-----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, KOmkHW4vmqelQTMe05/7Elp19HQbzcVI8UW9BUlISMdkurjXU3PJTUl8CZxxL81r 2+5h03TLzywzIBGKhMyyLQ== 0000950131-96-004548.txt : 19960917 0000950131-96-004548.hdr.sgml : 19960917 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950131-96-004548 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 424B5 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19960916 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: EQUITY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TRUST CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000906107 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 363877868 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 424B5 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-96792 FILM NUMBER: 96630647 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: TWO N RIVERSIDE PLZ STREET 2: STE 400 CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60606 BUSINESS PHONE: 3124741300 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: TWO N RIVERSIDE PLAZA STREET 2: SUITE 450 CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60606 424B5 1 FORM 424B5 PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) Registration No. 33-96792 PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT - --------------------- (To Prospectus dated January 22, 1996) 2,272,728 SHARES EQUITY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TRUST COMMON SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST ___________________ Equity Residential Properties Trust (the "Company") is a Maryland real estate investment trust ("REIT") which owns or has interests in a portfolio of 223 multifamily properties (individually a "Property" and collectively the "Properties") containing 66,792 apartment units and manages 13,829 additional units owned by affiliated entities. The Company is the largest publicly traded REIT owner of multifamily properties (based on the number of apartment units owned and total revenues earned), with Properties located in 31 states throughout the United States. All of the common shares of beneficial interest of the Company, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Shares"), offered hereby are being offered by the Company (the "Offering"). To ensure that the Company qualifies as a REIT, transfer of the Common Shares is restricted and ownership by any person is limited to 5% of the lesser of the number or value of the Company's outstanding shares of beneficial interest, subject to certain exceptions. See "Description of Shares of Beneficial Interest--Restrictions on Transfer" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "EQR." On September 11, 1996, the last reported sale price of the Common Shares on the NYSE was $35 1/2. See "Price Range of Common Shares and Distributions." SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 5 OF THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS RELATING TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON SHARES. ___________________ THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS TO WHICH IT RELATES. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. ___________________ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAS NOT PASSED ON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL.
=============================================================================== PRICE TO PROCEEDS TO PUBLIC COMPANY(1) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Per Common Share......................... $ 33.00 $ 33.00 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total.................................... $75,000,024 $75,000,024 =============================================================================== (1) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company. The Company does not intend to utilize any underwriter or broker dealer in connection with the Offering and thus no underwriting discount or commissions will be payable.
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is September 12, 1996. The following information contained in this Prospectus Supplement is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying Prospectus or incorporated therein by reference. As used herein, the term "Company" includes Equity Residential Properties Trust and those entities owned or controlled by it (collectively, the "Subsidiaries"), unless the context indicates otherwise. THE COMPANY GENERAL Equity Residential Properties Trust, one of the largest publicly traded REITs (based on the aggregate market value of its outstanding equity capitalization), is a self-administered and self-managed equity REIT. The Company was organized in March 1993 and commenced operations as a publicly traded company on August 18, 1993 upon completion of its initial public offering (the "IPO"). The Company was formed to continue the multifamily property business objectives and acquisition strategies of certain affiliated entities controlled by Mr. Samuel Zell, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Company. These entities had been engaged in the acquisition, ownership and operation of multifamily properties since 1969. The Company's senior executives average over 23 years of experience in the multifamily property business. As of September 12, 1996, the Company owned or had interests in a portfolio of 223 multifamily properties (individually a "Property" and collectively the "Properties") containing 66,792 apartment units and managed 13,829 additional units owned by affiliated entities. Since the Company's IPO, at which time the Company owned 69 Properties, the Company has acquired, directly or indirectly, interests in an additional 162 Properties containing 47,992 units for a total purchase price of approximately $2.17 billion, including the assumption of approximately $499 million of mortgage indebtedness. Since the IPO, the Company has disposed of eight of its properties containing 2,925 units for a total sales price of approximately $62.2 million and the release of mortgage indebtedness in the amount of approximately $20.5 million. The Company's interest in six of the Properties consists solely of ownership of the debt collateralized by such Properties and in 21 of the Properties consists solely of investments in partnership interests and subordinated mortgages collateralized by such Properties. At September 12, 1996, the Properties had an average occupancy rate of approximately 94%. The Properties are located throughout the United States in the following 31 states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington. The Company is the largest publicly traded REIT owner of multifamily properties (based on the number of apartment units owned and total revenues earned). All of the Company's interests in the Properties are held directly or indirectly by, and substantially all of its operations relating to the Properties are conducted through, ERP Operating Limited Partnership (the "Operating Partnership"). The Operating Partnership currently has three classes of limited partnership interests outstanding: (i) partnership interests ("OP Units"), which may be exchanged by the holders thereof for either common shares of beneficial interest of the Company, $0.01 par value per share ("Common Shares"), on a one-for-one basis or, at the Company's option, cash; (ii) 9 3/8% Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units ("9 3/8% Preference Units"); (iii) 9 1/8% Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units ("9 1/8% Series B Preference Units"); and (iv) 9 1/8% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units ("9 1/8% Series C Preference Units"). The 9 3/8% Preference Units, the 9 1/8% Series B Preference Units, and the 9 1/8% Series C Preference Units are owned by the Company and mirror the payments of distributions, including accrued and unpaid distributions upon redemption, and of the liquidating preference amount of the Company's 9 3/8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, $.01 par value per share (the "Series A Preferred Shares"), the Company's 9 1/8% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, $.01 par value per share (the "Series B Preferred Shares"), and the Company's 9 1/8% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, $.01 per value per share (the "Series C Preferred Shares"), respectively. The Company controls the Operating Partnership as the sole general partner and, as of September 12, 1996, owned approximately 83% of all of the Operating Partnership's outstanding partnership interests, excluding the 9 3/8% Preference Units, the 9 1/8% Series B Preference Units, and the 9 1/8% Series C Preference Units. It is the Company's policy that Equity Residential Properties Trust shall not incur indebtedness other than short-term trade, employee compensation, dividends payable or similar indebtedness that will be paid in the ordinary course of business, and that indebtedness shall instead be incurred by the Operating Partnership to the extent necessary to fund the business activities conducted by the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries. The Company's corporate headquarters and executive offices are located at Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and its telephone number is (312) 474-1300. In addition, the Company has regional operations centers in Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Tampa, Florida and Bethesda, Maryland; and area offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Las Vegas, Nevada; Phoenix, Arizona; Portland, Oregon; San Antonio, Texas; Irvine, California; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. S-2 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ACQUISITIONS Since January 1, 1996, the Company has acquired 30 Properties containing an aggregate of 10,082 units at a total purchase price of approximately $443 million (including the assumption of mortgage indebtedness of approximately $87 million). The Company funded the cash portion of these acquisitions primarily from its $250 million unsecured line of credit (the "Line of Credit") which it pays down from time to time with the proceeds of equity or debt offerings by the Company or the Operating Partnership, respectively. See "Securities Issuances" below. PROBABLE ACQUISITIONS The Company has entered into contracts with various sellers to purchase an additional four multifamily properties (the "Properties Under Contract") containing 1,213 units. The total combined purchase price for the Properties Under Contract is approximately $54.6 million, which includes the assumption of approximately $39.4 million of mortgage indebtedness. There can be no assurance that these four Properties Under Contract will be acquired or, if acquired, that the terms of such acquisitions will not change from the terms presently contemplated. The Company anticipates that the acquisition of the Properties Under Contract will be funded with the proceeds of the Offering, its working capital and/or its Line of Credit. The Company believes that the Properties Under Contract can be integrated into its system of Regional Operations Centers and area offices without any significant corresponding increase in the costs of operations of such offices. PENDING ACQUISITIONS Additional Properties Under Contract The Company has entered into contracts with various unaffiliated sellers to acquire seven additional properties under contract (the "Additional Properties Under Contract") for a total combined purchase price of approximately $95.9 million. These Additional Properties Under Contract contain 1,637 units and are located in California, Colorado, Missouri and Texas. The contracts for the Additional Properties Under Contract contain due diligence contingency provisions that allow the Company to conduct extensive investigation procedures of such properties and give the Company the option to terminate such contracts with a full refund of earnest money if the Company becomes dissatisfied with the Additional Properties Under Contract in any way, in its sole discretion, during such review period. The purchase price for the Additional Properties Under Contract is expected to be funded primarily with the net proceeds of the Offering or from the Company's Line of Credit. There can be no assurance that the Additional Properties Under Contract will be acquired or, if acquired, that the terms of such acquisitions will not change from the terms presently contemplated. Properties Under Negotiation The Company is also negotiating with various sellers for the acquisition of eight additional multifamily properties (the "Properties Under Negotiation") containing 3,008 units for a purchase price of approximately $157.1 million, which includes the assumption of approximately $26.3 million of mortgage indebtedness. With respect to the Properties Under Negotiation, the Company is negotiating the significant terms of the purchase contracts for such properties. The Company anticipates that, if and when entered into, the purchase contracts for the Properties Under Negotiation will contain due diligence contingency provisions that will allow the Company to conduct extensive investigations of such properties and will give the Company flexibility to terminate such contracts with a full refund of earnest money if the Company becomes dissatisfied with the Properties Under Negotiation in any way, in its sole discretion, during such review period. If the Company acquires the Properties Under Negotiation, it is expected that the terms and conditions of such acquisitions will be similar to other acquisitions of Properties made by the Company. The purchase price for the Properties Under Negotiation is expected to be funded primarily with the net proceeds of the Offering or from the Company's Line of Credit. In addition, the Company or the Operating Partnership may consider issuing additional equity or debt securities to finance some or all of such potential acquisitions. There can be no assurance, however, that the Properties Under Negotiation will be acquired or, if acquired, that the terms of such acquisitions will not change from the terms presently contemplated. DISPOSITIONS Since January 1, 1996, the Company has disposed of its interests in two properties containing 480 units for an aggregate sales price of approximately $10.15 million. The proceeds of these transactions were used for the acquisition of two of the Properties. S-3 SECURITIES ISSUANCES Since January 1, 1996, the Company has raised an aggregate of approximately $229.8 million pursuant to five separate public offerings of its Common Shares. In January 1996, the Company sold 1,725,000 Common Shares to Lehman Brothers Inc. for $29.375 per Common Share and, in February 1996, the Company sold 2,300,000 Common Shares to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") for $29.50 per Common Share. On May 21, 1996, the Company completed the sale of 2,300,000 Common Shares to Merrill Lynch for $30.50 per Common Share, which Merrill Lynch agreed to reoffer at no less than $31.00 per Common Share. On May 28, 1996, the Company completed the sale of 73,287 Common Shares to employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership and Equity Group Investments, Inc. ("EGI") and certain of their respective affiliates and consultants at a price equal to $30.50 per Common Share. Mr. Zell is Chairman of the Board of Directors of EGI. On May 30, 1996, the Company completed the sale of 1,264,400 Common Shares to Merrill Lynch for $30.75 per Common Share. On August 13, 1996, the Operating Partnership issued $150 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.57% Notes due August 15, 2026 (the "7.57% Notes") pursuant to a public debt offering and received net proceeds of approximately $149 million therefrom. On September 9, 1996, the Company sold 4,600,000 depositary shares each representing a 1/10 fractional interest in a 9 1/8% Series C Preferred Share in a public offering and received net proceeds of approximately $111 million therefrom. FINANCING ACTIVITIES The Company restructured certain of its tax-exempt bond investments in June 1996 and received approximately $77.1 million of proceeds in connection therewith. THE OFFERING All of the Common Shares offered hereby are being sold by the Company. None of the Company's present shareholders, including management of the Company, are selling any Common Shares (or interests exchangeable for Common Shares) in this Offering. The Company does not intend to utilize any underwriter or broker dealer in connection with this Offering, and thus no underwriting discount or commissions will be payable. The Company is offering up to 2,272,728 Common Shares to an institutional investor. The aggregate offering price of all Common Shares sold in this offering will be $75,000,024 (U.S.), which represents a per Common Share offering price of $33.00. The investor to whom the Company directs offers will be required to make payment in full of the purchase price within three (3) business days of the date hereof. USE OF PROCEEDS The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Common Shares offered hereby are estimated at approximately $75,000,024. The Company will contribute or otherwise transfer the net proceeds of the sale of the Common Shares to the Operating Partnership in exchange for partnership interests in the Operating Partnership ("OP Units"). The Operating Partnership presently intends to use the net proceeds for the acquisition of additional multifamily properties. Any remaining net proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. S-4 PRICE RANGE OF COMMON SHARES AND DISTRIBUTIONS The Common Shares have been traded on the NYSE under the symbol "EQR" since the Company's IPO. The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low sales prices per share reported on the NYSE, as well as the quarterly distributions declared per Common Share.
High Low Distributions ------ ------ ------------- 1993 Third Quarter (commencing August 11, 1993) ... 32 1/4 27 3/8 .21(1) Fourth Quarter ............................... 36 3/4 29 1/8 .47 1994 First Quarter ................................ 33 1/2 28 3/8 .48 Second Quarter ............................... 35 1/8 28 1/2 .495 Third Quarter ................................ 33 1/2 29 1/8 .51 Fourth Quarter ............................... 32 1/4 25 3/4 .52 1995 First Quarter ................................ 29 1/8 25 5/8 .53 Second Quarter ............................... 29 3/4 24 7/8 .53 Third Quarter ................................ 31 3/4 27 3/4 .53 Fourth Quarter ............................... 31 7/8 28 .59 1996 First Quarter ................................ 33 1/2 29 .59 Second Quarter ............................... 33 1/2 30 7/8 .59 Third Quarter (through September 4, 1996) .... 36 1/8 33 1/4 .59(2) - ------------------
(1) Represents an amount equivalent to a quarterly distribution of $.453 per share. (2) The third quarter distribution is payable on October 11, 1996 to shareholders of record as of September 27, 1996 and represents an annual distribution rate of $2.36 per share. On September 11, 1996 the last reported sale price of a Common Share on the NYSE was $35 1/2 per share. As of September 5, 1996, the Company's transfer agent reported 408 record holders of Common Shares and, as of March 15, 1996, The Depository Trust Company held Common Shares on behalf of approximately 10,500 beneficial owners. The Company intends to continue to pay regular quarterly distributions to holders of Common Shares. The Company has increased its annual distribution each year since its IPO. For the year ended December 31, 1995, the Company declared distributions of $2.18 per Common Share to holders of Common Shares. This distribution rate represented a 9% increase over the 1994 distribution rate and an 18% increase over the Company's annualized 1993 distribution rate after the completion of the IPO. Future distributions will be at the discretion of the board of trustees and will depend on the actual cash available for distribution by the Company, the Company's financial condition, capital requirements, credit agreement restrictions, the annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and such other factors as the board of trustees deems relevant. A portion of the Company's distribution may represent a nontaxable return of capital and/or a capital gain dividend. Approximately 22% of the Company's declared distribution in 1995 of $2.18 per Common Share represented a nontaxable return of capital. No portion of such distribution represented a capital gain dividend. S-5 BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES The Company is a self-administered and self-managed equity REIT established to continue the multifamily property business objectives and acquisition strategies of certain affiliated entities controlled by Mr. Zell, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Company. These entities had been engaged in the multifamily property business since 1969. The Company is a fully integrated real estate concern that acquires, improves, operates and manages its Properties. The Company has benefited, and expects to benefit, from the following elements: DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO As of September 12, 1996, the Company owned or had interests in a portfolio of 223 Properties containing 66,792 apartment units located in 31 states. As of such date, the Company's portfolio was the largest multifamily property portfolio controlled by a publicly traded REIT (based on the number of apartment units owned and total revenues earned). The Company's interest in six of the Properties consists solely of ownership of the debt collateralized by such Properties and in 21 Properties consists solely of investments in partnership interests and subordinated mortgages collateralized by such Properties. No single Property represents more than 2.13% of total apartment units. The distribution of the Properties throughout the United States reflects the Company's belief that geographic diversification helps insulate the portfolio from regional and local economic influences. At the same time, the Company has sought to create clusters of Properties within each of its primary markets to achieve economies of scale in management and operation. The Company has established Regional Operations Centers in Chicago, Illinois; Tampa, Florida; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; and Bethesda, Maryland; and area offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Las Vegas, Nevada; Phoenix, Arizona; Portland, Oregon; San Antonio, Texas; Irvine, California; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. EXPERIENCED MANAGEMENT The Company's senior executives average over 23 years of experience in the multifamily property business. The Company has a fully integrated management team: an Acquisitions Department that is dedicated exclusively to the property acquisition function and is in constant contact with principals and brokers nationwide; an Asset Management Department that establishes strategic plans with respect to the portfolio including the development and implementation of long- term business plans, asset financings, property repositionings, expansions, and property disposition decisions; a Property Management Department that aggressively manages the portfolio through significant interaction with on-site property managers at each Property; an Accounting and Finance Department that maintains the books and records of the Properties and generates timely financial reports; a Capital Markets Department that manages investor relations and capital raising; and a Legal Department that oversees all of the Company's legal affairs. SOPHISTICATED MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS The Company makes extensive use of management information systems. On-site computers at every Property are capable of compiling and forwarding to the Company's Regional Operations Centers on a daily basis numerous standardized reports including daily occupancy, lease expiration and renewals, prospective tenants and rental rate information. Quality controls are assured with the Company's practice of (i) conducting resident satisfaction surveys, (ii) surveying residents that move out of the Properties, and (iii) surveying prospective tenants who select alternative housing. THE PROPERTIES As of September 12, 1996, the Company owned or had interests in a portfolio of 223 Properties located in 31 states containing 66,792 apartment units with the largest having 1,420 units and the smallest having 40 units. The average number of units per Property was approximately 300. The units are typically contained in a series of two-story buildings. The Properties' average unit size is 884 square feet. As of September 12, 1996, the Properties had an average occupancy rate of approximately 94%. Tenant leases are generally year-to-year and require security deposits. The Properties typically provide residents with attractive amenities, including a clubhouse, swimming pool, laundry facilities and cable television access. Certain Properties offer additional amenities such as saunas, whirlpools, spas, sports courts and exercise rooms. S-6 The following chart sets forth certain information regarding the Properties on a state-by-state basis. PROPERTIES BY STATE (AS OF SEPTEMBER 12, 1996)
STATE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES NUMBER OF UNITS % OF UNITS IN PORTFOLIO ----- -------------------- --------------- ----------------------- Arizona 16 4,955 7.42% Arkansas 4 1,039 1.56% California 30 7,389 11.06% Colorado 8 1,749 2.62% Florida 24 5,989 8.96% Georgia 13 3,454 5.17% Idaho 1 120 0.18% Illinois 3 2,032 3.04% Indiana 1 272 0.41% Iowa 1 186 0.28% Kansas 4 1,678 2.51% Kentucky 5 1,327 1.98% Louisiana 1 200 0.30% Maryland 12 3,753 5.62% Michigan 5 2,406 3.60% Minnesota 1 500 0.75% Missouri 1 388 0.58% Nevada 8 2,313 3.46% New Hampshire 1 390 0.58% New Jersey 1 704 1.05% New Mexico 3 601 0.90% North Carolina 11 2,986 4.47% Ohio 4 2,083 3.12% Oklahoma 5 1,140 1.71% Oregon 6 1,868 2.80% Pennsylvania 2 558 0.84% South Carolina 1 211 0.32% Tennessee 3 898 1.34% Texas 27 9,830 14.72% Virginia 6 2,103 3.15% Washington 15 3,670 5.50% --- ------ ------- TOTAL 223 (1) 66,792 100.00% === ====== ======= _________________________
(1) The Company's interest in six of the Properties consists solely of ownership of the debt collateralized by such Properties and in 21 Properties consists solely of investments in partnership interests and subordinated mortgages collateralized by such Properties. For additional information with respect to the Properties, see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Form 10-K/A, for the year ended December 31, 1995, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 1996 and June 30, 1996, and the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, as amended by Form 8-K/A, dated May 23, 1996, incorporated by reference into the accompanying Prospectus. S-7 PROSPECTUS EQUITY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TRUST $500,000,000 PREFERRED SHARES, COMMON SHARES AND DEPOSITARY SHARES --------------------- Equity Residential Properties Trust (the "Company") may from time to time offer (i) in one or more series its preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share ("Preferred Shares"); (ii) common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share ("Common Shares"); and (iii) in one or more series its Preferred Shares represented by depositary shares (the "Depositary Shares"), with an aggregate public offering price of up to $500,000,000 (or its equivalent based on the exchange rate at the time of sale) in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of offering. The Preferred Shares, Common Shares and Depositary Shares (collectively, the "Securities") may be offered, separately or together, in separate series (with respect to Preferred Shares and Depositary Shares) in amounts, at prices and on terms to be described in one or more supplements to this Prospectus (a "Prospectus Supplement"). The specific terms of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and will include, where applicable: (i) in the case of Preferred Shares, the specific title and stated value, any distribution, liquidation, redemption, conversion, voting and other rights, and any initial public offering price; (ii) in the case of Common Shares, any initial public offering price; and (iii) in the case of Depositary Shares, the fractional Preferred Shares represented by each Depositary Share. In addition, such specific terms may include limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer of the Securities, in each case as may be appropriate to assist in maintaining the status of the Company as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes. The applicable Prospectus Supplement also will contain information, where applicable, about the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the Securities covered by such Prospectus Supplement, not contained in this Prospectus. The Securities may be offered directly, through agents designated from time to time by the Company, or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of the Securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement with, between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement. See "Plan of Distribution." No Securities may be sold without delivery of a Prospectus Supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such Securities. SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 5 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS RELATING TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. -------------------------------------- THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAS NOT PASSED ON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL. -------------------------------------- THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS JANUARY 22,1996. AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). The Registration Statement, the exhibits and schedules forming a part thereof and the reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act can be inspected and copied at the Commission's Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following regional offices of the Commission: Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. Copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. In addition, the Company's Common Shares and the Company's 9-3/8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest ($.01 par value per share) (liquidation preference $25.00 per share) ("Series A Preferred Shares") are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols "EQR" and "EQR-PrA", respectively, and similar information concerning the Company can be inspected and copied at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement"), of which this Prospectus is a part, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the Securities offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other documents are not necessarily complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or other documents filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information regarding the Company and the Securities, reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and such exhibits and schedules which may be obtained from the Commission at its principal office in Washington, D.C. upon payment of the fees prescribed by the Commission. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The documents listed below have been filed by the Company under the Exchange Act with the Commission and are incorporated herein by reference: a. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994, as amended by Form 10-K/A. b. The Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws, filed as an exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-11 No. 33-63158 dated July 26, 1993, as amended. c. The Company's definitive proxy statement dated March 31, 1995 relating to the annual meeting of shareholders held on May 10, 1995. d. The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 1995, June 30, 1995 (including the Company's Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust filed as Exhibit 3(i) thereto) and September 30, 1995, as amended by Form 10-Q/A. e. The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K, dated September 21, 1995 (as amended by Forms 8-K/A filed on October 25, 1995 and October 30, 1995, respectively), August 11, 1995, September 22, 1994, May 10, 1994, and March 25, 1994. f. The Company's Registration Statement on Form S-11 which was declared effective on January 19, 1994 (File No. 33-72080). All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of all Securities to which this Prospectus relates shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be part hereof from the date of filing such documents. 2 Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in the Prospectus (in the case of a statement in a previously filed document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein), in any applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to a specific offering of Securities or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus or any accompanying Prospectus Supplement. Subject to the foregoing, all information appearing in this Prospectus and each accompanying Prospectus Supplement is qualified in its entirety by the information appearing in the documents incorporated by reference. Copies of all documents which are incorporated herein by reference (not including the exhibits to such information, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such information) will be provided without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered upon written or oral request. Requests should be directed to Equity Residential Properties Trust, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 450, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: Cynthia McHugh (telephone number: (312) 474-1300). 3 As used herein, the term "Company" includes Equity Residential Properties Trust and those entities owned or controlled by it (collectively, the "Subsidiaries"), unless the context indicates otherwise. THE COMPANY GENERAL Equity Residential Properties Trust is a self-administered and self-managed equity REIT. The Company was organized in March 1993 and commenced operations on August 18, 1993 upon completion of its initial public offering (the "IPO"). The Company was formed to continue the multifamily residential business objectives and acquisition strategies of certain affiliated entities controlled by Mr. Samuel Zell, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Company. These entities had been engaged in the acquisition, ownership and operation of multifamily residential properties since 1969. The Company's senior executives average over 22 years of experience in the multifamily residential property business. As of September 30, 1995, the Company owned or had interests in a portfolio of 196 multifamily residential properties (individually a "Property" and collectively, the "Properties") containing 58,236 apartment units and managed approximately 14,000 additional units owned by third parties. Since the Company's IPO, at which time the Company owned 69 Properties, the Company has acquired, directly or indirectly, interests in an additional 129 Properties containing 37,363 units for a total purchase price of approximately $1.7 billion, including the assumption of $412 million of mortgage indebtedness. One of the Properties was disposed of on July 14, 1995 and another Property was disposed of on September 14, 1995. The Company's interest in six of the Properties consists solely of ownership of the debt collateralized by such Properties and in 21 of the Properties consists solely of investments in partnership interests and subordinated mortgages collateralized by such Properties. The Properties are located throughout the United States in the following 30 states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington. The Company's portfolio is the largest multifamily residential portfolio controlled by a publicly traded REIT (based on the number of apartment units owned and total revenues earned). All of the Company's interests in the Properties are held directly or indirectly, by, and substantially all of its operations relating to the Properties are conducted through, ERP Operating Limited Partnership (the "Operating Partnership"). The Operating Partnership currently has four classes of limited partnership interests outstanding: partnership interests ("OP Units"), which may be exchanged by the holders thereof for either cash or common shares of beneficial interest of the Company, $0.01 par value per share ("Common Shares") on a one-for-one basis, redeemable preference interests ("Artery Preference Units"), which are convertible into OP Units under certain circumstances, 9 3/8% Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units ("9 3/8% Preference Units"), which are owned by the Company and mirror the payments of distributions, including accrued and unpaid distributions upon redemption, and of the liquidating preference amount of the Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest ($.01 par value per share, liquidation preference of $25 per share) (the "Series A Preferred Shares"), and 9 1/8% Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units ("9 1/8% Preference Units") which are owned by the Company and mirror the payments of distributions, including accrued and unpaid distributions upon redemption, and the liquidating preference amounts of the Company's 9 1/8% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest ($.01 par value per share, liquidation preference of $250 per share) (the "Series B Preferred Shares"). The Company controls the Operating Partnership as the sole general partner and, as of September 30, 1995, owned approximately 77.69% of all of the Operating Partnership's outstanding partnership interests (excluding the 9 3/8% Preference Units and the 9 1/8% Preference Units). The Company's corporate headquarters and executive offices are located at Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 450, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and its telephone number is (312) 474-1300. In addition, the Company has regional operations centers in Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Tampa, Florida and Washington, D.C. and area offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Las Vegas, Nevada; Little Rock, Arkansas; Phoenix, Arizona; Portland, Oregon; San Antonio, Texas and Laguna Hills, California. 4 RISK FACTORS Prospective investors should carefully consider, among other factors, the matters described below prior to making an investment decision regarding the Securities offered hereby. ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES OF DEBT FINANCING AND PREFERRED SHARES General Risks. As of September 30, 1995, the Properties were subject to approximately $565 million of mortgage indebtedness and the Company's total debt equaled approximately $1.1 billion, $309 million of which was floating rate debt. In April 1995, the Operating Partnership issued $125 million aggregate principal amount of 7.95% Notes due April 15, 2002 (the "Fixed Rate Notes") pursuant to a public debt offering (the "Second Public Debt Offering"). In addition, in June 1995, the Company issued 6,120,000 Series A Preferred Shares pursuant to a preferred share offering and in November 1995, the Company issued 5,000,000 Depositary Shares each representing a 1/10 fractional interest in a Series B Preferred Share (collectively, the "Preferred Share Offerings"). The Company used the proceeds from the Second Public Debt Offering and the Preferred Share Offerings to repay indebtedness. The Company is subject to the risks normally associated with debt or preferred equity financing, including the risk that the Company's cash flow will be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest, the risk that existing indebtedness may not be refinanced or that the terms of such refinancing will not be as favorable as the terms of current indebtedness and the risk that necessary capital expenditures for such purposes as renovations and other improvements may not be financed on favorable terms or at all. If the Company were unable to refinance its indebtedness on acceptable terms, or at all, the Company might be forced to dispose of one or more of the Properties on disadvantageous terms, which might result in losses to the Company and might adversely affect the cash available for distributions to shareholders. If interest rates or other factors at the time of the refinancing result in higher interest rates upon refinancing, the Company's interest expense would increase, which would affect the Company's ability to make distributions to its shareholders. Furthermore, if a Property is mortgaged to secure payment of indebtedness and the Company is unable to meet mortgage payments, the mortgagee could foreclose upon the Property, appoint a receiver and receive an assignment of rents and leases or pursue other remedies, all with a consequent loss of income and asset value to the Company. Foreclosures could also create taxable income without accompanying cash proceeds, thereby hindering the Company's ability to meet the REIT distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Restrictions on the Company's Activities. $350 million of the Company's debt was issued pursuant to two different indentures which restrict the amount of indebtedness (including acquisition financing) the Company may incur. Accordingly, in the event that the Company is unable to raise additional equity or borrow money because of the debt restrictions in the indentures, the Company's ability to acquire additional properties may be limited. If the Company is unable to acquire additional properties, its ability to increase the distributions with respect to Common Shares, as it has done in the past, will be limited to management's ability to increase funds from operations, and thereby cash available for distributions, from the existing Properties in the Company's portfolio. Bond Compliance Requirements. The Company owns 17 Properties that are subject to restrictive covenants or deed restrictions relating to current or previous tax-exempt bond financing and owns the bonds collateralized by six additional Properties. The Company has retained an independent outside consultant to monitor compliance with the restrictive covenants and deed restrictions that affect these Properties. The bond compliance requirements may have the effect of limiting the Company's income from these Properties in the event the Company is required to lower its rental rates to attract low or moderate income tenants, or eligible/qualified tenants. CONTROL AND INFLUENCE BY SIGNIFICANT SHAREHOLDERS As of September 30, 1995, Mr. Zell, certain of the current holders (the "Zell Holders") of certain OP Units issued at the time of the IPO ("Original OP Units") to certain affiliates of Mr. Zell which contributed 33 of the Properties at the time of the IPO (the "Zell Original Owners"), Equity Properties Management Corp. ("EPMC") and other affiliates of Mr. Zell owned in the aggregate approximately 10.58% of the Common Shares (assuming that all of the partnership interests in the Operating Partnership are exchanged for Common Shares), and certain entities controlled by Starwood Capital Partners L.P. ("Starwood") and its affiliates which contributed 23 of the Properties at the time of the IPO (the "Starwood Original Owners") owned in the aggregate approximately 9.75% of the Common Shares (assuming that all of the partnership interests in the Operating Partnership are exchanged for Common Shares). The Starwood Original Owners, together with the Zell Original Owners, shall be referred to as the "Original Owners." The Company has options outstanding to purchase approximately 1,350,000 Common Shares which it has granted to certain officers, employees and trustees of the Company and consultants to the Company, some of whom are affiliated with Mr. Zell, representing in the aggregate approximately 3.0% of the 5 Common Shares (assuming that all such options are exercised for Common Shares and all of the outstanding partnership interests in the Operating Partnership are exchanged for Common Shares). Further, the consent of affiliates of Mr. Zell who are Zell Holders and of the Starwood Original Owners is required for certain amendments to the Operating Partnership's partnership agreement. Accordingly, Mr. Zell and the Starwood Original Owners may continue to have substantial influence over the Company, which influence might not be consistent with the interests of other shareholders, and on the outcome of any matters submitted to the Company's shareholders for approval. In addition, although there is no current agreement, understanding or arrangement for these shareholders to act together on any matter, these shareholders would be in a position to exercise significant influence over the affairs of the Company if they were to act together in the future. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY AFFECTING THE COMPANY Under various Federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, an owner of real estate may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances on such property. These laws often impose environmental liability without regard to whether the owner knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. The presence of such substances, or the failure properly to remediate such substances, may adversely affect the owner's ability to sell or rent the property or to borrow using the property as collateral. Persons who arrange for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances may also be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of such substances at a disposal or treatment facility, whether or not such facility is owned or operated by such person. Certain laws impose liability for release of asbestos- containing materials ("ACMs") into the air and third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injury associated with ACMs. In connection with the ownership (direct or indirect), operation, management and development of real properties, the Company or the Subsidiaries, as the case may be, may be considered an owner or operator of such properties or as having arranged for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances and, therefore, potentially liable for removal or remediation costs, as well as certain other related costs, including governmental fines and injuries to persons and property. All of the Properties have been the subject of a Phase I or similar environmental assessment (which involves general inspections without soil sampling or ground water analysis and generally without radon testing) completed by qualified independent environmental consultant companies. Ninety of the environmental assessments were conducted during 1991 through 1993 and an additional 106 assessments were completed in 1994 or 1995. These environmental assessments have not revealed, nor is the Company aware of, any environmental liability that the Company's management believes would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. No assurance can be given that existing environmental assessments with respect to any of the Properties reveal all environmental liabilities, that any prior owner of a Property did not create any material environmental condition not known to the Company, or that a material environmental condition does not otherwise exist as to any one or more Properties. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS General. Income from real property investments and the Company's resulting ability to make expected distributions to shareholders may be adversely affected by the general economic climate, local conditions such as oversupply of apartment units or a reduction in demand for apartment units in the area, the attractiveness of the Properties to tenants, zoning or other regulatory restrictions, the ability of the Company to provide adequate maintenance and insurance, and increased operating costs (including insurance premiums and real estate taxes). The Company's income would also be adversely affected if tenants were unable to pay rent or the Company were unable to rent apartment units on favorable terms. If the Company were unable to promptly relet or renew the leases for a significant number of apartment units, or if the rental rates upon such renewal or reletting were significantly lower than expected rates, then the Company's funds from operations and ability to make expected distributions to shareholders may be adversely affected. In addition, certain expenditures associated with each equity investment (such as real estate taxes and maintenance costs) generally are not reduced when circumstances cause a reduction in income from the investment. Furthermore, real estate investments are relatively illiquid and, therefore, will tend to limit the ability of the Company to vary its portfolio promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions. Changes in Laws. Increases in real estate taxes and income, service or other taxes generally are not passed through to tenants under existing leases and may adversely affect the Company's funds from operations and its ability to make distributions to shareholders. Similarly, changes in laws increasing the potential liability for environmental conditions existing on properties or increasing the restrictions on discharges or other conditions may result in significant unanticipated expenditures, which would adversely affect the 6 Company's funds from operations and its ability to make distributions to shareholders. OWNERSHIP LIMIT AND LIMITS ON CHANGES IN CONTROL 5% Ownership Limit; Inapplicability to Mr. Zell and Others. In order to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Company may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities). Certain beneficial owners of the Zell Holders affiliated with Mr. Zell and EPMC (i.e., beneficiaries of trusts established for the benefit of Mr. Zell and his family and trusts established for the benefit of the family of Mr. Robert Lurie, a deceased partner of Mr. Zell (the "Lurie Family Trusts")) and of the Starwood Original Owners (through their potential ownership rights of Common Shares) together constitute four individuals for purposes of this test and, under the Internal Revenue Service's (the "Service") rules applicable to determining percentages of ownership, will be deemed to own approximately 17% of the value of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Company. Due to such concentration of ownership of the Company, ownership of more than 5% of the lesser of the number or value of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Company by any single shareholder has been restricted, with certain exceptions, for the purpose of maintaining the Company's qualification as a REIT under the Code. Such restrictions in the Company's Declaration of Trust do not apply to the ownership of the 8,077,130 Common Shares subject to acquisition by the holders of Original OP Units and EPMC through the exchange of Original OP Units. Additionally, the Company's Declaration of Trust allows certain transfers of such Common Shares without the transferees being subject to the 5% ownership limit, provided such transfers do not result in an increased concentration in the ownership of the Company. The Company's Board of Trustees, upon receipt of a ruling from the Service, an opinion of counsel or other evidence satisfactory to the Board of Trustees and upon such other conditions as the Board of Trustees may direct, may also exempt a proposed transferee from this restriction. See "Description of Shares of Beneficial Interest--Common Shares--Restrictions on Transfer." The 5% ownership limit, as well as the ability of the Company to issue additional Common Shares or other shares of beneficial interest (which may have rights and preferences senior to the Common Shares), may discourage a change of control of the Company and may also (i) deter tender offers for the Common Shares, which offers may be advantageous to shareholders, and (ii) limit the opportunity for shareholders to receive a premium for their Common Shares that might otherwise exist if an investor were attempting to assemble a block of Common Shares in excess of 5% of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Company or otherwise effect a change of control of the Company. Staggered Board. The Board of Trustees of the Company has been divided into three classes of trustees. The terms of the current classes will expire in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. As the term of each class expires, trustees for that class will be elected for a three-year term and the trustees in the other two classes will continue in office. The staggered terms for trustees may impede the shareholders' ability to change control of the Company even if a change in control were in the shareholders' interest. Preferred Shares. The Company's Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board of Trustees to issue up to 10,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value per share ("Preferred Shares") and to establish the preferences and rights (including the right to vote and the right to convert into Common Shares) of any Preferred Shares issued. The power to issue Preferred Shares could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company even if a change in control were in the shareholders' interest. As of September 30, 1995, 6,120,000 Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding. 7 CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO QUALIFY AS A REIT Taxation as a Corporation. The Company believes that it has qualified and will continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code, commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1993. However, no assurance can be given that the Company was organized and has been operated and will be able to operate in a manner so as to qualify or remain so qualified. Qualification as a REIT involves the satisfaction of numerous requirements (some on an annual and quarterly basis) established under highly technical and complex Code provisions for which there are only limited judicial or administrative interpretations, and involves the determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely within the Company's control. If the Company were to fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, the Company would be subject to Federal income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on its taxable income at corporate rates. Moreover, unless entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, the Company also would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification is lost. This treatment would reduce the net earnings of the Company available for investment or distribution to shareholders because of the additional tax liability to the Company for the years involved. In addition, distributions to shareholders would no longer be required to be made. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations." Other Tax Liabilities. Even if the Company qualifies as a REIT, it will be subject to certain Federal, state and local taxes on its income and property. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations--Other Tax Considerations--State and Local Taxes." In addition, the Company's management operations, which are conducted through Equity Residential Properties Management Limited Partnership and Equity Residential Properties Management Limited Partnership II (collectively, the "Management Partnerships") generally will be subject to Federal income tax at regular corporate rates. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations--Other Tax Considerations." Consequences of Failure to Qualify as Partnerships. The Company believes that the Operating Partnership, the Management Partnerships and each of the other partnership and limited liability company Subsidiaries have been organized as partnerships and will qualify for treatment as such under the Code. If any of such Subsidiaries fails to qualify for such treatment under the Code, the Company would cease to qualify as a REIT, and such Subsidiary would be subject to Federal income tax (including any alternative minimum tax) on its income at corporate rates. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations--Taxation of the Company--Failure to Qualify" and "--Tax Aspects of the Company's Investments in Partnerships--General." DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL The Company is dependent on the efforts of its executive officers. While the Company believes that it could find replacements for these key personnel, the loss of their services could have a temporary adverse effect on the operations of the Company. None of these officers has entered into employment agreements with the Company. DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS POTENTIALLY INCREASING INDEBTEDNESS OF THE COMPANY The Company may be required from time to time, under certain circumstances, to accrue as income for tax purposes interest and rent earned but not yet received. In such event, or upon the repayment by the Company or its Subsidiaries of principal on debt, the Company could have taxable income without sufficient cash to enable the Company to meet the distribution requirements of a REIT. Accordingly, the Company could be required to borrow funds or liquidate investments on adverse terms in order to meet such distribution requirements. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations--Taxation of the Company--Annual Distribution Requirements." EXEMPTIONS FOR MR. ZELL AND OTHERS FROM MARYLAND BUSINESS COMBINATION LAW WHICH TEND TO INHIBIT TAKEOVERS Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended ("MGCL"), certain "business combinations" (including certain issuances of equity securities) between a Maryland real estate investment trust and any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the trust's shares of beneficial interest (an "Interested Shareholder") or an affiliate thereof are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the Interested Shareholder becomes an Interested Shareholder. Thereafter, any such business combination must be approved by two super-majority shareholder votes unless, among other conditions, the holders of the common shares of the trust receive a minimum price (as defined in the MGCL) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the Interested Shareholder for its common shares. The Zell Original Owners beneficially own more than 10% of the Company's voting shares and would, therefore, be subject to the business combination provisions of the MGCL. However, 8 pursuant to the statute, the Company has exempted any business combination involving Mr. Zell, the Zell Original Owners, EPMC and their respective affiliates and associates, present or future, or any other person acting in concert or as a group with any of the foregoing persons and, consequently, the five-year prohibition and the super-majority vote requirements will not apply to a business combination between any of them and the Company. As a result, Mr. Zell, the Zell Original Owners, EPMC, any present or future affiliate or associate of theirs or any other person acting in concert or as a group with any of the foregoing persons may be able to enter into business combinations with the Company, which may not be in the best interest of the shareholders, without compliance by the Company with the super-majority vote requirements and other provisions of the statute. USE OF PROCEEDS Unless otherwise indicated in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the Company will contribute or otherwise transfer the net proceeds of any sale of Securities to the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional partnership interests in the Operating Partnership, the economic terms of which will be substantially identical to the Securities sold. The Operating Partnership will use such net proceeds for general business purposes including, without limitation, the repayment of certain outstanding debt and the acquisition of multifamily residential properties. DESCRIPTION OF SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST The summary of the terms of the shares of beneficial interest of the Company set forth below does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration of Trust") and the amended and restated bylaws ("Bylaws") of the Company, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The Declaration of Trust of the Company provides that the Company may issue up to 110,000,000 shares of beneficial interest, consisting of 100,000,000 Common Shares and 10,000,000 Preferred Shares. As of September 30, 1995, 34,489,597 Common Shares and 6,120,000 Series A Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding. In November 1995, the Company issued 500,000 Series B Preferred Shares. In addition, as of September 30, 1995, 8,077,130 Common Shares were issuable upon exchange of OP Units currently held by certain holders of OP Units (the "Original OP Units") originally issued to affiliates of Mr. Zell which contributed 33 of the Properties at the time of the IPO (the "Zell Original Owners"), and certain entities controlled by Starwood Capital Partners L.P. and its affiliates which contributed 23 of the Properties at the time of the IPO (the "Starwood Original Owners" and, together with the Zell Original Owners, the "Original Owners"). An additional 608,665 OP Units were issued in exchange for the contribution of four of the Properties to the Operating Partnership in August, 1995. The OP Units are exchangeable for either cash or Common Shares on a one-for-one basis. Also, as of September 30, 1995, an additional 1,217,723 Common Shares may be issuable upon exchange of OP Units issuable upon exchange of certain redeemable preference interests in the Operating Partnership ("Artery Preference Units") issued to certain affiliates of Artery Property Management, Inc., who contributed certain Properties and other assets to the Operating Partnership in exchange for such Artery Preference Units. Both the Maryland REIT law and the Company's Declaration of Trust provide that no shareholder of the Company will be liable for any debt or obligation of the Company solely as a result of his status as a shareholder of the Company. The Company's Bylaws further provide that the Company shall indemnify each shareholder against any claim or liability to which the shareholder may become subject by reason of his being or having been a shareholder and that the Company shall reimburse each shareholder for all reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with any such claim or liability. However, with respect to tort claims, contractual claims where shareholder liability is not so negated, claims for taxes and certain statutory liability, the shareholders may, in some jurisdictions, be personally liable to the extent that such claims are not satisfied by the Company. Inasmuch as the Company carries public liability insurance which it considers adequate, any risk of personal liability to shareholders is limited to situations in which the Company's assets plus its insurance coverage would be insufficient to satisfy the claims against the Company and its shareholders. 9 PREFERRED SHARES The following description of the Preferred Shares sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the Preferred Shares to which any Prospectus Supplement may relate. The Board of Trustees is empowered by the Company's Declaration of Trust to designate and issue from time to time one or more series of Preferred Shares without shareholder approval. The Board of Trustees may determine the relative rights, preferences and privileges of each series of Preferred Shares so issued. Because the Board of Trustees has the power to establish the preferences and rights of each series of Preferred Shares, it may afford the holders of any series of Preferred Shares preferences, powers and rights, voting or otherwise, senior to the rights of holders of Common Shares. The Preferred Shares will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company currently has outstanding 6,120,000 9 3/8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest ($0.01 par value per share) (liquidation preference $25.00 per share) ("Series A Preferred Shares") that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "EQR-PrA." Distributions on the Series A Preferred Shares are cumulative from the date of original issue and payable quarterly on or about the fifteenth day of January, April, July and October of each year, at the rate of 9 3/8% of the liquidation preference per annum. The Series A Preferred Shares are not redeemable prior to June 1, 2000. On or after June 1, 2000, the Series A Preferred Shares may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Company in whole or in part, at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any, thereon. The redemption price (other than the portion thereof consisting of accrued and unpaid distributions) is payable solely out of the sale proceeds of other shares of beneficial interest of the Company which may include other series of Preferred Shares. The Series A Preferred Shares have no stated maturity and are not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption and are not convertible into any other securities of the Company. However, the Company may redeem Series A Preferred Shares in certain circumstances relating to maintenance of its status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. See "-Redemption" and "-Restrictions on Transfer" below. The other terms of the Series A Preferred Shares are described generally below. The Prospectus Supplement relating to any Preferred Shares offered thereby will contain the specific terms thereof, including, without limitation: (1) The title and stated value of such Preferred Shares; (2) The number of such Preferred Shares offered, the liquidation preference per share and the offering price of such Preferred Shares; (3) The distribution rate(s), period(s) and /or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation thereof applicable to such Preferred Shares; (4) The date from which distributions on such Preferred Shares shall accumulate, if applicable; (5) The procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any, for such Preferred Shares; (6) The provision for a sinking fund, if any, for such Preferred Shares; (7) The provision for redemption, if applicable, of such Preferred Shares; (8) Any listing of such Preferred Shares on any securities exchange; (9) The terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which such Preferred Shares will be convertible into Common Shares of the Company, including the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof); (10) Whether interests in such Preferred Shares will be represented by Depositary Shares; 10 (11) Any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of such Preferred Shares; (12) A discussion of all material federal income tax considerations, if any, applicable to such Preferred Shares that are not discussed in this Prospectus; (13) The relative ranking and preferences of such Preferred Shares as to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company; (14) Any limitations on issuance of any series of Preferred Shares ranking senior to or on a parity with such series of Preferred Shares as to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company; and (15) Any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve the status of the Company as a REIT. Rank. Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the Preferred Shares will, with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, rank (i) senior to all classes or series of Common Shares of the Company, and to all equity securities ranking junior to such Preferred Shares; (ii) on a parity with all equity securities issued by the Company the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank on a parity with the Preferred Shares; and (iii) junior to all equity securities issued by the Company the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to the Preferred Shares. The term "equity securities" does not include convertible debt securities. Distributions. Holders of the Preferred Shares of each series will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Trustees of the Company, out of assets of the Company legally available for payment, cash distributions (or distributions in kind or in other property if expressly permitted and described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement) at such rates and on such dates as will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Each such distribution shall be payable to holders of record as they appear on the share transfer books of the Company on such record dates as shall be fixed by the Board of Trustees of the Company. Distributions on any series of Preferred Shares may be cumulative or non- cumulative, as provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Distributions, if cumulative, will be cumulative from and after the date set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If the Board of Trustees of the Company fails to declare a distribution payable on a distribution payment date on any series of the Preferred Shares for which distributions are non-cumulative, then the holders of such series of the Preferred Shares will have no right to receive a distribution in respect of the distribution period ending on such distribution payment date, and the Company will have no obligation to pay the distribution accrued for such period, whether or not distributions on such series are declared payable on any future distribution payment date. Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, if any Preferred Shares of any series are outstanding, no full distributions shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any shares of beneficial interest of the Company of any other series ranking, as to distributions, on a parity with or junior to the Preferred Shares of such series for any period unless (i) if such series of Preferred Shares has a cumulative distribution, full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for such payment on the Preferred Shares of such series for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period or (ii) if such series of Preferred Shares does not have a cumulative distribution, full distributions for the then current distribution period have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for such payment on the Preferred Shares of such series. When distributions are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon Preferred Shares of any series and the shares of any other series of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity as to distributions with the Preferred Shares of such series, all distributions declared upon Preferred Shares of such series and any other series of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity as to distributions with such Preferred Shares shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of distributions declared per share of Preferred Shares of such series and such other series of Preferred Shares shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued distributions per share on the Preferred Shares of such series (which shall not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid distributions for prior distribution periods if such Preferred Shares do not have a cumulative distribution) and such other series of Preferred Shares bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any distribution payment or payments on Preferred Shares of such series which may be in arrears. Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, unless (i) if such series of Preferred Shares has a cumulative distribution, full cumulative distributions on the Preferred Shares of such series have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and 11 a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period, and (ii) if such series of Preferred Shares does not have a cumulative distribution, full distributions on the Preferred Shares of such series have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment, for the then current distribution period, no distributions (other than in Common Shares or other shares of beneficial interest ranking junior to the Preferred Shares of such series as to distributions and upon liquidation) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution upon the Common Shares, or any other shares of beneficial interest of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with the Preferred Shares of such series as to distributions or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Shares, or any other shares of beneficial interest of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with the Preferred Shares of such series as to distributions or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by the Company (except by conversion into or exchange for other shares of beneficial interest of the Company ranking junior to the Preferred Shares of such series as to distributions and upon liquidation). If, for any taxable year, the Company elects to designate as "capital gain dividends" (as defined in Section 857 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) any portion (the "Capital Gains Amount") of the dividends (within the meaning of the Code) paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of shares of beneficial interest (the "Total Dividends"), then the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that will be allocable to the holders of Preferred Shares will be the Capital Gains Amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total dividends (within the meaning of the Code) paid or made available to the holders of the Preferred Shares for the year and the denominator of which shall be the Total Dividends. Redemption. If so provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Preferred Shares will be subject to mandatory redemption or redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, in each case upon the terms, at the times and at the redemption prices set forth in such Prospectus Supplement. The Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of Preferred Shares that is subject to mandatory redemption will specify the number of such Preferred Shares that shall be redeemed by the Company in each year commencing after a date to be specified, at a redemption price per share to be specified, together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid distributions thereon (which shall not, if such Preferred Shares do not have a cumulative distribution, include any accumulation in respect of unpaid distributions for prior distribution periods) to the date of redemption. The redemption price may be payable in cash or other property, as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If the redemption price for Preferred Shares of any series is payable only from the net proceeds of the issuance of shares of beneficial interest of the Company, the terms of such Preferred Shares may provide that, if no such shares of beneficial interest shall have been issued or to the extent the net proceeds from any issuance are insufficient to pay in full the aggregate redemption price then due, such Preferred Shares shall automatically and mandatorily be converted into the applicable shares of beneficial interest of the Company pursuant to conversion provisions specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless (i) if such series of Preferred Shares has a cumulative distribution, full cumulative distributions on all Preferred Shares of any series shall have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past distribution periods and the current distribution period and (ii) if such series of Preferred Shares does not have a cumulative distribution, full distributions on the Preferred Shares of any series have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for the then current distribution period, no Preferred Shares of any series shall be redeemed unless all outstanding Preferred Shares of such series are simultaneously redeemed; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of Preferred Shares of such series to preserve the REIT status of the Company or pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding Preferred Shares of such series. In addition, unless (i) if such series of Preferred Shares has a cumulative distribution, full cumulative distributions on all outstanding shares of any series of Preferred Shares have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past distributions periods and the then current distribution period, and (ii) if such series of Preferred Shares does not have a cumulative distribution, full distributions on the Preferred Shares of any series have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for the then current distribution period, the Company shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any Preferred Shares of such series (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of beneficial interest of the Company ranking junior to the Preferred Shares of such series as to distributions and upon liquidation); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of Preferred Shares of such series to assist in maintaining the REIT status of the Company or pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding Preferred Shares of such series. If fewer than all of the outstanding Preferred Shares of any series are to be redeemed, the number of shares to be redeemed will be 12 determined by the Company and such shares may be redeemed pro rata from the holders of record of such shares in proportion to the number of such shares held or for which redemption is requested by such holder (with adjustments to avoid redemption of fractional shares) or by lot in a manner determined by the Company. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of record of Preferred Shares of any series to be redeemed at the address shown on the share transfer books of the Company. Each notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number and series of Preferred Shares to be redeemed; (iii) the place or places where certificates for such Preferred Shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (iv) that distributions on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (v) the date upon which the holder's conversion rights, if any, as to such shares shall terminate. If fewer than all of the Preferred Shares of any series are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to each such holder thereof shall also specify the number of Preferred Shares to be redeemed from each such holder. If notice of redemption of any Preferred Shares has been given and if the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by the Company in trust for the benefit of the holders of any Preferred Shares so called for redemption, then from and after the redemption date distributions will cease to accrue on such Preferred Shares, and all rights of the holders of such shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price. Liquidation Preference. Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Common Shares or any other class or series of shares of beneficial interest of the Company ranking junior to the Preferred Shares in the distribution of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of each series of Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive out of assets of the Company legally available for distribution to shareholders liquidating distributions in the amount of the liquidation preference per share (set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement), plus an amount equal to all distributions accrued and unpaid thereon (which shall not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid distributions for prior distribution periods if such Preferred Shares do not have a cumulative distribution). After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Preferred Shares will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company. In the event that, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the available assets of the Company are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding Preferred Shares and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series of shares beneficial interest of the Company ranking on a parity with the Preferred Shares in the distribution of assets, then the holders of the Preferred Shares and all other such classes or series of shares of beneficial interest shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled. If liquidating distributions shall have been made in full to all holders of Preferred Shares, the remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed among the holders of any other classes or series of shares of beneficial interest ranking junior to the Preferred Shares upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, according to their respective rights and preferences and in each case according to their respective number of shares. For such purposes, the consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation, trust or entity, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the property or business of the Company, shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. Voting Rights. Holders of Preferred Shares will not have any voting rights, except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law or as indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Whenever distributions on any Preferred Shares shall be in arrears for six or more quarterly periods, the holders of such Preferred Shares (voting separately as a class with all other series of Preferred Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional Trustees of the Company at a special meeting called by the holders of record of at least ten percent (10%) of any series of Preferred Shares so in arrears (unless such request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the shareholders) or at the next annual meeting of shareholders, and at each subsequent annual meeting until (i) if such series of Preferred Shares has a cumulative distribution, all distributions accumulated on such shares of Preferred Shares for the past distribution periods and the then current distribution period shall have been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment or (ii) if such series of Preferred Shares do not have a cumulative distribution, four consecutive quarterly distributions shall have been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment. In such case, the entire Board of Trustees of the Company will be increased by two Trustees. Unless provided otherwise for any series of Preferred Shares, so long as any Preferred Shares remain outstanding, the Company will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Preferred Shares outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (such series voting separately as a class), (i) authorize or create, or increase 13 the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of shares of beneficial interest ranking prior to such series of Preferred Shares with respect to the payment of distributions or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up or reclassify any authorized shares of beneficial interest of the Company into such shares, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or (ii) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Company's Declaration of Trust or the Articles Supplementary for such series of Preferred Shares, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise (an "Event"), so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of such series of Preferred Shares or the holders thereof; provided, however, with respect to the occurrence of any of the Events set forth in (ii) above, so long as the Preferred Shares remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged, taking into account that upon the occurrence of an Event, the Company may not be the surviving entity, the occurrence of any such Event shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting power of holders of Preferred Shares and provided further that (x) any increase in the amount of the authorized Preferred Shares or the creation or issuance of any other series of Preferred Shares, or (y) any increase in the amount of authorized shares of such series or any other series of Preferred Shares, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the Preferred Shares of such series with respect to payment of distributions or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers. The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding Preferred Shares of such series shall have been redeemed or called for redemption and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption. Conversion Rights. The terms and conditions, if any, upon which any series of Preferred Shares is convertible into Common Shares will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. Such terms will include the number of Common Shares into which the Preferred Shares are convertible, the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holders of the Preferred Shares or the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of the redemption of such series of Preferred Shares. Registrar and Transfer Agent. The registrar and transfer agent for the Preferred Shares will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. COMMON SHARES All Common Shares offered hereby will be duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable. Subject to the preferential rights of any other shares of beneficial interest and to the provisions of the Company's Declaration of Trust regarding Excess Shares (as defined herein), holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive distributions if, as and when authorized and declared by the Board of Trustees out of assets legally available therefor and to share ratably in the assets of the Company legally available for distribution to its shareholders in the event of its liquidation, dissolution or winding-up after payment of, or adequate provision for, all known debts and liabilities of the Company. The Company currently pays regular quarterly distributions. 14 Subject to the provisions of the Company's Declaration of Trust regarding Excess Shares, each outstanding Common Share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of Trustees, and, except as otherwise required by law or except as provided with respect to any other class or series of shares of beneficial interest, the holders of such Common Shares will possess the exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees, which means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Shares can elect all of the Trustees then standing for election and the holders of the remaining shares of beneficial interest, if any, will not be able to elect any Trustees. Holders of Common Shares have no conversion, sinking fund, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe for any securities of the Company. Subject to the provisions of the Company's Declaration of Trust regarding Excess Shares, Common Shares have equal distribution, liquidation and other rights, and have no preference, exchange or, except as expressly required by the Maryland REIT law, appraisal rights. Pursuant to the Maryland REIT law, a REIT generally cannot dissolve, amend its declaration of trust or merge, unless approved by the affirmative vote or written consent of shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the REIT's declaration of trust. The Company's Declaration of Trust does not provide for a lesser percentage in such situations. A declaration of trust may permit the trustees by a two-thirds vote to amend the declaration of trust from time to time to qualify as a REIT under the Code or the Maryland REIT law without the affirmative vote or written consent of the shareholders. The Company's Declaration of Trust permits such action by the Board of Trustees. The registrar and transfer agent for the Common Shares is The First National Bank of Boston. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER Because the Board of Trustees believes it is essential for the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT, the Declaration of Trust, subject to certain exceptions, provides that no holder may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 5% (the "Ownership Limit") of the lesser of the number of shares or value of the issued and outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Company. The Board of Trustees, upon receipt of a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the "Service"), an opinion of counsel or other evidence satisfactory to the Board of Trustees and upon such other conditions as the Board of Trustees may direct, may also exempt a proposed transferee from the Ownership Limit. As a condition of such exemption, the intended transferee must give written notice to the Company of the proposed transfer no later than the fifteenth day prior to any transfer which, if consummated, would result in the intended transferee owning shares in excess of the Ownership Limit. Any transfer of Common or Preferred Shares that would (i) create a direct or indirect ownership of shares of beneficial interest in excess of the Ownership Limit, (ii) result in the shares of beneficial interest being owned by fewer than 100 persons, or (iii) result in the Company being "closely held" within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, will be void ab initio, and the intended transferee will acquire no rights to the shares of beneficial interest. The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if the Board of Trustees determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT. The Company's Declaration of Trust exempts from the Ownership Limit certain of the beneficial owners of the Original Owners and EPMC, who would exceed the Ownership Limit as a result of the exchange of the OP Units for Common Shares, which OP Units were received by them at the time of the formation of the Company. These persons may also acquire additional shares of beneficial interest through the Company's Option and Award Plan, but in no event will such persons be entitled to acquire additional shares such that the five largest beneficial owners of the Company's shares of beneficial interest hold more than 50% in number or value of the total outstanding shares of beneficial interest. Any shares of beneficial interest the transfer of which would result in a person owning shares of beneficial interest in excess of the Ownership Limit or cause the Company to become "closely held" under Section 856(h) of the Code that is not otherwise permitted as provided above will constitute excess shares ("Excess Shares"), which will be transferred by operation of law to the Company as trustee for the exclusive benefit of the person or persons to whom the Excess Shares are ultimately transferred, until such time as the intended transferee retransfers the Excess Shares. While these Excess Shares are held in trust, they will not be entitled to vote or to share in any distributions or other distributions (except upon liquidation). Subject to the Ownership Limit, the Excess Shares may be retransferred by the intended transferee to any person (if the Excess Shares would not be Excess Shares in the hands of such person) at a price not to exceed the price paid by the intended transferee or, if the intended transferee did not give value for such Excess Shares (e.g., a transfer by 15 gift or devise), the fair market value (as described below) at the time of the purported transfer that resulted in the Excess Shares, at which point the Excess Shares will automatically be exchanged for the shares of beneficial interest to which the Excess Shares are attributable. In addition, such Excess Shares held in trust are subject to purchase by the Company at a purchase price equal to the lesser of the price paid for the Excess Shares in the transaction that created such Excess Shares (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the fair market value at the time of such devise or gift) and the fair market value of the Common Shares to which such Excess Shares relate on the date the Company exercises its right to purchase. Fair market value will be the last sales price of such shares of beneficial interest reported on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date, or if not then traded on the NYSE, the last reported sales price of such shares of beneficial interest on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date as reported on any exchange or quotation system over which such shares of beneficial interest may be traded, or if not then traded over any exchange or quotation system, then the fair market value of such shares of beneficial interest on the relevant date as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Company. The Company's right to purchase shall be for a period of 90 days after the later of the date of the purported transfer which resulted in the Excess Shares and the date the Board of Trustees determines in good faith that such a transfer has occurred. From and after the intended transfer to the intended transferee of the Excess Shares, the intended transferee shall cease to be entitled to distributions (except upon liquidation), voting rights and other benefits with respect to such shares except the right to payment of the purchase price for the shares or the retransfer of shares as provided above. Any distribution paid to a proposed transferee on Excess Shares prior to the discovery by the Company that such shares of beneficial interest have been transferred in violation of the provisions of the Company's Declaration of Trust shall be repaid to the Company upon demand. If the foregoing transfer restrictions are determined to be void or invalid by virtue of any legal decision, statute, rule or regulation, then the intended transferee of any Excess Shares may be deemed, at the option of the Company, to have acted as an agent on behalf of the Company in acquiring such Excess Shares and to hold such Excess Shares on behalf of the Company. All certificates representing shares of beneficial interest shall bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above. All persons who own, directly or by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 5% (or such other percentage between 1/2 of 1% and 5% as provided in the rules and regulations promulgated under the Code) of the lesser of the number or value of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Company must give a written notice to the Company by January 31 of each year. In addition, each shareholder will upon demand be required to disclose to the Company in writing such information with respect to the direct, indirect and constructive ownership of shares of beneficial interest as the Board of Trustees deems reasonably necessary to comply with the provisions of the Code applicable to a REIT, to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental agency or to determine any such compliance. For the Company to qualify as a REIT under the Code, shares of beneficial interest must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months (other than the first year) or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of the issued and outstanding shares of beneficial interest may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain tax-exempt entities) during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first year) or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Certain beneficial owners of the holders of the Original OP Units (i.e., beneficiaries of trusts established for the benefit of Mr. Zell and his family and the family of Mr. Robert Lurie, a deceased partner of Mr. Zell) and EPMC, together with the Starwood Original Owners (through their potential ownership of shares of beneficial interest) together constitute four individuals for purposes of this test and, under the Service's rules applicable to determining percentages of ownership, are deemed to own approximately 17% of the value of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Company. These ownership limitations could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a takeover or other transaction in which holders of some, or a majority, of Common Shares might receive a premium for their Common Shares over the then prevailing market price or which such holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interest. 16 DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES GENERAL The Company may issue receipts ("Depositary Receipts") for Depositary Shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest of a share of a particular series of Preferred Shares, as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Preferred Shares of each series represented by Depositary Shares will be deposited under a separate Deposit Agreement (each, a "Deposit Agreement") among the Company, the depositary named therein (the "Preferred Share Depositary") and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts. Subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Receipt will be entitled, in proportion to the fractional interest of a share of a particular series of Preferred Shares represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Depositary Receipt, to all the rights and preferences of the Preferred Shares represented by such Depositary Shares (including distribution, voting, conversion, redemption and liquidation rights). The Depositary Shares will be evidenced by Depositary Receipts issued pursuant to the applicable Deposit Agreement. Immediately following the issuance and delivery of the Preferred Shares by the Company to the Preferred Share Depositary, the Company will cause the Preferred Share Depositary to issue, on behalf of the Company, the Depositary Receipts. Copies of the applicable form of Deposit Agreement and Depositary Receipt may be obtained from the Company upon request, and the following summary of the form thereof filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto. DISTRIBUTIONS The Preferred Share Depositary will distribute all cash distributions received in respect of the Preferred Shares to the record holders of Depositary Receipts evidencing the related Depositary Shares in proportion to the number of such Depositary Receipts owned by such holders, subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the Preferred Share Depositary. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the Preferred Share Depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of Depositary Receipts entitled thereto, subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the Preferred Share Depositary, unless the Preferred Share Depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the Preferred Share Depositary may, with the approval of the Company, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders. No distribution will be made in respect of any Depositary Share to the extent that it represents any Preferred Shares converted into Excess Shares. WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES Upon surrender of the Depositary Receipts at the corporate trust office of the Preferred Share Depositary (unless the related Depositary Shares have previously been called for redemption or converted into Excess Shares), the holders thereof will be entitled to delivery at such office, to or upon such holder's order, of the number of whole or fractional Preferred Shares and any money or other property represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Depositary Receipts. Holders of Depositary Receipts will be entitled to receive whole or fractional shares of the related Preferred Shares on the basis of the proportion of the Preferred Shares represented by each Depositary Share as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, but holders of such Preferred Shares will not thereafter be entitled to receive Depositary Shares therefor. If the Depositary Receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing the number of Preferred Shares to be withdrawn, the Preferred Share Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new Depositary Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares. 17 REDEMPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES Whenever the Company redeems Preferred Shares held by the Preferred Share Depositary, the Preferred Share Depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of Depositary Shares representing the Preferred Shares so redeemed, provided the Company shall have paid in full to the Preferred Share Depositary the redemption price of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid distributions thereon to the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per Depositary Share will be equal to the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable with respect to the Preferred Shares. If fewer than all the Depositary Shares are to be redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional Depositary Shares) or by any other equitable method determined by the Company that will not result in the issuance of any Excess Shares. From and after the date fixed for redemption, all distributions in respect of the Preferred Shares so called for redemption will cease to accrue, the Depositary Shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the Depositary Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares so called for redemption will cease, except the right to receive any monies payable upon such redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of such Depositary Receipts were entitled upon such redemption upon surrender thereof to the Preferred Share Depositary. VOTING OF THE PREFERRED SHARES Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Preferred Shares are entitled to vote, the Preferred Share Depositary will mail the information contained in such notice of meeting to the record holders of the Depositary Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares which represent such Preferred Shares. Each record holder of Depositary Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the Preferred Shares) will be entitled to instruct the Preferred Share Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of Preferred Shares represented by such holder's Depositary Shares. The Preferred Share Depositary will vote the amount of Preferred Shares represented by such Depositary Shares in accordance with such instructions, and the Company will agree to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the Preferred Share Depositary in order to enable the Preferred Share Depositary to do so. The Preferred Share Depositary will abstain from voting the amount of Preferred Shares represented by such Depositary Shares to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of Depositary Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares. The Preferred Share Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote, or for the manner or effect of any such vote made, as long as any such action or non-action is in good faith and does not result from negligence or willful misconduct of the Preferred Share Depositary. LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of each Depositary Receipt will be entitled to the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each Preferred Share represented by the Depositary Share evidenced by such Depositary Receipt, as set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. CONVERSION OF PREFERRED SHARES The Depositary Shares, as such, are not convertible into Common Shares or any other securities or property of the Company, except in connection with certain conversions in connection with the preservation of the Company's status as a REIT. Nevertheless, if so specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of Depositary Shares, the Depositary Receipts may be surrendered by holders thereof to the Preferred Share Depositary with written instructions to the Preferred Share Depositary to instruct the Company to cause conversion of the Preferred Shares represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Depositary Receipts into whole Common Shares, other Preferred Shares (including Excess Shares) of the Company or other shares of beneficial interest, and the Company has agreed that upon receipt of such instructions and any amounts payable in respect thereof, it will cause the conversion thereof utilizing the same procedures as those provided for delivery of Preferred Shares to effect such conversion. If the Depositary Shares evidenced by a Depositary Receipt are to be converted in part only, a new Depositary Receipt or Receipts will be issued for any Depositary Shares not to be converted. No fractional Common Shares will be issued upon conversion, and if such conversion will result in a fractional share being issued, an amount will be paid in cash by the Company equal to the value of the fractional interest based upon the closing price of the Common Shares on the last business day prior to the conversion. 18 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT The form of Depositary Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares which represent the Preferred Shares and any provision of the Deposit Agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Preferred Share Depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of Depositary Receipts or that would be materially and adversely inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the related Preferred Shares will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the existing holders of at least a majority of the Depositary Shares evidenced by the Depositary Receipts then outstanding. No amendment shall impair the right, subject to certain exceptions in the Depositary Agreement, of any holder of Depositary Receipts to surrender any Depositary Receipt with instructions to deliver to the holder the related Preferred Shares and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with law. Every holder of an outstanding Depositary Receipt at the time any such amendment becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Depositary Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. The Deposit Agreement may be terminated by the Company upon not less than 30 days' prior written notice to the Preferred Share Depositary if (i) such termination is necessary to assist in maintaining the Company's status as a REIT or (ii) a majority of each series of Preferred Shares affected by such termination consents to such termination, whereupon the Preferred Share Depositary shall deliver or make available to each holder of Depositary Receipts, upon surrender of the Depositary Receipts held by such holder, such number of whole or fractional Preferred Shares as are represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Depositary Receipts together with any other property held by the Preferred Share Depositary with respect to such Depositary Receipts. The Company has agreed that if the Deposit Agreement is terminated to assist in maintaining the Company's status as a REIT, then, if the Depositary Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, the Company will use its best efforts to list the Preferred Shares issued upon surrender of the related Depositary Shares on a national securities exchange. In addition, the Deposit Agreement will automatically terminate if (i) all outstanding Depositary Shares shall have been redeemed, (ii) there shall have been a final distribution in respect of the related Preferred Shares in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and such distribution shall have been distributed to the holders of Depositary Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares representing such Preferred Shares or (iii) each share of the related Preferred Shares shall have been converted into shares of beneficial interest of the Company not so represented by Depositary Shares. CHARGES OF PREFERRED SHARE DEPOSITARY The Company will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the Deposit Agreement. In addition, the Company will pay the fees and expenses of the Preferred Share Depositary in connection with the performance of its duties under the Deposit Agreement. However, holders of Depositary Receipts will pay certain other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges as well as the fees and expenses of the Preferred Share Depositary for any duties requested by such holders to be performed which are outside of those expressly provided for in the Deposit Agreement. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY The Preferred Share Depositary may resign at any time by delivering to the Company notice of its election to do so, and the Company may at any time remove the Preferred Share Depositary, any such resignation or removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Preferred Share Depositary. A successor Preferred Share Depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. MISCELLANEOUS The Preferred Share Depositary will forward to holders of Depositary Receipts any reports and communications from the Company which are received by the Preferred Share Depositary with respect to the related Preferred Shares. Neither the Preferred Share Depositary nor the Company will be liable if it is prevented from or delayed in, by law or any circumstances beyond its control, performing its obligations under the Deposit Agreement. The obligations of the Company and the Preferred Share Depositary under the Deposit Agreement will be limited to performing their duties thereunder in good faith and without negligence (in the case of any action or inaction in the voting of Preferred Shares represented by the Depositary Shares), gross negligence or willful misconduct, and the Company and the Preferred Share Depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any Depositary Receipts, Depositary Shares or Preferred Shares represented thereby unless satisfactory indemnity 19 is furnished. The Company and the Preferred Share Depositary may rely on written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting Preferred Shares represented thereby for deposit, holders of Depositary Receipts or other persons believed in good faith to be competent to give such information, and on documents believed in good faith to be genuine and signed by a proper party. In the event the Preferred Share Depositary shall receive conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any holders of Depositary Receipts, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, the Preferred Share Depositary shall be entitled to act on such claims, requests or instructions received from the Company. RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES The Company's ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and Preferred Share distributions for the nine months ended September 30, 1995 was 1.58, and for the years ended December 31, 1994, and 1993 was 2.18 and 1.25, respectively. Prior to the year ended December 31, 1994, the Company had not issued any Preferred Shares; therefore, the ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and Preferred Share distributions would be unchanged from the ratios of earnings to fixed charges in the previous sentence. The ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and Preferred Share distributions was computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges and Preferred Share distributions. For purposes of computing these ratios, earnings have been calculated by adding fixed charges to income (loss) before extraordinary items. Fixed charges (as applicable) consist of interest costs, whether expensed or capitalized, the interest component of rental expense, and amortization of debt discounts and issue costs, whether expensed or capitalized. Preferred Share distributions consist of those distributions paid on the Company's Series A Preferred Shares during the periods indicated. The Series A Preferred Shares were issued on June 1, 1995. Prior to completion of the IPO, certain of the predecessor entities to the Company operated in a highly leveraged manner. As a result, although the Properties have historically generated positive net cash flow, the combined financial statements of the predecessor entities show net losses for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1992, 1991 and 1990. Consequently, the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for such periods indicates that earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by approximately $3.3 million, $6.2 million and $12.2 million, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1992, 1991 and 1990, respectively, primarily due to the effect of certain non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization. The reorganization and recapitalization of the Company effected in connection with the IPO permitted the Company to significantly deleverage the Properties resulting in an improved ratio of earnings to fixed charges for periods subsequent to the IPO. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS GENERAL The following discussion summarizes all material federal income tax considerations. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will contain information about specific federal income tax considerations, if any, relating to Securities other than Common Shares. The following discussion, which is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations, does not give a detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax considerations. Nor does it discuss all of the aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to a prospective shareholder in light of his or her particular circumstances or to certain types of shareholders (including insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, financial institutions or broker-dealers, foreign corporations and persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States) who are subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws. As used in this section, the term "Company" refers solely to Equity Residential Properties Trust. 20 EACH PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER OF SECURITIES IS ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO HIM, IN LIGHT OF HIS SPECIFIC OR UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES, OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND SALE OF SECURITIES IN AN ENTITY ELECTING TO BE TAXED AS A REIT, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, SALE AND ELECTION AND OF POTENTIAL CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAWS. TAXATION OF THE COMPANY General. The Company elected REIT status commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 1993. In the opinion of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P., which has acted as special tax counsel to the Company, the Company was organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable years ended December 31, 1993 and December 31, 1994, and the Company's current organization and method of operation should enable it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. It must be emphasized that this opinion is based on various assumptions relating to the organization and operation of the Company, the Operating Partnership, Equity Residential Properties Management Limited Partnership and Equity Residential Properties Management Limited Partnership II (collectively, the "Management Partnerships"), Equity Residential Properties Management Corp., Equity Residential Properties Management Corp. II and Equity Residential Properties Management Corp. III (collectively, the "Management Corps."), the limited partnerships and limited liability companies (the "Financing Partnerships") that own the beneficial interest of certain Properties encumbered by mortgage financing, and various qualified REIT subsidiaries wholly owned by the Company (each a "QRS Corporation") (collectively, the Management Partnerships, the Management Corps., the Financing Partnerships and the QRS Corporations may be referred to as the "Subsidiary Entities"), and is conditioned upon certain representations made by the Company and the Operating Partnership as to certain relevant factual matters, including matters related to the organization, expected operation, and assets of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Subsidiary Entities. The Company's qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon the Company's ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual annual operating and other results, the various requirements under the Code and described in the Prospectus with regard to, among other things, the sources of its gross income, the composition of its assets, the level of its dividends to shareholders, and the diversity of its share ownership. Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. will not review the Company's compliance with these requirements on a continuing basis. No assurance can be given that the actual results of the operations of the Company, the Operating Partnership, and the Subsidiary Entities, the sources of their income, the nature of their assets, the level of the Company's dividends to shareholders and the diversity of its share ownership for any given taxable year will satisfy the requirements under the Code for qualification and taxation as a REIT. In any year in which the Company qualifies as a REIT, generally it will not be subject to Federal income tax on that portion of its REIT taxable income or capital gain which is distributed to shareholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the "double taxation" (at both the corporate and shareholder levels) that generally results from the use of corporate investment vehicles. The Company may, however, be subject to tax at normal corporate rates upon any taxable income or capital gain not distributed. If the Company should fail to satisfy either the 75% or the 95% gross income test (as discussed below), and nonetheless maintains its qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements are met, it will be subject to a 100% tax on the greater of the amount by which it fails the 75% or the 95% test, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect its profitability. The Company will also be subject to a tax of 100% on net income from any "prohibited transaction," as described below. In addition, if the Company should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of its REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of its REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income from prior years, the Company would be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed. The Company may also be subject to the corporate "alternative minimum tax," as well as tax in certain situations and on certain transactions not presently contemplated. The Company will use the calendar year both for Federal income tax purposes and for financial reporting purposes. In order to qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet, among others, the following requirements: Share Ownership Test. Shares of beneficial interest of the Company must be held by a minimum of 100 persons for at least, approximately, 92% of the days in each taxable year subsequent to 1993. In addition, at all times during the second half of each taxable year subsequent to 1993, no more than 50% in value of the shares of beneficial interest of the Company may be owned, directly or indirectly and by applying certain constructive ownership rules, by five or fewer individuals. The Company believes that it has satisfied both of these tests, and it believes it will continue to do so. In order to help comply with the second of these tests, the Company has placed certain restrictions on the transfer of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares that are intended to prevent further concentration of 21 share ownership. Asset Tests. At the close of each quarter of the Company's taxable year, the Company must satisfy two tests relating to the nature of its assets. First, at least 75% of the value of the Company's total assets must be represented by any combination of interests in real property, interests in mortgages on real property, shares in other REITs, cash, cash items and certain government securities. Second, although the remaining 25% of the Company's assets generally may be invested without restriction, securities in this class may not exceed either (i) 5% of the value of the Company's total assets as to any one issuer, or (ii) 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. Where the Company invests in a partnership, it will be deemed to own a proportionate share of the partnership's assets. The Company's investment in the Properties through its interest in the Operating Partnership will constitute qualified assets for purposes of the 75% asset test. The Operating Partnership owns none of the voting stock, but owns 100% of the non-voting stock of each of the Management Corps. By virtue of its partnership interest in the Operating Partnership, the Company is deemed to own its pro rata share of the assets of the Operating Partnership, including the stock of the Management Corps. as described above. The Operating Partnership has not and will not own more than 10% of the voting securities of the Management Corps. In addition, based upon its analysis of the estimated value of the stock of the Management Corps. owned by the Operating Partnership relative to the estimated value of the other assets owned by the Operating Partnership, the Company believes that its pro rata share of the stock of each Management Corp. held by the Operating Partnership has not exceeded and does not exceed 5% of the total value of the Company's assets. No independent appraisals, however, have been obtained to support this conclusion. This 5% limitation must be satisfied not only on the date that the Company first acquired stock of a Management Corp., but also at the end of each quarter in which the Company increases its interest in either of the Management Corps. (including as a result of increasing its interest in the Operating Partnership as the holders of OP Units exercise their exchange rights). Although the Company plans to take steps to ensure that it satisfies the 5% value test for any quarter with respect to which retesting is to occur, there can be no assurance that such steps will always be successful or will not require a reduction in the Operating Partnership's overall interest in the Management Corps. The Company's indirect interests as a general partner in the Financing Partnerships are held through the QRS Corporations, each of which is organized and operated as a "qualified REIT subsidiary" within the meaning of the Code. Qualified REIT subsidiaries are not treated as separate entities from their parent REIT. Instead, all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of each QRS Corporation will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of the Company. Each QRS Corporation therefore will not be subject to Federal corporate income taxation, although it may be subject to state or local taxation. In addition, the Company's ownership of the voting stock of each QRS Corporation will not violate the general restriction against ownership of more than 10% of the voting securities of any issuer. Gross Income Tests. There are three separate percentage tests relating to the sources of the Company's gross income which must be satisfied for each taxable year. For purposes of these tests, where the Company invests in a partnership, the Company will be treated as receiving its share of the income and loss of the partnership, and the gross income of the partnership will retain the same character in the hands of the Company as it has in the hands of the partnership. 1. The 75% Test. At least 75% of the Company's gross income for each taxable year must be "qualifying income." Qualifying income generally includes (i) rents from real property (except as modified below); (ii) interest on obligations collateralized by mortgages on, or interests in, real property; (iii) gains from the sale or other disposition of interests in real property and real estate mortgages, other than gain from property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the Company's trade or business ("dealer property"); (iv) distributions on shares in other REITs, as well as gain from the sale of such shares; (v) abatements and refunds of real property taxes; (vi) income from the operation, and gain from the sale, of property acquired at or in lieu of a foreclosure of the mortgage collateralized by such property ("foreclosure property"); (vii) commitment fees received for agreeing to make loans collateralized by mortgages on real property or to purchase or lease real property; and (viii) certain qualified temporary investment income attributable to the investment of new capital received by the Company in exchange for its shares (including the Securities offered hereby) during the one-year period following the receipt of such new capital. Rents received from a tenant will not, however, qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the 75% test (or the 95% gross income test described below) if the Company, or an owner of 10% or more of the Company, directly or constructively owns 10% or more of such tenant. In addition, if rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to such personal property will not qualify as rents from real property. Moreover, an amount received or accrued will not qualify as rents from real property (or as interest income) for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests if it is based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. Finally, for rents received to 22 qualify as rents from real property, the Company generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to tenants, other than through an "independent contractor" from whom the Company derives no revenue. The "independent contractor" requirement, however, does not apply to the extent that the services provided by the Company are "usually or customarily rendered" in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only, and are not otherwise considered "rendered to the occupant." The Company, through the Management Partnerships, provides certain services with respect to the Properties and any newly acquired multifamily residential properties. The Company believes that the services provided by the Management Partnerships are usually or customarily rendered in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only, and therefore that the provision of such services has not caused, and will not in the future cause the rents received with respect to the Properties to fail to qualify as rents from real property for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. 2. The 95% Test. At least 95% of the Company's gross income for the taxable year must be derived from the above-described qualifying income, or from dividends, interest or gains from the sale or disposition of stock or other securities that are not dealer property. Dividends (including the Company's share of dividends paid by the Management Corps.) and interest on any obligations not collateralized by an interest in real property and any payments made on behalf of the Company by a financial institution pursuant to a rate protection agreement will be included as qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not for purposes of the 75% test. For purposes of determining whether the Company complies with the 75% and 95% income tests, gross income does not include income from prohibited transactions. A "prohibited transaction" is a sale of dealer property, excluding certain dealer property held by the Company for at least four years and excluding foreclosure property. The Company's investment in the Properties, through the Operating Partnership, in major part gives rise to rental income qualifying under the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Gains on sales of the Properties or of the Company's interest in the Operating Partnership will generally qualify under the 75% and 95% gross income tests. The Company believes that the income on its other investments, including its indirect investment in the Management Corps., has not resulted in the Company failing the 75% or 95% gross income test for any year, and the Company anticipates that this will continue to be the case. Even if the Company fails to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, it may still qualify as a REIT for such year if it is entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. These relief provisions will generally be available if: (i) the Company's failure to comply was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect; (ii) the Company reports the nature and amount of each item of its income included in the tests on a schedule attached to its tax return; and (iii) any incorrect information on this schedule is not due to fraud with intent to evade tax. If these relief provisions apply, the Company, however, will still be subject to a 100% tax based upon the greater of the amount by which it fails either the 75% or 95% gross income test for that year, less certain adjustments. 3. The 30% Test. The Company must derive less than 30% of its gross income for each taxable year from the sale or other disposition of (i) real property held for less than four years (other than foreclosure property and involuntary conversions), (ii) stock or securities held for less than one year, and (iii) property in a prohibited transaction. The Company has not had and does not anticipate that it will have any substantial difficulty in complying with this test. Annual Distribution Requirements. The Company, in order to qualify as a REIT, is required to make dividend distributions (other than capital gain dividends) to its shareholders each year in an amount at least equal to (A) the sum of (i) 95% of the Company's REIT taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and the Company's net capital gain) and (ii) 95% of the net income (after tax), if any, from foreclosure property, minus (B) the sum of certain items of non-cash income. Such distributions must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before the Company timely files its tax return for such year and if paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. To the extent that the Company does not distribute all of its net capital gain or distributes at least 95%, but less than 100%, of its REIT taxable income, as adjusted, it will be subject to tax on the undistributed amount at regular capital gains or ordinary corporate tax rates, as the case may be. 23 The Company has made and intends to continue to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements. In this regard, the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership authorizes the Company, as general partner, to take such steps as may be necessary to cause the Operating Partnership to distribute to its partners an amount sufficient to permit the Company to meet these distribution requirements. It is possible that the Company may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet the 95% dividend requirement, due to the payment of principal on debt or to timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of expenses on the one hand, and the inclusion of such income and deduction of such expenses in computing the Company's REIT taxable income on the other hand. To avoid any problem with the 95% distribution requirement, the Company will closely monitor the relationship between its REIT taxable income and cash flow and, if necessary, will borrow funds (or cause the Operating Partnership or other affiliates to borrow funds) in order to satisfy the distribution requirement. Failure to Qualify. If the Company fails to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year and the relief provisions do not apply, the Company will be subject to tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on its taxable income at regular corporate rates. Distributions to shareholders in any year in which the Company fails to qualify will not be required and, if made, will not be deductible by the Company. In such event, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to shareholders will be taxable as ordinary income, and, subject to certain limitations in the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, the Company also will be ineligible for qualification as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. TAX ASPECTS OF THE COMPANY'S INVESTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIPS General. The Company holds direct or indirect interests in the Operating Partnership, the Management Partnerships and certain Financing Partnerships (each individually a "Partnership" and, collectively, the "Partnerships"). The Company believes that each of the Partnerships qualifies as a partnership (as opposed to an association taxable as a corporation) for Federal income tax purposes. If any of the Partnerships were to be treated as an association, it would be taxable as a corporation and therefore subject to an entity-level tax on its income. In such a situation, the character of the Company's assets and items of gross income would change, which would preclude the Company from satisfying the asset tests and possibly the income tests (see "Federal Income Tax Considerations--Taxation of the Company--Asset Tests" and "--Gross Income Tests"), and in turn would prevent the Company from qualifying as a REIT. Tax Allocations with Respect to the Properties. Pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code, income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership (such as certain of the 69 Properties contributed at the time of the IPO (the "Initial Properties")) must be allocated in a manner such that the contributing partner is charged with, or benefits from, respectively, the unrealized gain or unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of such unrealized gain or unrealized loss is generally equal to the difference between the fair market value and the adjusted tax basis of contributed property at the time of contribution (a "Book-Tax Difference"). Such allocations are solely for Federal income tax purposes and do not affect the book capital accounts or other economic or legal arrangements among the partners. The Operating Partnership was formed by way of contributions of appreciated property (including certain of the Initial Properties). Consequently, the Operating Partnership partnership agreement (as well as the Financing Partnerships agreements) requires such allocations to be made in a manner consistent with Section 704(c). As a result, certain limited partners of the Operating Partnership will be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes and increased taxable income and gain on sale by the Partnerships of the contributed assets (including certain of the Initial Properties). These allocations will tend to eliminate the Book-Tax Difference over the life of the Partnerships. However, the special allocation rules of Section 704(c) as applied by the Company do not always entirely rectify the Book-Tax Difference on an annual basis or with respect to a specific taxable transaction such as a sale. Thus, the carryover basis of the contributed assets in the hands of the Partnerships will cause the Company to be allocated lower depreciation and other deductions, and possibly greater amounts of taxable income in the event of a sale of such contributed assets in excess of the economic or book income allocated to it as a result of such sale. This may cause the Company to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds, which might adversely affect the Company's ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations--Taxation of the Company--Annual Distribution Requirements." Sale of the Properties. The Company's share of any gain realized by the Operating Partnership on the sale of any dealer property generally will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations--Taxation of the Company-- Gross Income Tests--The 95% Test." Under existing law, whether property is dealer property is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances with respect to the particular transaction. The Partnerships have held and intend to continue to hold the Properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring, developing, owning and operating the Properties and other multifamily residential properties and to make such occasional sales of the 24 Properties as are consistent with the Company's investment objectives. Based upon such investment objectives, the Company believes that in general the Properties should not be considered dealer property and that the amount of income from prohibited transactions, if any, will not be material. TAXATION OF TAXABLE DOMESTIC SHAREHOLDERS General. As long as the Company qualifies as a REIT, distributions made to the Company's taxable domestic shareholders, with respect to their Securities out of current or accumulated earnings and profits (and not designated as capital gain dividends) will be taken into account by them as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for shareholders that are corporations. For purposes of determining whether distributions on the Securities are out of current or accumulated earnings and profits, the earnings and profits of the Company will be allocated first to the Preferred Shares and second to the Common Shares. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will have sufficient earnings and profits to cover distributions on the Preferred Shares. Dividends that are designated as capital gain dividends will be taxed as long-term capital gains (to the extent that they do not exceed the Company's actual net capital gain for the taxable year) without regard to the period for which the shareholder has held its Securities. However, corporate shareholders may be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income. For a discussion on the manner in which that portion of any dividends designated by the Company as capital gains dividends will be allocated among the holders of Preferred Shares and Common Shares, see "Description of Shares of Beneficial Interest--Preferred Shares--Distributions." To the extent that the Company makes distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, these distributions are treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the shareholder, reducing the tax basis of a shareholder's Securities by the amount of such distribution (but not below zero), with distributions in excess of the shareholder's tax basis taxable as capital gains (if the Securities are held as a capital asset). In addition, any dividend declared by the Company in October, November or December of any year and payable to a shareholder of record on a specific date in any such month shall be treated as both paid by the Company and received by the shareholder on December 31 of such year, provided that the dividend is actually paid by the Company during January of the following calendar year. Shareholders may not include in their individual income tax returns any net operating losses or capital losses of the Company. In general, any loss upon a sale or exchange of Securities by a shareholder who has held such Securities for six months or less (after applying certain holding period rules) will be treated as a long-term capital loss, to the extent of distributions from the Company received by such shareholder are required to be treated by such shareholder as long-term capital gains. Additional Tax Consequences for Holders of Preferred Shares and Depositary Shares. If the Company offers one or more series of Preferred Shares or Depositary Shares, then there may be additional tax consequences for the holders of such Preferred Shares or Depositary Shares. For a discussion of any such additional consequences, see the applicable Prospectus Supplement. TAXATION OF TAX-EXEMPT SHAREHOLDERS Most tax-exempt employees' pension trusts are not subject to Federal income tax except to the extent of their receipt of "unrelated business taxable income" as defined in Section 512(a) of the Code ("UBTI"). Distributions by the Company to a shareholder that is a tax-exempt entity should not constitute UBTI, provided that the tax-exempt entity has not financed the acquisition of its Securities with "acquisition indebtedness" within the meaning of the Code and the Securities are not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business of the tax-exempt entity. In addition, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1994, certain pension trusts that own more than 10% of a "pension-held REIT" must report a portion of the distribution that they receive from such a REIT as UBTI. The Company has not been and does not expect to be treated as a pension- held REIT for purposes of this rule. 25 TAXATION OF FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS The following is a discussion of certain anticipated U.S. Federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of Securities applicable to Non-U.S. Holders of such Securities. A "Non-U.S. Holder" is any person other than (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation or partnership created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, or (iii) an estate or trust whose income is includable in gross income for U.S. Federal income tax purposes regardless of its source. The discussion is based on current law and is for general information only. Distributions From the Company. 1. Ordinary Dividends. The portion of dividends received by Non-U.S. Holders payable out of the Company's earnings and profits which are not attributable to capital gains of the Company or of the Operating Partnership and which are not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non- U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (unless reduced by an applicable treaty). In general, Non-U.S. Holders will not be considered engaged in a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of their ownership of Securities. In cases where the dividend income from a Non-U.S. Holder's investment in Securities is (or is treated as) effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder's conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. shareholders are taxed with respect to such dividends (and may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation). 2. Non-Dividend Distributions. Distributions by the Company which are not dividends out of the earnings and profits of the Company will not be subject to U.S. income or withholding tax. If it cannot be determined at the time a distribution is made whether or not such distribution will be in excess of the Company's current and accumulated earnings and profits, the entire distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to dividends. However, the Non-U.S. Holder may seek a refund of such amounts from the Service if it is subsequently determined that such distribution was, in fact, in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits of the Company. 3. Capital Gain Dividends. Under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 ("FIRPTA"), a distribution made by the Company to a Non-U.S. Holder, to the extent attributable to gains from dispositions of United States Real Property Interests ("USRPIs") such as the Properties beneficially owned by the Company ("USRPI Capital Gains"), will be considered effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. Holder and subject to U.S. income tax at the rate applicable to U.S. individuals or corporations, without regard to whether such distribution is designated as a capital gain dividend. In addition, the Company will be required to withhold tax equal to 35% of the amount of dividends to the extent such dividends constitute USRPI Capital Gains. Distributions subject to FIRPTA may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a foreign corporate shareholder that is not entitled to treaty exemption. Dispositions of Securities. Unless Securities constitute a USRPI, a sale of Securities by a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. taxation under FIRPTA. The Securities will not constitute a USRPI if the Company is a "domestically controlled REIT." A domestically controlled REIT is a REIT in which, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of its Securities is held directly or indirectly by Non-U.S. Holders. The Company believes that it has been and anticipates that it will continue to be a domestically controlled REIT, and therefore that the sale of Securities will not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. Because the Securities will be publicly traded, however, no assurance can be given the Company will continue to be a domestically controlled REIT. If the Company does not constitute a domestically controlled REIT, a Non-U.S. Holder's sale of Securities generally will still not be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI provided that (i) the Securities are "regularly traded" (as defined by applicable Treasury regulations) on an established securities market and (ii) the selling Non-U.S. Holder held 5% or less of the Company's outstanding Securities at all times during a specified testing period. If gain on the sale of Securities were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the Non-U.S. Holder would be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. shareholder with respect to such gain (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals) and the purchaser of Securities could be required to withhold 10% of the purchase price and remit such amount to the Service. Capital gains not subject to FIRPTA will nonetheless be taxable in the United States to a Non-U.S. Holder in two cases: (i) if the Non-U.S. Holder's investment in Securities is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such Non-U.S. Holder, the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. shareholder with respect to such gain, or (ii) if the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a "tax home" in the United States, the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual's capital gain. 26 OTHER TAX CONSIDERATIONS The Management Corps. A portion of the cash to be used by the Operating Partnership to fund distributions to its partners, including the Company, is expected to come from the Management Corps. through payments of dividends on the non-voting stock of the Management Corps. held by the Operating Partnership. The Management Corps. pay Federal and state income tax at the full applicable corporate rates. The Management Corps. will attempt to minimize the amount of such taxes, but there can be no assurance whether or the extent to which measures taken to minimize taxes will be successful. To the extent that the Management Corps. are required to pay Federal, state or local taxes, the cash available for distribution by the Company to shareholders will be reduced accordingly. State and Local Taxes. The Company and its shareholders may be subject to state or local taxation in various jurisdictions, including those in which it or they transact business or reside. The state and local tax treatment of the Company and its shareholders may not conform to the Federal income tax consequences discussed above. Consequently, prospective shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in the shares of the Company. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The Company may sell the Securities to one or more underwriters for public offering and sale by them or may sell the Securities to investors directly or through agents. Any such underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the Securities will be named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Underwriters may offer and sell the Securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at prices related to the prevailing market prices at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. The Company also may, from time to time, authorize underwriters acting as the Company's agents to offer and sell the Securities upon the terms and conditions as are set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. In connection with the sale of the Securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from the Company in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the Securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell Securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Any underwriting compensation paid by the Company to underwriters or agents in connection with the offering of the Securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with the Company, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize dealers acting as the Company's agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase Securities from the Company at the public offering price set forth in such Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts ("Contracts") providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in such Prospectus Supplement. Each Contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities sold pursuant to Contracts shall be not less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Institutions with whom Contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other institutions but will in all cases be subject to the approval of the Company. Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except (i) the purchase by an institution of the Securities covered by its Contracts shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which such institution is subject, and (ii) if the Securities are being sold to underwriters, the Company shall have sold to such underwriters the total principal amount of the Securities less the principal amount thereof covered by Contracts. 27 Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with and perform services for the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business. EXPERTS The Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994, as amended, have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. LEGAL MATTERS The legality of the Securities offered hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Rosenberg & Liebentritt, P.C., Chicago, Illinois. Rosenberg & Liebentritt, P.C. will rely on Hogan & Hartson L.L.P., Washington, D.C., as to certain matters of Maryland law. Certain federal income tax matters described under "Federal Income Tax Considerations" will be passed on for the Company by Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. With respect to any underwritten offering of Securities, certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. from time to time provides services to the Company and other entities controlled by Mr. Zell. Sheli Z. Rosenberg, the Chairman of the Board of Rosenberg & Liebentritt, P.C., is a trustee of the Company. The Company paid legal fees to Rosenberg & Liebentritt, P.C. of approximately $2.536 million in 1994 and, to date, approximately $1.7 million in 1995. Attorneys of Rosenberg & Liebentritt, P.C. beneficially own less than 1% of the outstanding Common Shares, either directly or upon the exercise of options. 28 ================================================================================ NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING COVERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS. IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, THE SHARES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM, IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE ANY SUCH OFFER OF SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS NOR ANY OFFER OR SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR IN THE PROSPECTUS OR IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. ----------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE ---- PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT The Company................................... S-2 Recent Developments........................... S-3 The Offering.................................. S-4 Use of Proceeds............................... S-4 Price Range of Common Shares and Distributions................................ S-5 Business and Properties....................... S-6 PROSPECTUS Available Information......................... 2 Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference................................. 2 The Company................................... 4 Risk Factors.................................. 5 Use of Proceeds............................... 9 Description of Shares of Beneficial Interest.. 9 Description of Depositary Shares.............. 17 Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges.. 20 Federal Income Tax Considerations............. 20 Plan of Distribution.......................... 27 Experts....................................... 28 Legal Matters................................. 28
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