on the other. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership on the one hand and CF&Co on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the sale of the Placement Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation  received by CF&Co from the sale of Placement Shares on behalf of the Company.  If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and CF&Co, on the other, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, or CF&Co, on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Operating Partnership and CF&Co agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 9(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense, or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 9(d) shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 9(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent consistent with Section 9(c) hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(d), CF&Co shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 9(d), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any officers, directors, partners, employees or agents of CF&Co, will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 9(d), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 9(d) except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 9(c) hereof, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof.

 
- 21 -

 

10.        Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery.  The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 9 of this Agreement and all representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall survive, as of their respective dates, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of CF&Co, any controlling persons, or the Company or the Operating Partnership (or any of their respective officers, directors or controlling persons), (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Placement Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

11.        Termination.

(a)         CF&Co shall have the right by giving notice as hereinafter specified at any time to terminate this Agreement if (i) any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, that, in the reasonable judgment of CF&Co, may materially impair the ability of CF&Co to sell the Placement Shares hereunder; (ii) the Company or the Operating Partnership shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder; other than any failure of the Company to deliver (or cause another person to deliver) any certification, opinion, or letter required under Sections 7(n), 7(o), or 7(p), or (iii) any other condition of CF&Co’s obligations hereunder is not fulfilled; or (iv) any suspension or limitation of trading in the Placement Shares or in securities generally on the Exchange shall have occurred.  Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(h) (Expenses), Section 9 (Indemnification), Section 10 (Survival of Representations), Section 16 (Applicable Law; Consent to Jurisdiction) and Section 17 (Waiver of Jury Trial) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 
- 22 -

 

(b)         The Company and the Operating Partnership shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in their sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement.  Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(h), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(c)         CF&Co shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement.  Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(h), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(d)        Unless earlier terminated pursuant to thisSection 11, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement Shares through CF&Co on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; provided that the provisions of Section 7(h), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(e)         This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 11(a), (b), (c), or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 7(h), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 shall remain in full force and effect.

(f)         Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by CF&Co or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Shares, such Placement Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

12.         Notices.  All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, and if sent to CF&Co, shall be delivered to CF&Co at Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., 110 East 59th Street, New York, New York 10022, fax no. (212) 829-4972, Attention: ITD-Investment Banking, with copies to Stephen Merkel, General Counsel, at the same address, and Clifford Chance US LLP, 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, fax no. (212) 878-8375, Attention: Jay L. Bernstein; or if sent to the Company or the Operating Partnership, shall be delivered to Hersha Hospitality Trust, 510 Walnut Street, 9th Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106 fax no. (717) 774-7383 Attention: Ashish R. Parikh, with a copy to Hunton & Williams LLP, 951 East Byrd Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, fax no. (804) 788-8218, Attention: James S. Seevers, Jr. Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.  Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally or by verifiable facsimile transmission (with an original to follow) on or before 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, (ii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier and (iii) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid). For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which the Exchange and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.

 
- 23 -

 

13.         Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company, the Operating Partnership and CF&Co and their respective successors and the affiliates, controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 9 hereof. References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that CF&Co may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to an affiliate of CF&Co without obtaining the Company’s consent.

14.         Adjustments for Stock Splits.  The parties acknowledge and agree that all stock-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Shares.

15.         Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability.  This Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto and Placement Notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and CF&Co.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement.

16.         Applicable Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection with any transaction contemplated hereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper.  Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.

17.         Waiver of Jury Trial.  The Company, the Operating Partnership and CF&Co each hereby irrevocably waives any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.

18.         Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally acknowledge and agree that:

(a) CF&Co has been retained solely to act as agent in connection with the sale of the Shares and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and CF&Co has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether CF&Co has advised or is advising the Company on other matters;

 
- 24 -

 

(b) each of the Company and the Operating Partnership is capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(c) each of the Company and the Operating Partnership has been advised that CF&Co and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company or the Operating Partnership and that CF&Co has no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company or the Operating Partnership by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

(d) each of the Company and the Operating Partnership waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against CF&Co, for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that CF&Co shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company or the Operating Partnership in respect of such a fiduciary claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company or the Operating Partnership, including stockholders, partners, employees or creditors of the Company or the Operating Partnership.

19.         Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile transmission.

20.         Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

(a) “Applicable Time” means the time of each sale of any Shares or any securities pursuant to this Agreement.

(b)  “GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

(c) “Organizational Documents” means (a) in the case of a corporation, its charter and by-laws; (b) in the case of a limited or general partnership, its partnership certificate, certificate of formation or similar organizational document and its partnership agreement; (c) in the case of a limited liability company, its articles of organization, certificate of formation or similar organizational documents and its operating agreement, limited liability company agreement, membership agreement or other similar agreement; (d) in the case of a trust, its certificate of trust, certificate of formation or similar organizational document and its trust agreement or other similar agreement; and (e) in the case of any other entity, the organizational and governing documents of such entity.


[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]

 
- 25 -

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the Company, the Operating Partnership and CF&Co, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company, the Operating Partnership and CF&Co.

 
Very truly yours,
 
       
       
 
HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST
 
       
 
By:
/s/ Ashish R. Parikh  
 
Name:
Ashish R. Parikh  
 
Title:
CFO  
       
       
 
HERSHA HOSPITALITY LIMITED
 
 
PARTNERSHIP
 
       
 
By:
Hersha Hospitality Trust, its general partner  
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Ashish R. Parikh  
 
Name:
Ashish R. Parikh  
 
Title:
CFO  
       
       
 
ACCEPTED as of the date
 
 
first-above written:
 
       
 
CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.
 
       
       
 
By:  
/s/ Jeffrey Lumby  
 
Name:
Jeffrey Lumby  
 
Title:
Managing Director  

 
- 26 -

 

SCHEDULE 1

FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE



From:
 
[
]
 
Cc:
 
[
]
 
To:
 
[
]
 
Subject:
 
Controlled Equity Offering—Placement Notice

Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement between Hersha Hospitality Trust (the “Company”) and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“CF&Co”) dated June [__], 2009 (the “Agreement”), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that CF&Co sell up to [_______] of the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, at a minimum market price of $[_____] per share. I further request that no more than [___________] of the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest be sold during any one Trading Day and that none of such shares be sold at any time after [___________].

This Placement Notice cancels and supercedes in their entirety all Placement Notices delivered on or prior to the date hereof.

 
 

 

SCHEDULE 2


CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.

Jeffrey Lumby
Joshua Feldman
Peter Dippolito


HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST

Jay H. Shah
Neil H. Shah
Ashish R. Parikh
Michael R. Gillespie

 
 

 

SCHEDULE 3

Compensation

CF&Co shall be paid compensation equal to two and seventy-five hundredths percent (2.75%) of the gross proceeds from the sales of Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 
 

 

SCHEDULE 4

Information Furnished to the Company by CF&Co

None.

 
 

 

Exhibit 7(n)
Officer Certificate

The undersigned, the duly qualified and elected _______________________, of HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), does hereby certify in such capacity pursuant to Section 7(m) of the Sales Agreement dated June 12, 2009 (the “Sales Agreement”) between the Company, Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., that to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned.

(i)           The representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership in Section 6 of the Sales Agreement (A) to the extent such representations and warranties are subject to qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, are true and correct on and as of the date hereof with the same force and effect as if expressly made on and as of the date hereof, except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date and which were true and correct as of such date, and (B) to the extent such representations and warranties are not subject to any qualifications or exceptions, are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof as if made on and as of the date hereof with the same force and effect as if expressly made on and as of the date hereof except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date and which were true and correct as of such date; and

(ii)           The Company and the Operating Partnership have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied pursuant to the Sales Agreement at or prior to the date hereof.

Date:
    HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST  
           
     
By:
   
       
Name:
 
       
Title:
 
  
 
 
 

 
 
Exhibit 7(o)-A

Form of Opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 
A-1

 

Exhibit 7(o)-B

Form of Initial and Subsequent Negative Assurance Letter of Hunton & Williams LLP

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 
B-1

 

Exhibit 7(o)-C

Form of Initial Federal Income Tax Opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 
C-1

 

Exhibit 7(o)-D

Form of Opinion of Franklin Firm LLP

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
 
 
D-1

EX-8.1 3 ex8_1.htm EXHIBIT 8.1 ex8_1.htm

Exhibit 8.1


 
HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP
 
RIVERFRONT PLAZA, EAST TOWER
 
951 EAST BYRD STREET
 
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA  23219-4074
     
 
TEL
804 • 788 • 8200
 
FAX
804 • 788 • 8218


JUNE 12, 2009


Hersha Hospitality Trust
510 Walnut Street, 9th Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19106

Hersha Hospitality Trust
Qualification as Real Estate Investment Trust


Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Hersha Hospitality Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-138038) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 28, 2006 (the “Registration Statement”), with respect to the offer and sale of up to $400,000,000 of the common shares of beneficial interest and preferred shares of beneficial interest of the Company, and the offer and sale pursuant to the Registration Statement of up to 15,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Shares”) pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement filed with the Registration Statement on June 12, 2009 (the “Prospectus Supplement”).  You have requested our opinion regarding certain U.S. federal income tax matters.

In giving this opinion letter, we have examined the following (collectively, the “Reviewed Documents”):

 
1.
the Company’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, filed on January 15, 1999 with the Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland (the “Declaration of Trust”);

 
2.
the Company’s Bylaws;

 
3.
the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership, a Virginia limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), dated January 26, 1999 (the “Operating Partnership Agreement”), among the Company, as general partner, and several limited partners;
 
 
 

 
 
 
4.
the First Amendment to the Operating Partnership Agreement dated as of December 31, 1999;

 
5.
the Second Amendment to the Operating Partnership Agreement dated as of April 21, 2003;

 
6.
the partnership and limited liability company agreements (the “Subsidiary Partnership Agreements”) governing the Operating Partnership’s wholly owned and joint venture subsidiary partnership and limited liability companies (the “Subsidiary Partnerships”);

 
7.
the Registration Statement, the prospectus filed as a part of the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”), and the Prospectus Supplement;

 
8.
the operating lease agreements between the Subsidiary Partnerships, on the one hand, and (i) 44 New England Management Company, a Virginia corporation, or a partnership or limited liability company of which 44 New England Management Company or one of its subsidiaries is a partner or member (collectively, “44 New England”) or (ii) joint ventures in which the Company holds its equity interest through a taxable REIT subsidiary (a “TRS”) or TRSs wholly-owned or substantially owned by the joint venture, on the other hand;

 
9.
the management agreements pursuant to which Hersha Hospitality Management, L.P., a Pennsylvania limited partnership, and other hotel managers operate and manage all of the Company’s hotels;

 
10.
the TRS elections for 44 New England; Hersha PRA TRS, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Revere Hotel Group, LLC, a Massachusetts limited liability company; HT Inn America TRS, Inc., a Delaware corporation; South Bay Sandeep, LLC, a Massachusetts limited liability company; Hersha CNL TRS, Inc., a Delaware corporation; HHM Leasehold Interests, Inc., a Delaware corporation; HHLP King of Prussia, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation; HHLP Malvern, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation; HHLP Oxford Valley, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation; HHLP Wilmington, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Mystic Special Purpose Corp., a Delaware corporation; Mystic Hotel Investors Remote Entity Incorporated, a Delaware corporation; Exit 88 Special Purpose Corp., a Delaware corporation; and 320 Pearl Street, Inc., a New York corporation; and

 
11.
such other documents or agreements as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.
 
In connection with the opinions rendered below, we have assumed, with your consent, that:

1.             each of the documents referred to above has genuine signatures, has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered; is authentic, if an original, or is accurate, if a copy; and has not been amended;

 
 

 

2.             during its taxable year ending December 31, 2009 and future taxable years, the representations contained in a certificate, dated the date hereof and executed by a duly appointed officer of the Company (the “Officer’s Certificate”), will be true for such years;

3.             the Company will not make any amendments to its organizational documents, the Operating Partnership Agreement, or the Subsidiary Partnership Agreements after the date of this opinion that would have the effect of altering the facts upon which the opinions set forth below are based;

4.             the Operating Partnership and each Subsidiary Partnership will be operated in accordance with the terms of the Operating Partnership Agreement and the Subsidiary Partnership Agreement, as applicable, and in accordance with the applicable law of the state of formation; and

5.             all of the obligations imposed by or described in the Reviewed Documents have been and will continue to be performed or satisfied in accordance with their terms.

In connection with the opinion rendered below, we also have relied upon the correctness of the factual representations contained in the Officer’s Certificate.  No facts have come to our attention that would cause us to question the accuracy of the factual representations in the Officer’s Certificate in a material way.  Furthermore, where such factual representations involve terms defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Treasury regulations thereunder (the “Regulations”), published rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (the “Service”), or other relevant authority, we have reviewed with the individuals making such representations the relevant provisions of the Code, the applicable Regulations and published administrative interpretations thereof.

Based on the Reviewed Documents, the assumptions set forth above, the representations set forth in the Officer’s Certificate, and the factual matters discussed in the Prospectus under the caption “Federal Income Tax Consequences of Our Status as a REIT” and in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Additional Federal Income Tax Considerations” (which are incorporated herein by reference), we are of the opinion that:

(a)           the Company qualified to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) pursuant to sections 856 through 860 of the Code, for its taxable years ended December 31, 1999 through December 31, 2008, and the Company’s organization and current and proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2009, and in the future; and

(b)           the descriptions of the law and the legal conclusions contained in the Prospectus under the caption “Federal Income Tax Consequences of Our Status as a REIT” and in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Additional Federal Income Tax Considerations” are correct in all material respects.

We will not review on a continuing basis the Company’s compliance with the documents or assumptions set forth above, or the representations set forth in the Officer’s Certificate.  Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations for any given taxable year will satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.  Although we have made such inquiries and performed such investigations as we have deemed necessary to fulfill our professional responsibilities as counsel, we have not undertaken an independent investigation of all the facts referred to in this opinion letter or the Officer’s Certificate.

 
 

 

The foregoing opinions are based on current provisions of the Code and the Regulations, published administrative interpretations thereof, and published court decisions.  The Service has not issued Regulations or administrative interpretations with respect to various provisions of the Code relating to REIT qualification.  No assurance can be given that the law will not change in a way that will prevent the Company from qualifying as a REIT.

The foregoing opinions are limited to the U.S. federal income tax matters addressed herein, and no other opinions are rendered with respect to other federal tax matters or to any issues arising under the tax laws of any other country, or any state or locality.  We undertake no obligation to update the opinion expressed herein after the date of this letter.  This opinion letter is addressed to you, and it speaks only as of the date hereof.  This opinion letter may not be distributed, relied upon for any purpose by any other person, quoted in whole or in part or otherwise reproduced in any document, or filed with any governmental agency without our express written consent.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.  We also consent to the references to Hunton & Williams LLP under the captions “Federal Income Tax Consequences of Our Status as a REIT” and “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus and “Additional Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement.  In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC.


 
Very truly yours,
 
  /s/ Hunton & Williams LLP
 
 

-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----